I was wondering if anyone on here owns a snake or knows of some helpful sites or forums on taking care of them. I am interested in getting a ball python snake when I move out of my parents house (I'm 24 so it will be relatively soon) and am in my research phase right now to make sure it is right for me.
I have of course checked google, but there is a lot of stuff out there and being someone who doesn't know too much on the subject it is hard telling what it junk and what is not (try googleing ear stretching and you will see what I mean). I have asked various pet shops for advice, but have heard conflicting things.
Don't know if anyone on here can help me, but thanks in advance if you can

I keep snakes, I had quite a few but my parents sold most of them behind my back when they had promised to watch them while I was away at college. Now all I have left is a juvie savannah monitor and a hypo corn snake. One of the snakes they sold on me was a juvie ball python (her name was Eve lol)

I've owned a lot of corn snakes but Eve was amazing. She loved to sit around people's necks and make a "collar" out of herself- she would sit for hours while I was doing whatever and sometime's I'd forget she was there.

As for her setup, she was in a 20 gallon tank with some large-chunk wood substrate (though now I use cage carpet cut to size, because you can throw it in the washing machine) I had a deep bowl that she could soak in when she was shedding (it was on the "cool" end of the tank), and a ceramic cave on the "hot" end under where the basking bulb was. I had a heating pad undernead the cave, and the bulb was timed to go off at night. I kept a strip thermometer on the hot end and tried to keep it reading around 80-85F

Make sure you get cage clips that fit the tank securely! BPs have some serious muscle and will test the limits of how well those clips hold the lid on. Also, when feeding one, I'd suggest using wooden chopsticks or forceps if you have them for presenting the mouse-- more than a few times I worried she would take my finger with it. Eve once struck at a mouse (but missed biting) so hard with her nose, she knocked it senseless for a few seconds lol.

So that's kind of a general list. If you have any other questions let me know.

http://www.anapsid.org/ball.html
http://www.newenglandreptile.com/CareBall.html

both contain good information

Wow thanks for all the info troo! Have you had any problems with the live mice fighting back and hurting her? I have heard that some people will only feed their snakes dead mice so they won't fight back, and other people have said their snakes will only eat live food. How often did you feed her? I have heard everything from twice a week to once every couple weeks? How often did you mist her? Do you have any other types of animals? My boyfriend has a cat and is concerned of the snake escaping and killing her. Have you had any problems with salmonella? I of course would wash my hands thoroughly after handling her, but I work part time at a restaurant and want to be on the safe side. Have you had any problems with mites or fungus? Have you found it best to have two of the same breed in the same tank for company or does it not make a difference? Sorry for all the questions, but you have been very helpful so far.

As far as the mice issue, it's personal preference. Bigger mice can be meaner and depending on how your snake catches them, they may have a good opportunity to bite. I ususally get frozen/thawed because I can buy 10 or so and keep them in the fridge and thaw one out in some hot water when I need to (if you're not familiar with it, you just stick a mouse in a baggie and some come pre-baggied, into a cup of hot water and let it sit for about 30 minutes at most...then squeeze the baggie a little to see if the mouse is thawed all the way through ie doesn't feel cold in the middle) The only time's I've had a problem with a snake not taking dead vs alive I was able to remedy by running the thawed mouse AGAIN under hot tap water for a few seconds so it'd give off heat for the snake, then having the mouse do a little "hey-I'm-not-really-dead" dance for the snake between some chopsticks (lol)

Again some snakes will be picky anyway- I get all my animals from reptile expos though, and that's one of the things I quiz the breeders on. If the breeder isn't just making stuff up, they'll be able to pretty much tell you the last time each of their hatchlings ate, and when their first shed was. But after a while you will get to see your snake's feeding habits. The one corn snake I have left, I have had for almost 6 years, since he was a hatchling. He was SO picky (as baby corns sometimes are) I had to keep him absolutely undisturbed or he would wander off and forget to eat. It took a LOT of patience and watching him and coaxing him to eat and not get distracted for about 2 years. Now, he goes after anything that moves near his cage.

As for frequency of feedings, again you should learn your snake's habits. Most of my snakes have stayed in hiding until they were ready to eat again, and then at night you could see them roaming their cages for "prey". This would usually happen about a week after I fed them. After your snake grows, if you find them getting 'hungrier' more often, try giving them two mice in a feeding. My adult corn takes two mice every two weeks, and my ball was taking 1-2 mice every week (these are small-medium sized mice about 2 inches long excluding tail). It's also good to simulate a sort of natural feeding cycle- don't always stick to a set schedule. A snake in the wild might find a regular meal and then suddenly have to go without for a period of time. So you might give one mouse, and skip a week, then give one or two mice, and then a week later give another.

Misting depends on where you're keeping them. If you have a dry room, you might need to mist more often. I usually misted once or twice a week, and paid more attention to humidity when she was shedding. Most of the time, with a basking lamp going, it's going to dry out pretty fast anyway, so getting a little rainshower won't hurt as long as the cage isn't constantly like a swamp.

My snake and lizard are with me at my boyfriend's apt now, and we have two cats. One tank sits on a short bookshelf and the other on top of a tall dresser, but the cats love to jump up there when we're not looking to invesitage. Again, thats where cage clips are a necessity, they'll prevent the snake from getting out and the cats from getting in. I've had my small 10-gal tank fall over and the lid stay on only because of those clips.

