Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I don't have any ball pythons but im considering trading my albino boa for some. the thing is that do any of you guys keep them in nice enclosures that are on display, and if so do you regularly handel them and do they still continue to feed with no probs.

I see these beauties all over the net but I mostly hear that, dont hold them much, keep them away from traffic areas in the home, keep them living single and basically hide them away.

Now this is a shame because they are really beautiful snakes and great business investments but can you enjoy keeping them or is it to really just make money and make new morphs.

No judging here, just would like to have some and have them where I can see them and hold them a few times a week.

thanks for reading

steve

Please post pictures of your nice setups if you have any that are on display in your home etc, and let me know how the balls are doing with feeding etc.

cheers

steve

I've had boas for years, and just recently adopted my first BP. From what I have read and observed, BPs are far more timid and prone to stress than boas. Too much stress (over handling, for example) will cause them to go off feed- they're notorious for this. They benefit from multiple hide boxes, and they'll use them a lot. Mine will come out in the evening and poke around, and seems more active very late at night.

They seem just as sweet natured as most tame boas, but more timid and less visimble during daytime.

I have 27 BP's......all have different personalities. I keep them in racks. Some bite, some hide, some are really outgoing and when I open the draw they are straight out. I have several that get handled regularly.........and a few I hardly handle exept to clean them. Personally I feel its all to do with how much they get handled as neonates. All mine feed well, this is mostly to do with time of year and temps. I do have fussy ones. I have a 1800g female that will only feed on mice! If you get good captive bred animals and keep them in optimum conditions you shouldn't go far wrong.

Balls personallity and qirks are very dependant on the animal. There are some that will do just fine in one situation where another would not. I have one large cage in the middle of heavy traffic in my house - it goes against everything we know about providing an optimal environment, but the ball inside is a fabulous eater and she comes out every night and cruises her tank for hours (but sleeps a good part of the day) and is a wonderful snake. Knowing the character of my snakes I'd say half of them would do fine in that tank - the other half might have troubles. No way to tell - until you've had them for a while.

This is an old photo of that tank, it's been given a face lift recently but I don't have any new pitcures of it.

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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

thanks for that pic, I guess i'll never know until I get them home.

thanks

steve

I have 5 balls, and like said above, they're all different. My rule of thumb, is when I first get them, I pretty much ignore them until they've had a few good meals in them. During the day, 99% of the time they're in hiding. At night though, they all come out and cruise around. 2 of them I've had for a while, so I can take them out of their hide-boxes during the day, or go in and get them at night and no problems. The other 3 are newer additions, so I tend to leave them alone and handle them maybe once or twice a week for a few minutes just to get them used to it. Balls are great pets, good luck.

Chris
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0.2.0 Grey Rats-Lauren, Avril
1.2.0 Black Rats- Robert, Cady, Kylie
1.2.0 Albino FL Kings-Nick, Jessica, Ashley
1.1.0 Crimson Corns-Kane, Ruby
0.1.0 Het-Crimson Corns-Lola
0.1.0 White-Sided/Pos Het Albino Black Rat-Lita
1.0.0 Albino White-sided Black Rat-Rey
0.1.0 Fl King-Bonnie
1.0.1 Biak GTP-Brandon, Aru GTP-Orochimaru
1.0.0 Flame X Blood Bearded-Ruff
2.3.0 Ball Pythons-Donnie, Gretchen, Alexis, 100% het for albino balls- Naruto, Hinata
0.1.0 Red-tail Boa-Xena
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor-Izzy

Thanks for your reply, its nice to know that you like them for PETS and not just for making money.

Can you tell me more about your setups, are they in racks or nicer cages and where in the house are they kept.

thanks alot

steve