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Started By
Message
re: Advice on keeping ball pythons as pets
Posted on 2/13/24 at 1:18 pm to BigBinBR
Posted on 2/13/24 at 1:18 pm to BigBinBR
quote:
If you are just getting it for your kids, don’t.
No, I have an interest in them as well. The kids just had an encounter at a reptile show where they held one each and the looks on their faces were priceless! They keep asking for one, so I want to get them each one. Nothing expensive, but something cool they will like and grow to love.
quote:
One for them to live in and one to feed them in. You don’t want to feed them in their “home.”
Is this a psychological thing to keep them from getting “bitey”? Should I invest in a snake hook and use that only when moving them to/from feeding?
quote:
Get a good heat rock as opposed to lamp. It’s easier to control.
Never heard of one… I’ll look into that!
quote:
They can also get out of just about anything. You will need a tank that has a lid lock, and you will probably still need put something on top of it to hold it down.
I’m leaning towards a side-opening tank so I can put a standard slide-lock on it. Would that be advisable?
quote:
Also, someone will need to take the snake out every day and handle it. It’s not something that you are just going to leave in a tank. So make sure you prepare for that.
I think this is the main thing that draws me to them for the purpose of the kids caring for them. Handling and daily water care are a good starting point for realizing that you have to pay attention to things you are doing and working with.
Luckily my boys are very cerebral and naturally cautious.
1
Posted on 2/13/24 at 2:29 pm to DByrd2
quote:
Is this a psychological thing to keep them from getting “bitey”?
Yes. It’s because you don’t want them thinking that when you open the tank they are getting fed. It can also get messy with the rat pissing and shitting everywhere.
quote:
I’m leaning towards a side-opening tank so I can put a standard slide-lock on it. Would that be advisable?
As long as it is a more professional tank, it should be fine. Just make sure that the locks hold the sides on really well. They will push all around the edges until they find a tiny opening to try and get out. Then they will bend that area and squeeze through it.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 3:35 pm to BigBinBR
Thanks for the tips!
Posted on 2/13/24 at 4:40 pm to DByrd2
it sounds like you and your kids do have actual interest so i would recommend looking at some good online guides. i did a quick search and found this one that seems decent enough LINK /
Ball pythons are not my general recommendation for brand new snake enthusiast. they have some environmental parameter needs that are a little more challenging (no overwhelmingly so) and can at times become picky eaters. i would put them in the more challenging beginner snake to intermediate. its not insurmountable if thats the exact animal you want though. if its just a snake in general you want to have and not necessarily a ball python, i always recommend corn snakes or king snakes, both are very easy beginner snakes and hearty animals. some of the kings species are quite pretty imho.
you got some pretty decent advice from the other fellow. i would have to disagree on one point. i dont like heat rocks. its a piece of plastic that has an electric element that heats up in it. it make the rock hot so the animal wants to lay on it for warmth. if those elements over heat they can give some devasting burns to the snake. I prefer the enclosure to have a heat gradients (cold side and hot side). either from a heat lamp or specialized heating mat that sticks to the underside of the enclosure.
start there, read some stuff. if you have questions I'll keep tabs on this post to try and answer. the number 1, absolute at the top, most important thing for snake care is the environment for the animal. not enough heat, too much heat, not enough humidity, etc. if anything will make your snake sick or kill your snake, that will be it.
Ball pythons are not my general recommendation for brand new snake enthusiast. they have some environmental parameter needs that are a little more challenging (no overwhelmingly so) and can at times become picky eaters. i would put them in the more challenging beginner snake to intermediate. its not insurmountable if thats the exact animal you want though. if its just a snake in general you want to have and not necessarily a ball python, i always recommend corn snakes or king snakes, both are very easy beginner snakes and hearty animals. some of the kings species are quite pretty imho.
you got some pretty decent advice from the other fellow. i would have to disagree on one point. i dont like heat rocks. its a piece of plastic that has an electric element that heats up in it. it make the rock hot so the animal wants to lay on it for warmth. if those elements over heat they can give some devasting burns to the snake. I prefer the enclosure to have a heat gradients (cold side and hot side). either from a heat lamp or specialized heating mat that sticks to the underside of the enclosure.
start there, read some stuff. if you have questions I'll keep tabs on this post to try and answer. the number 1, absolute at the top, most important thing for snake care is the environment for the animal. not enough heat, too much heat, not enough humidity, etc. if anything will make your snake sick or kill your snake, that will be it.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 4:56 pm to DByrd2
I would think the idea of a pet would be something that enjoys the company of human interaction. Anything else and you are just keeping an animal in a cage for exhibition purposes.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 4:58 pm to DByrd2
quote:The more face and neck tats you have, the more the snake respecks you.
Advice on keeping ball pythons as pets
Posted on 2/13/24 at 5:11 pm to DByrd2
My youngest is allergic to dogs and cats, but we have a goldendoodle that is hypo-allergenic. So maybe stay away from snakes……or get a bearded dragon.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 5:16 pm to WaydownSouth
quote:
People that keep snakes as pets should be in prison
Most end up there eventually
Posted on 2/13/24 at 5:16 pm to DByrd2
Advice? Sounds like the worst idea I’ve ever heard.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 5:21 pm to DByrd2
Have you considered a parakeet? They can learn to talk. My great grandfather had one that used to say "Hide those beer cans. Here comes the preacher"
Posted on 2/13/24 at 5:22 pm to Joshjrn
quote:
Don't
Posted on 2/13/24 at 6:17 pm to DByrd2
Don’t. Kill that with fire!
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