Who doesn't love ball pythons???

[Caylan]

Of course I started with the basics to make sure I even was able to keep a snake.... started with Maru, my pride and joy! Got him from a pet store here in Kelowna as a CH male ball python(Normal), and thats exactly what he is as far as I'm concerned! Thing is, I again picked a runt... rookie mistake, but Maru thanked me with some major love of food! Coming in at 29gm's a fuzzy mouse left a lump, with a 30gallon tank and a infrared bulb, he still ate for me!!! Talk about beginners luck! Bought in September, he went off feed in November, and stayed off until april!! Scared stiff, I one day tried an ASF(courtersy of my new job) and he took it. Whether it was the ASF or the timing, he finally ate, and got ASF's from then on. Again come November he stopped eating, until once again in april one of my other new snakes refused... a medium rat no less! I offered it, and decided it was too big and pulled away... WHAM!!! Maru was all over it.... 10 minutes later it was gone... a CH ball python that eats 6 months a year but will eat anything I offer... did I say he was my favorite snake! First and the best, makes sense right?! Sorry I went on so long, I really love this guy, he's the reason I love what I do right now!
Next is Pyre! One of the first snakes I watched hatch at work and feel in love from the minute I saw her! Then Rob offered me a snake for christmas and of course she came home. I call her pyre, as she is insanely bright, and I really think she is a dinker worth working with. Having seen the clutch she was in, and seeing her sister growing up at work, I honestly have no doubt... only question is what lol! I will be breeding her to a yellow belly in... well this year now I guess, as she is more then ready! Never missed a meal, 2.5 years, and 2000 grams, worth a try?! I think so! Her sister is much the same way, not much smaller and will be bred this year as well, so 2 times the chance!
Next is Flynn, who has been a real problem from the get go! But now that I took him to raven reptiles for breeding, he is doing way better!! So I chose to trade him for another snake which I will post later, but either way, he is an awesome Enchi and will produce great snakes and I still get to see them, thats what counts! Money means nothing in this hobby to me! I will be sure to post his offspring as well, especially since I get to cherry pick... hehehehe... Enjoy the pics, sorry about the rambling!!
Maru, 2007 Male Ball Python (CH Normal)
http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/ww355/Inugohan/Iiim%20Baaack/IMG_0012.jpg

http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/ww355/Inugohan/Iiim%20Baaack/IMG_0009.jpg
Pyre, 2009 Female Ball Python (Dinker....)
http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/ww355/Inugohan/Iiim%20Baaack/IMG_0625.jpg
http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/ww355/Inugohan/Iiim%20Baaack/IMG_0622.jpg
http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/ww355/Inugohan/Iiim%20Baaack/IMG_02832.jpg
http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/ww355/Inugohan/Iiim%20Baaack/IMG_02802.jpg
http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/ww355/Inugohan/Iiim%20Baaack/IMG_0277.jpg
Flynn, 2010 Male Ball Python (Enchi)
http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/ww355/Inugohan/Iiim%20Baaack/IMG_0055.jpg

[Lankyrob]

Gotta love normals, definitely my favourite morph of bp

[Caylan]

No kidding, easily the nicest there are! Any morph that resembles a normal is the best, but normals will always be the sweetest! Have you ever said, " That's a normal???" and infact, it is! The worst 100 grand some people have spent though lol. ~Caylan.S.~

[alessia55]

I love ball pythons! Yours are beautiful :yes:

[Snakefood]

nice!! Balls are my next snakes (just corns now!)

[citysnakes]

Great colour on that Enchi!

[Caylan]

Thanks everyone! I have high hopes for Flynn and Pyre in 2012, can't wait! ~Caylan.s.~

[Strutter769]

Um, I guess that'd be me. I don't particularly care for Ball Pythons really. Just sayin'. :hmm:

[Shmoges]

I don't.... wait is that a double negative? Call me silly but I think they are the most common reptile in the biz and franky I kinda like uniqueness and also a snake that isn't a paper weight that doesn't eat for 6 months. Now there is always an exception...My wife and I would love an axanthic bp that is a "good eater"

[Caylan]

