Posted by:
Melinda666
at Thu Dec 14 16:20:31 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Melinda666 ]
I'm gonna go against the grain here and say don't get your kid a snake for Christmas. Ball pythons are notoriously picky eaters and the hustle and bustle of the holidays along with excited children is waaay to much stress for a snake. Wait until things calm down a bit.
I have taken in ball pythons from people who got their kids ball pythons and after awhile the kids grow bored of them. The snakes hide all day and come out when the kids are sleeping. Not to mention the kid won't be able to handle it for more than a few minutes or the snake will stress and refuse to eat. A corn snake, kingsnake or the smaller boa's would probably be a better choice.
Have you also thought about where you will purchase rodents for the snake to eat?? pet stores are often out of certain sizes of food except mice. An adult Ball will eat 3-4 adult mice a week. Your looking at between $4-9 a week for live food. Frozen food is cheaper, but most of the stuff the pet stores carry is Nasty!! You could order frozen online, but then their is pretty big shipping fee for overnight or 2 day service.
A few more things to think about;
Will you be able to get an enclosure, heat pad, water dish, substrate, thermometer etc...
Will you be able to take the snake to the vet in case it gets sick? upper respiratory and parasites can kill a snake quickly.
Is your child prepared to feed a snake. Some kids are upset about the idea of feeding snakes.
Short story, I had my tray of rodents out defrosting. My nephew is curious wants to see them. I explain they are humanely killed and that snakes must eat. They are meat, just like cow's, chickens etc... He sees the pinkies. He yells at me "why did you kill the babies?" He was very upset that the "babies" were killed for food. He is 4 and his daddy is a hunter. He had no problem with hunting or eating animals, except for the babies.
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2.1 Albino BP
0.4 100% Het Albino
2.1 100% het Caramel Albino BP
1.0 100% Het Clown
1.0 50% het clown
2.12 Normal BP
0.0.2 Western Hognose
alot of cornsnakes
0.1.0 Dumeril Boa
3.6 Bearded Dragons
1.0.2 Sulcatta tortoise
3.3 Russian Tortoise
1.0 Cockatiel
0.1 Rottweiler
0.2 Boston Terriers
0.1 White Boxer
0.1 Paint Mare
bunch of geckos
0.1 Cat
0.1 Teenage daughter
1.0 Husband who puts up with all my critters. 
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RE: Corn Snake or Ball Python? - Melinda666, Thu Dec 14 16:20:31 2006