Are Balls Really The Best?

Derek1 · 10-03-14, 08:20 PM

Talking to a couple owners, and searching online it's rare to find a bad reviews about Ball. Great temperament, great eaters, "easy" care, overall an A+?

Granted this is a Ball forum section so finding a bad something to say about them will be tough. But what are your honest opinions on Balls? Is this the best Python to start out with or is there something better?

Link to the best care sheet would be appreciated.

SSSSnakes · 10-03-14, 08:37 PM

Ball Pythons can be picky eaters, only wanting live sometimes or not eating at all. I work where we sell many Balls and to say they are always calm, is not true. I will say out of every 12 we sell 3 will be very aggressive. I have seen many baby Balls that will starve themselves to death.

poison123 · 10-03-14, 08:38 PM

Pet rocks. And I'm just tired of seeing them. What are you looking for in a snake?

Derek1 · 10-03-14, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSSSnakes

Ball Pythons can be picky eaters, only wanting live sometimes or not eating at all. I work where we sell many Balls and to say they are always calm, is not true. I will say out of every 12 we sell 3 will be very aggressive. I have seen many baby Balls that will starve themselves to death.

Thanks! What is the best snake IYO?

Derek1 · 10-03-14, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poison123

Pet rocks. And I'm just tired of seeing them. What are you looking for in a snake?

Nothing special. I have a couple of snakes. Was thinking of adding a Boa or Python as I've never kept them.

wrecker45 · 10-03-14, 09:10 PM

I have a ball that went 7 months without eating. I have a redtail boa that has never miss a meal.

CosmicOwl · 10-03-14, 09:40 PM

I don't really care for them. They're over produced and are a huge part of the morph breeding culture that is taking over this hobby.

MDT · 10-03-14, 09:43 PM

No

(Message to short)

Derek1 · 10-03-14, 09:53 PM

Thanks! Good info!

toddnbecka · 10-03-14, 11:49 PM

Some people love them, for sure they're very popular, but it's all a matter of personal preferences. I like pet snakes that are calm and easy to care for, not eye candy or something that's mainly for display.
I never was a fan of ball pythons (or any relatively short/thick-bodied snake) even before I heard about folks having way too many problems with them from a friend who ran an lfs back in the days before the internet. Regardless of the colors/patterns of the many selectively bred morphs available today, it's still a ball python.
That's why my first snake was a Colombian red tail boa, and now many years later I again chose boas, though a smaller variety. I was leaning toward Dumeril's boa before I ran across the Dominicans.

**EL Ziggy** · 10-04-14, 12:19 AM

BP's aren't really my cup of tea but I've seen some nice ones. They're not very active and will sometimes take long food breaks. If it's a python you're interested in take a look at some of the beautiful carpet pythons out there. I'm pretty certain that'll be my next snake.

NewHerp293 · 10-04-14, 10:04 AM

^Agreed haha a carpet is definitely gonna be my next snake! Balls are alright but i just never liked the idea of a pet rock (not always true i know) and enjoy being different cause it seems like a ball python is almost the go to snake for alot of people

eminart · 10-04-14, 11:17 AM

They're great snakes, if you like their characteristics. They're not my cup of tea, but I've had a few. It's also easy to let the insane market saturation and morph craze turn you against them. But, that really shouldn't take away from the snakes, if they meet a person's criteria for a pet.

mrgrimm · 10-04-14, 12:17 PM

A ball python was the perfect choice for my family as a first snake. Very mild mannered and great for letting my 6 year old hold and learn about close up, hands on.

Easy to maintain, and can drape over my shoulders as I clean/re-arrange the tank.

He comes out to explore his large tank every night and drapes himself upon the propped up sticks in very interesting ways...I like the way they slowly, methodically move about.

After over a year of ownership I have nothing negative to say other that the several month break from feeding that he took...he is back to eating regularly though, now.

Great snake, but one is enough for us, next will be a Boa when the time is right.

bigsnakegirl785 · 10-04-14, 07:15 PM

They're alright temperament-wise. I have only had one, but my experience with mine is they aren't too interesting. Mine eats really well as long as he's kept in a steady environment, even eating through the winter. I've had to move 3 times in the last 2 years, though, so he's also changed enclosures 3 times. Each time sparked months-long feeding strikes. And I'm still looking to move again, we are too cramped where we live right now. They're tough animals, and will survive a lot of husbandry mistakes. He didn't do much for my interest in snakes, it wasn't until I got my boa constrictor 5 years later I began to delve into herp keeping (snakes definitely steal my heart, though).