New BP owner

agentcooper · 07-24-09, 07:07 AM

Hey everybody. I am almost ready to buy my first snake. After researching, and visiting local pet shops I've decided to go with a ball python. I am still not %100 at this point as I'm also considering some two week old corn snakes(they are so cute), but the BP seems like the best choice. I was wondering if their is an advantage to getting one younger rather than older. There are two BP's I am looking at but one is older/larger/more expensive. I'm gonna look around here for more info (FAQ) and maybe will get an answer from there.

Thanks

s

bads15 · 07-27-09, 10:56 AM

Quote:

I was wondering if their is an advantage to getting one younger rather than older.

the knowledge that you will gain.
when i got my first ball it was already at least a yearling. the next two were already adults. now this year i picked up a pair of babies and have had to refine my skills all over again. nothing drastic, however i have gained some new knowledge and will get to see theses to grow from the start right through to adulthood.
i would rather get the younger one if your just getting it for a pet. also the younger it is the longer you will have it for (in theory.)
ps. its more common and less scary to be bit by a baby. once it happens you will be relieved at how little it hurts and wont be scared of it after that. my first bite was from one of my large adults. i was very surprised when it happened as it was probably my seventh or eighth year with balls. needles to say i wasn't expecting it. i was always afraid of the day it would happen but when it did... oh man, if i didnt see it with my own eyes, i would probly not have noticed. i was very relieved at how little i could feel it. now i'm not so worried.
cheeres to your new ball if you get it . i'm sure you will enjoy it.
john

Will0W783 · 07-27-09, 02:34 PM

Yeah, bites from baby snakes are not too bad. Of course my first bite was from my BP. I'd been holding a guinea pig and forgot to wash my hands before trying to pick up my BP maybe 15 minutes later. He thought it was food and latched onto 3 of my fingers. I scared the heck out of the apartment maintenance guy who was fixing my heat, but after that I wasn't scared of being bitten again. A younger snake is good, as bads15 said, you'll have it longer, but snakes live 20-30 years anyway, so it isn't like a young adult will leave you too soon. Adults are usually hardier if you doubt your skills at all.

agentcooper · 07-27-09, 08:23 PM

I ended up with a female BP. I'm not sure how old she is. She's pretty small (almost a foot long and fairly skinny). She was holding on to me and my girlfriend all the way home from the store. Once we got home she just turned into a ball and has been like that ever since. From what I've read that's normal. I want to hold her but I know it's best to leave her be and let her get settled in.

Will0W783 · 07-28-09, 11:28 AM

Yep, give her time to acclimate. With babies that's especially important. Do you know when she was fed last, how often her feedings were, and what she was eating? Those are important things to know to ease the snake's settling in and thriving. Best of luck, BPs are great!

la613 · 07-28-09, 02:19 PM

you gotta let the snake settle in but u still gotta keep the humidity up right like misting is still good while its trying to settle in???

agentcooper · 07-29-09, 07:10 AM

I've been trying not to handle her much but, she seems to like it (my imagination?). She was fed weekly and the last time she was fed was on Friday, I'm not sure what she was being fed but I'll be getting them at the same place I got here so I should be alright.

My set up so far is:
20 gallon tank
Terra Fiber substrate
Exo Terra substrate heater
50w basking spot lamp
Two hides on either side of the tank
Small water dish
Strip Thermometer

I'm on a mission to find a spray bottle to mist the tank today. The substrate is getting pretty dry. I'm in Southern Ontario and it's pretty humid as it is. I think I need to buy a humidity gauge.

Will0W783 · 07-29-09, 07:31 AM

Don't bother getting a strip humidity guage. Get yourself a digital temp/humidity gun. It will be far far more accurate. The little strip thermometers are practically useless as they measure only the area of the surface on which they are sitting. Also, when you say "small water dish", is it large enough for the BP to soak in? Snakes absolutely require a water dish large enough for them to comfortably curl up and soak in. They regulate their body temperature and hydration by doing so. Other than that sounds like you have a great set-up!

siz · 07-29-09, 08:36 AM

Make sure it doesn't get too hot, you might not need 2 heat sources.

Will0W783 · 07-29-09, 09:56 AM

Oh I forgot to mention, don't mist the cage every day. BPs are notorious for developing respiratory infections from getting too damp. I would get a humidity guage ASAP and figure on keeping the humidity about 60%. I only mist my BP maybe 2-3 times a week, but it is fairly humid in my snake room overall.

agentcooper · 07-29-09, 11:38 AM

I grabbed a spray bottle today ad gave the tank some moisture. Hot water in the bottle seemed to work well. The substrate was starting to dry up on the surface. I have been looking around at stuff and all I have access buying right now is the big apple thermometer and humidity gauge. I knew the strip was a bad idea but there was not much there to choose from. I got it thinking it was cheap and I could buy something maybe online or in the GTA later on. Anyone have any suggestions for places to buy in or around Toronto?

http://www.bigappleherp.com/core/med...3b40afcd74db82

The store did not have any digital stuff. I'm going down to look at what Petsmart has. I would rather support smaller shops over the large corporate pet stores if I could. If I was to eliminate one of the heat sources which one the lamp or the mat? I'm thinking the mat cause she seems to be hanging out on the cool side all the time. It's kind of funny she is either in her hide or curled up in the corner on the cool side.

Oh, and I need a much larger water dish. I asked the guy at the shop if everything looked alright and he said it was alright. There are a few people that really know snakes well but it is kind of hit or miss.

Thanks to everyone participating in this thread for helping me get sorted.

bads15 · 07-30-09, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Anyone have any suggestions for places to buy in or around Toronto?

all reptiles at kennedy north of ellesmere
AllReptiles.ca - Snakes, Crocodiles, Turtles, Tortoises, Feeders, Care Sheets, Reptile Supplies, Lighting & More!

agentcooper · 07-30-09, 07:22 AM

Thanks for the link. That looks like a great site. The infrared thermometer looks like the one to go for. I'll have to pick one up next time I'm headed through T.O.

siz · 07-30-09, 03:17 PM

There are some great breeders in that area as well. Or, if you can wait, there is a HUGE breeder's expo in Missisauga on Sept 19-20. I'm sure you can find some cheap normal ball pythons there! Or, you can buy a second snake