BP not good beginner snake

limey · 01-04-13, 12:44 AM

Sadly, I'm going to be giving my ball python away to a new home. The main reason is relocation. Next month I'm planning on driving across the country to start afresh.

However, I am also disappointed that my ball python has not been the pet I expected. Even after much research, the ball python tended to be far more finnicky, extremely picky (much to her own detriment) and less intelligent than I'd hoped - to the point of being quite dumb. As such, I spent a great deal of time fussing over her, her enclosure, her food and her picky tastes, and feeling relatively little to no reward for my efforts.

It is a shame that ball pythons are considered beginner snakes by many people, because I would tend to disagree. People are quick to recommend them to newcomers. They are perhaps “beginner pythons”, but in my opinion definitely not beginner snakes.

As a first time snake keeper, but also an animal lover and former zoo keeper, I actually found my ball python too frustrating for any first-time keeper and as such I would refrain from advising them to newcomers.

This experience has sadly tainted my opinion not of snakes, but of keeping snakes, and I am considering it best not to have another in the future, but perhaps try another type of pet instead.

I would advise all beginner hobbyists to choose very wisely when considering a first snake.

Regards,

Limey

Corey209 · 01-04-13, 12:45 AM

I wouldn't say that ball pythons aren't good beginner snakes. I'm pretty new to personally keeping snakes and I have yet to have a problem with mine. I just think you need to find the right one and make sure it's established before purchasing.

EmbraceCalamity · 01-04-13, 12:49 AM

All snakes are different. Your experience with one single snake doesn't necessarily determine the experiences of every new person with every ball python. Though if you wanna talk easy, corns would probably be the easiest, so if you ever decide to try again, that might be a good route. Either way, I'm sorry to hear it didn't work out.

~Maggot

iBaman · 01-04-13, 12:50 AM

and thus why retics rule. get a baby, have mentors for questions, and grow and learn with them. I will never have a ball again due to the boring nature of them..pet rocks indeed.

Corey209 · 01-04-13, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBaman

and thus why retics rule. get a baby, have mentors for questions, and grow and learn with them. I will never have a ball again due to the boring nature of them..pet rocks indeed.

I would never recommend a retic as a starter snake.. You need a very large enclosure and multiple people to handle a 10+ foot snake.

iBaman · 01-04-13, 12:54 AM

dwarfs and super dwarfs don't require multiple people. and really...they aren't that difficult. pains in the arse sometimes, yes. but much more rewarding

GarterPython · 01-04-13, 12:56 AM

No a retic should not be a begginer snake. It can be but most will disagree with your statement. Sorry

iBaman · 01-04-13, 12:57 AM

and those who disagree are likely those who have never had them. but, to each their own.

GarterPython · 01-04-13, 12:59 AM

Well a retic is a big commitment!!

iBaman · 01-04-13, 12:59 AM

aren't all snakes?

Corey209 · 01-04-13, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBaman

and those who disagree are likely those who have never had them. but, to each their own.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBaman

aren't all snakes?

Not all snakes can weigh over 100 pounds.. Regular dwarfs still get around 10 feet don't they? So the only retic I'd ever recommend is a super dwarf. My first snake was an ATB and that was a pain, I could only imagine if I would have been recommended a retic...

GarterPython · 01-04-13, 01:03 AM

Yes but a retic is huge and can take up a lot of room. They are just not concidered a beginner snake and never will be mostly probably because of there size. I'm sorry but I'm not going to argue any more about this because I have never had one.

totheend · 01-04-13, 01:12 AM

Sorry you had such a poor experience with your first snake. But it's pretty clear that they can be picky eaters...you have to not worry if they skip a meal here and there. But I also have to say, if kept properly they are pretty easy pets.

limey · 01-04-13, 01:18 AM

This is just my personal experience with snakes. I have experience with many different types of animals - some captive, some wild. In reference to the retics, any animal that is a big commitment is probably not for a beginner. A beginner (in any hobby) is somebody who is just getting started. You get started on something that is easily maintained, a pleasure to keep, gives you an insight into the hobby and whets the appetite for animals of more advanced keeping skill.

Therefore it is my opinion that ball pythons are a little outside of what a beginner may expect from a beginner snake. Mine was too frustrating for me to consider keeping a snake again... instead of whetting the appetite it unfortunately had the opposite effect. I never want another.

I would refrain from recommending them as a No.1 snake... just my opinion.

Regards.

Terranaut · 01-04-13, 02:15 AM

Not to sound preachy here but maybe the problem wasn't the snake but was your expectations of the snake. Royals are great first snakes. Easy to handle. Simple needs. Not to big but still enough animal to be impressive. I have boas,gophers, kings and carpets and would recomend a Royal as a first snake to anyone. Everything mentioned is true to the nature of this breed.
They are boring and sit in their hide all day. This is normal.
They are finiky eaters. Not true they just take breaks fron eating for weeks at a time.
They are not very smart. Show me a smart snake. Seriously none of them are smart.
So in my opinion you bought a snake before you researched enough about it.
As far as a retic for a first snake.....ahh no.
In my opinion this is recipe for tragedy 9times out of 10.
Either the owner will give it up and not stay commited or the snake will just be a snake and bite the owner during a feeding mistake. Always exceptions but again I wonder why we see many people with young retics on this site but only a couple with adult retics.