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good second snake ?

speirsaaron

speirsaaron

New member
hiya :)

before i start i am just curious and im not gonna go out and buy on impulse, so i don't want ppl calling me stupid for asking this question

ok, so iv been reading care sheets and what not and i decided that id like to go up in snake size. i was thinking if maybe a ball python would be a good snake ? i have talked to other ppl who actually own ball pythons themselves and they say its a good idea i was just wondering what u guys would say ?

BTW IF UR GONNA POST REPLY's SAYING STUFF LIKE "UR AN IDIOT AND TOO YOUNG U PROB HAVEN DONE RESEARCH BLAH BLAH " THEN GO AWAY lol sorry to say that but iv seen other threads asking questions like this and that happens. :p

thanks :)
 
Hello,
I am sorry for recent threads where people have "tantrums" uncalled for. You have a corn so I would personally stick with corns. But if you have all of the correct info and set up and get a well started snake then go for a BP. PM me if you have any other questions
 
i haven bought anything yet but if i do get a BP then il buy everything and make sure i have proper heat and humidity before i get the snake. but i posted this to see like if a ball python would be a good snake for a second snake? and about info i cant even count the amount of care vidz and care sheets and what not iv read :p
 
Ball Pythons can be a good 2nd snake if you get one that is well established. They do sometimes tend to be picky eaters - even as adults. But if you find one that is eating well, it should be a good next step up for you.
 
A Ball python is an excellent choice for a second snake, or even a first.
If you have gone through care-sheets you should do well.
A few notes- they are trickier to successfully breed and incubate, and they are slightly less forgiving when it comes to temperature shifts.
Last thing to consider- they -will- go on hunger strikes... it's not a matter of if, but of when. You have to do a "switch" in your mind when dealing with them.
What a lot of keepers do, is try and force the BP to eat by repeatedly offering food or force-feeding... BP's are very shy and in a lot of cases this can end up causing far more harm than good.

If you really get that into your head... BP should make a wonderful choice for a snake.

David, again, I am sorry, but I personally do not feel you are in a position to offer people personal assistance rather than allow them to enjoy the multitude of experienced keepers here that have a far wealthier experience in keeping snakes.

Maybe you didn't mean it, but it sounds like you think you have more to offer than other "mundane" keepers like myself.
 
oh cool am glad am gettin good feedback :) and i have read alot of care sheets and if i decide to get a BP il buy care books and read them before i get the snake so il know what im doing . since this would be my first BP what dose a healthy one look/act like ? i know there slow movers and very relaxed but any characteristics i should look for as a bad sign ?
 
I'm going to speak in generalities here, with hopes of avoiding the "yeah, but I've seen..." sort of responses.

Ball pythons are, in general, pretty mellow snakes. They don't get enormous, and would make a good next-size-up choice.

Many of the "regular" boa constrictors (like the red-tail for example) fall in the same category. They tend to be pretty mellow, and don't get too big. They would make another one you might consider.

Both of these species have lots tighter environmental requirements than corn snakes, for both temperature and humidity. With higher temps and humidity comes the increased need for cleanliness, because more undesirable micro-critters grow in warmer wetter conditions. So that's another consideration. As I'm sure you've found, many of the more exotic boas or pythons get much bigger than BPs, or have a reputation for being aggressive, or have even tighter environmental requirements. That's why the research you're doing ahead of time is so important.

One thing to remember is that a bigger snake is going to require bigger prey, and that can get expensive very quickly. I had to get rid of my red-tailed boa in college because I couldn't afford to feed her any more (and the dog pound banished me when they found out I wasn't adopting puppies and kittens for a ranch, but that's another story).

You say you've been reading care sheets, etc., and I commend you for that! Going into a purchase like this with a bit of foreknowledge can avoid nasty surprises. Remember to also research meal and housing costs based on the adult size of whatever you choose. Good luck!
 
Oh my god Oren! Please let me talk. I can advise people fine! It is not your position to tell me what I can and cannot say. It is simply not your place you know nothing besides the person behind the key board. And you gave the same sort of advice i did.
 
glenhead said:
I had to get rid of my red-tailed boa in college because I couldn't afford to feed her any more (and the dog pound banished me when they found out I wasn't adopting puppies and kittens for a ranch, but that's another story).
Click to expand...
I really hope you're kidding, and I really hope I interpreted that the wrong way, that's all I'm going to say
 
snakemaster24 said:
Oh my god Oren! Please let me talk. I can advise people fine! It is not your position to tell me what I can and cannot say. It is simply not your place you know nothing besides the person behind the key board. And you gave the same sort of advice i did.
Click to expand...

