Thinking of picking up a ball

[Trax]

I've been giving some serious thought about getting myself a snake. At the moment i am really thinking a ball python.

I stumbled to this site researching the various info i would need to know. after i settled on the ball i looked at several care sheets.

I have a few questions

will snakes bond to someone? I understand their solitary animals so this question has been in the back of my mind.

I was debating about putting some plants into the cage, but it seems like more work then it would be worth. what i was thinking of doing was using coco choir (i am guessing its the same as the plant medium coco that i can find at home improvement stores). if i where to do this would i clean the cage? i was thinking of using the coco to plant in as well as using it as the bedding.

beyond that i would really like to be able to see what others have done as far as live plants and snakes.

I guess the last thing would be should i try to rescue a ball that has been abandoned for some reason, or start from a captive bread hatching? what should i expect to pay for a regular ball hatching?

[infernalis]

http://www.thamfriends.com/mat.jpg

[Reptile_Reptile]

good questions. let me address the live plant issue first. sure its OK to put live plants in with your snake but they have no remorse i can almost guarantee it will be trampled on and possibly moved so really its not worth the hassle. second no they don't really bond but can become very attached to you in some cases like my baby ball python Maynard i just have to put my hand in the tank and he wraps his tail around one of my fingers and i pull him out without fail every time. also in general with ball pythons you want to keep the bedding simple for example i use newspaper but you can use aspen bedding or even reptile bark but either way you need to clean the cage at least once a week and additionally every time your snake has a bowel movement. Where you get your snake is really personal choice when adopting (my favorite method) you have to be careful because the snake might not be healthy or it might be aggressive so if you go that route check the snake out thoroughly and handle it for at least 10 minutes before you decide. personally for a beginner snake i would go through a pet store or a local breeder and just get a hatchling that you will know when he gets big he's sociable and so you can experience your snake in its fullest. keep us posted i would love to know how getting your first snake goes for you

[shaunyboy]

hello and welcome

cheers shaun

[infernalis]

No disrespect reptile, but I need to correct a few statements.

Changing the bedding once a week is a big waste of money. My BP (Full grown adult)only has about 10 bowel movements a year, that bedding often looks brand new even after a month of use.

If you spot clean right after "the event" and keep it cleaned, the bedding can be changed rather infrequently with no ill effects.

From my own personal observations and from what I have been told countless times, Snakes can recognize who feeds them, snakes can feel comfortable with humans holding them, But as far as a real "bonding" no one has ever been able to prove that one.

In other words if you kept a snake for 10 years and then gave it away, as long as the new caregiver met all of the snakes needs, that snake is not going to have a broken heart or feel any sense of loss.

Just look at it like this, Many of us here have taken in adult snakes, can any one of use say that just once the snake was depressed? Did that snake really care that it's cage was at a new address?

We all say "settle in" constantly, that is the period of time for the animal to adjust to it's new surroundings, not much more.

Although it's nice to think that snakes have emotions (like joy, anger, and affection), scientific studies show that snakes just don't have the cerebral capacity for them. However, snakes do have "primitive" feelings like aggression, fear, and pleasure. Snakes are able to learn simple things such as tolerating handling, eating an unnatural food item, and of course, adapting to captivity. But to teach a snake to learn things like to "fetch" (like a dog can), or "sit-stay" (I saw a 11 year old telling his rosy boa to stay and be a good little snake) is not relevant to snakes.


As with any subject, I'm wide open to any input or "debate" on the topics just mentioned.

Live plant wise, not a good idea, BP get heavy and will mash down anything less than a tree. (As previously mentioned)

A good source of basic care instructions...

Ball Pythons (http://www.anapsid.org/ball.html)

[shaunyboy]

have to agree with the above

cheers shaun

[Freebody]

Welcome to the forum. i would agree with the above statment. i have snakes that tolerate handling and snakes that seem to really enjoy being handled alot, my bella girl will fight to escape out of the cage everytime i try to put her back in afer handling and others that when placed back in they retreat to their hide right away, but neither bite and get nasty while handling. GL with you decision, make sure to fill us in plz and show us some pics, we love pics here :)

[Reptile_Reptile]

lol my bad on the cleaning. i use newspaper an i feel that requires a bit more upkeep then a bedding of aspen or repti bark

[infernalis]

lol my bad on the cleaning. i use newspaper an i feel that requires a bit more upkeep then a bedding of aspen or repti bark

I thought about that..

