Ball Python Care

[GarterPython]

I know I have been wanting to get a snake for a long time and I am still trying to convince my parents but I have finaly chose a snake that I actually want. I thought mabye if my parents see me getting into the reading they will rethink the whole thing. So any help will be helpfull. Thank You.

[youngster]

Read as many care sheets as possible, there's many online. Also once you have learnt a lot write up a essay type thing, and show it to your parents. They'll see you know a lot and are ready for it so hopefully they'll agree. Also tell them that you will do everything for the animal, make sure they know that they won't have to do anything.
PS Corn snakes are amazing first snakes, Ball Pythons are too but IMO Corns are better.

[infernalis]

Search the discussions here as well, we have several BP pros right here on the board.

[GarterPython]

Thanks will do the essay thing is a great idea. I was just going to show them some of the stuff but if I wright it they wil know I really care. And I know everything there is to know. I also know alot about corn snakes but I like ball pythons alot more and I am fine with a bit of extra care for my favorite snake.

[infernalis]

Hope this helps...

snakes are by far the easiest pets to have, they don't eat every day, they stay quiet, they don't smell bad or bring fleas into the house...etc.

with a BP, you can top off the water bowl and go on vacation for a week and your snake will never even know you left.

[youngster]

Hope this helps...

snakes are by far the easiest pets to have, they don't eat every day, they stay quiet, they don't smell bad or bring fleas into the house...etc.

with a BP, you can top off the water bowl and go on vacation for a week and your snake will never even know you left.

^^^^ What he said ^^^^

I have high hopes for ya friend! Hopefully your parents will understand. People say lizards are easier to care for, WRONG! Lizards make more noise, smell bad, you have to feed them everyday etc. With a snake, you feed it once a week, fill the water every couple days, but other than that it's like there's nothing there.

[lady_bug87]

^^^^ What he said ^^^^

I have high hopes for ya friend! Hopefully your parents will understand. People say lizards are easier to care for, WRONG! Lizards make more noise, smell bad, you have to feed them everyday etc. With a snake, you feed it once a week, fill the water every couple days, but other than that it's like there's nothing there.


Nuh UH my lizards smell beautiful.....


ok so the poop is wretched :P

[ZARADOZIA]

Nuh UH my lizards smell beautiful.....
ok so the poop is wretched :P

Wretched? OMG The first time I experienced Hendrix poop (Sav Monitor) it made me gag SO bad. NOTHING makes me gag...he does. I prefer the aroma of fetid carcass to the smell of lizard poop!!! :sorry:

[youngster]

My beardie is a pooping machine and he's in my bedroom so it makes me keep his tank spotless :P Not a bad thing I suppose.

[ZARADOZIA]

Oh yea, Hendrix viv is cleaned DAILY

[GarterPython]

Thanks yea Ive heard that snakes are alot easier to care for then alot of animals.

[GarterPython]

Its actually perfect timing because my birthday is in December so then I have a while to convince them. And if I end up "winning" they could get me the stuff for my birthday.

[GarterPython]

Sorry for the triple post but my friend also has a Ball Python that has never bitten. Mabye then she will realise tht they arent horrible because no matter what I say she is always like oh snakes are so horrible I dont want one in my house.

[youngster]

Yeah unfortunately many people think that way. Really it's only because they are uneducated. I think if you really put your mind to it you can convince her.

[ZARADOZIA]

Molson,

You can always have your mum come talk to us. Many of us are parents, like myself, who have Ball Pythons. They are easy to care for (IMO) and extremely easy to clean after. I prefer cleaning up after my Sasha (Ball Python) to cleaning up after my cats or Savannah monitor.

[Lankyrob]

All snakes CAN bite, but then so can cats, dogs, horses, hamsters etc etc etc etc etc and i would much rather be bitten by a snake than a cat!

[GarterPython]

That is actually exactly what I said LankyRob. My mom loves cats and brds and I said try getting bitten by one of those then a ball pytho. I told her that I garentee that a snake will not hurt as much.

[youngster]

Yeah I have a cat that I call "Demon kitty". She attacks me allll the time and I've never even gotten a feeding response bite from my snake :)

[GarterPython]

No matter how many times I tell her she doesnt care.She either just ignores me or says "cool". She doesnt budge. I have ven told her the stuff I know and she has seen the essay but it seems like she doesnt care. I try to keep it possitive but its really hard to when nothing work. I dont know what else to try. I think im making a bit of progress but it seems like nearly none.

[youngster]

Hmmm, that's no good. I dunno what to tell you man.

[millertime89]

how old are you? If you're old enough and don't plan on using any of their money to buy/care for the snake, just get it. That's what my brother is planning on doing in a few months.

[GarterPython]

Im 14 and I told them that I would pay for it all and they dont care. Even if I bought it without them knowing they would get rid of it when I bought it. Thanks for the help. Idk what else will help either so il just keep trying with what I got no matter how long it will be.

