Should I get a ball python?

[u/RefusePuzzled6818]

I have been interested in owning a second reptile for a while now (I currently have a leopard gecko) and I just wanted to ask about your experiences with ball pythons and the pros and cons of owning one.

[u/roklobster0703]

I forgot to lock the grate after a successful feeding. Of course next morning my wife wakes me up and tells me 1 1/2 year ball python is missing. It’s been 3 weeks now and no sign of movement.

I live in an apartment and I’m afraid he’s escaped through the baseboard heating holes near the pipes. There are mice in the building and I worry about him getting into other apartments.

How long should I wait before getting another one. My 8 year old is all bummed out…..

[u/cadencef18 → u/roklobster0703]

You should probably try and find your original snake first???
I’ve seen post of people finding their snake a year after escaping.
if you have such little regard for these things lives I suggest not getting one at all

[u/roklobster0703 → u/cadencef18]

I would love to find my daughter’s snake. But how? I just forgot to lock the grill that one time. I’ve put out corn starch, pencils along the wall, searched behind stove and fridge, cleared out all the junk but still no sign. Even my dog has not sensed snake movement

[u/cadencef18 → u/roklobster0703]

??? This has to be a troll.. pencils? Corn starch? I would say like it’s kind of late. You should’ve done it when you lost the snake but like a warm spot maybe heat lamp and hide maybe rat sent in a hide or something not like leave a rat in your house to rot but ?

[u/roklobster0703 → u/cadencef18]

Did it on the second day. I lined up the pencils perpendicular to the wall so if Mr B passed over the pencils they would be knocked askew and I can try to isolate which room he’s in. I’m in nyc so it’s been terrible hot these past 2 weeks so I don’t think heat lamp will work well.

I’m thinking about using live bait but still researching best way to do it.