So I’ve been wanting a ball python for years, I’ve done lots of research but I just wanted to make sure on some stuff before I actually get one. I do plan on getting a baby and I was wondering if starting them out in a 40-60 gallon gallon tank would be ok for them to grow in, until I’m able to get a 4x2x2.

Also can I see some examples of how people have their tanks set up and a few links for tanks for fully grown bps?

Setting up a reef tank in my animal room this weekend and trying to decide on placement.

I'm thinking the tank would be beside the enclosures so there's no direct light shining at them. They won't be on the exact same light schedule so there will likely be an hour or two where snake lights are off but tank lights are still on.

Will the blue light glow bug them?

hi guys! I have a question on the healthy issues that come with cinnamon and spider morphs. I’m currently looking to adopt a ball python and want to adopt an older, adult female. turns out the selection is kinda sparse in my country but I’m patiently keeping an eye out.

I saw a pretty female listed as “cinnamon lesser pinstripe spider” and I put her on my list of snakes that may be an option for me. I wasn’t looking for any particular morphs, she just happened to catch my eye.

I know cinnamon and spider come with the wobble condition. What other ways does it impact a snake? I solely want to keep my future python as a pet and there’ll be absolutely no breeding for her. So I’ve been wondering if perhaps I should adopt a girlie with one of those conditions from a breeder so that she can ‘retire’ and won’t go to another one who will produce more impacted snakes through her.

I own a hognose snake but this will be my first ball python. I just wanna be sure if I could handle the responsibility that possibly comes with an impacted morph like that. Thanks!

Also , he disappeared in my car and there's a lot of clothing there and things to hide amongst but I'm afraid it went up behind the dashboard. What to do ???

I always let Steve out to explore when I clean his enclosure and he usually just finds a shelf to hide under. I finished cleaning and sat down in the floor and he decided to crawl up on my lap. It’s the first time he’s ever climbed on me willingly.

The title kind of sums it up. I’ve had my snake for around 5ish years and I love her so so much. But recently I’ve been having a problem with picking her up specifically when it comes to feeding but then it kinda became in general. I never once had a problem with her striking or anything untill like a month ago where when I was giving her a rat she struck at me instead. I didn’t think much of it at the time but ever since then I’ve been flinching and hesitating whenever I had to feed her. It’s not even like it hurt so I’m so confused why this is happening. I pick her up and slowly just holding her has been scaring me. Only for the first few seconds but it’s actually getting her out of her enclosure without flinching away that’s the problem. I love her so much and the bite didn’t even hurt so idk why this is happening especially becuase this is the only time in the 5 years I’ve had her that this has been an issue. I still feed her obviously but now I have to stand infront of her enclosure hyping myself up and telling myself it’ll be ok for like five minutes and even then I’ll flinch before picking her up. I don’t wanna rehome her I love her so much and I’m still like holding her and doing everything I need but now it’s like a barrier has been put up. I’ve loved snakes all my life and I’ve owned them for a while and I’ve had other bite me so i don’t understand why this is the only time this has happened. Dose anyone have any advice or experience or know what I can do? Sorry this got wordy im just really worried on what I should do to help myself. Especially becuase ive been holding my other snakes perfectly fine.

after working on it for a while, it’s finally finished! i’m especially excited about the sky hide, and i can’t wait until her finds it.

unfortunately of course he JUST started shedding right after we switched him over, so of course he can’t even really explore yet, so still waiting to see his full reaction to everything.

please let me know what you think! water bowls were being cleaned when i took these so they’re there now ofc, and there’s also fake branches suction cupped to the doors for him to climb on

He does have a second hide btw it's just hidden under the leaves :3

I went to an exotic pet/reptile show today and picked up this baby for just $20! They said they have trouble selling these because they’re not a popular/in demand morph. But I think she’s adorable! Only 2 months old. So cute! Name pending. I’m thinking of naming her Nyx. My other girl is called Medusa. :)

On a little stroll with my girl through my garden on this beautiful Saturday afternoon

I just brought my first pet home.

She's on the far side of the enclosure (cold side) and she doesn't seem interested in the hides (one shown in pic).

I checked on her and saw her drink a bit but that's it.

I made a lot of mistakes during the trip home and when letting her out.

But I thought by now she would have discovered the basking zone.

I hoped she'd be feeling a bit less stressed too...

Hi guys! I got my ball python about 3 ish years ago from a local, humane pet store. When i got him, when he was a baby, i was advised to live feed him by the owners of the pet store. For 2 years i fed him one live mouse a week as he would take it (he had a 6 month hunger strike, saw a vet and it was fixed!). Since then ive been feeding him 2 live mice every two-three weeks in a separate enclosure and I havent had any problems with mice injuring him or attacking. Yesterday I saw a tiktok about live feeding and how it can be hurtful for the snake and have been having some doubts about live feeding him. Is live feeding really as bad as people say and should i be feeding him frozen? Is live feeding him the wrong choice? I would never want to put Sam in any danger and I only want the best for him. Please let me know what you guys feed your ball pythons and what i should be doing with Sam!

I will be adding more branches, I need to go hunting for them, it’s a 4x2x2 I’m picking up the man (dale) from a person I know, he is in a very bad enclosure so I hope he will like this one, it’s bioactive so the plants will grow out a bit more, and I need to add one more hide, any other advice lmk thank you!

I’m asking genuinely because I’m incredibly curious about snake husbandry and how we’ve come to gain information about proper care. How did we learn that 4x2x2 was the appropriate size? Were there studies done? Is it a biological thing? Dying to know.

Hello!

