male or female

hightower · 09-15-04, 06:06 AM

i called into the local reptile shop here to buy my usual weekly supply of mice, and was handling a few ball pythons (which i've wanted since starting into snake keeping). now i have read up loads in the past about them and have printed of many care sheets but now i want to put a few questions to YOU, the guys who actually deal with them day in and day out.

what are their temperament like? i currently have a corn and a kingsnake, would they be similar? both the corn and king are pretty docile as far as handling goes.

difference between male and female? in terms of colouring/pattern, feeding, temperament and size?

i understand that every snake is different, but i just wanted to know your answers based on your experience of keeping BP's.

treegirl · 09-15-04, 06:22 AM

good questions---I'd like to know too.

smeagel · 09-15-04, 06:55 AM

ball pythons are very docile, sometimes they can be picky eaters. But as far as temperment goes, they are the best snake as far as i am concerned. Females reach a larger size than males, but are no different as far as temperment and colour goes as far as i am concerned.

Kevin McRae · 09-15-04, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hightower
i called into the local reptile shop here to buy my usual weekly supply of mice, and was handling a few ball pythons (which i've wanted since starting into snake keeping). now i have read up loads in the past about them and have printed of many care sheets but now i want to put a few questions to YOU, the guys who actually deal with them day in and day out.

Well first don't ever buy them from a pet store, buy from a breeder becasue the animal will be much healthier and eating better. Most pet sotre ball pythons are WC and you know breeder's balls are CBB

Quote:

Originally posted by hightower

what are their temperament like? i currently have a corn and a kingsnake, would they be similar? both the corn and king are pretty docile as far as handling goes.

Most Ball pythons will alllow brief handling, I think they are a better snake to handle then corns or kings because these guys just sit still on your lap.

Quote:

Originally posted by hightower

difference between male and female? in terms of colouring/pattern, feeding, temperament and size?

Adult females will be larger(4.5+) and amles are usally 4 feet max. The males will have larger spurs then the females too. Otherwise they must be probed or popped

Quote:

Originally posted by hightower

i understand that every snake is different, but i just wanted to know your answers based on your experience of keeping BP's.

Not a problem

Also pick up the Ball Python Manual, I think every ball pwner should

robitza · 09-15-04, 07:01 AM

Yeah get the manual it is a great source. There are also some other books out there on snakes that are great. I have come across a few on Ball Pythons as well. Will check and post the titles later.

Vengeance · 09-15-04, 07:39 AM

I have both, I have a Cali King and Ball pythons.

Temperment wise, can't even compare the two. My ball is very docile, I never have a problem introducing him to someone who has never held a snake before because the chances of him darting about or biting are pretty much nil.

My Cali King on the other hand is psycho! I'm the only person I let handle him, he trys to tag me all the time, very skitish, he just recently stopped musking me everytime I took him out of his cage to feed him. He is mabye a year old, most likely less, I'm hoping he calms down as he gets bigger.

treegirl · 09-15-04, 09:25 AM

great info! Thank you all......

So the females are larger than the males. Very interesting. What would be good to start a baby on? Full grown mice? Baby rats? I know it depends on the size of the snake. But I'm curious as to what everyone feeds their bp's.

Vengeance · 09-15-04, 09:29 AM

Hatchlings fresh from the egg are usually started on a live Fuzzy mouse. But after their first feeding, I think most people would start them on Rat Pups.

treegirl · 09-15-04, 10:33 AM

Does anyone have a preference to having a male or female? Or does it really make a difference?

daver676 · 09-15-04, 10:56 AM

Ball pythons stress easily, so minimal handling is advised because stress leads to eating problems, among others. Keep the enclosure in a low traffic area, and don't walk around with the snake too much. Just sit with it. That is all I do with Sophia. Get her out, walk to the family room, flip on the tube, and let her wander around my lap and the chair for 10-15 minutes.

I would also recommend starting your baby off on rats right off the bat. Rats come in all the same sizes as mice and larger. When I got Sophia onto rats, her growth was mind-boggling.

Invictus · 09-15-04, 10:56 AM

I disagree that ball pythons are docile. This is a huge myth about this species. They are TIMID. This is why handling of BPs, as nice as they are, should be kept to a bare minimum. 90% of the time, the reason they go on hunger strikes is because of stress from overhandling. That's just my opinion.

justinO · 09-15-04, 01:29 PM

I like females but only cuz they get bigger!

If you are just getting a pet and do not intend to breed, I think a male is a much better choice. They are just as nice, but are almost always cheaper!

hightower · 09-16-04, 05:35 AM

well i have just bought a female. she was going to shed yesterday so i am picking her up today. same price as the two males but nearly twice the size considering she's the same age!

Kevin McRae · 09-16-04, 07:02 AM

Cool, pick up the male when your there too....

hightower · 09-16-04, 07:50 AM

yes thats one more question, he will be going into a standard 20 gallon long but i am building another one bigger so that there can more than one in there.

do balls live together ok?

i had heard (but it may be a myth) that they don't generally mate when there is just one male and one female, is this true?