I havn't had any problems with salmonella. I generally just use regular soap on my hands after I take them out. I got some wipe-out 3 (basically no-water hand sanitizer for reptiles) but I don't use it very often, just if I'm in a hurry.

I havn't had any fungus problems (just don't keep the cage TOO wet TOO often) and I did have some mysterious little bugs drowning en masse in my corn's water dish, but a good scrubdown of the cage and a bath for the snake in lukewarm water seemed to get rid of whatever they were. I think they may have been hiding dormant as eggs in a bag of substrate I had.

I have not had a lot of experience with keeping multiple snakes in the same cage, mainly because I have not had cages large enough to accommodate two living together. I would exercise caution and keep only a breeding pair together. Always separate during feeding time. Snakes are very solitary and shy in general, you can spend a lot of time making them a nice cage with moss and plants etc and they will sit in their little hiding cave until 3AM and then come out and start climbing on stuff ripping the place apart Professional breeders end up just keeping their snakes in ventilated tupperware-like containers with heating pads that they store in massive shelving units. The snakes don't mind, all they want is a dark warm spot with unlimited mice lol

Wow sorry I've rambled too much XD I hope my experiences help you out. I have to say ball pythons are awesome snakes and good luck with yours I'll take some pictures of my two setups here for you soon

You haven't rambled at all. You have been very helpful. You don't happen to know of any breeders in the CT/RI/MA area that you have met at these shows do you? You haven't noticed your snakes missing the more natural substrate now that you have started using the cage carpet? Thanks again!

While I've never kept snakes myself, I have friends who do. One of their boy BP's had to have pretty serious surgery after getting attacked by a young live rat, and he now has one eye. I have pet mice myself (and used to have rats) and while mine are tame and don't bite, they can and will when terrified. Their sharp little teeth pack quite a punch, too. Also remember that rats and mice are not vegetarians and would happily eat a snake if given the chance (ick). I'm not saying you should or shouldn't feed live, just giving a heads up that it can on occasion turn into bad news.

That aside, all the BPs I've met are really lovely, honestly. I'm also fond of kingsnakes (especially males) if you find out perhaps a BP isn't for you. My friend Charlie's boy Gen will happily curl around my neck much like Troo mentioned her girl doing. If it weren't for having to feed them a critter I also love, I'd have a snake myself

As for good sites, I've heard good things about www.kingsnake.com. I know 3 of my friends with snakes have mentioned it as a good site they used both for figuring out what snake was best for them, as well as addressing any issues that came up once they had them. They have a forum there as well, I belive.

good trick if you notice mites-olive oil, rub in on the snake. wont hurt him at all but the mites suffocate and also if you cant find frozen get a live one toss it into a bag (walmart bag would even work) and just slam it onto a counter top-HARD. I've had to do this before my local pet shop started to carry frozen. Its really sad to do (I love rats and would keep them as pets if not for living in an apt w/ an iguana, 10 snakes, bearded dragon, frog, cat and 2 kids)

Wow, I was going to ask about this! I am looking to get one soon. Right now I'm in love with an albino Rosy Boa.

Thanks for all of the info guys.

Peesh also has a snake. You might try PM'ing her.

You can also just freeze them in a box. WAY more humane, as they just go to sleep.

http://www.alexhuereptiles.com/forums/

my friend is a breeder of ball pythons, her name is Jennifer Harrison on that board. she's very bright and friendly and can help you with just about anything regaurding reptiles, but knows most about snakes.

there are plenty of online stores you can buy frozen mice or rats from as well.

i was kicking around the idea of getting a snake but decided not to, i have too many obligations and know for a fact that i wouldn't be able to keep 300 bucks lying around for emergencies, as it's good to always have an emergency pet savings. i have about 200 for my kittens and that's still not what i'd like to have as a just-in-case.

Reptile Magazine has a good list of shows that I usually take a peek at if I want to see what's going to be coming to my area (they also have a pretty good forum but I havn't looked recently)

The All New England Reptile Expo seems like it would be closest to your area but they just had it on the 4th or 6th I think..but here's the vendor list and from googling those names I found these ball python breeders:
Big Dog Reptiles in NH
J&J Reptiles in ME
Cold Blooded Pets in MA
Mike King Reptiles in MA
NERD they do a lot of morphs, in NH

just a few places to start looking

the corn I have now used to like to dig through substrate occasionally. I made up for that by giving him a bigger cave. But Eve mostly enjoyed hiding or basking, she wasn't as hyperactive.

lol I did have to suffocate a mouse or two before when they just seemed TOO aggressive. I tried whacking them on the head but I didn't get it the first time and I didnt want to stand there bashing this poor mouse repeatedly. If I have the time/money i'd love to build one of those CO2 chambers

i HIGHLY recommend regal reptiles in providence RI. they have a large amount of different types of snakes, do breeding and have extensive knowledge too. they also do shows. i'd definately give them a call, theyre super nice and will answer any questions you may have!
401-277-0586
good luck!

Wow thanks for all the info everyone! Now I can't wait to move out so I can actually get one