Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently got a normal ball python. I had a couple corn snakes that are cool and i wanted to give the ball python a try, but all it ever does is sleep in its hide box. It never comes out to explore.

My corn snakes sleep most of the time too but at least they come out every now and then and i can see them.

The ball python would come out and explore every now and then for the first month but for the past two months she has just sat in her hide box. I take her out to handle her every other day for 10 minutes or so but she is terrified the whole time. Her heart and her breathing are very rapid and she is constantly freezing up so that maybe i wont see her.

I take her out of the hide box to feed her too but she never comes out on her own.

The first month i had her, when she came out on her own and i picked her up she did much better. i think it is just when i take her out of her secure hide box (and wake her up doing so) that she gets so scared.

I know they are secretive snakes but i thought she would come out every now and then at least. What is the point of keeping them, and making all those crazy morphs, if they just hide 24/7 and are terrified when you take them out?

Sorry for all the negativity but i was just wanting some encouragement that the problem may get better. Anyone out there keep ball pythons for their value as pets and not just as genetic experiments or as money makers? How do yall deal with it? Any tips yall have would be great.

Is it warm enough? Do you have a climbing branch? Try putting a bigger water tub in some like to soak. It should tame down in time at least it's not a bitter.

n/p

I don't know it may just be me but snakes aren't "pets". Sure you can get them out and look at them for a while but for most of us I think it is a "hobby". To keep such amazing creatures healthy and happy is what its all about. To teach others about them, to breed them successfully, etc, etc. All of this is why most of us keep them, to sit and watch them crawl around in the cage, I think, is one of the last reasons why we get them!

Of course this is just my opinion.

Jason

Is it just me or is any animal in your care a "pet"? What else could be meant by the term?
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

one was very secretive, only eats if I put the rat next to his hide and I only see him when I hold him(Ive had four years)He doesnt mind being held though...My other one(which I traded away)was very active, loved to climb.But during winter he was much less active...All in all I think Bps are a bit boring compared to others I have..My favorite is my boa, she is not big on activity but she always props her head on a rock that looks out of her cage and just watches all the goings on...
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Yes, she is in a 30 gallon tank with a warm side and a cool side and a big water dish and she has lots of stuff to climb on and the humidity is good, etc etc. I bought that ball python manual and have read about a hundred care sheets.

I really wish i had known this before i got her. I figured since ball pythons where so popular they must be at least sort of interesting, like corn snakes. She is neat when i am holding her but i dont like to do it much because she is obviously stressed out by it.

Oh well, i will keep working with her and see if i cant get her to ease up some.

You said you favorite snake is a boa? Anyone else have a favorite snake type for stuff like watching them or handling them even if they only come out of their holes every now and then?

BTW, i still dont understand why yall wanna keep ball pythons other than for the money. The challenge of raising healthy critters? You keep them in shoe boxes that just barely give them room to breath. (i know not everyone, but most from pictures i have seen)

Yall just like seeing what crazy colors you can make at the expense of the snakes well being (meaning you cram them in breeding racks). I wouldnt have a problem with it if every snake you owned had plenty of room and things to crawl on and multiple hides instead of just a water bowl and, if they are lucky, enough room to move to the other side of the box so they can pick their own temps.

I guess it just takes a certain kind of person to appreciate balls. If you had wanted an active snake then you should have inquired about that prior to the purchase. Balls aren't all that active - they are curious but spend most of their time in their hide - if you see them out and about it's usually because they're hungry or they need to thermoregulate or just stretchtheir legs - most of their activity happens around dusk, the middle of the night and dawn.

With some work your snake will probably come to be a little more social and not be so uptight when you hold her. Remember she does not know that you are trying to play with her - you could just as well be a predator in her eyes - she needs to learn otherwise.

I've kept balls as pets for many years - regular normal non-breeding pet ball pythons - its not about the money - they are cool in their own right. Some people like little yapping dogs, some like calm lap dogs, some like playful dogs, some like working dogs. In the same reasoning you need to find a snake with a suitable activity level/personality for you.

