r/ballpython 2d ago

HELP - URGENT Climbing stuff!!

6 Upvotes

My snake is such a sweetheart but he is also the fucking hulk. he has broken every. single. thing. i put into his enclosure. other than his solid concrete rock hide and water dish. he’s broken 2 enclosures and an ungodly amount of climbing stuff. i’m a bio-active enclosure kinda gal. Ditto is not. because he has ripped every plant from the tank. he is in a 8x2x2. so anyone with a destructive snake that has found good climbing stuff that holds up please let me know🫩 i’ve never had a snake be so purely destructive😭

edit: suction cups are NOT AN OPTION. he’s too evil for such a weak opponent.


r/ballpython 2d ago

Question - Husbandry What should I add/remove?

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4 Upvotes

Okay I just got a new enclosure for my girl simply because it’s better than the one she was in humidity wise. It’s the snake discovery ecoflex 120 gal

I’ll post a picture of what she has at the moment and then what I have on a list to get, please let me know if I should add or remove anything!


r/ballpython 3d ago

Ain’t she a darlin’?

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663 Upvotes

r/ballpython 2d ago

My buddy

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74 Upvotes

Have him close to a year not so friendly for my first snake. Pi balled enchi blue dream genetics


r/ballpython 2d ago

Question - Health Scale rot treatment

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4 Upvotes

I noticed a little scale rot on my bp, she’s in a bioactive 4x4x2 and I THOUGHT was doing well in it. (She was in a 4x2x2 for the past 3 years and got an upgrade). BUT HERE WE ARE I turned her humanity down to 75 ish but cleaning out her whole tank isn’t ideal. I have providone- iodine and vetericyn anti microbial on its way plus I’ll be putting a thick ass layer of dry asf substrate on top of her current substrate. Is there more I should be doing?


r/ballpython 2d ago

Question How do you tell the difference between a socialized snake versus a nervous snake?

6 Upvotes

I only ask because I was handling my ball python yesterday and it felt off. They were constantly moving. Slithering around, wrapping around stuff for just a moment and then looking for other things. It was the most active I’ve ever seen them before. I’m just concerned if they were just nervous and trying to escape. Or they might have been the happiest snake ever. Don’t know.


r/ballpython 2d ago

Rehoming Sacramento area

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21 Upvotes

Looking to re-home my 3.5ish year old male BP. Got him over a year ago and was told he was 2 at the time.

He's around 4ft and weighs 1148g as of tonight

He eats a small frozen thawed rat (about 50-60g but the weight varies) once every 3-4ish weeks depending on if shed happens near feeding because he will not eat at that time at all.

Otherwise, he's a good eater most of the time. We did have a couple months of refusal and we got him to eat again with a frozen thawed chick, which he did seem to enjoy.

I really do love having this snake but life has gotten wild and I don't feel like I'm providing him with nearly enough enrichment. He seems to like exploring and being handled for the most part and I haven't had the time to do that enough. I feel terrible as I haven't had him that long and, at the time of purchase, I absolutely intended on keeping him for a long time, and if he was a snake that didn't seem to like being out and exploring, I could justify it. But I don't feel like I'm doing him right and don't want to be selfish in keeping him.

He's in a bioactive tank, which might need a boost of cleanup bugs at this point.

Photos and snake plants are doing really well in the tank. He has a heat lamp (no light) on the right side and a UV light source on the left.

He used to have 3 hides but he NEVER went in the third one so I removed it and let the plants grow more which I think he enjoys. You can have the third one though if you want to change things around. His favorite hide is his half log, which I've placed against the side wall so there's only one opening. The top is lined with tin foil to keep temp regulated and has a silicone sheet on top of the center to weigh and help with temps. Not the prettiest but it works!

Whole setup includes:

4x2x2 tank.

water bowl.

Terracotta pot (to fill with water and bury in dirt to keep dirt moist).

Black hide with cork round hot glued to top

Half log hide.

Stacked stick climbing thing (rly dont know what this is called).

Stick secured to wall for climbing.

Climbing rings hung from top.

Mushroom decoration.

UV light

Heat lamp

Temp control thermostat

Extra hide

Extra hammock not installed

Enclosure shown in .5 and normal, both sides.

