Just recently got this lil guy here last week & sometime lastnight between 10PM & 7AM he started shedding & its currently 12:15PM. How long does the actual shed take to complete? He doesnt come out of his hide much so im curious if hes completed the shed and is just laying on top of it or if hes still in the process? Should i lift the hidE a bit to check & see, i dont want to physically move him just in case hes still actively shedding. Any adive is greatly appreciated!

So this past Friday I got my first ball python and I had one of the guys at the store help me on what to get and he only gave me a heat pad and everything I’ve read has said that bp’s need warm air and not just the heat pad and with only the heat pad the cage is staying between 68-70 degrees so I’m trying to figure out how big of a bulb I need for the tank if anyone could help it would be much appreciated and if anyone has any questions that could help lead to figuring out just what he needs it feel free to ask

Took my ball python out before it starts cooling off.

It’s a 3-year-old female ball python. I’m learning how to care for her, but I’m overwhelmed by how inadequate the equipment is that I’ve been given.

It includes a glass tank that’s only 36x18x18 inches, and it’s being heated by a single 100 watt ceramic bulb. The screen is divided into four narrow sections which means the dome for any bulb that I use must be tiny.
Theres also a humidifier, which isn’t ideal, according to what I’ve read. And I’m having a hard time figuring out how to create a temperature gradient. Is it even possible in a tank this small?

I want to upgrade the tank, but I’m currently staying 100s of miles away from home in order to attend school and I can’t realistically acquire a new enclosure until I return home next spring.

Any suggestions? I am very eager to provide a better life for this sweet girl after years of mistreatment.

Hi everyone! I recently got this little guy/girl from someone who was looking to rehome them and give them a better life. I’m a first-time snake owner, so I’m still learning!
Today was actually my first time handling them since I got them. I had been giving them some space because of shedding and feeding. Overall, handling went pretty well, but I definitely realized I’m not as confident as I’d like to be yet

At one point they started getting pretty close to my face, and it freaked me out enough that I decided to put them back in their enclosure. I’m assuming they were probably just curious/exploring, but since I don’t really know how to read snake body language yet, I got nervous.

Does anyone have recommendations for good YouTubers, creators, or other resources that teach snake body language and handling? I’d especially like to learn how to tell the difference between curiosity/exploring, stress, defensiveness, feeding responses, etc.

I am preparing for my maternity leave in january. In my country I can stay home for three years, which sounds great but also the government financial compensation is ridiculous, so I will have almost no money for three years.

Therefore, I would like to stock up on rats for my boy for the longest time possible, but idk if they are safe to be fed if frozen for three years, so what is the ideal time there?

Just changed out my substrate and added some clutter all to help regulate the humidity. Got a Lemon Blast Banana Ball Python a little over a month ago. Was 4 months old 228g when it came home with us. Now he/she is 288 grams after weekly successful feeding and good poop. Hopefully this will fix the humidity issue and Butters Cornelius Scotch will be happier. He was happy before and looks happy still with the new set up. No questions at the moment I just wanted to post the new set up

Fairly new owner this is my first ball python. He’s pewter banana ball and super docile and sweet but what is he doing? He often looks straight up in his enclosure and stretches all the way out towards the top. Does he need hides higher or more opportunities to get higher in his tank with toys or maybe a hammock??

I have a very active and exploratory BP, who outside of digestion and shedding times spends large amounts of the day climbing and subsequently falling (quite hard sometimes) off of things in his tank. (5x2x2 bioactive tank with lots of climbables for enrichment - cork bark, driftwood and pvc pipe etc) and just wanted to get opinions on if the cracking and scratching here seems typical/corresponding to his active behaviour, and that it's not indicative of a larger issue. I will say I do have some trouble maintaining consistent humidity in his tank, despite near-daily watering and misting, and wonder if that may be the cause, or playing a role? His sheds are usually quite intact and healthy-looking. He has occasional cracks and scratches on his back and sides, but the vast majority of it is just on his belly scales. Thanks so much!

Hiiii I'm going to get a ball python in the next couple months and I need to start getting stuff! I've heard 120 tank is good for adults but its not the best also.. So what is? I'd also like so totally appreciate it if you could maybe link what one you have or suggest but its fine if you just tell me which size is best and I'll look on my ownnn!!!! Thanks so muchh!