Sure, but I don't recall myself advising people to contact me personally rather then continuing the thread... nor do I recall myself antagonizing anyone because I am more experienced with one species of snake or another.
I simply stated an opinion, and I am sorry you do not like it- but it stands. I also advise you to note the impression your replies leave.
Instead of blaming the whole world for the responses you get- I suggest you try and see how you too are responsible for this.
I am not saying you were always treated fairly- I am however saying that you did quite a few things that could potentially provoke these responses.

On the RedTail part I have to disagree... they are far larger than Ball pythons... Redtail is also a very general term, which can include Boa Constrictor Constrictor, Peruvian and other Boas- all of which can reach 7-8 foot, some, even more.
There -are- dwarf Boas, like the Hogg Isle, Corn isle et cetera... they don't fall under the "normal" category in my opinion but maybe that's what you meant?
 
Oren, I posted on a thread where a newbie asked a question. That is my right on a forum. BTW I sent you a PM
 
Not to take this thread off course, but I think Oren does have a point. Not to pick on you, most of the time I really do like what you have to say. But to say "I am sorry for recent threads where people have "tantrums"" kind of sounds hypocritical after the last thread, and I understand you were offering a PM chat to be nice, but it also comes across as rather arrogant. No offense, but this is an open thread, and others can probably provide a better account than you, simply based on experience. It's nothing personal, it's "take it or leave it" advice offered to help you in the long run.
 
I have nothing against you replying, I simply think poorly of the way you choose to articulate yourself and suggest you consider the impression your words tend to leave.
Take it, leave it... your choice.
You've got a PM in turn, in the hopes you realize that constructive criticism does not equal thinking poorly of you.
 
ok everyone thank u all for reply's but can i ask u all to either talk about the snakes or don't talk at all no disrespect but i don't want this thread to turn into an argument :p
 
speirsaaron said:
ok everyone thank u all for reply's but can i ask u all to either talk about the snakes or don't talk at all no disrespect but i don't want this thread to turn into an argument :p
Click to expand...

Thank you for that :) and I apologize for my part in diverting the thread away.
At any rate- Ball pythons are a splendid choice.
Good luck with your choice and new snake purchase
 
Here's my 2 cents.

Our second species of snake was a ball-python. Once we got the care and handling of cornsnakes down I felt I was ready to "move-up" a step, care-wise and when I researched I found that balls were beautiful(dirty mind!) and would be that next step for me. Worked out great! BPs require a bit more husbandry than corns and are beautiful snakes. However, they're certainly not "display" snakes so if that's what you're wanting then a BP isn't it. They hide the majority of the time.
 
oh no i don't buy pets for "display" purposes. i buy them because im interested in them and i just generally like them , usually if someone wants to see my snake its up to the snake and if its ok with been out then they can see her but if she wants to go back in her viv then thats what she gets :p and i wont be actually getting the snake till after christmas if i do get one and if i wasn properly prepared i wouldn get it til i had Everything as best as i could for the snake :)
 
I honestly think regular red tail boas (BCI) are going to be easier on som' keepers than ball pythons, in spite of the size...I rarely hear new snake keepers ripping their hair out over a boa not eating or having bad sheds...ball pythons can be a bit hard to read for a novice IMO. Either snake is much more expensive to feed/house.

That said what do you think of another colubrid? Like a kingsnake? Or a gophersnake?

Or even a sand or rosy boa?
 
speirsaaron said:
oh no i don't buy pets for "display" purposes. i buy them because im interested in them and i just generally like them , usually if someone wants to see my snake its up to the snake and if its ok with been out then they can see her but if she wants to go back in her viv then thats what she gets :p and i wont be actually getting the snake till after christmas if i do get one and if i wasn properly prepared i wouldn get it til i had Everything as best as i could for the snake :)
Click to expand...
It's nice to hear things like this. It's not about a snake to show off, or getting a snake you're not ready for, before even getting the proper equipment/supplies.
I really have to congratulate you for being so responsible, and getting all of your ducks in a row, so to speak, before making the decision to get a new snake. Kudos!
 
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