Snakes keep dying

[SnoopySnake]

If you can't even afford buying from a proper breeder, how are you going to pay for any vet bills that come up.....

How long did you have each of them before they died?

[bigsnakegirl785]

I agree with Andy_G. These are living things, not toys. They deserve a happy healthy life, if you do not have the funds to care for them, it's not fair to the animals for you to own them.

If you are able to properly care for them now with the information given to you, that's one thing. But if you have to sacrifice necessities for your snakes because you can't afford it, it's best to skip on them. I sympathize with your PTSD, but that doesn't give you the right to play with something else's life.

[SerpentineDream]

Before all else, pick up a book on the care of ball pythons. There are also free care sheets available on the internet, and Kindle books cheap on Amazon. Reptiles Magazine usually has great free care guides on their website. Go to reptilesmagazine.com and search for ball pythons. Read the forum here - it's a wealth of information. Ask questions here - people are upset because the little ones starved due to lack of knowledge when knowledge is the first item you should have picked up... before a tub, heat mat, thermostat, etc. And it's free. But we'll still help.

Spend some time looking up all you can about the care of ball pythons, ask your questions, make sure you have a proper setup (it doesn't have to be expensive, but it does need the essential things a ball python must have to survive), and then try again armed with that knowledge. Normal ball pythons are not expensive and if you look around you may find that you can get one from a breeder for about the same price as Petco if not cheaper. At least insist that their onsite vet checks out your critter before you being it home, and like macnchz said, don't accept one with mites - make them fix the problem first.

Non-negotiable items you will need:

- Appropriately-sized tub for the animal you choose. Air holes drilled for ventilation, and clips to secure the lid. Ball pythons are strong so you might replace your current tub with a weatherproof locking tub (they have them at Walmart) for security. It's not a bad idea to replace your current tub anyway in case the previous occupants were ill.
- Heat mat installed under one end of the tub. Should take up 1/3 of the floor so your snake can choose to be warmer or cooler as needed.
- You must have a thermostat to control the heat mat (the Jump Start, sold on Amazon, will work fine and runs about $28). Uncontrolled heat is dangerous. Don't skip this.
- You must have a thermometer / hygrometer to monitor temperature and humidity. Probe can go into the warm hide (don't rely on the thermostat readout). A second thermometer should monitor the cool end. For the cool end, a stickup thermometer is adequate. Keep close tabs on your temps so you can intervene quickly if necessary. Too cold is bad, and too hot is deadly.
- Water bowl with fresh water available at all times on the cool end. Any appropriately-sized container will work but a heavier one such as a stoneware crock is best so it can't be easily tipped over. A snake on wet paper towels is not a happy snake. Or a healthy snake.
- At least 2 hiding places. One on the warm end and one on the cool end for sure, and one in the middle too is great. Snake should not have to choose between feeling safe and thermoregulation. Can be cheap or free, like a plastic flower pot turned over with an entry hole cut into it, or a cereal box cut to make a little fort. Really small snakes often like TP or paper towel tubes. A snake that feels unsafe will be stressed out and often not eat.
- Paper towels are OK as substrate as long as they are replaced every time the snake soils them.
- You must provide appropriately-sized prey. Ball pythons usually start out eating rat pups. Rats are more expensive than mice, so if the cost of food is problematic consider a corn snake. They are great pets and the largest prey item they will need as an adult is a medium adult mouse. Baby corn snakes start off with pinky mice. They begin life looking drab, but their colors come in as they grow up and they are available in a rainbow of color morphs. They are also often less expensive to purchase than ball pythons, depending on the morph, and colubrids tend to be a hardy lot.
- Set a little bit of money aside every paycheck to save up for an emergency vet visit. If and when your snake needs help, you must be able to pony up for veterinary care. Look around beforehand for a vet who sees reptiles - not all vets do, so having one picked out in advance is smart. If you find more than one you can compare their rates too.

You certainly don't have to be made of money, but if you can't provide at least the above bare essentials, don't get a snake. Dead snakes won't help you, and it's not fair to them.

Consider it a hard lesson learned, take the advice (criticism and all) and best of luck with whatever you decide.

[Albert Clark]

Thanks SD. That was well said.
@ snakesir: We are all concerned about the health and welfare of the animals here on SNAKES forum. We are not discounting your priorities nor are we trying to throw you under the bus. i just want you to know we are trying to help you and the situation with the snakes.