ball python for first time snake owner?

[Pliskin]

I used to own lizards , but I've decided to get a snake.

I've been offered a 2 ft ball python.

I just wanted some advice on anything a first time snake owner will need to know.

whatever you feel is important for the proper care of the snake. also, which snakes breeds are good for the novice, which are tempermental etc.

[Boots]

I tend to like garter snakes as beginner snakes myself, but there are boas and BP that make great beginner snakes. As for advice, I would suggest reading as much as you can and have everything setup before you make your purchase. As the the offered ball, read up on them, and see if you are interested in caring for that type of snake. If you care, spend some time with the snake to see what his temperament is like. While some snake breeds temperament are worse then others, it can also vary between the same breed.

Jason

[Pliskin]

thanks for the advice.

[Pliskin]

hey, thanks for the reply.

yeah, I'm not looking for a snake with a bad attitude.

I did want something bigger than a garter snake though

[PDXErik]

IMHO, BPs are great starter snakes. Some can be problem feeders, but that's about the worst thing I've heard about them (I haven't experienced that yet).

They're difficult to kill, their bites are fairly rare but respectable and nothing to fear, they'll calm down with enough handling (if need be), they grow like weeds, they get a manageable size and weight.

[Pliskin]

someone else has offered me a red tail columbian boa as well, I'm not sure about the size of the boa. she's supposed to send me some pictures.

says its very tame, and feeds well. sounds like just what I'm looking for , easy to handle and low maintenance.

how often should they be fed? how bad does their crap stink?



if I do end up getting it , I'll just start a new thread in the boa forum.

[PDXErik]

Boas are pretty great, too. I have four that I handle infrequently and they're all puppy dogs, even my yearling female has stopped hissing at me.

Once per week is fine, and a LOT.

Snake poop smells like nothing I've ever smelled. Particularly when it gets to the 9' range, the poops can be pretty substantial.

[Pliskin]

how long can they go without food , without harming the snake?

if I'm not home , I don't know who I'll be able to get to feed it.

[PDXErik]

How long do you plan on being away?

More than a couple weeks?

They'll need water more frequently than food. Replace any time it's soiled, preferably fresh every day, bowl and such sterilized once a week or if it's soiled.

Boas are pretty good with the humidity between 40%-60% so that will likely not be an issue, but the water certainly is.

The water issue will go for either a boa, ball python, corn snake, garter snake, anything really.

[Pliskin]

I'll be out of the country for two weeks in January.

[Pliskin]

it sounds like you've owned quite a few.

do you keep each one in a separate tank. I'm assuming if one's much bigger there's a risk of waking up to find only one where there should be two.

[LadyParvati]

I'm assuming if one's much bigger there's a risk of waking up to find only one where there should be two.

Smart thinking, Pliskin! You are definitely thinking better than many newbie snake owners!

It's better to keep them separated until you're ready to breed them--but the people with the breeding experience can tell you a lot more about that than I can.

Two weeks isn't a problem food-wise, but it certainly may be water-wise. Is there anyone you can get to change the water while you're gone? Or at least pour more into the bowl?

[PDXErik]

it sounds like you've owned quite a few.

do you keep each one in a separate tank. I'm assuming if one's much bigger there's a risk of waking up to find only one where there should be two.

Hahah, thanks, it's just that there are a lot of smart people around me that tell me what to do :)

Water will be a problem over a couple of weeks away. I don't know how to solve that problem, but I wouldn't leave mine alone that long without fresh water. A great big bowl of stagnant water will not work.

[Pliskin]

well, I was also thinking of setting up some sort of aquarium filter somehow to filter the water.

I think if I have a large enough reservoir , I can get it to work

[Aaron_S]

You still need someone to check to ensure your filter hasn't been knocked over by the snake. A fliter also won't clean out a water bowl of feces. They are much too large. Also you might want someone to come check to make sure the snake is still alive and it's heat source is working ok.

Where in Canada do you live?

[Pliskin]

I'm in Markham

[Pliskin]

well, the person who offered me the red tailed boa says its not a good snake for a first time snake owner.

and has offered me a snow corn snake instead. its 9weeks old.

how big would a 9wk old snow corn be? how big do they get?

from what I've been reading, the red tail boa gets to be quite large as an adult.

[Aaron_S]

Snow corns at 9 weeks are still fairly small. Think a nice sized pencil. Probably longer though. As adults you're looking at a slim build snake, with an average of 3 - 4 feet as an adult.