Bought a male ball python

[GartenSpinnen]

I bought a male ball python tonight for 30.00. Hes about 3' long. Pretty good deal aye? Now any tips or recommendations on housing and care would be appreciated, i know somewhat the basics on keeping them but im by no means an expert.
-Nate

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Can you start with what you DO know? Save us some time. Cause while I love BP threads, I hate it when I write a big ol' essay and the person says "yeah I already knew most of that when I asked for care advice, I just didn't say so."

 

[GartenSpinnen]

Well i pretty much know mostly bout cornsnakes, and the basic stuff. Like they like to burrow, need a bigger tank then what i got right now, and need a hot and cool side with hides at both ends.
-Nate

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Then you're doing pretty good already. I don't think they need as much space as a corn snake of similar length would, because these are VERY inactive snakes. I figure if they have enough room to stretch down the length of the tank, and enough room for appropriately-sized (ie snug) hides and a big water bowl they can't turn over, it's big enough.

While the right temp gradient (88-90F, 80F) is important, humidity is the single most important thing you need to worry about. It'll affect everything from health to dehydration to whether they can even shed, and they're a lot more sensitive than corns. You want it up around 70-80%, and the bowl should be big enough and deep enough that they can get inside it without splashing water into their aspen shavings or whatever you give them (just not pine and cedar--they're toxic).

For the above reason, I always suggest undertank heating pads instead of heat lamps, even the lightless ones you can leave on at night. Those things are MURDER on humidity.

Is your snake eating live or pre-killed or? Balls are a LOT more shy and neurotic than corns, so you should keep that in mind; give it a week or even two weeks to settle in before trying to feed, never handle the day before or day of feeding (except to move into a shoebox to eat so they don't eat any wood shavings), give them at least a day of quiet after feeding. Don't be surprised if they skip some meals.

 

[ZooRex]

Instead of writing an essay, I'll steer you in the direction of some really good information.
http://ball-python.net
http://snakekeeper.com
http://anapsid.org
~ Rex

 

[GartenSpinnen]

Well i just sold the ball python, tried to pass on as much info as possible. The girlfriend was NOT having a snake in the house . Its so sad because i finally got the snake i always wanted and i had to turn around and hand it over to someone else. At least i know it will be well cared for though
-Nate

 

[ZooRex]

Oh man that sucks. So your girl friend is ok with T's but not snakes? Thats pretty interesting. Your sure theres nothing you can say to convince here other wise. Believe me, my mom's come along way from allowing frogs I caught in the house to an entire room devoted to exotics along with a roach colony to feed them all. ~ Rex

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Well i just sold the ball python, tried to pass on as much info as possible. The girlfriend was NOT having a snake in the house .

Ouch. You probably should have talked to her before buying the animal, though--and with any animal you might ever get, no matter who you're living with.

 

[GartenSpinnen]

It was all my stupidity she lives in the house to so she has a right to feel comfortable and i should of asked before i brought it home.

 

[Flagg]

How would a tiny harmless BP make anyone uncomfortable? Tarantulas are much more dangerous to humans than any ball python could ever be. You'd think she would at least give it a chance.

 

[ballpython2]

I bought a male ball python tonight for 30.00. Hes about 3' long. Pretty good deal aye? Now any tips or recommendations on housing and care would be appreciated, i know somewhat the basics on keeping them but im by no means an expert.
-Nate

House your ball python in a Rubbermaid bin. This is because they like to be in the smallest space possible and keeps them secure and also rubbermaid bins hold in heat/humidity much better than a glass tank or anything like that.

so make sure you have a heating pad on the warm side, a cool side (no heatin pad) and a hide on bothsides.

if you do use a rubbermaid bin make sure you put good size and a good number of holes in it so the humidity isnt too high.

 

[phil jones]

Well i just sold the ball python, tried to pass on as much info as possible. The girlfriend was NOT having a snake in the house . Its so sad because i finally got the snake i always wanted and i had to turn around and hand it over to someone else. At least i know it will be well cared for though
-Nate

nice girlfrend you have i must say not to give it try :wall: well lets hope that one day she comes around to a ball python say a baby or young one ? a bummer or what any way good luck if you try next time ---- phil

 

[LeilaNami]

My roommate is the same way. She lets me have any pet I want except snakes. There goes my tricolor hognose dream...

 

[Kryshah]

The girlfriend was NOT having a snake in the house . Its so sad because i finally got the snake i always wanted and i had to turn around and hand it over to someone else. -Nate

I have the same problem with my wife. My ball was the compromise though. She absolutely won't let me have spiders, and she's starting to wear me down on the ball. She's convinced that I need to get rid of it before we have kids. I guess she thinks a 3 foot ball will strangle our babies.... ignorance sucks, but it's so much worse this close to home.