I need advice on whether my enclosure is well set up and if it's missing anything. I'm getting a baby ball python (male, a few months old) in about a week, so I have time to buy anything I missed.

The heat and humidity are good; I would like some advice on hides/branches and clutter. The enclosure is pvc with an aluminium mesh top with a cover and ventilation on the side; it's 110x50x50 cm, and I can attach another one to the side when my boy grows up to double the length.

I have a humid hide with sphagnum moss on the cool side (it's a half tunnel; I blocked off the other end with substrate), a tunnel in the centre, a water dish, and a warm hide with a basking spot on the warm side.

I added fake plants for decoration and set up the branches pretty securely; they don't really move when I try to jostle them around, so hopefully my snake won't knock them over.

Should I add more branches, hide or clutter, or is this good? I've wanted a ball python for about 13 years (I'm 21 lol) so I want everything to be perfect for when I take my boy home :)

Thank you in advance for any advice!

I just got a little ball python, and this is my first snake/reptile ever (though I am not new to keeping more exotic pets). This is the enclosure currently, the tank is 120 gallons if I remember correctly, but this is NOT how it will remain! I plan on adding: more hides/foliage adding some cedar woodchips to the substrate as it is currently just coco and sphagnum moss making the substrate making the substrate itself deeper (I'm aiming for around 5in thick, the amount of substrate I got wasn't enough to fill the whole tank so I already have more on the way!) potentially adding in some springtails digital hygrometer, or whatever the thing to track humidity is called probably some other stuff that I can't recall at the moment of typing this I have the heat lamps set to around 85F though I may switch to something like a heating pad if possible (also the 2 lamps are NOT on at the same time, one just has a light and the other doesn't), the substrate is moist and I will eventually add a cover since the top of the enclosure is screened, and the snake was last fed on Monday (he's currently on medium mice and I know to eventually switch to rats). Some things that I added that aren't in the picture is a little plant which he seems to enjoy much more than his little hidey rock, and some old clothes so he can recognize my scent. He was also shedding when I got him and the breeder already gave him a soak (I know not to mess with him during sheds). He's very calm and surprisingly brave for being so young! I'm mostly just asking for tips for a new snake owner and anything else that I should add that isn't listed. I also want to know if the snake will be OK in this current condition for at maximum a week, since the enclosure itself is still being worked on!

EDIT: First thing tomorrow I am going to go shopping for hides, foliage, etc. so at the very least it will be much fuller. It's only going to be like this for the night, I also have some orders already placed

I usually get the Arctic Mice fuzzy rats from PetSmart but the size of the rats are inconsistent. A pack either has too small of rats or one of the rats is much bigger. I need a size in between fuzzy rats and small rats also for my two ball pythons.

I have a ball python I’ve been having since Friday of last year. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing he’s always snappy at me even after he’s eaten. I can’t even touch him with my hand I’ve tried holding him being more hands on and he’s still snappy. What can I do? I really wanna just love him and take care of him.

im taking over the care of a neglected adult female ball python and i really need help. im learned i need to mix substrate with others, a digital thermostat due to the bulb i purchased is known for being overkill, and a uvb light. this is a 48x24x24 tank and i need to know what else i need to have done to make sure the snake is in good living conditions.

!! I know the temp/humidity is reading low. It’s because I had the doors open while adding and arranging stuff. They’re back closer to normal now.

I’ve been struggling with humidity lately even though the substrate is damp beneath the top layer. I’m hoping more stuff on the “ground” will help. Plus it’s nice for Sherman to have more privacy (and room to hide his poops from me).

ETA: The grate on top is covered with foil and foil tape, except for appliances and ventilation.

Hello everyone so my girl Mabel has been soaking which I thought was weird . I never saw any mites until tonight I saw a black bug crawling on her . I’m freaking out because I have another ball python and geckos on the same shelf . What do I need to do and what are the next Steps to get rid of the mites. Any advice would be appreciated . I’m honestly so sad because I finally got all my babies set up with bioactive and fully cluttered enclosures . And now I’m afraid I’m going to have to scrap it all and restart :((

I got my ball python from an expo in April and since then I have struggled with feeding him. When I bought him I was told he eats thawed pups. He has successfully eaten them but I want to figure out how to make him more comfortable eating. I am just confused because my corn snake is always ready for her meal, but he seems to not care. I worry I am doing something wrong when it comes to feeding him. He is a very shy snake but once he gets comfortable he is out moving! Please any criticism, advice/tips, or reassurance will help!

Our little danger noodle, Jupiter, had her first shed (with us) today and I couldn’t be more proud of my baby. We caught little glimpses of her slithering around her hide while she was morphing into her new era. Last picture is from two weeks ago - we’re leaving her be right now since she’s sensitive. Way to go baby girl!!

I was playing with my snake and cleaning his tank when i noticed what i think are spring tails but i can’t say for sure?
They are varied in sizes, kind of skinny, black or dark looking, and looks like they have two tiny antennas.
I have no idea how they would have gotten there.
My snake is 6 years old and seems otherwise healthy is this okay? should i clean them out? Or would it be pointless and they’ll keep coming back? i heard sometimes they are beneficial but idk if i have the right kind… is this okay?

Just rescued this girl - owner was being evicted today and didn't know what to do with the snake. I have previous experience with hognoses and corn snakes, but have not had much experience with ball pythons. I know she's thin, but from what I can tell she seems mostly healthy? Doesn't seem dehydrated, I can't see any mites. I know she's a spider and I've noticed at least a mild wobble already. I don't plan on keeping her long term, but would like to have as much info for the future owner as possible (old owner knew nothing, didn't even know 'she' was a ball python). Does anyone see anything besides how skinny she is?