[millertime89]

any chance a friend will let you keep it at their place?

[youngster]

any chance a friend will let you keep it at their place?

TBH I don't think that's a great idea :P

[millertime89]

but its an idea.

[youngster]

Try to get your mom on here to talk to us :) We'll show her!

[GarterPython]

I like ur attitude Yougter. jk but good idea ill try. You know the keep it at a friends house is a good idea exept none of my friends want a snake. They like them they just dont want one.

[Gungirl]

how old are you? If you're old enough and don't plan on using any of their money to buy/care for the snake, just get it. That's what my brother is planning on doing in a few months.

This is not a good idea... I also don't think keeping it at a friends house is. This will not show your parents that you are mature and responsible. Say you get said snake and keep it at a friends house and their parent decides it has to go... then where does this snake go?

I think your best bet besides doing as your parents say and showing them you are doing research is to get your parents to look at our forum and talk to us. As for nothing more than a fair chance to show them "our world" ...

[millertime89]

maybe find a member in your area and see if having them talk to your mom. She may be so set there's no way around it. You might just have to accept it and wait until you're out on your own. If there's no way you can keep one, maybe just find a keeper in your area and see if they would be willing to have you come over and help with taking care of their collection, its not the same, but it would allow you to work with snakes and not have any of the cost.

[millertime89]

what are your mom's concerns and what does your dad have to say?

[redsided]

My moms problem was feeding mice. But i convinced her since these were garter snakes... dont need mice. Now she loves em. Doesn't want to touch them but likes em a bunch. Still hates the idea of mice.:D

[alessia55]

My mom was a really hard person to turn over and allow me to get my first snake... I was 15, so maybe this will help... This is what I did:

Prove you're responsible. This means taking care of pets you already have, doing your chores, doing your homework, don't break any house rules, and get good grades.
Subtles cues! Stock up on books and magazines about snakes and reptiles. I had magazine cut-out pictures on my walls and snake photos as my computer destop backgroud. Your parents will pick up on your undying interest.
Be reasonable. Don't ask for a retic, a big boa, any other big snake, or any snake that has a tendency to be aggressive. Choose from "beginner" snakes like corn snakes, ball pythons, etc. that are less "threatening" looking, and easy to take care of.
Be persistent, but don't overwhelm them. You want them to know how badly you want a reptile, but you don't want that to be the only thing they hear you talking about 24/7. Do tell them about you school work, times when you've been good, etc.
Size & space matter! Remind them: some snakes, as babies, don't need large enclosures at all. When they're little, they can live in a 10gal. They don't bark, don't need to be taken out to walk, don't take up space, and don't shed fur all over the place. I showed my mom pictures of a baby corn snake and how little it was.
Be understanding. Ask them why they don't want you to have a snake, acknowledge their concerns, and calmly rebuttal them. My mom was afraid of snakes, so I made it a point to acknowledge that and answer any questions she had about them.
Most importantly: Be Patient! This process can take time. I know you want one now, but you have time on your side. Persistence and time will eventually work to your advantage. Don't get frustrated-- stick to it! Eventually your parents will turn to see your side.


It's been six years and I've owned 3 snakes, and my mom even holds mine now. But it all took time, patience, and understanding. Good luck!

[ZARADOZIA]

My mom was a really hard person to turn over and allow me to get my first snake... I was 15, so maybe this will help... This is what I did:
1. Prove you're responsible. This means taking care of pets you already have, doing your chores, doing your homework, don't break any house rules, and get good grades.
2. Subtles cues! Stock up on books and magazines about snakes and reptiles. I had magazine cut-out pictures on my walls and snake photos as my computer destop backgroud. Your parents will pick up on your undying interest.
3. Be reasonable. Don't ask for a retic, a big boa, any other big snake, or any snake that has a tendency to be aggressive. Choose from "beginner" snakes like corn snakes, ball pythons, etc. that are less "threatening" looking, and easy to take care of.
4. Be persistent, but don't overwhelm them. You want them to know how badly you want a reptile, but you don't want that to be the only thing they hear you talking about 24/7. Do tell them about you school work, times when you've been good, etc.
5. Size & space matter! Remind them: some snakes, as babies, don't need large enclosures at all. When they're little, they can live in a 10gal. They don't bark, don't need to be taken out to walk, don't take up space, and don't shed fur all over the place. I showed my mom pictures of a baby corn snake and how little it was.
6. Be understanding. Ask them why they don't want you to have a snake, acknowledge their concerns, and calmly rebuttal them. My mom was afraid of snakes, so I made it a point to acknowledge that and answer any questions she had about them.
7. Most importantly: Be Patient! This process can take time. I know you want one now, but you have time on your side. Persistence and time will eventually work to your advantage. Don't get frustrated-- stick to it! Eventually your parents will turn to see your side.
It's been six years and I've owned 3 snakes, and my mom even holds mine now. But it all took time, patience, and understanding. Good luck!

