Tell me about ball pythons

[SugaMomma15]

ive got a lot of tabs open so i hope this is the right place to post this, lol!

im thinking about getting a ball python. i already have a corn snake that i breed mice for. i want to know things that are helpful to know when u get a ball python that maybe you didnt know before you got one or something. anyone know a good place in the dfw area to find an albino ? just a normal albino.. idk theres so many morphs its so confusing lol

[stephanbakir]

Not much about BP's you need to know to just have one as a pet, besides basic needs.

Make sure to give them a temperature gradient and make sure not to let their temps change seasonally if you don't intend to breed them. Thermostats are your friend.

[Lankyrob]

Compared to a corn they need slightly higher temps and higher humidity. They are very inactive in comparison and much thicker around as adults.

Also they will need to eat rats as adults rather than corns that can live on mice all their lives.

Their vivs need to be 4 foot rather than 3 foot.

[SugaMomma15]

i was told a 40 gallon aquarium would work? thanks for the replies

[NennaMeerkat]

A 40 gallon long (breeder tank) might be big enough. I plan on housing one in a tank like that hopefully in a few years.

If you haven't owned a snake before they are pretty easy more or less...though to me it is easier to house and own a snake that isn't tropical as a first snake, since their heating requirments and such are usually much much easier. And that gives you time to get used to owning a snake. But certainly not against owning one as a first snake either.

[TeaNinja]

Compared to a corn they need slightly higher temps and higher humidity. They are very inactive in comparison and much thicker around as adults.

Also they will need to eat rats as adults rather than corns that can live on mice all their lives.

Their vivs need to be 4 foot rather than 3 foot.

my thoughts exactly.

[NennaMeerkat]

ive got a lot of tabs open so i hope this is the right place to post this, lol!

im thinking about getting a ball python. i already have a corn snake that i breed mice for. i want to know things that are helpful to know when u get a ball python that maybe you didnt know before you got one or something. anyone know a good place in the dfw area to find an albino ? just a normal albino.. idk theres so many morphs its so confusing lol

There are several small and big expos I go to every year and they all have plenty of different balls from reputable breeders that are here in the DFW area.

Here is the site that lists all the ones in the area that are hosted by the same people. It is the one I go to the most.

DFW Lone Star Reptile Expo (http://www.dfwlonestarreptileexpos.com/)

[SugaMomma15]

A 40 gallon long (breeder tank) might be big enough. I plan on housing one in a tank like that hopefully in a few years.

If you haven't owned a snake before they are pretty easy more or less...though to me it is easier to house and own a snake that isn't tropical as a first snake, since their heating requirments and such are usually much much easier. And that gives you time to get used to owning a snake. But certainly not against owning one as a first snake either.

i mentioned above that i have a corn snake.. how much are albino ones usually? :)

[NennaMeerkat]

I dunno how much they are usually...depends on the breeder, lineage, ect. Honestly you have to go and look. Though when snagging a ball python I would say take a minimum of 200 bucks with you.

Also sorry I misread about you owning a corn already ;)

[SugaMomma15]

I dunno how much they are usually...depends on the breeder, lineage, ect. Honestly you have to go and look. Though when snagging a ball python I would say take a minimum of 200 bucks with you.

Also sorry I misread about you owning a corn already ;)

oh ok thanks. and thats ok :)

[mykee]

Baby albinos can run anywhere from $300-$600.
You get what you pay for.

[SugaMomma15]

Baby albinos can run anywhere from $300-$600.
You get what you pay for.


what about just a normal one?

[infernalis]

what about just a normal one?

$20 and up.

Many breeders sell off their "normals" cheap at shows.


And by the way, my corn snake has been on baby rats for two years, if you breed rats instead of mice, you have food for both snakes.

Little "hopper" rats are about the same size as a mouse. More lean meat, less fatty tissues.

[Wolfus_305]

and don't be too alarmed if it stops eating, they often go off their food, just make sure husbandry is right and that it doesn't lose weight :)

[whoaxmary]

$20 and up.

Many breeders sell off their "normals" cheap at shows.


And by the way, my corn snake has been on baby rats for two years, if you breed rats instead of mice, you have food for both snakes.

Little "hopper" rats are about the same size as a mouse. More lean meat, less fatty tissues.

When I got my corn snake, she was pinkies, but has easily moved up to "hopper" rats as Wayne said. could be an idea if you want to breed food for you BP as well as corn, so you don't have two rodent colonies going on.

[mykee]

By "normal" do you mean a normal albino ($300-$600) or just a plain old normal run of the mill, no genetic anomoly normal (free-$50)?

[infernalis]

When I got my corn snake, she was pinkies, but has easily moved up to "hopper" rats as Wayne said. could be an idea if you want to breed food for you BP as well as corn, so you don't have two rodent colonies going on.


Even my larger garter snakes take rat pinks for me now.

Rats are such a versatile herp food.

[Ch^4]

Compared to a corn they need slightly higher temps and higher humidity. They are very inactive in comparison and much thicker around as adults.

Also they will need to eat rats as adults rather than corns that can live on mice all their lives.

Their vivs need to be 4 foot rather than 3 foot.

About half of my BPs are less active than our colubrids and the other half are more active. It depends on the time of the day and the individual snake.

and don't be too alarmed if it stops eating, they often go off their food, just make sure husbandry is right and that it doesn't lose weight :)

x2

Even my larger garter snakes take rat pinks for me now.

Rats are such a versatile herp food.

Agreed. Our snake freezer houses rat pinks, fuzzies, pups, weanlings, smalls, and mediums for 5 different species of snakes ranging from 15g to nearly 1500g.