Help out my newbie friend....please

[Beardo]

They can be tricky to care of if thier wild caught. Thats why you should go to a breeder for purchasing animals. Ball pythons may have some problems, like feeding. If your snake is not eating live feeders then try pre-killed. If the snake does not eat mice, then try rats, or gerbils. And only use force feeding as a last resort. But once you got the snake force fed, they should feed on thier own after that.

Their husbandry is the same, whether WC or CBB. Most people keep them way too hot.....for example, its a common misconception that because its 95F in Ghana, thats what temperature Ball Pythons need....when in reality if you ever go to Africa and look for Ball Pythons, you won't find them where its 95 degrees....you'll find them in burrows, underground where its between 78-85 and around 60% humidity.

Ball Pythons' feeding aren't a problem unless you don't understand the species. Even CBB specimens will go off feed for no reason for long periods sometimes. I had a CBB male BP go off feed for 10 months straight.....he wouldn't touch live rats,mice, gerbils, pre-killed or frozen/thawed. You should only try to force feed a snake if it is on death's door....force feeding is very stressful and it can actually set you back if you're trying to get a snake to feed on its own. A ball python that doesn't eat for a few months is nothing abnormal, and many new keepers don't understand this.....which is why I feel they don't make the ideal beginner snake. Just my opinion based on my own experiences.

 

[MysticKigh]

Although colubrids aren't my favs... I would have a to say that if your friend likes them... I agree with a corn snake as a first. I've seen them thrive in even wretched conditions, so it's safe to say they are pretty tolerant of environmental problems. They also seem to have rather easy going temperaments.

But, once he's addicted... and he will be LOL... send him on a quest for a captive bred Python regius. WC have too many potential problems. We are working with two right now that have RI and were covered with ticks and mites. Although I don't agree with buying WC, my soft heart wouldn't allow me to leave them in the circumstances in which I found them. Neither has eaten yet, which may or may not prove to be problematical considering the time of years :8o
My CB, on the other hand... eats like a horse, has a great disposition, and zero health issues:-D