As for my favorite - it's the Angolan - very active (almost, dare I say playful), easy to care for, and a beautiful animal all around! Unfortunately you won't find any for $100 anywhere any time soon.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

10.35.0 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)
0.0.1 Lizard rescued from feline
0.0.0 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

np
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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Rescued Ball Python - Apep
0-1-0 Rescued Mountain Horned Dragon - Ki
0-0-1 Rescued Aggressive Bearded Dragon - Zeus
0-0-1 Rescued Non-Alpha Green Iguana - Bud
1-1-0 Rescued Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet
0-0-1 Rescued Dieting Panda Hamster - Mr. Fluffy
0-1-0 Rescued Little Angelic Kitten - Isis
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

UHHHHHHH, YUP!

Quig

np
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2.3 het pied (RDR, alan bosch x 2, BHB x 2)
1.1 het albino (ben siegel, gulf coast)
1.2 het citrus ghost(gulf coast line)
1.0 citrus ghost (gulf coast line)
0.1 graz pastel female
1.6 05 normal bp's
0.6 04 normal bp's
2.5 adult normal bp's (some need breeding to see if norm)
4 various corns
0.1 brazilian rainbow boa (alan bosch)
1.0 american pit bull terrior
1.1 taco dogs (ankle biters)
1.0 grey cat
1.1 bearded dragons

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrior as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

if youve see your own bp stay in its hide box 24/7 then why would you think they mind being kept in rack systems the thing they want the most is heat and to feel secure a ball is probably going to be happier in a properly heated shoebox rack then in a glas tank where it seems to be out in the open (whitch is why yours spends all its timein hiding cover the the glass on your tank and i bet when you look in from the top the snake will start exploring the cage more because when he comes out of the box he wont feel like the whole room is around him

Ken
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1.0 Albino Ball Python (Apu)
0.5 Normal Ball Pythons (Norma, Nova, Nala, Nimeesha, Nyoka)
1.1 Argentine B/W Tegus (Draco and Drucilla)
0.1 Columbian B/W Tegu (Diablo)
1.0 Black Throat Monitor (Razor)
1.0 Desert Tortoise (Tubbs) from Tortoise Rescue
1.0 Boxer (Shadow)
0.1 Feline (CK)
1.0 Memory of my Redtail Boa (Mo) which passed away after 28 years

www.ocballs.net
kvandoren@ocballs.net

The snakes actually do better in confined enclosures that do not allow them to see out or you in, if I want to see them I open the freedom breeders and look at them. Try doing a little research before placing foot in mouth.

most people do it for the money......don't care what they tell you.........

and most snakes will hide.....all types......

.....even corns.........

.....we like snakes and look at them alot.....but we don't talk to them much or hold them or play with them.......

.......
.

even cats will hide all day alot
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................................................
..................gottaLuvIt!!

Do it for the money?? Have you ever MADE money on snakes?? Compare the time you spend feeding them and how much their food is I bet you don't break even!
There's a saying and it goes something like...
Many a man has wanted something and then sold himself a slave to it!!

Do it for the LOVE of it!!!

>> Do it for the LOVE of it!!!

Yep. I agree.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

yes I make money..and I am just little breeder...

every morph I ever bought has paid for itself within a year or two.........fast huh......and I still have alot left to keep for me.so I save on buying alot of stuff by just making it.

I breed my own mice and all and yes they pay for themselves too like two times over or more???.....

never counted.......I just know I got money in the bank and pocket at all times......

and I just wholesale.....

must be doing something right?......hmmmmmm
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................................................
..................gottaLuvIt!!

There is "tons" of money to be made!!

I can say with honesty that I talk to my snakes almost everyday. Now sure, sometimes my picky eater gets called some not so nice names when he just lets the mice crawl on him or runs from it. Sometimes they get baby talk. Other times they get ego propping talk like "You're so cool" "you're such a Big Guy" or the ever famous "I loike you WAY more than real people!" They may not get held everyday (picky eater is pretty sensitive) but they get my hand in the cage daily. I am OCD about clean cages and water.

