Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Let me say that this would be my first snake, but I take good care of my pets and I really like the looks of ball pythons, and their characteristics. I am wondering if they will strangle you or anything? Also, I heard that it is good to try and feed them, outside of their cage, to avoid impaction, and so they don't snap at your hand, thinking you are about to feed them, if you just want to handle them. Is this the right thing to do? I am also wondering, if I am allowed to let my snake roam around on the ground, as long as it is under supervision? Also, do they need to have the heat light on, even during the night? The guy at the store told me that I shouldn't use astro turf, and told me that I should use cypress mulch. Are there any reasons for this, or would that be a good idea? Thanks.

I will answer your questions the best I can...

..."Let me say that this would be my first snake..."

Good choice, my first too, and I would have regreted not getting her, she changed my life in many ways, and I know how cheeesy that sounds, but it's true.

I am wondering if they will strangle you or anything?

NO! Well I can't say that for sure, I guess if you had a REALLY big and strong ball and had them around your neck and start plucking scales there MIGHT be some strangulation but probably a bite too, but woulden't you? on a serious note, ball pythons (expecially CB) are really docile wonderful snakes and don't really even get big enough for a grown person not to be able to overpower it.

..."Also, I heard that it is good to try and feed them, outside of their cage, to avoid impaction, and so they don't snap at your hand, thinking you are about to feed them, if you just want to handle them"...

This is a prefrence, if you are really afraid of being bitten or are using a loose substrate I would feed out of the cage...
If you are using newspaper for a substrate you CAN feed inside the cage, and most likely won't get bit unless you forget to wash your hands before putting them in the cage or you scare them. Most ball pythons WON'T bite! Some do when WE (not the snake) make errors.

..."I am also wondering, if I am allowed to let my snake roam around on the ground, as long as it is under supervision?"...

As long aas you keep a close eye on them I think it is ok for some good photo shots or just some sun.

Also, do they need to have the heat light on, even during the night?

That depends on how you heat the cage. I would suggest for one snake getting a UTH and maybe a red heat bulb. Keep your temps right and your humidity. You seem to have read a few care sheets, so I am sure you know the humidity and temps, if not post those questions on here also.

..."The guy at the store told me that I shouldn't use astro turf, and told me that I should use cypress mulch. Are there any reasons for this, or would that be a good idea?"...

Astroturf is not good, the fake grass can irritate the snakes scales and skin. Mulch s OK but stay away from pine and ceadar, Newspaper is a good substrate as it is cheap easy to find, and easy to clean.
-----
"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you're not."

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal - Future breeder of Pythons, Geckos, we'll see what else later! ~~ www.geocities.com/krystal19_85 ~~

Well, actually the astroturf is find...this will reduce the chance of impaction if you feed your snake insides its cage. Even newespaper or paper towel is used. However you may want to put something like large rocks or something for the snake to get traction when it is trying move around the cage. Newspaper and paper towel provide very little traction for the snake; thus, make it difficult for them. If you are planning to feed the snake inside the cage, you might want to take it out for 20, 30 minutes. Then put the thawed frozen mouse in the cage, was your hand really well so they don't smell like its food--whic can result in the snake mistakenly strike your hand for food--and put the snake back. It should devour as soon as it smell the food. I have very good sucess with by ball feeding it like this. it wouldn't eat infront of me, so I tried this method.

Secondly, yes they do need lighting. They need photo period to do well in captivity. I read from a book and the author said, he went into a petstore and the reptile cages were kept nice and toasty, but the lighting wasn't very good. The owner of the store didn't know what was wrong with his monitor...it would just sit there on the hot rock under the light. So he told him that the lighting wasn't bright enough, and the store owner put on a light fixture in the cage and turn the light on. AFter, he offered it food. Sure enough, he went straight for the food and gobble it down in one quick gulp. However, the ball pythons are nocturnal species, but they still need to be able to tell night from day easily. You can use a regular incandescent light bulb, that are sold at hardware store, for heating and lighting. They are cheaper than the ones you buy at petstores that are made for reptiles and last much longer, give off more color spectrum and in better quality from my experience. I use a 200 watt with a table lamp dimmer so I can lower the intensity if it needs be. The baking spot should be around 90 degree and the rest of the cage should be at a constant of 80-85 degree. The night temp. should be alowed to drop to 70-75 degree with the basking spot at 80 degree. This can be achieve as simple as turning the heat lamp off early in the evening, however if where you live gets cold in the evening you may want to use a reptile night bulb to provid heat, or a heating mat. People heating mat,that can be bought at the drug store, will also work. You will need to put the heating mat at the hot side of the enclosure under the basking light to provide belly heat. Remember that allowing the temp. to drop at night so your reptile can cool down is as important as keeping it warm during the day. They need to cool down, too. To achieve a good temp. gradient I use a 29 or 30 gallon aquarium and put the basking light at the very far end of the cage. If the basking spot is kept at aroudn 90 or a little higher the temp. at the rest of the cage should be find. I recommend putting a thermometer at both the cool and hot end of the cage to be able to tell the temperature. Please, don't guess. You will either end up with a snake that too cool to eat, or sick from over heating.

have fun and enjoy youself!!!

Provide hidboxes at both the hot and cool end, and climbing branches for them to climb. They like small hideboxes that enclose around near their body...too large can make them insecured. Cut-out carboard boxex, opaque tupperwear, or half hollowed logs work fine.

Sorry...that's the night temperature should not be lower 73-75 degree.

Yes, you can let it roam around, but keep a constant supervision on it. It can crawl right into a small hole...like the toilet or whatever and disappear...bye, bye snake. As for putting it around your neck...I'm not sure about the balls, though...although it can't kill you, you probably will get really scare if it does rap itself around your neck causing you to hurt it, trying to get it off.

I use paper towels for the bottom of my balls' cages. I feed them in their enclosures and they have never snapped at me. If you are considering a ball from a store, beware. Look very closely at the snakes and thier other reptiles. Make sure they aren't too skinny or wrinkly, have no bugs on them, etc, etc. Personally I'd reccomend visiting the classified section here and looking for a CBB (captive born and bred) baby. You can have one shipped to you for a pretty reasonable price and most breeders can answer your questions and take great care of their babies. Here are some links to ball care sheets. I always found it helpful to read as much as I could while starting out. Balls are great beginner snakes. They were the second species I got and their care is pretty easy as long as you learn to be patient with them. The care sheets will have more info. . .

NERD BP guide

Pro Exotics BP page These guys have great FAQs about many reptile issues, too.
KS Ball python guide

* they will not try 2 strangle you they will roll up in a ball 4 defence

*you ahould be able 2 let it on the floor as long as it is not always trying 2 escape but they are really fast.

* the heat lamp is a good Idea so the tank will stay warm, but it only needs 2 be on for 12 hrs in a day.

* cypress is a really good bedding Astro turf is not on of the most liked but you can also use Aspen or newspaper NO PINE the oils can hurt your BP.

HOPE THIS HELPS