Alessia made excellent points.

Speaking solely as a parent the first thoughts and concerns that come to mind are:
1. Life Span - How long will it live? Most snakes can live over 15 years. This can be a BIG deal for parents because the bottom line is will you care for it for its entire life span or will it become the parent’s job because you are off to college and can’t have it with you.

2. What kind of food is required? Many people, especially those that do not care for snakes, do not like the idea of feeding it mice, chicks, rats. And the idea of keeping frozen mice, chicks, and rats in the freezer grosses people out.

3. What kind of environment / habitat? (Cost)

4. Are you mature enough and responsible enough to care for the snake?


Again, speaking solely as a parent, if I were your mom and didn’t like snakes, my biggest concern would be feeding it. Let’s say you are off to college and found out you can’t bring your snake with you. It is now MY responsibility to care for it and feed it. Well, I don’t like snakes and I REALLY do not want to feed it mice or rats because that’s gross. …

So, my advice- pick a snake that does not require mice/rats as the main food. I think a garter would be a great starter snake because they eat earthworms, amphibians, leeches, slugs, snails, insects, crayfish, and small fish. Food is essentially inexpensive and your mom shouldn’t have an issue with feeding it. There are a lot of people here that have garters and can give you all the advice and proper care information that you will need.

Plus garter snakes are much more active than ball pythons and they do not get as big. Generally speaking, a smaller snake is less scary than a large snake.


Proving to Mom that you are responsible:
Try making a deal with your mom, see if she will go for the "reward system." We work on a reward system at my house. My son has to prove to me that he has earned whatever it is wants. For example, when he was about 12 yrs old he wanted to dye his hair blue. So I told him he had to make honors all year, more A’s than B’s and then we could dye it during the summer. He held up his end of the bargain, so I dyed his hair blue. My son owns a Savannah Monitor but I wouldn’t let him have any pet until he was 15. I didn’t feel he was old enough for such a responsibility and your mom may feel the same way.

For this to work, you will need to think about the things that your mom is always telling you to do. Then make a deal with her that you will prove to her how responsible you are by doing that over a period of time and as a reward for being responsible you want a snake. For example, Clean your room every day WITHOUT her telling you to, clean the kitchen every day after dinner WITHOUT her telling you to, mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, scouring the bathroom, doing laundry, etc.

The best way to pitch this idea to your mom is:
“Mom, I would really like to have a pet snake and I have done the research and I think a garter snake would be great because they don’t get big and they don’t eat mice. They eat worms and fish which is not expensive and easy to get. I also know that I must prove to you that I can be responsible and take care of it on my own. So I will make great grades in school and keep my room clean and anything else you wish for me to do. I know this will take time so if I am able to prove to you that I am responsible, would you consider it by next year please? Just think about it and we can discuss it again when I turn 15-16.”

Some links I found about garters:
BioKIDS - Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species, Critter Catalog, Thamnophis sirtalis, common garter snake (http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Thamnophis_sirtalis/)
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests/reptiles/gsnakecare.pdf

[GarterPython]

Her biggest probem is the frosen mice and the food but the insects and stuff doesnt help because that is worse than frzen mice to her. She doesnt want them in the freezer I said that I could get my on freezer still didnt care. She also just hate snakes period but I gotta wait for the right time to ask her to look on the forum. Trust me on that I know my mom well.

[millertime89]

well with a ball there's no live insects, and you don't have to keep a stock of frozen mice, you can always just run to the pet store on feeding day.

[GarterPython]

Thats very true millertime89. I gotta say that because thats actually a good idea. Thnks everybody, espesially................everyone.

[millertime89]

the only complication I could foresee is if you get a picky eater, you'll be throwing away a lot of mice until he/she decides to start feeding. PetCo individually wraps them and you don't even see them until you cut the bag open (be careful, I cut off part of the tail on the last one). And then its only a matter of a minute before its in the snake's mouth.

[GarterPython]

Yea ill try anything at this point and I know it will take time and I am willing to take that time but it seems like it is going almost nowhere.

[Snakefood]

make sure you check the local laws/restrictions when choosing your snake. Garters would be a great starter snake, except if you live in BC, it's against the "indigenous species act"

[GarterPython]

I live in alberta and as I said insects and stuff would be worst than the frozen mice.

[GarterPython]

I want a snake so bad. Im going to try and get to the book or petstore to get some books mabye then I have a bit more of a chance. I have always wanted a snake even since I was like 6. No joke. Now i get why i didnt get it back then but I now am old enough to get one.

[Snakefood]

you should check around for reptile/snake rescues in your area to volunteer for. Being willing to commit your time to snakes in need, even if you can't have one at present, goes a long way to showing your serious about your passion. It also lets you practice your passion during the span of time that you are unable to have your own.

[GarterPython]

There isnt to many rescues around here and I already told my friend that I can baby sit his snake any time he is gone.