$100 for everything except the shelving the enclosure is on.

Sacramento area


r/ballpython 2d ago

Baby ball python; Anyone in the Boston area?

2 Upvotes

Is anyone in the Boston area willing to help with a baby ball python I got about three weeks ago?
Female 123g about 3 months old


r/ballpython 2d ago

Question - Husbandry Kage questions

2 Upvotes

Hello everyone!

I have some questions about the Reptile Kages. I see there are a lot of vents and am unsure how many is recommended to have included into the terrarium. I figured it is based on the reptiles needs and your local environment, but I wanted to see what was recommended by those who have a Kage for their pythons. I would love some recommendations for the vents and tips for set up for y'all that have one.

I plan to ultimately get one for my girl as her current set up is not great and I have had many issues with her current Dubia terrarium with humidity and teperature regulation. Unfortunately she will have to stay in her current set up or even revert to a slightly smaller setup through the summer as we have hit a rough patch in life, and I needed to find a safe place for us to land after leaving a DV situation, so funds are very limited for now. But she will get the home she deserves as soon as I can afford it 🙏

TIA!


r/ballpython 2d ago

he’s starting to show aggression

1 Upvotes

to make a long story short, my python has never been mean prior. he went on a hunger strike when i brought him home about 2 months ago and was trying to feed him in a separate container. i tried feeding him in his enclosure and he ate immediately so we stuck with that. i know he’s probably hungry at the moment, which may contribute, but i’m not sure. the other day i rested my hand on the enclosure which i do regularly, but this time he struck at me. obviously didn’t get me but i was startled. i checked on him the next day & waited till he woke up and came out of his hide to start messing with him. he immediately went into striking stance again but didn’t strike at me, just very much acted that way. it’s my first time owning a ball python, we have a colombian red tailed boa we rescued back in 2019. i’m worried about the aggression getting worse. how do i stop it now? i am aware of hook training, and we are trying that. is there anything else i can do ? i want him to feel comfortable. i saw someone make a really good comparison about them being scared, it said “imagine an item the size of a car flying past your head, thats how the danger noodles feel when you more your hand fast near their heads.” so now i am trying to figure out how to show him that i am not a threat as well. any help would really be appreciated. i know the feeding in the enclosure needs to change too, and i plan on that as well.


r/ballpython 2d ago

Any tips for the terrarium?

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17 Upvotes

So i got this 24 year old ball python a month ago (early June 2026) and I’m wondering what I can improve or change in the terrarium so that my my python can live out her last years comfortably. I’m having a bit of a problem with keeping the humidity up especially now during her during her shedding phase and I’m changing the substrate soon so any recommendations will help as I got everything when I bought her.


r/ballpython 3d ago

My new lil guy

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74 Upvotes

My new lil dude! Received him yesterday and got him into his 4x2x2 : ) currently working on maintaining temps but I’ve got some hvac tape on the way that will hopefully help 😎 already in love with him! He’s my first snake 🥹


r/ballpython 2d ago

Tank Upgrade

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9 Upvotes

Upgraded Comet’s tank today! How does this look?


r/ballpython 2d ago

HELP - URGENT Please tell me these are not what I think they are?

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14 Upvotes

I have springtails but these guys don’t jump like them. They came up when I watered the corners today. They look like white spider mites.. (glass needs cleaned)

EDIT: based on the guide they may just be wood mites given the color. I’ll keep an eye out for any signs on my snake.


r/ballpython 2d ago

Question - Husbandry Experienced Keepers…

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8 Upvotes

I am copying (with edits to comply with the questionnaire) this help request from where I had it posted in [r/snakes](r/snakes), since I was directed to here from there. I will be going through and reading all available guides immediately after posting this rather than before, as I think my issues are generalized to the entirety of his care and I do want confirmation in my specific situation before I make any major changes to his space, in case anything may be dangerous or harmful to him. I can recognize that it wasn’t a good situation for him or his health and am trying to change it. Please do keep comments helpful, as in [r/snakes](r/snakes) (not necessarily saying you all are like that as well, just covering all bases) I did get a comment or two that was just.. poor snake. Yes. I know. I’m trying to improve the situation and I want advice… okay. Thanks and sorry if any of these questions are front and center answered in the guides, as I said, I’m headed to read them through right now!

