Would a previously owned but still young ball-python be a good idea?

Question

My cousin has a ball-python less than a year old that he received from someone else. He has offered me this snake but I don't know if it would be wise to take a snake that has been moved more than three times in about a year. Please give me advise this will be my first snake and I don't want an emotionally disturbed snake!

Answer 1

It is fine.  When you bring it home, just leave it alone for about 4 days.  Before you get it, do research on its care.  Then it will live a long, healthy life.

Answer 2

NO  

Answer 3

Snakes have very little knowledge on who loves them. They do however know who feed them. I had a python several years ago, made a mistake of getting its food too close to head, I got bit ( yes they got teeth)Snake refused to eat for another week. He knew he'd bitten the wrong dinner. My fault entirely. I usually had my snake out every day for about 2 hours around my neck, in bath tub when I cleaned her cage. The more you handle this pet the more it will bond with you. I don't know it could be called love back but it is a bonding of sorts.

Answer 4

Snakes don't get 'emotionally-disturbed'. The snake's fine, if you want a pet snake and know how to care for it then take it, it'll probably turn out to be a really good pet, just be sure not to handle it for the first week or two you have it so it can settle in to its new environment.

Answer 5

He will flick his tongue to tell him about his enviroment and the people around him.  He will not perceive you as a threat unless you make yourself one.  Snakes don't 'bond' like mammals do.

As long as he has space, is well fed, his humidity requirements are met... he's a happy guy!

He will not be emotionally unhappy with changing owners, unless the new one doesn't provide his needs.  This can turn into a snake which strikes, or tries constantly to escape.

So, give him enough room.  Feed him enough.  Give him good heat and humidity, and remember he's noctural when you handle him.  Easy.

Take the plunge, and enjoy your new pet.  But, do google him, and find out what his basic needs are:

http://www.kingsnake.com/ballpythonguide...

I recommend feeding frozen/thawed:

http://www.redtailboa.net/forums/feeding...

http://www.bigcheeserodents.com/  

http://www.rodentpro.com/  

For frozen feeders, if you can't find them locally.

Balls tend to be head shy anyway...  This was the first snake I gave to MY daughter.  I'm rather fond of the lil guys.

Enjoy your new pet, and I hope this has been helpful.

**ADD I forget the basics, at times.  This snake I gave my daughter was an abused rescue.  She was SO shy, at first, cause she had been HURT by others.  But, she was never mean to people, even though people had hurt HER.

I assume a 'man' hurt her, cause she would never show her head when handled by one, which is why I finally placed her with my daughter, after observing this behavior for a while.

I wanted to keep her personally, but my daugther loved her more.  Women DO smell differently than male humans.  This was the only odd behavior she exhibitied consistantly, beyond the abuse.  She would crawl on women, and hide from men, staying in a tight ball.