View Full Version : Introducing myself and a few questions
Hi, name is Mandy and I am doing some research on my new pet snake.
I haven't gotten one yet so bear with me please.
I "think" I have narrowed it down to a choice between a Rosy Boa and a Ball Python.
I would like a snake that is more laid back, otherwise I would go for the Corn snake. We already have a crested Gecko (named Mo), he kinda fulfills the need for the hand over hand walking and so we dont really want a snake exhibiting the same characteristics, hence the desire for a snake that is content just to sit and chill.
We already have the tank.....Exo-Terra 24x24x18. It has a mesh lid, which I know is not really all that great for Ball Pythons, but we would like to work with what we already have.
Like the idea of a Ball Python, but am concerned about keeping the humidity up, would buy a fogger, but reading reviews, it seems they are prone to breaking down. Any clues here as to reliable foggers/misters?
The Rosy Boa seems "easier" to keep because it doesn't have such strict humidity requirements.
Our problem is that "sometimes" we are away from home (hospital) and our neighbors have to come in and see to feeding etc. Spraying the Gecko tank twice a day is one thing, and doable. But having to check and rectify(if needed) the Ball Pythons requirements is quite a different ball game.
For either snake, was thinking of a Orchid Bark/Eco earth (50/50) substrate. Was thinking of feeding the snake in a separate place.
Any advice on which snake would be greatly appreciated, or if anyone has other suggestions...........
No reptile breeders near where we live so it would have to be pet store or mail order.
infernalis
02-25-13, 11:22 AM
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Mark Taylor
02-25-13, 01:11 PM
Hi and welcome.
Hello and welcom.
I am not well infromed on the care of rosy boa's but for the ball I would suggest if it is the snake you want to go with you can do some slight modifications to the tank in orderr to help with the humidity. Personally I think the tank you discribed will be a little small for a ball. Although they do not usually move around too much I still like to offer a little more room. You could replace the mash lid with a solid lid made out of plywood or plexi glass. A fogger in a tank like that will end up bringing your humidity up way to much.
i own a bp and dont know much about rosey care but i have noticed with my bps it helps to offer them a water area big enough to soak in and like spooky said tank modifications can help with the humidity. but my two balls make wonderful lap snakes i hold them and read or other things all the time.
Thanks for the replies.
Would putting damp towels on the top of the tank help with the humidity?
How long would I be able to keep the python in this size tank before it gets too big, and when it comes time to buy a new tank, what would you recommend? I do actual want glass as I like to look at them, so no tubs for me I am afraid
oh, and just to clarify, I would rather have the Ball over the Rosy, but I am just concerned about husbandry if we have to go away (to hospital) for a few days.
If everything is set up right there is no need to worry about going away for a few days. I still think you should go with a solid top rather than a damp towel.
marvelfreak
02-25-13, 02:39 PM
22764
Nice to have you join us.
I have no idea how to adapt the mesh top for a solid top and still have the locking mechanism.....I am not at all DIY minded. I would have thought that in covering the mesh up with damp towels or plastic (or both) it would alleviate most of the humidity escape.
Welcome!
I have no experience with Rosy boas, but we keep our juvenile Ball in a 30gal screen top aquarium. Which usually aren't ideal for bp's, but we covered a good amount of the screen with plastic wrap (careful to leave ventilation and clearance for her lamp), mist the cage and it keeps the humidity just fine for her. I much prefer her personality over my spitfire corn snakes. She is content to lounge around and hang out without the constant moving and wandering. That being said she will explore but in a more laid back manner. We tried the damp towel method but it was more trouble than good imo.
Thanks Laery, nice to know that it can actually be done.
Kinda getting cold feet at the moment after seeing a couple of Ball Python biting YouTube video's..........Looks nasty when they latch on and then start constricting
Gravelanche
02-25-13, 11:17 PM
i personally believe you can never go wrong with a ball python. relatively simple setup (compared to some others) very docile, handleable, and beautiful, not to mention they come in 10,000 varieties
http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/859293_10151297220421239_1085625440_o.jpg
i have owned my bp for almost 4 years and my big sister raised several and neither of us got bit yet. as a general rules you own snakes get use to the idea of being bit but my balls are both very docile and when i am holding them i am more like to bit them then they are me. i know this because at points they both had mites and i got to get them off their heads and that was stressful sense i had to restrain them to do it but never got bit even when i shed assisted my balls. NOW this is just in my sisters and my EXP with are balls or balls we know.
LOL.....Thanks for the reassurances! Not that naive to think that snakes dont bite, it was just a bit gnarly watching these BP's trying to make meals out of their owners' appendages. They just didn't want to let go, at all! :o)
Gravelanche
02-26-13, 11:04 AM
yeah, but thats either a 1 in a million animal, or a 1 in a lifetime shot. Every dog has nipped at some point in its life and it probably left a more painful mark than the python
i know how that is those kind of videos scared me at first to but i figured having my snake was worth the risk of a few bites, remember they have small teeth that curve back so if you do get a bite and its not a bite release do not pull away you will just sink the teeth in more.
Just for the sake of curiosity, what do you have to do to get the snake off when it's clamped on in that kind of "feeding" bite?
Gravelanche
02-26-13, 12:34 PM
i should probably know more for certain, but im pretty sure cold water works
Lankyrob
02-26-13, 05:01 PM
I have only had one feeding bite and i just ran the head of the snake under cold water til it let go :)
shelly2314
02-27-13, 09:05 AM
I have no idea how to adapt the mesh top for a solid top and still have the locking mechanism.....I am not at all DIY minded. I would have thought that in covering the mesh up with damp towels or plastic (or both) it would alleviate most of the humidity escape.
