Ball head python advice?

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jartist15

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 25, 2009
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canada
Ok so tomorrow is the ontario exotic pet expo:nilly:, and i have been contemplating the last 2 weeks, and have decided that if i can find a ball head for relitlvly cheep i am going to buy it. I decided this because about a month ago my bearded dragon unexpectly died so i have an extra 40 gallon in my room. So what are the basics i need to know for this guy, what is a good price. Good Substrate ? Heat? Food?:confused:
 
Do you mean a ball python? Never heard of a ball head python and I just googled it and this post is the only match. A ball python would need a 10 gal for a juvie and a 20 gal for a sub adult. A 40 gal breeder would house it for life. newspaper would be the cheapest but you can also use aspen bedding for substrate. Heat would be around 88 on the warm side and 79 on the cool side. And start with small fuzzy mice and work your way up to rats as it gets older.
 
yeah it is a ball python sorry about that, and i found one for 60$ i have paper towel down right now and the heat is 85-70 i will have to adjust some stuff but i am getting there, the guy i got is beautiful :) although i know he isn't crazy breed or patterns i think it is amazing, i will hopefully post some pics tomorrow
 
what would be some good things to feed other than pinkies ?
 
Only thing you need to feed him is rodents (mice or rats). Just move up in prey size as your snake gets bigger. Ball pythons generally can take fuzzies or hoppers even when small.
 
jartist15;3082741; said:
what would be some good things to feed other than pinkies ?


I'm not trying to sound mean, but it sounds like you still need to do a bit of research before you buy a ball python. I would start by googling it....there are a million care sheets for ball pythons out there. There is also a very good ball python forum (PM me for the name of it...I don't know if the rules here allow posting of the names of other forums). There are also a couple good books out there such as:
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Comp...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241546333&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Ball-Python-H...=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241546333&sr=8-4

Have you ever owned a snake before? I ask this because BP's can be a little tricky for the first timer. They can be picky eaters and require excellent husbandry.
 
i had two, and during a move i had a friend babysit them and i am going back today actually to pick them up. they will for no reason decide not to eat. it is going to happen. some are so picky they won't eat white mice or a certain sex of mouse. shoutd they decide to stop eating, put them in a plastic tub with a lid and the food and close it. there is something about darkness and close quarters that intices them to feed
 
something i forgot to mention is a house. go to lowes and get a terra cotta pot. turn it upside down and if you have ever seen tom and jerry, carvre a "mouse hole" like jerry has in the baseboards of the house. make it just as big as he is at his widest piont. you can put a dampish washcloth in there and it will act like a sauna in there. he will love it. when he gets bigger, get a bigget pot. don't be surprised if he spends all his time in there. its what they do in nature. also, get some really good bungee cords that you can barely stretch over the tank because he will get loose. the harder for him, the better for you. i custom built an enclosure for mine and one door has four skeleton key locks. they will test you patience with this and if it gets loose, CHECK YOUR BOOTS BEFORE you put them on. they like small cool tight, hard to get to places. if he stays gone for about three days you can put that feeding tub in the middle of the room and lay all kinds of stuff he can crawl on to get into the tub, but he falls in to get the mouse and cant get out, at least while he is small. i had to do that several times till i found bungeecords strong enough he couldn't get out.
 
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