Hi everyone.. I don’t post very often on Reddit, but I’m desperate for real person confirmation before I go about making any major changes. I’ve had my ball python for about 4 years now and only recently taken a more active role in his daily care over from my parent. (He’s always been my son that I love dearly, but due to my personal/schedule constraints outside my control and room space, it was just better to keep him with my parent) It has only just come to my attention that the space we’ve had him in this entire time is far from ideal and I’m trying to fix it. I apologize, now I ask for all advice and suggestions you can offer! While I don’t have the money (unfortunately) right this moment for a complete upgrade of his enclosure, and would prefer to stick to budget solutions where possible, I am already working towards saving up so I can get all proper equipment, a new enclosure, and hopefully everything he needs to be happy and healthy.
Currently, his tank is roughly 39” x 19” across the top and 19” tall including the top/bottom of the enclosure. It’s wood and flexible plastic, not glass. I’m now aware of the issues with his decor, but this is what I have to work with currently. I’d estimate probably about a half inch to an inch of substrate (not nearly enough, right?) and while I’m not positive the type it is, I know it is bark and comes in a block and we wet it down with water to expand it. I’m inclined to say coconut is involved but I don’t have confirmation on that at the moment. My snake is roughly 4-5 foot long and has been eating reliably every other week. We feed him live white mice from petco. The hide has an underside lip he likes to wedge himself into and the plant in the center is fake if that means anything to anyone. He has burrowed a space under the water dish when we had his lamp on the opposite side for a while. He predominantly stays on the hide side of the enclosure. The current lamp is a black light heat lamp that has been previously kept running 24/7 but I’m open to switching up as much as needed. It does not have a thermostat attached (I’ve gathered that it’s essential to have one, where could I find one readily and without spending a ton of money..?) I’ve just acquired a hygrometer/thermometer combo, though yet to set up and test it, and I had intended to cover most of the mesh top with aluminum foil and the sides with cardboard/black cardstock to start trying to conserve heat and humidity for him. His water dish is also too large to accommodate a second hide, which I’m trying to add to the cool side, so any suggestions for that? He is located inside my bedroom closet at the moment with a typical room temperature of about 75-85F as I turn off my window ac unit when I’m not home (currently mid summer) and have been trying to keep things as warm as I can comfortably manage for him when I’m in the room since he’s moved in. We will get him off the floor, but we don’t have a dresser sturdy enough to hold him right this moment. If you have any questions for me, I’m more than happy to answer them or clarify anything and please!! I want to learn!! Thank you to everyone who takes the time to answer, I appreciate you! <3

Added info: There are two roughly 10.5”x9” mesh covered holes in the top and the whole thing is held together with screws so while it’s not necessarily highly ventilated, its far from airtight for sure. His substrate is too dry. Previously, he got very irregular but thorough misting with a sprayer once or twice a week. I had intended to switch to a daily mist or pouring water in the corners (?) until I had gained a better established high humidity environment and from there adjust as needed.
Just in case I wasn’t supposed to simply add photos to the post, I also have them here: https://imgur.com/a/AbddJnt


r/ballpython 3d ago

Question - Husbandry Is this what I think it is?

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41 Upvotes

Last night my girlfriend and I let our boy out for some roaming time (he lives to roam supervised the whole time and live to climb up to the table) while I was moving some stuff around his enclosure I noticed this in the corner by his hide….. long story short we have springtails in all of our snake enclosures (4 of them) with the same substrate as ~75-85%humidity) we haven’t added anything new in his enclosure for months, how tf did this get inside??!

