Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Sorry to do a link, but I made a topic in the general forum without realising this one was here(oops. . .)

http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1320485,1320485

Hm, I found a spot on another forum that told how to make a tupperware container with a snapping lid into a tank, so I think I may try that. They mentioned regular heating pads for humans there, do those work under a tank, or would it burn out quicker because it wasn't made to be on all the time? Plus, if I go with tupperware I can get a "cuustom" sized bottom instead of a 12" by whatever glass tank, so that should also be a plus, but how large do I want to find a bottom width/length of at minimum? Just to make sure I've got the room in it.

After reading your previous post on the General forum I think I should direct you to a guide written by Melissa Kaplan which is a great resource for a potential new ball python addict.

www.anapsid.org/ball.html

Brad Ratliff

"Ball pythons, like all pythons and boas, devour a variety of prey in the wild - amphibians, lizards, other snakes, birds and small mammals. They do not eat mice in the wild, however, and do not recognize the mice we offer them as being something edible."

Is this accurate? Everything I've read states that ball pythons are solely rodent eaters. The mice thing also makes no sense since every ball python I've ever owned has willingly taken mice or rats without problem...???
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors

And let me add that even wild caught ball eat African Rats if nothing else so I say that Balls are 100 % Rodent eaters and picky eaters at that for the most part . David of DS Reptile Rescue

I certainly have never followed a ball python around in the wilds of Africa for months to see what it preys upon. Therefore I as well as most of the people that frequent this forum would be hard pressed to say that wild ball pythons are 100% rodent feeders. I feel ball pythons in captivity are picky feeders because as responsible herpetoculturists we do not deliberately starve our beloved pets to a point where they might look outside their box of prefered food sources. I find it hard to believe that a wild ball python plagued with starvation would not take down some avian prey item or even a lizard. Especially if passing on the meal could mean death to that individual. One thing we can all agree on is that rodents, particularly rats, are the best nutritionally for a ball python.

I am reminded about my old family cat. He is 18 years old and does not like crunchy food. He will refuse to eat crunchy food in preference for softer wet food. Unfortunately for him, he is a warm blooded animal and gets hungry enough every day that he will lumber over to his old bowl and eat his less desirable crunchy food.

So rats it is. How do you really regulate temps and humidity in the tank though? That's the biggest thing I can't seem to find written out somewhere. I know a water dish will help with the humidity, but how do you really make sure it is okay? And with the temp, will the heat pad do that, or do I need to do something else to make sure it is correct?

>>So rats it is. How do you really regulate temps and humidity in the tank though? That's the biggest thing I can't seem to find written out somewhere. I know a water dish will help with the humidity, but how do you really make sure it is okay? And with the temp, will the heat pad do that, or do I need to do something else to make sure it is correct?

Temp will be dependent on your ambient room temps. When I had them I found they did best in a tupperware tub, melted holes on an 11" heat tape. Room ambient was 75. No screen tops. Tub lids.
If you are going for asthetics then get a tank and put a sub big enough for a hide and keep it in there as a 'burrow' filled with damp moss. Lots of water to drink too. But I have never had a BP soak....unless it was a WC with mites.
Misting the tank is a very temporary fix. You have a half hour of humidity. Unless you soak the substrate (moss or bark or something) but then you risk bacteria farming.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

Buy a reliable thermostat to control your heating source. That will keep warm side temps at the proper level. Humidity isn't hard to keep up, especially if you use a plastic tub with a lid. Use a substrate that holds humidity well or mist every other day or so with a spritz bottle.
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors

Whereas I agree balls wild and captive will eat various prey from chicks to quail to lizards to other balls - yep seen them eat all of the above. I do not agree that rats are the most nutritious food source for balls. In reality domestic feeders provide much much more nutrition than what our animals need and all that "extra" nutrition - especially from rats - becomes unused waste.
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Tosha
JET Pythons

(And let me add that even wild caught ball eat African Rats if nothing else so I say that Balls are 100 % Rodent eaters and picky eaters at that for the most part ) . I was talking about in captivity ,if you’ll notice I said that even wild balls eat African rats if nothing else , the key being (IF NOTHING ELSE) that means they will eat other pray but if you can’t get them to eat other pray they will at least eat African rats , but in captive collections they eat rodents . My mistake for not making my self clear as I tend to not do Quite often . Thanks David

They are not rodent only feeders. They are known to feed on ground birds, rodents, and even other snakes. There has been quite a few instances where cannibalism has occurred in captive collections. I believe it was Neil Golli who had a c.h ball that ate other babies in the same cage last year. Another woman had her cinny female eat the male, and so on. Definitely not rodent only feeders its just african rats are the only "natural prey" we offer to them. Wild snakes don't have the luxury of choosing what they want, eat or be eaten.
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J&J REPTILES
www.jnjreptiles.com
sales@jnjreptiles.com
(207)479-6658

My best suggestion is to get the Ball Python Manual.....Barkers as authors, not the knock off Barrons book. Read it and handle as many snakes as you can.

Ball Pythons are pains sometimes to get to eat or to do anything. They are called Balls for a reason. To me there are other better choices out there that eat more consistantly. I see a lot of people buying Balls that are really afraid of snakes and trying to get over it.
I would say, read all sorts of care sheets online and NOT just anapsid.org . Nice generic info but you get similar reading Petco's sheets. Not my first choice reference.
Good luck finding anything in Junction. You may find some small hobbyist though. I think I would say find out what you want for sure and order online from someone reputable.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny