Snake

[phoenixofthepyre]

I was planning on buying a snake and putting him in an aquarium. I've always liked snakes but now I really want to keep one. what are good beginner snakes? Preferably a type of Python. Any good message boards for snakes/reptiles?

 

[beth]

The ball python is the only good "beginner" python. Be sure to read and reasearch first. There was a recent thread here started by Jimmy on Ball Phytons. Try doing a search.
Here is a top snake site with the ball python there as babies.
Kingsnake

 

[mr. tuna]

i agree with beth 100%. Ball pythons are EXTEMELY easy to care for, and the most docile snake you will ever find. i have had mine for about...2 years.. have not got hissed at or bitten once. thats the way to go! :yes:
__Tuna

 

[mr. tuna]

BTW. heres how they look... prettyyyyyy lol

 

[beth]

Tuna, that's a nice looking ball. The light browns are nice. Here are mine.....see if you can see 3 heads!

I have gotten bitten, but only when careless....for instance, feeding time. They are all pretty used to me and my scent now. I make sure that I don't suprise them and that I let them see and smell me before picking them up. Then, there is no problem.

 

[yellowtail]

argg beth!i only see 2

i know zippo about snakes and was wondering if they have fangs when they bite you?

 

[larrynews]

you should find a local reptile show they have one in columbus ohio every month sells all kinds of things..i went all the time when i had my 55 gallon viarium with two waterfalls set up...i'd get red eyed tree frogs for like 30 bucks and they are 80-100 dollars in the pet stores....if you pick up a reptile mag. they have the show s listed in there normaly...i have a fear of snakes but i hear ball pythons are the easiest

 

[mr. tuna]

Beautiful pythons beth! Are they a mated pair?

 

[beth]

Originally posted by YellowTail
argg beth!i only see 2

There's 3 heads ! Keep looking.

 

[beth]

There are 3 balls in there. They are all males and fortunately get along perfectly fine. The oldest I am positive is a wild caught. He's at least 10+ and had at least 2 previous owners that I know of. He had been abandoned in a house and left when the tenants moved out and taken in by the new tenants who found him crawling around the floor in the empty house. They kept him for 4 yrs but then my son's best friend started to care for him as the 2nd owners really didn't want him anymore. At that point, the friend started campaigning for us to take him. One day, I came home from work and found him and his aquarium sitting in my living room! I was shocked!! :scared: Well, we moved him to my son's room. Acquired 2 more afterwards [that's another story]. I am pretty attached to them now and have become interested in snakes as well. They are rarely in their aquarium and mostly hang around my son’s room. In the pic, they are snuggled into his desk drawer. LOL. They use the aquarium for shedding and pooping.

 

[mr. tuna]

i see the 3rd head.. lol.. its like.. just to the left of the left one.. and a bit under it. lol :yes:

 

[yellowtail]

i see it too! beth underestimated our intelligence

 

[fishy411]

do u mean that they just crawl out when ever they want?

 

[beth]

No, they are in the aquarium when its time to shed or poop. Aside from that, they are out and about. We know that they go to the bathroom a few days after a meal, so that's the time to go into the tank. And shedding is obvious. They just were never happy being kept in the aquarium.

 

[phoenixofthepyre]

Thanks. I'm not using my 72g right now. How long would a Ball Python fit in there? I don't have to worry about the price of the ball, my dad gets stuff at wholesale prices b/c of his business. Any specific ornaments they do well with? A good hiding one perhaps?

 

[fishy411]

that would be freaky to have yur snake out and about. What if it crawled under yur covers? That would be a surprise.

 

[22caddy]

I have two and they are fairly easy to care for as long as you get a healthy one. I got one that was nothing but a pain to begin with. His skin was messed up from bad sheds and it would not eat. After several sheds and many months of helping it eat, it is now a great snake. A good place to check out for info is www.ball-pythons.net and go to the forums there. They are having server problems now though.
Any specific ornaments they do well with? A good hiding one perhaps?
There are many different opinions on this. Many people do not put many plants, branches, elaborate setups. Many people just use newspaper even as substrate. Ball pythons really are not climbers, and they have a tendancy to just bulldoze over anything in the way. Hides are essential. They hide all day as they are nocturnal. I have a half log hide and also a rock hide. I have tried the live plants and agreed, it does not work. They were trampled to death. I have many fake plants though and they love hiding in them. I also have a waterfall and a little water area and they love that as well. Just experiment and see what works. Here is a pic of mine. Any questions feel free to ask.

 

[beth]

72 gal bow would be great for a ball python. Personally, I use "snake dedicated" towels. Cozier for the snakes! We wash the towels in boiling water to sanitize them.

 

[reptifish]

its really fun i have a 22 and a half foot burmese python that has his very own room lol he is the greatest
he did actually get in to the bed while i was sleeping but he did nto do anything he was there for the warmth btw ball pythons will be suited to a 125 gallon aquarium for life or if u really have the money a 200

 

[beth]

rep, I know we love our snakes, but please don't let this snake crawl into bed with you. As you know, they are constrictors and in the process of trying to get warm and cozy, he could easly coil around you and do what constrictors do. You won't not even have a chance.
Its great you have a room for him. They are beautiful and sweet snakes too. Just don't get too cozy with them.