I have a small zoo here and even the feeder rats get talked to and sworn at daily hehe. Those rat bites hurt!

naw i talk to my snakes too......i have pet snakes that i would never part with and i have hobby snakes that i sell breed or trade to suport my hobby.....if im lucky in a year i break even between selling snakes to local people (friends and friends of friends) and building display style enclosures/ setting them up for people

i used to talk to my feeder rats too, then i realized that their frozen dead butts never replied, or bit me or the snakes. do your snakes a favor, feed f/t. i still say hi to the snakes even though they don't respond, so i guess you're not the only goober.
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Dennis

there are alot of goobers like you in here..trust me....

they'll get it someday.....

rat bites...rat dies.........

.......I have a friend that cleaned every day.....lots and lots of snakes.........I told him to quit it.......he was getting to few breedings and too few eggs.......you can bug them too much and keep them too clean and tidy......(and dry)...

........trust me.........let them alone for awhile......

....
.
.they can't hear you anyways........

(actually they can)......
.
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................................................
..................gottaLuvIt!!

I talk to my snakes as well. I realize that they aren't wired to respond to people the way that dogs and cats do, but I enjoy them. I enjoy when they crawl around my hands or wrists exploring. I enjoy when they poke a head out from under a hide to look at me. I don't talk to them much because I'm not much of a talker. If they could read, I'd write to them a great deal because I tend to be a writer, but that's a different story. In any case, I agree with you.

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

Hmmm, you get out of a pet what you put in. I have had many cats growing up. None of them where ever recluses. I have gone to many houses where the cats are never seen, and perhaps thought of as an inconvenience. You get out what you put in. If you have them just to have them, or for breeding projects they will be antisocial. This is not a sermon about cats; but rather any PET. A ball python will warm up to you after a while. As for the statement that people only keep them for money, you couldn’t be more wrong. Ball pythons have been star pets for decades. The first morph only publicly came out in 1993 (albino), so I suppose everyone before then saw dollar signs too? For 40 years some people have been keeping normal because they saw big dollar signs.

That all said, every snake has its own personality, even strait from the egg. If one of them gets freaked out by a rat or mean mouse early in life if my become very frightened… most out grow this. Just keep trying to show it some good faith, and it should take to being handled any time.

Actually, you are wrong, Sir. After reading this forum for several months, I can pretty much sum it up in 2 words: money and morphs. What this forum should be about is the care and husbandry of ball pythons, but sadly it tends to focus much more on the "business" side. Trying to sell a snake for $50000 is greedy and asinine. Dont tell me that the big boys do it for the joy of keeping the snake. Try to find a normal for sale at NERD or RDR. Its aweful when someone here posts a question about how to care for their snake, and the response they get is, "im sick of people asking the same questions, do a search." But the second NERD posts a pic of a new morph, everyone drools over it and kisses Kevin's arse. You were thinking it too, I just said it.
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0.1 CB 2005 Normal Ball Python @ 24"/255g

95 % do it for money and 5% wish they could......

of the 95 % most will fail and lose cash and their minds on balls.........balls are not good beginer snakes........

..........of the 95% that do it for money.....

half will lie ....even to themselves about it.....

and in the late 1970's.......people had balls and could not figure out a darn thing about how to breed them..........or get them to eat.......and alot of people thought they were the dumbest ,stupidest critter they ever saw........while they got a boa from the back of a magazine in an ad for $12.......

......sumpin like dat.........
.
.
.and balls aren't any smarter today than they were then.......

.
.
.(and we aren't far behind).......
.
.
.
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................................................
..................gottaLuvIt!!

np
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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Rescued Ball Python - Apep
0-1-0 Rescued Mountain Horned Dragon - Ki
0-0-1 Rescued Aggressive Bearded Dragon - Zeus
0-0-1 Rescued Non-Alpha Green Iguana - Bud
1-1-0 Rescued Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet
0-0-1 Rescued Dieting Panda Hamster - Mr. Fluffy
0-1-0 Rescued Little Angelic Kitten - Isis
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

Some of them can be very pointy.