[Reptile_Reptile]

I thought about that..
yea when they spill water or hang out in their bowls then come out the paper gets a weird consistency that's kinda flaky and i don't like it to hang around plus the in smears. my favorite section to use is stocks lol

[Freebody]

i use newspaper, just switched to paper towel for my small cages becuase i got a huge amount for cheep at are local cosco,its a wholesale place if you dont have them in the states, but after i run out im going to use this bark now that i know i can just clean it and reuse :)

[Reptile_Reptile]

yes there is costco in the states XD i have 1 right up the road (no membership tho)

[Grimleo]

Was watching Snakebytes and found this episode with a good explanation on whether they can "bond" with you or not. Hope this helps a bit even though the question has already been answered =P

[link]

my first snake was a ball python called nessa brilliant first snake good choice had her since a baby only struck @ me once and that was my fault great options on morphs if your looking into bp's

[Trax]

well i guess a bit of an update

Thank you to everyone i read through the post's and it answered the questions i had.

i've been still reading up and i am keep an eye out on craigslist. (simply because i would rather take in the snake then have the humane society do it, or have it set loose) although i missed a chance yesterday to pick up a ball that needed a new home.

although the area i live in is very rich in NW garter snakes, i have also given some serious thought on them as well. They seem like they would make good pets, and i know an area where they breed so i can probably find a baby that probably wouldn't of made it to adult hood anyway.

[Reptile_Reptile]

catching a garter snake is a cop out lol do what you gotta do i guess

[infernalis]

catching a garter snake is a cop out lol do what you gotta do i guess


I resent that statement (J/K) :eek:

Those north westerns are beautiful snakes....

A red stripe...

http://www.humboldtherps.com/images/2008-06-05HCHSimage-Northwestern_Garter_Snake_3A_-Hunter_Creek_area_Del_Norte_County_.JPG

A melanistic specimen...

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ssssnakeluvr/DSCF3028-2.jpg

And I have misplaced the picture but they also come in blue stripe variety as well. (My blue stripe died.)

I wish I has some of those.

http://www.diamondbacktradingcards.com/_/rsrc/1261423435306/thamnophis-ordinoides/northwestern-gartersnake-polymorphism-thamnophis-ordinoides.jpg

[Reptile_Reptile]

I resent that statement (J/K) :eek:

Those north westerns are beautiful snakes....

A red stripe...

http://www.humboldtherps.com/images/2008-06-05HCHSimage-Northwestern_Garter_Snake_3A_-Hunter_Creek_area_Del_Norte_County_.JPG

A melanistic specimen...

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ssssnakeluvr/DSCF3028-2.jpg

And I have misplaced the picture but they also come in blue stripe variety as well. (My blue stripe died.)

I wish I has some of those.

http://www.diamondbacktradingcards.com/_/rsrc/1261423435306/thamnophis-ordinoides/northwestern-gartersnake-polymorphism-thamnophis-ordinoides.jpg
if you want me to i could probably go catch you at least half of those snakes right now. my previous point being i'd rather go buy a snake it seems more pro then catching it. and i know they are beautiful i had a red racer (that is what i know them by) for a pet for like a year and a half and he musked me every time i touched him and he bit me hundreds of times so he became eye candy. i kinda resent them now

[infernalis]

so he became eye candy. i kinda resent them now


All of my garter snakes are eye candy.

It stresses most of them to be handled a lot, I have 4 females that are mellow and will sit in my hands all day if I want, but for the most part I maintain them and just enjoy the beauty.

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/thamnophis/82907-wayne-s-garter-snake-photo-thread.html

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/thamnophis/82942-flame-just-keeps-getting-hotter.html

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/thamnophis/83653-outdoor-photos-mojo-masubius.html

Thamnophis (http://www.danceswithreptiles.com/thamnophis.htm) Photo gallery

[Reptile_Reptile]

i enjoy the interaction to much to just simply have eye candy if i wanted that i'd get another fish lol although im sure ill settle down and just enjoy the view eventually

[Trax]

Well i find myself catching them every time i'm hiking or up at my parents place in washington(their Musk is nasty but i can deal with the foul smell). I think they are good looking snakes with rather neat eating habits. from what i have read on here and other places they will stop musking after being in captivity for a while.

I know myself though I will be handling my snake quite a bit, i'm hoping to find one with a chill temperament that i can just put him on my shoulder and let him slither around my neck. *IE sitting at the computer typing and surfing the web* From what i have heard they are rather active snakes, and i don't want to be stressing the snake out all the time by handling.

I have thought about corns and they are kind of Meh to me. i like all snakes but i do like pronounced features like a ball has. I even gave some serious thought into a BRB but after reading about them their care is a little much for me right now, even though I love their appearance.

I don't think i will ever own more then 1 or 2 snakes though. I have never abandoned an animal in my life, and i'm pretty sure that whatever snake i do end up getting will become a member of the family.

[Trax]

if you want me to i could probably go catch you at least half of those snakes right now. my previous point being i'd rather go buy a snake it seems more pro then catching it. and i know they are beautiful i had a red racer (that is what i know them by) for a pet for like a year and a half and he musked me every time i touched him and he bit me hundreds of times so he became eye candy. i kinda resent them now

wow i have picked up quite a few in the wild and have never been bit. your just right across the river from me so i'm sure they are all over the place.

I really don't care about being "pro" or even expect to collect snakes. i just enjoy the creatures and would like to be able to have one as a companion.

[infernalis]

I really don't care about being "pro" or even expect to collect snakes. i just enjoy the creatures and would like to be able to have one as a companion.


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm200/Spookydragon/Applause.gif