Buying and Caring for Ball Pythons

Of the 2,400 or so known species of snakes, several make good pets and are quite popular as such! Though there are several things to consider when deciding to keep a snake as a pet, they are fascinating, beautiful creatures, and interacting with them can be a rewarding and quite educational experience! There are many species which are kept as pets, ranging from small Garter, Grass and Corn snakes to giants such as Burmese Pythons, which are upwards of 20 feet long when full grown! I'll be focusing on Ball Pythons for now, as they are more exotic than common Garter snakes, but are reasonably affordable, quite docile (when a few common sense rules of thumb are followed) and are of a managable length when full grown- between 5 and 6 feet.

First, make sure you'll have a good home for your pet when you bring it home! A baby Ball Python will be comfy in a 10-20 gallon aquarium, but they grow quite fast (about a foot per year) until they're full grown, and will eventually need a much larger tank! For a full-grown adult, a 40 gallon breeder tank is great, because it will be wider than a regular 55 gallon tank, though either one will be fine. You'll also need to set it up for the new baby with a cool and a warm spot with a nice hiding place in the cool spot.

Ball Pythons are mainly nocturnal animals, and love to hide and sleep during daylight hours! Pet stores normally sell a good variety of hiding places, though something as simple as an upside down cardboard box will work fine! You'll also need something to keep the tank warm- stick on heating pads and heat lamps are both available, and I personally use both at different times. If the temperature is normally over 80 degrees in your house, you'll need to use a thermostat with the heat pad, as they will get too hot if you don't. The hot side of your snake's habitat should be between 80 and 90 degrees, with the cool side being about 75- never cooler than 70, however! And NEVER use heat rocks! These are fake rocks with heaters in them, and will burn your snake. Likewise, when using a stick-on heater placed on the bottom of the tank, put plenty of substrate on it, as the glass will also be hot enough to burn your snake!

What is substrate? Substrate is the stuff you put on the bottom of the tank! It could be unbleached paper towels, newspaper, indoor/outdoor carpet- I personally prefer aspen shavings because they are soft and natural- they're inexpensive ($2-$3 for a big bag), they look nice, and they're non-toxic to your snake. Never use wood shavings like pine or cedar, because both of these are TOXIC to snakes! You'll also need a separate feeding container- this is an important step some people skip, but if you feed your snake in its home, it will associate eating with its tank, and when hungry might strike at you if you reach your hand in. A big plastic container works well for this, as they are reasonably inexpensive and easy to clean.

Next, it is better, if you are a first-time snake owner, to purchase your pet at a reputable pet store. The reason for this is if the store is obviously well kept, clean, and the animals well-taken care of, there will be less of a chance your snake will have health problems from the start, such as mites, ticks, or respiratory issues. When you're looking for just the right pet for you, handle the snakes- this is common sense, as you probably won't want a pet that will be aggressive or exceptionally nervous. Ball Pythons are shy by nature, and when they are nervous, will coil up into a ball, hiding their head in the middle of the coils. This is common and normal, especially if the snake isn't used to being handled, but after a short time of being handled, should open up a little bit. A good way to tell might be to simply put your hand in the tank, and watch which one is curious about you- if none of them come to you, handle them all until you find the one with the best temperament!

When you pick the best snake for you, the people who work in the pet store should be able to tell you the feeding schedule of the snake, as well as what kind of food they're eating. Baby BPs eat "pinky" or "fuzzy" mice (baby mice) graduating as they grow to adult mice, and finally rats or other similar sized rodents. Whether they're on pinkies, fuzzies, adult mice, or small rats, the best food to feed your snake is frozen! This is best for the snake and owner for many reasons: notably, it is convenient, allowing you to buy a good supply of food and keep it in the freezer. When feeding time comes, take out what you need, thaw it-always make sure it's COMPLETELY thawed, and feed! Couldn't be simpler! I thaw them in hot tap water, then soak them again in warm/hot tap water so they're nice and warm- my snake seems to enjoy them more that way! Handle the food with something other than your fingers, so you don't smell like food!

Tongs, or something similar works well- for a baby, a big pair of tweezers works fine! Avoid feeding your snake live food! A live rodent can bite and injure your snake, sometimes fatally! If you find the perfect snake, but it's eating live rodents, try to change to frozen or at least fresh killed as soon as possible!

Last but not least, make sure you know the name, number, and location of a good herpatological vet in your area (snake vet)- if you ever need them, they'll be invaluable, and will make the 20-30 or so year lifespan of your Ball Python happy and healthy!
Ball Pythons are fantastic pets, and by following some simple guidelines, watching and handling your snake regularly, you'll be rewarded with a happy, well-adjusted, and beautiful pet for years to come!