>>I recently got a normal ball python. I had a couple corn snakes that are cool and i wanted to give the ball python a try, but all it ever does is sleep in its hide box. It never comes out to explore.
>>
>>My corn snakes sleep most of the time too but at least they come out every now and then and i can see them.
>>
>>The ball python would come out and explore every now and then for the first month but for the past two months she has just sat in her hide box. I take her out to handle her every other day for 10 minutes or so but she is terrified the whole time. Her heart and her breathing are very rapid and she is constantly freezing up so that maybe i wont see her.
>>
>>I take her out of the hide box to feed her too but she never comes out on her own.
>>
>>The first month i had her, when she came out on her own and i picked her up she did much better. i think it is just when i take her out of her secure hide box (and wake her up doing so) that she gets so scared.
>>
>>I know they are secretive snakes but i thought she would come out every now and then at least. What is the point of keeping them, and making all those crazy morphs, if they just hide 24/7 and are terrified when you take them out?
>>
>>Sorry for all the negativity but i was just wanting some encouragement that the problem may get better. Anyone out there keep ball pythons for their value as pets and not just as genetic experiments or as money makers? How do yall deal with it? Any tips yall have would be great.

I think corn snakes are too active and skinny....what is the point in keeping them?

I think green tree pythons are great display animals, but I cant handle them often and they just kinda 'sit there'. What is the point in keeping them?

I think retics are beautiful but are too big for me to handle. What is the point in keeping them?

The POINT is that the majority of keepers keep animals that they like. Their personal reasons for liking a certain type of herp vary and is based off of each individuals opinion. If you don't like the fact that ball pythons like the shelter of their hides alot....then maybe ball pythons are not the right herp for you and you should look for something else to keep and stop looking for other peoples reasons or 'points' for keeping ball pythons.

just for kicks....I will share with you some of my 'points' for keeping ball pythons. I don't like active or fast moving snakes....i tend to like more sluggish animals. If I want to look at on of my pythons, I will take it out..I dont have time to sit in front of an enclosure and stare. Ball pythons are very easy to handle and are generally not nippy. They are easy to care for and breed.....that is just a few of MY "POINTS"...i could go on all day....and EVERYONE probably has a different 'Points' for keeping them.

Make up you own mind...if you dont like the snake, then don't keep it.

On a side note....All this 'the costs are too high' or 'they are not worth that kinda money' is so funny to me. If people were not willing to pay the money, then the cost would not be high. If there was an endless suppy, the costs would be low....BASIC ECONOMICS...it works that way with everything. How hard is that to understand?

While I wouldn't mind having a corn snake in addition to my other snakes, I recognize that your questions are rhetorical and appreciate the point that you are making. I also appreciate your point about economics. The connection between supply and demand is a basic truth of life. Sometimes I worry that too many people are losing touch with these kinds of basics.

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

BPs are rather secretive by nature. If you want something that moves a lot, try one of the snakes that actively hunts for food. Stay with colubrids. Think BPs don't do much? Try a Green Tree python, lol
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

Corns or balls? I love them both. I have more corns than balls because of the price. I have a corn that hides a lot but the others are pretty active. My bp's are also fairly active on any given night. The secretive corn comes out at night..the others during the day. One ball comes out whenever. They all feed very well. I guess what I am trying to say is that there are different personalities even with in specific species. You may have just gotten a ball that is secretive and no amount of anything will make it more sociable. If you bought another then maybe it would be. Too bad we can't cross the two and get a "cornball'...LOL. Just kidding to all the hybrid haters out there!!

CornBall!! lol put me on the list for that. I also have corns, balls, a Hognose and one Dumeril Boa. I keep them because I absolutely love snakes. I do hope they will breed to help fund their cost. Rats are expensive. They also have many different personalities. Most of my corns are very docile and friendly, however a few bite me every chance they get. My BP's are shy and reclusive. And my Dumeril is very outgoing and super friendly. My Hognose is a big bluffer and likes to hiss and strike at me even though she never makes contact. She does seem to like to be handled after she is picked up.

I keep a ball python for its value as a pet, but I've not had it very long. I don't know whether any advice I give could help, but I'll give a few thoughts.

When I bought this snake, I envisioned someday sitting at my computer with a snake on my shoulders or in my lap. I envisioned sitting in a chair reading with a snake on my shoulders or in my lap. I wanted something heavy because I liked the thought of a snake that would feel heavy. I also wanted something that wouldn't move too much and that I'd feel when he/she started to move. From what everyone was telling me, a ball python fits that description.

