Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Whats up all, Hi my name is Chris. I am 13 years old and would like to purchase a ball python. I am not new to snakes but am new to ball pythons. I would like to get a snake that would get fairly large but not to big to be a danger to me or anyone. I would like a snake that i can carry around my neck and impress my friends with, ( not that this is the only reason I want thhis snake because I have two Cal. Kings that I take excellent care of).Can anyone please give information and/or tips about taking care of ball pythons. Thanks in advance Chris

A ball python gets about 4-5 feet long, the females are larger. They are an easy snake to take care of. I wouldnt recommend carrying it around on your neck so you can impress your friends though. If anyone else replies to this post, they will probably agree its not a good idea.

You have a great resource with places like this and Python.net.

Also, your local bookstore should carry books like The Ball Python Manual and Guide to owning a Ball Python... They are good resources for researching a good set up for your future BP...

With that said.... W E L C O M E !!! glad to have you here....

Sariel

I was in the video store last night and saw some people with two tiny ball python hatchlings. This was about 11 o'clock at night, and it was chilly out. They were passing these poor babies around to anyone who would hold them, and using them to scare people who would not. These beautiful babies did not look well. People were asking them questions about them, and it was obvious that they knew nothing about them. Their uncle had bought them as a present. When I tried to say something to them they got angry, and left the store, swinging their new "toys" with them. I wanted to cry.

Please, don't carry your snake with you. Bring your freinds to your house to be impressed. Much less stressful on the snake. Ball pythons don't handle stress all that well.

That being said, I hope that you have a long and happy relationship with whatever snake you choose.

GratefulFred
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GratefulFred

BUY CAPTIVE BRED. Captive hatched/ wild caught are the ones that will have the most common problems.
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Steve
2.0 Corn Snakes
2.0 Ball Pythons
0.1 Veiled Chameleon
1.1 Leopard Geckos
1.1 Rudis Chameleons
0.1 Giant Day Gecko
0.0.3 Red Ear Sliders
0.0.2 Sulcata Tortoises
1.0 Central American Banded Gecko

A Ball Python is a good choice for a medium sized, docile, python. As far as carrying the snake around your neck, I know you see it ALOT, but it's really not a safe practice, and indicates to me that the keeper is not up to spped on safety.

Even though a BP is a medium-sized python, it is still a very strong constrictor. If wrapped around your neck, it could become insecure or frightened and coil tighter around your neck, constricting arteries & veins in your neck that carry blood from/to your brain. Once these guys are coiled they can be a challenge to remove.

Good Luck