Am I ready for a Ball Python?

[Terranaut]

And less $$$

[possum]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Where did you experience 2 year olds having very fussy eating habits? I wouldn't call it fussy when it's breeding season and they stop for a few months. I look at it as less clean up.

"where"? In my house....yes I realize they go off food seasonally for breeding & temperature drops in native Africa (I have kept MANY snakes & bred some for many years); what I was trying to say is that often, when people turned theirs over to me as "too much trouble" that was a big part of their frustration & decision to do so. It's also why I don't necessarily recommend rosy boas as the perfect beginner snake for their docile nature & all... (and I used to breed them!): I do remember what it's like keeping your first snakes & having "trouble getting them to eat" & I have talked to ppl who have second thoughts about them when they refuse food in the winter... even though "we" know it's normal.

I've always raised my own rodents (& used to have a side business selling them as well, as I always "made too many") but when a "normal person" (defined as one without a house full of snakes? -LOL) has one snake to feed, they often get tired of buying food that is refused & wasted...especially if they are on a budget?

I am not at all against ball pythons, they have much to recommend them...but they aren't the only choice for a pet, nor are they the easiest or the best for everyone. To those breeding & flooding the market with them, I apologize for stepping on your toes. Incidentally it's not good for the snakes either when there are so many that the prices drop...as then many people see them as 'disposable entertainment' and don't give them the care & respect they totally deserve. (same is true of corn snakes & other pets who through no fault of their own are mass produced because of "popularity")

[smy_749]

Possum, you should really just have " Hundreds of snakes in my house" as your signature. You say it in just about every one of your posts....

[Hurrok]

My female went off for 6 months, saved a lot of money and as long as they don't drop their weight drastically it's nothing to worry about. I wouldn't say it is a con at all, it's just they way that they are. Now she feeds no problem and everyone is happy haha.

I've only kept BP's for about 2.5 years but I've never come across an issue that would be of concern. Either one or two go off of food but that's because they are getting older and it's more common when it's breeding season for them to stop eating. Other than that, no other issues. These guys are pretty hardy and are really good pets.

It's all common sense and comes down to just taking care of them properly and as long as you're set up and you pay attention it's breezy from there. Guaranteed you will have a happy and healthy snake. It's seems like you have made the first step by asking questions!

Just make sure you have a feed supplier lined up so you don't have to go hunting for one afterwards. I'd stay away from common department pet stores as they are expensive for F/T. Look for local breeders.

You can either go the terrarium route or the tub route, I personally use tubs. Why? They save space (I have 10 of these guys) and are awesome for cleaning and easy to maintain. Plus with having tubs heating with Flexwatt heat tape is simple. I've got one in a tank and humidity is a constant issue, I have to spray it a couple times a day for it to stay, even with something covering the mesh lid. I don't have a problem when it comes to the tubs. Paper towel is also great as it hold humidity well and is a quick clean-up without having to deal with aspen shavings getting all over the place in the cleaning process.

Anyways, it's super exciting getting a snake! I'm happy to have and now I have a few more No regrets! Good luck!

[possum]

Originally Posted by smy_749

Possum, you should really just have " Hundreds of snakes in my house" as your signature. You say it in just about every one of your posts....

Then you should block my posts if you don't enjoy them...as I'll be blocking yours. I don't tolerate trolling and you are not helping the OP either.

[smy_749]

Originally Posted by possum

Then you should block my posts if you don't enjoy them...as I'll be blocking yours. I don't tolerate trolling and you are not helping the OP either.

I'm just saying, theres no need to say it in every post to justify what you say as sound knowledge. If its good advice, doesn't matter who it came from, and if it isn't, doesn't matter who it came from. Theres no need to tell everyone about how many snakes you've owned because frankly its irrelevant to your level of knowledge. It will become apparent that you are a knowledgable member here over time, not when you keep telling us how long you've been in the hobby and how many snakes you have in your house.....

You don't have to block me and say I'm trolling...

And I didn't say I don't enjoy your posts, just that that particular piece of information over and over is not necessary

[franks]

Originally Posted by Terranaut

And less $$$

Less $$$ for you, a well-fed monitor for me lol.

[Terranaut]

Originally Posted by smy_749

Possum, you should really just have " Hundreds of snakes in my house" as your signature. You say it in just about every one of your posts....

Originally Posted by possum

Then you should block my posts if you don't enjoy them...as I'll be blocking yours. I don't tolerate trolling and you are not helping the OP either.

Originally Posted by smy_749

I'm just saying, theres no need to say it in every post to justify what you say as sound knowledge. If its good advice, doesn't matter who it came from, and if it isn't, doesn't matter who it came from. Theres no need to tell everyone about how many snakes you've owned because frankly its irrelevant to your level of knowledge. It will become apparent that you are a knowledgable member here over time, not when you keep telling us how long you've been in the hobby and how many snakes you have in your house.....

You don't have to block me and say I'm trolling...

And I didn't say I don't enjoy your posts, just that that particular piece of information over and over is not necessary

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/membe...k-hearing.html

[StudentoReptile]

In response to the topic at hand, I usually do not suggest ball pythons as beginners for the same reasons others mentioned. Yes, ANY snake can be fairly easy if you set it up right. However, MOST beginners want an inexpensive snakes they can toss in a glass tank with a basking light and/or UTH. Cornsnakes, kingsnakes, garters, and most other small North American colubrids do fine this way. IMHO ball pythons do not.

Most beginners do not want to invest in a custom snake enclosure online or outfit a plastic container; to them, this is too much hassle. Much easier to buy a tank at the nearest pet store. A beginner animal, in my definition anyway, has to be as dummy-proof as possible. Yes, I know any animal isn't 100% dummy-proof (unless we're talking pet rocks!), but ball pythons are not very close to the top IMHO. A YEARLING cornsnake or kingsnake is fairly resilient compared to most other species, when you take into account the following: availability & initial cost, husbandry requirements, hardiness when it comes to feeding, etc.

I will concur that BPs can be easy...but there are a few more hoops to jump through to getting them set-up ideally compared to corns and kings. They stress out more easily, more susceptible to humidity issues, and WC specimens are often unhealthy. Unless you buy directly from a breeder, and you KNOW the snake is CBB, and that breeder is reputable and can help you along with any potential issues, and you're willing to invest in better housing that the standard tank set-up...then a ball python may not be the best choice for someone starting out in snakes.

That's my $.02.

[smy_749]

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

In response to the topic at hand, I usually do not suggest ball pythons as beginners for the same reasons others mentioned. Yes, ANY snake can be fairly easy if you set it up right. However, MOST beginners want an inexpensive snakes they can toss in a glass tank with a basking light and/or UTH. Cornsnakes, kingsnakes, garters, and most other small North American colubrids do fine this way. IMHO ball pythons do not.

Most beginners do not want to invest in a custom snake enclosure online or outfit a plastic container; to them, this is too much hassle. Much easier to buy a tank at the nearest pet store. A beginner animal, in my definition anyway, has to be as dummy-proof as possible. Yes, I know any animal isn't 100% dummy-proof (unless we're talking pet rocks!), but ball pythons are not very close to the top IMHO. A YEARLING cornsnake or kingsnake is fairly resilient compared to most other species, when you take into account the following: availability & initial cost, husbandry requirements, hardiness when it comes to feeding, etc.

I will concur that BPs can be easy...but there are a few more hoops to jump through to getting them set-up ideally compared to corns and kings. They stress out more easily, more susceptible to humidity issues, and WC specimens are often unhealthy. Unless you buy directly from a breeder, and you KNOW the snake is CBB, and that breeder is reputable and can help you along with any potential issues, and you're willing to invest in better housing that the standard tank set-up...then a ball python may not be the best choice for someone starting out in snakes.

That's my $.02.

Don't forget after all the extra setup costs and potential issues, you also have the fact that paper weights are more active than ball pythons, and people getting into the hobby for the first time would assumably like to see the snake now and again.

In the end if you do like many species including corns and kings, than I would suggest you to knock that off of your list before you get the BP, but if you only like the BP's for now, get the BP , do your research and don't cut corners.

Best of luck

[possum]

Originally Posted by Terranaut

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/membe...k-hearing.html

Point taken...but kindly consider how YOU come off? A person comes here trying to be of help... and experience is relevant. (try to get a job without it?). I do agree that just because you have kept so many & for so long, it does not mean you are right...it also does NOT mean you are wrong. It has been my experience that ppl on forums learn much from each other, at least when they are not bogged down in petty stuff like this. I 'get' that this is your pet peeve (Terranaut & smy_749)...but did we really need that in the thread???