At first, I hoped that I'd stumble into a pet that someone no longer wanted. I knew that buying a baby would mean having to wait until she was old enough to have some size. Eventually, I gave up and decided to go with a baby. My snake also seems to spend a great deal of time hiding. Occasionally, she'll explore a bit, but mostly she hides. I'm fortunate in that she's never reacted negatively to being held. She's often sits still when I'm holding her, but she doesn't seem particularly scared. I think she just finds a comfortable positions and holds it.

Do you hold her even after she's eaten? I always give her two days to digest before holding her. If you've been holding her after feeding, maybe she's uncomfortable and associates being held with that discomfort.

I wish you well with your ball python. I still like mine very much. I hope you'll have better luck with yours.

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

First off I'd like to agree....95% for the money. How often do you see posted in here "I just got a 10k loan, what should I breed?" or people asking what will sell for the highest price. There are those who keep balls just for the pleasure of the hobby including myself. I have one ball python and love him very much. Several people have said that they are lucky if they come out even at the end of the season. if you are selling 5k-50k snakes then you are coming out way ahead!

As for the type of snake I think would be best for you.... I think a black rat is a nice suggestion. They are incredibly active, exact same disposition as my corn, and they sleep on top of their hides most of the time (varies snake to snake)

I have a theory on the ball pythons morphs... The only people who can really buy these 15k-50k snakes are breeders. So really the breeders are just exchanging breeding stock for the first few years. So after EVERY breeder has an established colony of that morph that is when the price drops. I honestly don't see why albinos are still over $200. Just a few of my thoughts! Also I included a picture of my orange albino black rat "Peaches" She sleeps anywhere in her cage.

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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

izzy is the cutest thing, not one bit shy and real curius, lazlos more shy but still never scared. i hold all my snakes every day (exept after feeding/during shed) and izzy comes out all the time, lazlo comes out once in a while.
maybe your not staying up late enough, mine usualy come out pretty late at night/early in the morning
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jake

my addiction:
2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
1 amelenistic corn snake (mazy)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)

Well, first things first,
balls like small cages, most wont even feed properly if they are kept in something to large. If your female is a baby a 30 gallon is way too much space for her, try starting out in a 10. Next her rapid breathing when you pick her up. 9 times out of 10 means im hungry please feed me. Baby balls and adults will huff and puff when hungry it dosent nessasarily mean that she is upset.

NEXT --- BALLS AND MONEY
Yes many breeders do it for the money but if they didnt truly love the animals then they wouldnt be taken care of properly, they wouldnt be watched and monitored as they are, and they wouldnt be breeding as well as they do for them. I have seen many facilities and can say that the big breeders DO love their animals. Many big breeders work with their balls one on one and dont have much out side help. I know Ralph, Kevin and the Bells all enjoy working with their animlas. Some of kevins favorite snakes are cool normals. When you dont want to work a 12 hour day cleaning snake cages its the love for the animals and the enjoyment you get when working with them that gets you through not the dollar signs, trust me. Also many of the big breeders are all keeping there prices high. while many small breeder will drop them low to make a sale. The big breeders dont care wether they sell the animal or not, thats why they get there asking prices. If it was all about the money they could sell the 400 female pastels that they produce yearly for 500 a head, sell out, and not have to worry about maintaing and feeding them till they sell, but i dont see that happening any time soon. For some yes the money helps. Ad for others yes they do it soley for the profit. BUT If you can make a living off of something you love to do then why are people critizing big breeders. If an artist can make a living off of selling his paintings we dont say hes only doing it for the money, his paintings will be a reflection of his love for his work, just as healthy well cared for offspring will be the reflection of the breeders love for their animals.

And if he doesn't want his BP anymore, I'd gladly take her off his hands.
Different strokes for different folks!!!
Ken
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1.0 Albino Ball Python (Apu)
0.5 Normal Ball Pythons (Norma, Nova, Nala, Nimeesha, Nyoka)
1.1 Argentine B/W Tegus (Draco and Drucilla)
0.1 Columbian B/W Tegu (Diablo)
1.0 Black Throat Monitor (Razor)
1.0 Desert Tortoise (Tubbs) from Tortoise Rescue
1.0 Boxer (Shadow)
0.1 Feline (CK)
1.0 Memory of my Redtail Boa (Mo) which passed away after 28 years

www.ocballs.net
kvandoren@ocballs.net