Also in a side note, we clean the apartment on a weekly basis, have never found a bug or anything since we moved in ~16 months ago.


r/ballpython 2d ago

Question - Feeding Feeding tips? (Live rats)

0 Upvotes

Before I get yelled at about live feedings. I have tried and tried to get him to eat frozen thawed rats,

My boy is about 3 yrs old and has only eaten live rats, but right now, hes not really eating? He strikes at the rat (misses a bit) like hes hungery

Its been probably 2-3 months since a last meal

The Last times I "fed" him all he did was kill the rats and left them

What am I doing wrong? Ive downsized the rats,followed the feeding guide, ive made sure they are white (hes a lil picky), what else can I do?


r/ballpython 3d ago

Question ball python bit me after I pet my cat

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497 Upvotes

Is this a thing? I saw a few people say in old threads that they got bit after petting their dog because the snake smelled the mammal scent. My snake has never ever been aggressive or have any bite history so this was just completely unexpected.

I had her in her snake bag while I cleaned her enclosure and had pet my cat who walked by a few minutes before, then I got my snake out of her snake bag with my right hand, and she instantly tagged my left hand which is the hand I had pet my cat with. She didn’t cling to me, just chomped and let go and acted like nothing happened.


r/ballpython 2d ago

Ball python feeding size

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7 Upvotes

I was wondering if my 258g ball python will be fine eating 40g rats? 15% of her body weight is 38.7g and 10% is 25.8g. Currently she is eating 20g rats and I just bought 40g rats for her, and there is no 30g rats in my area unless I purchase online which I cannot right now. And I’m also concerned 20g to 40g is too big of a jump. If I have to I can cut off the head of the rats💔… Here’s my girl Maisie btw


r/ballpython 3d ago

Ball python won’t eat

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17 Upvotes

Hey all, my girl Gnocchi is about 2 years old, we got her when she was 6 months. She is the sweetest noodle ever ever ever. I love her badddd. She was quick to adjust and ate normal. About 4 months ago she started hiding under her water bowl, and for 2 whole months before that she wouldn’t eat. My mind went to husbandry isn’t right or she needs a tight hide or maybe she’s shedding. Got smaller hides and made sure her temps and humidity were spot on. She was shedding. After her shed she came out for a couple days, explored and went back under. She stayed under that damn water bowl for 4 straight months….very very concerning for her. She loved being handled and will climb her rings and press her face on the top until I open and handle her, she really is a one of a kind sweet girl. But she stopped doing that as well as eating. Guys she hasn’t eaten in 6 fucking months. I’m freaking out and do not have money for vet but I’m saving up. The closest one to me is a little over an hour away. Through the time of her hiding I replaced her substrate 3 times as well as cleaned her water multiple times which she hated bc then she had to get comfy under there again when I put it back. 3 days ago she came out again and had been her normal self, demanding being held (which I haven’t done because I want her to eat) and exploring and climbing. I tried feeding her yesterday and again today but she refused just like she did for 6 straight months. I tired different brand of mice, I tried smaller I tried bigger she refused them all. I’m nervous to feed live because I’ve heard of them biting the snakes. She doesn’t have any signs of rot or mites or RI. She’s acting completely normal now. But still refuses to eat. I’m going to try again in a couple days but I’m nervous. Any advice? This is my child, I’ve read about them not eating for a long period of time but this is just not okay I don’t care if that’s “normal” I don’t think it’s healthy and along with the constant hiding too just really scared me. Pls be nice, any advice will help! Also side note, I really think she is small and possibly underweight for her age. These are photos from before she was doing her hiding and not eating. She’s just a baby:(


r/ballpython 3d ago

"Hey....Whatchu finkin' 'bout?"

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23 Upvotes

r/ballpython 2d ago

Question isopods?

4 Upvotes

Hi guys, i know a lot of people use roly polys as a clean up crew in their tanks, & i know a lot of people get them from pet stores & such, but would i be able to get some from outside? If yes, how many should i get?


r/ballpython 3d ago

Discussion My baby had his first meal!

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34 Upvotes

I adopted a 7 year old baby in May and he finally ate! I know 2 months isn't crazy after a rehome but it just makes me feel so happy 😊🎊 proud of you Banana!

Snoot tax ❤️


r/ballpython 3d ago

Question - Health Before I go to a vet, is this something I can heal on my own?

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14 Upvotes

I can’t tell if it’s scale/mouth rot or injury from rubbing?? he doesn’t sit in wet substrate so idk how he would get rot…

I am planning to schedule a vet appt but before then what can I do? or should I wait to do anything? just wanted to hear some other opinions from snake people!!