Does anyone have eny experience with snakes? I really want to get a Ball Python but i want to know what im getting myself into first... Thanks in advance.
I think lots of people are getting more experience with their trouser snakes after what happened in the implant thread.
Ball Pythons are great beginner snakes. They are a tame species even when wild caught. They are fairly cheap but make sure you get a captive bread juvenile. They stay fairly small and are easy to care for. I used to have a bunch of wierd reptiles as a kid!
Im going to a reptile show in San Diego next sunday. The guy at the local petshop said i can find a baby ball python for as low as $7 a snake and i could get my whole setup for less then $50. Thats a pretty good deal right?
Ball pythons are a great starter snake. They rarely exceed 4 1/2 feet so they really will never need a tank bigger than 55 gallons. A baby will get by just fine in a ten gallon tank. They need to be kept about 80-85 degrees. The easiest way to do this is an undertank heatpad(with thermostat is preferred) that cover about 1/3 of the tank. Stay away from in tank heat rocks as they can and will get too hot. I have seen snakes sit on a hotrock untill their belly splits open from the heat. Babies will start out eating pinky or fuzzy mice once a week. Adults generaly one to two adult mice depending on size. To give them the required humidity I recommend a spray bottle to give them a light misting once a day (slightly heavier misting when the snake is shedding. Also have a water bowl that has a heavy base and is big enough for them to get into(this will help during shedding periods). I also recommend one of the heavy plastic caves that you can get from any pet store (this gives them a place for privacy and again give them a rough surface to help with shedding). Pine shavings are the best substrate for them (about a 1/4-1/2" deep) as it clumps and is easy to spot clean. Also whatever you do make shure it is a captive bred snake as wild caught ones can have serious problems acclimating to captive life. I was manager/part owner of a reptile shop for 5 years and have been around reptiles for over 20. I have bred over 100 different types of snakes, lizatds, turtle, tortoises. Be wary where you buy from. I recommend buying from a dedicated reptile shop or directly from a breeder. PM me if you have any more questions or need help finding a good reptile shop or breeder. Hope this helps.
Had some water snakes as temp. pets when a kid. Bitten by a western diamondback 4 years ago--always dug snakes, less so now (on the trail, not by a pet). Ball pythons are supposed to be great starters. Indigo snakes are also good.
At that price it would be a wild caught snake. STAY AWAY from wild caught unless you have previous experince. I'm guessing you are going to the IRBA show. It's a great show but the show later in the summer will have more of a selection as it is still early in the breeding season for a lot of reptiles. Edit: If you do plan on going to the show I can see who's going to be there and send you to a reputable breeder
I have bearded dragons, and have had a BUCH of other lizards... I think it's time to move on in the reptile world....
Not really recommended for a beginner as they can get 6ft. long and usually don't have the best dispositions. Also cage requirements for adult nile monitors are rater LARGE and expensive.
True, I guess a Savannah would be a better beginners monitor. Chameleons are ver cool as well but a little more work than a snake. The problem with the ball python is that it is nocturnal and really doesn't do anything during the day.
Savannahs are great. I had a 3 1/2 footer that was almost a foot wide at it's belly lol. It was stupid tame. I would have it sit on the counter all day sometimes and let customers pet it. As far as ball pytons being nocturnal, even at night they don't really do all that much lol.
I haven't had any reptiles in a while but I always wanted a green tree monitor and a emerald tree boa or green tree python. The wife won't go for snakes but doesn't mind lizards. I just don't have the time.
