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Ball python questions

A

abadawi

New member
Hey guys! I'm thinking of buying a ball python. I had a few questions:
1. Are there any extra requirements for a ball python?
2. Do they musk?
3. Any cons other than being bad eaters?
4. Can I keep a cornsnake and a ball python in the same room (ie. my bed room)?
5. Is it better to buy it as a hatchling or an adult?
6. Is a 20 gallon tank big enough for an adult ball python?
Thank you all!!!
 
1. They have higher humidity requirements than corns.
2. Not sure. Mine has never musked though.
3. Not in my opinion, and my ball eats perfectly too. They're wonderful snakes.
4. Yes. Mine are in the same room, no problems whatsoever.
5. Adults are often more established feeders than very young snakes.
6. I tend to go by length not gallon capacity... I keep my male ball in a 3-foot viv.

Hope that helps. :)
 
Ok, here goes....

There is really no extra requirements other than humidity for ball pythons compared to corns.

I have never had one musk.

The only con (other than poor eating) is the size of food that you will be feeding, it can get expensive even if it is frozen.

You can keep them in the same room, just want to have separate heating and humidity for them.

As long as you buy from a reputable breeder whether you get a hatchling/adult is up to you. Look for CB animals not wild caught and you shouldn't have problem with feeding.

I don't recommend keeping them in 20 gal....especially females (who get larger). Here is a link to NERD's caresheet for ball pythons.
http://www.newenglandreptile.com/CareBall.html That should answer any questions I missed.
 
Just expect the winter fast and you'll be fine. A baby will *usually* go ahead and eat through the winter. Some adults and subadults will eat all the way through the winter~ but a lot (most maybe? Most of mine anyway) will go off feed in the Winter. If you just EXPECT the winter fast and know it's normal~ then it's not "poor feeding"~ it's just the way it is.

I agree with everything else said. Especially the part about looking for a CBB baby!
 
abadawi said:
Hey guys! I'm thinking of buying a ball python. I had a few questions:
1. Are there any extra requirements for a ball python?
2. Do they musk?
3. Any cons other than being bad eaters?
4. Can I keep a cornsnake and a ball python in the same room (ie. my bed room)?
5. Is it better to buy it as a hatchling or an adult?
6. Is a 20 gallon tank big enough for an adult ball python?
Thank you all!!!
Click to expand...

1. They eat more (rats)
2. No.... No musking...
3. Not in my opinion, and most of mine are fine eaters!
4. Yes, you can, but not together. All of mine are all in the same room.
5. I think if you want to see them grow, a hatchling, but if you want to be bitten, that may be the way to go as well. Adults are more docile (most of the time), and I find more reliable for eating. They bite too, but not as fast to do it, in my opinion.
6. Not really, if you are going to have a display... I would go with 30 or so. They need floor space, and a 20 doesn't quite cut it for a 4-5 ft snake.
 
abadawi said:
Hey guys! I'm thinking of buying a ball python. I had a few questions:
1. Are there any extra requirements for a ball python?
2. Do they musk?
3. Any cons other than being bad eaters?
4. Can I keep a cornsnake and a ball python in the same room (ie. my bed room)?
5. Is it better to buy it as a hatchling or an adult?
6. Is a 20 gallon tank big enough for an adult ball python?
Thank you all!!!
Click to expand...

1) 90ish warm side, 80ish cool side, no exceptions. They need it warm. Also, ambient humidity isn't good unless it's between 50-60%. It's also a good idea to put a humid hide in when they're shedding. It also needs two or more identical, tight-fitting hides.

2) Not like a king snake, but I think they have the ability.
3) It's very easy to overhandle them (stresses them out and they don't eat).
4) As long as it doesn't get too cold. Remember, the minimum temperature in the tank is 80 degrees.
5) Hatchling.
6) Until it's 42" long. It's possible for a male if it's small, but for a female, no.

Also, you may want to consider keeping him in a tub if you get one (Rubbermaid, Sterilite, etc.). It's much easier to maintain the correct humidity and heat in a tub. All you need is some of those binder clips to secure the lid. You can use an under tank heater on a tub, as long as you've got it on a thermostat to keep the heat at ~90. To accomplish an 80 degree cool side temperature, you can use another UTH on a thermostat set to 80-84.
 
Oh, and here's a caresheet with all the correct info on keeping ball pythons. I hope you can view it; it's a forum caresheet so you may need to be a member .caresheet
 
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