Honestly I'd heard that ppl are rude on here but I kept an open mind & came on anyway. I think you might try the polite approach: you could have expressed yourself in a private message, not keep taking a thread off-topic? But hey, what do I know? I might find better things to do and leave you all to your sandbox. Or, we can start over & be nicer?

[smy_749]

Originally Posted by possum

Point taken...but kindly consider how YOU come off? A person comes here trying to be of help... and experience is relevant. (try to get a job without it?). I do agree that just because you have kept so many & for so long, it does not mean you are right...it also does NOT mean you are wrong. It has been my experience that ppl on forums learn much from each other, at least when they are not bogged down in petty stuff like this. I 'get' that this is your pet peeve (Terranaut & smy_749)...but did we really need that in the thread???

Honestly I'd heard that ppl are rude on here but I kept an open mind & came on anyway. I think you might try the polite approach: you could have expressed yourself in a private message, not keep taking a thread off-topic? But hey, what do I know? I might find better things to do and leave you all to your sandbox. Or, we can start over & be nicer?

sounds good. Every forum has rude people, this one is actually considerably less than others but none are arsehole free.

[Terranaut]

Originally Posted by possum

Point taken...but kindly consider how YOU come off? A person comes here trying to be of help... and experience is relevant. (try to get a job without it?). I do agree that just because you have kept so many & for so long, it does not mean you are right...it also does NOT mean you are wrong. It has been my experience that ppl on forums learn much from each other, at least when they are not bogged down in petty stuff like this. I 'get' that this is your pet peeve (Terranaut & smy_749)...but did we really need that in the thread???

Honestly I'd heard that ppl are rude on here but I kept an open mind & came on anyway. I think you might try the polite approach: you could have expressed yourself in a private message, not keep taking a thread off-topic? But hey, what do I know? I might find better things to do and leave you all to your sandbox. Or, we can start over & be nicer?

Come off?? If I was coming off at you I would have posted something other than just the link. Keep your pants on, nobody was insulting anyone or being rude. I was showing you there is a thread ti talk about people who insist that they must be right based on length of time herping or number of animals owned. This was not the thread. The link is one to complain in. Nobody said you were wrong and this site is not full of rude people ,it's a tight community where people who try to start crap and rock tge boat are not welcome and chased out. We love our little forum here so please contribute constructively or move along is how it's done. Oposing views is how things get sorted out and newer better things for our hobby emerge.
Now back to our regularly scheduled thread and yes we can be nice and friends

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by possum

"where"? In my house....yes I realize they go off food seasonally for breeding & temperature drops in native Africa (I have kept MANY snakes & bred some for many years); what I was trying to say is that often, when people turned theirs over to me as "too much trouble" that was a big part of their frustration & decision to do so. It's also why I don't necessarily recommend rosy boas as the perfect beginner snake for their docile nature & all... (and I used to breed them!): I do remember what it's like keeping your first snakes & having "trouble getting them to eat" & I have talked to ppl who have second thoughts about them when they refuse food in the winter... even though "we" know it's normal.

I've always raised my own rodents (& used to have a side business selling them as well, as I always "made too many") but when a "normal person" (defined as one without a house full of snakes? -LOL) has one snake to feed, they often get tired of buying food that is refused & wasted...especially if they are on a budget?

I am not at all against ball pythons, they have much to recommend them...but they aren't the only choice for a pet, nor are they the easiest or the best for everyone. To those breeding & flooding the market with them, I apologize for stepping on your toes. Incidentally it's not good for the snakes either when there are so many that the prices drop...as then many people see them as 'disposable entertainment' and don't give them the care & respect they totally deserve. (same is true of corn snakes & other pets who through no fault of their own are mass produced because of "popularity")

If someone all of a sudden is worried about a non-feeding breeder sized ball python during breeding season then they simply shouldn't have got a snake in the first place. If someone did proper research they should expect that behaviour.

It's no different than looking up if the species is calm or flighty.

[ErikBush97]

Originally Posted by smy_749

Possum, you should really just have " Hundreds of snakes in my house" as your signature. You say it in just about every one of your posts....

So Possum has experience with snakes... Isn't that the point of this forum?