Is getting a ball python a good idea?

Question

im a 13 year old girl and i absolutly love reptiles. i've been researching cornsnakes and ball pythons for about a year now and i've settled on a ball python. i probley wont get it untill im 15 and can get a paying job but i want to learn more about it now. i will not get taller than 5''2. (familey genetics) is it dangerous to own a big snake? (i know how to handle it but it might be too big...) no i dont want to start with a cornsnake. i decided on ball python. i know allllll the care requirements and i've been on www.repticzone.com for awhile now. like i asked is it to big for me to handle? dangerous at all? can i feed more rats rather than one rabbit when it gets big? how much is a normal morph? albino?

Answer 1

Whether or not its a good idea really just depends on you.  A ball python can easily live more than 20 years, so just make sure that you are still going to want it years from now.  

The answers by Sam and Cody about the size are right.  I've owned ball pythons since I was about 11 (I'm 28 now).  I have two full grown ones at the moment, and at 4 ft long, I'd guess they weigh maybe 5 lbs each.  So, no, it won't ever get too big, and they're not dangerous at all.  

They can be very unpleasant if you get one that won't let you handle it.  A friend of mine got one because he thought mine was cool.  It was very aggressive and my friend didn't even like cleaning the cage and giving it water because it would try to bite.  I'm not sure if he ever managed to sell it, or if he just let the poor thing die.  SO:  MAKE SURE you handle it in person before you buy it!  I really don't recommend buying one online unless you're really sure you know what you're getting.  It shouldn't be too aggressive or too nervous.  It shouldn't try to strike at you when you pick it up, and within a few minutes it should be looking around, tasting the air, etc.  They actually get calmer as they grow up, so if its temperment is okay as a baby it should be fine as an adult as long as you handle it every now and then.  You should also try to make sure that its eating regularly before you buy it.

As for price:  a normal colored one will run anywhere from $25 to $100, depending on where you get it.  BUT, you should be expecting to pay AT LEAST $100 or so for the cage and setup! (if you buy everything new).  Don't try to cut corners on heating, lighting, thermometers, cage size, hide logs, etc., or you will have an unhealthy snake.

Answer 2

no its no too big for you to handle if you handle him while hes young. you need to build a bond with him so there are no accident of him lashing out and bitting you badly. They are dangerous if they dont like your or if they're scared or hurt. But rats things i better than rabbits cause it gives them more food. also genial pigs might be an option. Normal baby is about 60-80 bucks at your local pet store might be around 100$ if you get it off the internet including shipping and handling. albino will be more they tend to be about twice to 1/3 times as much as a regular morph.

Answer 3

I have 5 ball pythons(albino, spider, normal, lemon pastel, and jungle pastel). I'm 15 years old and the adult ball pythons aren't hard to handle at all. Make sure you handle it a good amount so it doesn't become nippy as it grows. Don't handle it for about 2 days after it eats so it can digest properly. Adults only eat med.-larg sized rats and dont eat rabbits, only burmese and retic pythons and other large snakes eat them. Keep up the research and as for price, babies can run about 30 at reptile shows and around 50-60 at pet stores. If you're looking for morphs reptile shows and the kingsnake.com classifieds are the way to go. Albinos are pretty expensive running around 600 which is a good deal for one. Spiders are great morphs running about 350-400 usually. Pastels are nice cheap morphs that run for more if they have better and brighter colors, if you have any questions about ball pythons just let me know cuz i have a good amount of experience with them and a lot of other snakes and lizards.

Answer 4

i would say yea it will be a great pet i was thinking of getting one one i get my own apartment am only 17 and i want one i would say it wouldn't be a problem when you feed it feed it in a different tank its better that way but i think you'll be okay

Answer 5

ball pythons are a very good starter pet.

just keep up on the research that you are doing.

in two more years when you are ready for it you will know exactly what you want.

at first you can handle it yourself

once it gets bigger like 5 foot you might want some else in the area

my snakes are red tail boas and two of them are getting about 6 foot and i always have my wife or a friend around when handleing them.

Answer 6

Your on the right track by doing your research just keep that up, make sure you get the facts not just anybodys oppinions, and no it will definatley not be to big for you to handle most on average get between 3-4 feet but can get 5 foot or so. Just keep doin your homework and learn as much as you can before you do buy your snake.

Answer 7

no...

ball pythons are difficult to take care of and not a good pet for a new snake-owner...

Cornsnakes on the othe hand..

are easy...

they dont need a lot of attention...

feed the once a week (goldfish, worms,etc.)

but the food has to be moving...like...alive...

clean their cage once every...3 weeks or so...

they need a place to hide... a water bowl...and something to climb on...

and bedding...

just do your research and you'll be fine....

Answer 8

Im a 14 yr old girl and I also want one..I am also 5 ft 2...

Right now I own a corn snake and it will eventually grow up to 4 or 5 ft...

If you want to get a ball python i think you should get a baby one and hold it for about 10 min each day so it will get used to you...but dont hold it when it is eating(what i herd from others)

If this isnt the info you wanted then I hope you get the right info...

thanks!

Answer 9

ok the biggest a ball python will get is about 4-5 feet. thats not big. it may seem big but its not. my youngest brother is 10 and he holds one of our adult ball ythons with no problem. you will never have to feed your ball python a rabbit. never. the biggest rodent you will ever have to feed it would be a large sized rat. the only time you feed a snake more than one rodent per meal is when its just a baby. babies you need to feed two mouse pinkies a week.

i am 15 and own 4 ball pythons. i am going to buy a spider ball python in 2 weeks. the spiders are beautiful and for a male its costing me about $300, which is cheap for a spider. albinos are about $500 on average. the cheapest morph is a pastel. they are beautiful! they go for about $200 or lower. we actually bought one from this guy who didnt know it was a pastel. she cost us $75

email me if you have any questions regarding ball pythons or any snake

good luck!

Answer 10

they are a fantasy of most people and not a good idea you should watch the program on Discovery channel about the big snakes in Florida that got to big and expensive for the people to care for so they released them into the everglades  and yes it can become dangerous as your ability to give it the stuff it needs to eat as in cost of goes, then it might turn on you and try to suck you down best to go with a corn snake