I realize alot of people don't like ball pythons, and to each their own! I find ball pythons all fairly unique myself, and rarely do they all exhibit the same behaviour. Pyre is a very active snake, reminds me of a carpet python, and flynn is actually very aggressive/shy. Maru is Maru, sweetest snake I have, and only eats 6 months of the year(but I like that! Saves money!) but he'll eat mice rats or softfurs, and I'm sure rabbit if they were small enough. Ball pythons as a whole, fairly boring, but individuals can be very rewarding depending on personality. Plus theres a colour and pattern for everyone, even if theres only one... me I like them all but I prefer normals, fires, spotnoses, yellowbellies, enchi's etc, rather then the lucy complex, albinos, bees, pins etc.
Common isn't always a bad thing, but I'm with you on uniqueness, but it can be found in many forms, even if everyone has one, each snake is still unique. I'm sure everyone who owns a ball python can write stories on how it acts, even if it just sits there all day lol. Anyways, thanks for the opinion, sorry for rambling... ~Caylan.s.~

[Shmoges]

Yeah there is black and yellow or if your a fan of less black and more yellow they have that too....

[Caylan]

Seems you completely missed what I said..... I mentioned colour like once in my post and thats all you heard? Maybe I'm weird for paying attention to what my snakes actually do, not what the internet says most do.... No one expects you to like everything, but not liking something just solely because everyone and their dog has one is kind of odd to me. I like what I like regardless what other people think, seems by your collection you do as well. But do realize not all ball pythons are pet rocks, infact most are very active when handled I find. Not much unlike a rosy boa, just holds on more(but not with teeth as often as a rosy lol, gotta love that about rosies though!) Ball pythons are alot more then just their morphs(and there are alot of morphs that are not black and yellow.... in fact most are brown as adults anyways haha[see I can dig at them too]) they are truely great snakes that also seem cat like when held, just curious and clingy. They can still have one hell of a feeding response(at least 2/3rds of the collection at work pace their cages on feeding day, its amazing to watch really) and when they don't eat, the big guys get a bonus! Not everyone likes them, but I don't think they realize what a great snake they are to have in a collection. Its like when people thought all bloods were maneaters.... so far I've seen 1 maybe 2 lol. Even then its just a moody snake(right bubbles?) and the other had faired some aweful conditions. Other then that most bloods I've heard of are really tame, and probably fit the pet rock description a little better then a ball python to be honest. Just my limited experience, ~Caylan.s.~

[KORBIN5895]

I am with Shmoges on the whole ball thing. I had one once and it just didn't cut it for me. I also am getting really annoyed with the whole morph thing in general. If you set three snakes side by side and have to spend more than 30 seconds to differentiate the morphs it just becomes rediculous! That being said I really enjoy pieds. Also I am more into the looks of a snake than its antics.

[ZARADOZIA]

I agree with Caylan. When Sasha is in her enclosure she is dormant, but once I take her out, she is all over the place ready to explore or pleased to sit with me.

[Caylan]

See? I think its this way for probably close to 50 ball pythons at work as well. However on feeding day, no one is dormant! Open those bins quick!! Hehe, ~Caylan.s.~

[Norm66]

I like balls, but largely because of the cool morphs available. Oh, I like normals as well but if normals were all there were we'd only have one. As it is we plan to have about 7 of them.

[exwizard]

I'm somewehere in the middle on this one. Ball pythons make great snakes for someone who wants a sweet natured pet and I am one of those people who look for handleability when it comes to snakes. If I cant handle it, I dont want it. That being said. I have noticed drawbacks with them. They have a reputation for being picky eaters in general, of course there are exceptions, like yours, Caylan.

Also we dont have any ball pythons because everybody else has them. I want something unique and different than what most people have. I have seen the rat race of people looking for that edge in the coolest new morph and I find that scene to be overplayed so I say out of that.

I do like the price on balls, especially normals and considering their temperment I find normals to be a great investment for someone looking for a reasonably priced snake that is docile and great to get the experience with snakes if you have little or none.

Like I said, all this is IMO and in no way does it reflect how I feel toward other people who do choose to keep balls. If it works for them, great but I doubt I will ever own one for the above stated reasons.

[millertime89]

I have one BP, and while he's a nice snake, I don't think I'll buy another one. He is mildly entertaining to watch at times as he cruises around his tub watching everything I do, but he isn't what I would call a lap snake, at least not right now. I've got a long post explaining his behavior in his profile thread.

I personally am not a fan of the chunkier looking snakes, viper and similar boas, 'condas, balls, bloods, and to an extent rock and burmese pythons. I just don't find them as visually appealing as a healthy retic, morelia, or boa.