I have had many people tell me that a damp towel is a waste of time. HOWEVER, it is what I use for my Argentine as I have a mesh-like top and it works great!:D
Not a waste of time really, just much more work at keeping it moist all the time, keeping the heat in, etc etc. Youll find that a solid top is just simpler and leaves less room for human error.
Ilurgy, the simplest way to essentially make it a solid top is to cut a piece of plexiglass to the size of your lid with a jigsaw. You can just lay it over the existing top and there is no need to change any lock.
Aaron_S
02-27-13, 09:23 AM
1. Get the solid top. Make your life easier and the snakes life better.
2. You can feed in the enclosure and avoid any feeding bites by using a pair of tongs.
3. Breeders do ship so you don't have to overpay at a pet store. Also look for an expo.
Chu'Wuti
02-27-13, 10:55 AM
I had one BP strike me even when I was using feeding tongs, but it was totally my fault--I didn't have the rat warm enough, so he focused on my warmer hand. I could see he was aiming at my hand, so I pulled back, which made him think his prey was escaping so he immediately struck.
He immediately let go, too--he knew he'd gotten the wrong thing. He gave me a dirty look like I had tricked him and went back into his hide. Never could get him to eat that night . . .
Needless to say, I was very careful to warm his rat thoroughly the next time. We haven't had any issues since, and that was a couple of years ago.
Gravelanche
02-27-13, 11:44 AM
I have had many people tell me that a damp towel is a waste of time. HOWEVER, it is what I use for my Argentine as I have a mesh-like top and it works great!:D
i use a towel on top of my cages and it works fine. if you cant afford plexiglass for now its a cheap alternative for the meantime. becase of the size of my tank i will probably do it eventually just so more light gets in.
We put a bit of thin styrofoam insulation over the screen for humidity and heat help. I'd recommend the ball python. They are a beautiful snake and have great personalities for the most part.
Your enclosure will work for a short time if you get a baby ball. You'll have about a year or so before you need to move up to a larger enclosure.
Mike
stephanbakir
02-27-13, 02:05 PM
i should probably know more for certain, but im pretty sure cold water works
Cold water rarely works, any alcohol works (1 drop in their mouth) but its probably overkill for a ball python, I keep a small container on my belt when I'm working with the larger species just in case, haven't had to use it yet.
If you want to avoid using alcohol, I guarantee that your hand can hold its breath longer then the snake can.
Use tongs and avoid the entire problem.
Chu'Wuti
02-27-13, 08:26 PM
Stephanbakir said, Use tongs and avoid the entire problem.
That's definitely NOT a guaranteed means of preventing a bite. Note my earlier post about one of my BPs tagging me even though I was using feeding tongs.
I actually have one female BP that is tong-shy; she jerks away if I try to use the feeding tongs. She's a rehome/rescue, so I suspect she got bonked with feeding tongs by her previous owner. I hand-feed her despite the risk, and oddly enough, she has NEVER struck me, not accidentally or otherwise. Who knows what the future might hold, though?
It really isn't a big deal. Small teeth, doesn't really hurt much at all. Don't jerk away so you save your skin as well as the snake's teeth; people do more damage to themselves when they jerk away.
Usually the snake will decide you're the wrong prey item and let go--often very quickly. If not, then lift up the whole snake, go to the bathtub and run in a couple of inches of lukewarm water. Immerse your hand and the snake's head into the water. The snake WILL let go in a short time--it'll need to let go so it can breathe. It's not the cold that does it--it's the need to breathe.
Honestly, over 40 years of snake-keeping, I've had to immerse only one snake, a yellow-bellied water snake that latched onto my son, and it was definitely his fault. I've never had to do it with any others, whether WC or CBB.
Good luck!
KBHicks2012
02-27-13, 08:30 PM
Welcome!!!!!!!!
Aaron_S
02-27-13, 09:19 PM
Stephanbakir said,
That's definitely NOT a guaranteed means of preventing a bite. Note my earlier post about one of my BPs tagging me even though I was using feeding tongs.
I actually have one female BP that is tong-shy; she jerks away if I try to use the feeding tongs. She's a rehome/rescue, so I suspect she got bonked with feeding tongs by her previous owner. I hand-feed her despite the risk, and oddly enough, she has NEVER struck me, not accidentally or otherwise. Who knows what the future might hold, though?
It really isn't a big deal. Small teeth, doesn't really hurt much at all. Don't jerk away so you save your skin as well as the snake's teeth; people do more damage to themselves when they jerk away.
Usually the snake will decide you're the wrong prey item and let go--often very quickly. If not, then lift up the whole snake, go to the bathtub and run in a couple of inches of lukewarm water. Immerse your hand and the snake's head into the water. The snake WILL let go in a short time--it'll need to let go so it can breathe. It's not the cold that does it--it's the need to breathe.
Honestly, over 40 years of snake-keeping, I've had to immerse only one snake, a yellow-bellied water snake that latched onto my son, and it was definitely his fault. I've never had to do it with any others, whether WC or CBB.
Good luck!
Use bigger tongs :D
Gravelanche
02-27-13, 09:59 PM
i guess im even more lucky, cleo's last owner trained her to just eat off a "feeding rock", though i have to admit there is a slight sacrificial feeling when i do it :P
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