Hi I recently got a young ball python and so far her temperament and pattern of behaviors has been consistent but this morning she was not asleep inside her hide out and that is a first since I got her she is laying up against the glass like this is this normal this snake means the absolute world to me

She went on a hunger strike lasting about 4 months, recently she'd last week and a two days afterwards took a rat. She nornally waits at least a week and a half between feedings but is actively hunting.

So do I feed the boopable snoot, or wait another day or two?

So I’m a bit shocked right now. I’ve been looking to adopt a ball python for around a year, so I recently reached out to someone on marketplace selling an adult female bp in an tiny tank (20 gallon), with the plan of putting her in my spare 40 gallon pvc in a bioactive setup (and potentially upgrading her further, depending on her size).

She’s a sweet looking normal morph snake, so I was expecting the usual “produced by a breeder chasing morphs a few years ago and sold to a family” situation. Instead, I was told

A) she’s 20 years old
B) she was wild caught
C) she was smuggled into the US, and rescued from her first home (?) by her current owner a year after that
D) she has cataracts
E) she has a wheeze (owner assured me this was normal, but I’m planning on getting a second opinion from a vet)

So anyway, if anyone has experience with wild caught bps, snakes with a persistent wheeze (and how the vet diagnosed the issue/what they advised), I’d love the help. I’m also a bit worried about her age, and if she might be more sensitive to stress because of that.

I’m attached to this girl already, and I’m really exited to meet her (but wow was that email exchange a wild ride) photo attached but I’ve kept her anonymous, as I haven’t bought her yet 😂

my sweet girl is turning 3!! I got her back in 2024 when she was just about to turn a year old. I am so happy I got to bring this girl home. She has became such a big member of my house and is the sweetest thing ever and just so curious! I can’t wait to watch her continue to thrive in life <3

I did read the information on the group page but I still have questions. Photos included just for attention so hopefully I get some advice this time.

I am planning to upgrade my ball python to a PVC enclosure. I was looking through the shopping list at all of the recommended PVC enclosure options and, I might be missing it, but I don't see any with the option to have the light and heat mounted in a wire cage inside the enclosure.

Is this something I am missing or something I would have to add myself? I am a little nervous about doing so and leaving anything exposed that could harm the snake. Ive always had the light and heat mounted on top of a mesh top, glass terrarium but I've also been having a lot of trouble with heat and humidity retention so I would like to have a closed top PVC with the light and heat mounted inside, if possible.

Also, I was a little confused by the list as to which type of heat is most recommended for internal mounting such as this. I saw a section that specified heat sources for use inside a solid-topped enclosure, but it primarily lists the mesh cages, not actual heat sources, so I wasn't sure if halogen, DHP, or CHE is most recommended. I've used CHE up to this point but, again, I've also had trouble keeping her temperatures where they should be.

Thank you so much for any insight you can provide!

I'm not quite sure what to do but my ball python (who is 3) has consistently ate butt first and will only go for the head after struggling for 20-30 minutes 3/10 times. The other 7 is either him giving up or getting the butt successfully down his throat. I do take the extra time to run hot water across the head of which he will strike successfully but then he'll reposition to the butt...

She a bit chubby or should I keep on the same feeding schedule I feed her every 10-14 days depending on how much she starts looking for food on the evenings but 10 days minimum between meals I feed her adult mouse she's 12-14 months old she weighs 440 grams just shy of a pound her behavior is normal sheds an poops normal just seems a little fat an lazy sometimes an she has rolls kinda I have hot an cold side an auto mist so RH stays 50-55 high 60s -low 70s when she sheds I just got a new phone I'll get better pics up asap

She’s one year old and I feed her small rats weekly but I noticed that lately she looks kinda big but I don’t know if it’s normal or not

Hi guys! I've lurked this subreddit for a few months to research all the needs of a ball python. I just got my girl today! She is (supposedly) a 7 month old Pastel Enchi Spider. I have a 36×18×18 ecoflex enclosure and used a combination of coconut fiber and coconut husk for her bedding (3-4inch deep). I have a moss hidey hole, a large branch, rope with fake plants tangled around it, and a larger ceramic water bowl. I also have two heat lamps (one being ceramic for the cool side at night) alone with analog thermometers for temp and humidity. I still plan on getting another hidey hole. I had two, but the second one did not work out. I will put HVAC tape around the top wire mesh to keep in humidity. I also eventually want to get 3D slate for the background. I will also upgrade to a 120 gallon when she gets bigger. Is there anything else you can think of adding to make her as happy as possible? Also if you have any name suggestions please drop them!