Newbie - Page 2

Chu'Wuti · 03-27-09, 08:42 PM

Well, have fun saving and planning! Do you already have an enclosure, or do you have to save up for that, too?

st3v3n · 03-28-09, 08:56 AM

lmao u guys/girls r funny!!! n good saving 6,000 got a long way 2 go

Chu'Wuti · 03-28-09, 04:12 PM

Yeah, well, sometimes that's what it takes to get what you want in this world!

I'm saving for a pair of piebald BPs--so I've got even farther to go!

**Aaron_S** · 03-28-09, 05:19 PM

A pair of pieds are cheaper than a single Lucy ball python

Chu'Wuti · 03-28-09, 09:04 PM

Well, true--if you already have all the equipment you need! But along with the pair, if I'm actually going to try breeding them, I will have to get the proper equipment (or make it) to house them, to brumate them, and to incubate the eggs. I should have been more clear--I'm definitely not claiming the pieds are as expensive as a $6,000 Lucy!

Rawrs-Isatiger · 03-29-09, 06:34 PM

My friends selling me her tank, and a bunch of equipment.. So hopefully it all works out and i can get her within this year.

Chu'Wuti · 03-30-09, 06:53 AM

All right! That's really great! Send us pics when you can.

citysnakes · 03-30-09, 09:30 AM

so your first ball python will be one that costs 6000 dollars and you will be housing it in a fish tank using a bunch of equipment supplied by your friend?

Kmef07 · 03-30-09, 11:15 AM

Quote:

so your first ball python will be one that costs 6000 dollars and you will be housing it in a fish tank using a bunch of equipment supplied by your friend?

im glad im not the only one thinking that way. lol...

Rawrs-Isatiger · 04-02-09, 12:39 AM

the tank im getting looks like this. only its bigger.

Im just not sure on what else im getting from her.

Chu'Wuti · 04-02-09, 02:41 AM

Yep, that's what Julian is describing as a fish tank, which it is. Many people use them for housing snakes. However, a number of the long-time snake keepers/breeders will point out that there are better systems/set-ups for snake keeping.

Having housed snakes in fish tanks for over 30 years, I know it can be done successfully. However, many of the new systems designed specifically for reptiles & snakes can make it a lot easier to provide the appropriate heating parameters, including the belly heat they need for digestion, and the appropriate humidity necessary for good health. For a snake worth $6000, a good set-up seems well worth the money.

citysnakes · 04-02-09, 09:39 AM

Rawrs, many people successfully keep ball pythons in tanks including myself. all i am suggesting is that you gain some experience keeping a ball python in a tank before you go out and invest thousands of dollars on one.

you'll see threads all the time on forums where people ask for help with heating and humidity problems. i think it may be a good idea to first invest in a normal ball python or less expensive morph and gain some experience controlling the environment within the enclosure. this is very important as environmental control is probably the most important concept to understand when keeping any reptile.

also the tank pictured looks much to large if you plan on purchasing a hatchling.

im not trying to tell you what to do but i just think it may be better to first "practice" with a ball python before you decide to invest in one that costs thousands.

hey Chu, i really dont think that belly heat is necessary for digestion.

Kmef07 · 04-02-09, 10:14 AM

or at the very least set the tank up like you will for your snake and then keep get the temps and humidity right and keep in right for a couple weeks or a month or so straight and then get your snake and introduce it to the new enviroment. I use a fish tank for a high humidity animal and it is very hard to keep the humidity right and keep the temps right. took me months to get it opperating where i dont have to tweak it every day.

and not necessary but it is very beneficial. of course it's not necessary because in the wild many snakes crawl in a hole to eat and stay there after they eat the thing living in the hole so there is no belly heat in there. but it is very beneficial for the animal because it speeds up the digestion and helps break down food.

Rawrs-Isatiger · 04-02-09, 04:56 PM

thanks for the help guys, im not sure on what all exaclty i need for a b p. its nice to hear from other people with expierence

Chu'Wuti · 04-03-09, 09:37 AM

Quote:

hey Chu, i really dont think that belly heat is necessary for digestion.

Yeah, this is another one of those controversies that flourishes on this & other forums. I can see how it helps, though, and that's why I mentioned it. But you're right that it is not necessary, Julian.

Of course, you know that I've been informed by others in this forum that I should provide more belly heat with my UTH, so I'm passing that on, and I should have explained more thoroughly. (Unfortunately, my UTH will do 80 deg F period, nothing more, but at least it always stays at 80!)

Rawrs, I have a question--the tank you posted in the pic looks like a 55-gallon, which is plenty big for even an adult BP, and many people here will tell you it's too big for a hatchling. But you said the tank you're getting is even bigger?? The bigger the tank, the more difficult it is to establish the proper humidity.

Kyle has an excellent suggestion about setting up the enclosure before you get the snake so you can do all the needed tweaking to get the humidity & temps right before putting the BP into the enclosure. If you have to do a lot of tweaking after putting the BP in, it will be very stressful for the snake.