Are Ball Pythons safe with kids?

Hello,

Welcome to the Ball Python Planet Blog site.

Today we are going to talk about keeping a ball python as a family pet and things to avoid when handling them around the kids.

OK, so for starters ball pythons will never get big enough to eat a child. I have answered a number of questions from parents talking about their son just bought a ball python snake and they are afraid it is going to attack their baby. Can they, and will they eat my baby? I always respond with the same remark, "Ball Pythons do not get big enough to eat a baby." These are typically very docile snakes that would rather curl up into a ball then to strike or attack something bigger than they are. Now, don't get me wrong they do bite and if you own one you will get bit throughout the time you have it, but they will let go when they realize what they are grabbed on to.

Now lets talk about what you things you should practice when it comes to handling your new family pet snake. The first thing is you should get used to feeding your snake in a separate container from its tank. This is a good practice because the snake will start to see your hand as a means to getting food. The second thing you should do is to not handle your snake after it has been fed. Place it back in it's tank and leave it alone for at least two days. If you plan on holding your snake then do it before you feed it. Another good practice is to wash your hands before you hold your snake this is especially true if you have been touching the mouse or rat in which you are getting ready for food. Snakes do have a sense of smell and might take your hand for prey if they smell it on you. Support the weight of the snake without restraining it when you are holding it.

If your snake is acting a little feisty one day the best way to pick it up is to move your hand over the top of it's head and place it down on top of the head. This can help prevent you from getting bit and is easy on the snake. Another good way to do this is to place a hand towel over its head and then pick it up. Once they are in your hands they will mellow out.

I hope you have found this topic to be a good one and please feel free to leave a remark if there is another topic you would like for me to talk about.

Eric Rovegno

www.ballpythonplanet.com

How soon after my snake eats can I handle it?

Today I am going to discuss how long you should wait to handle you snake after its been fed and how often you should handle it.

This topic is very controversial. There are people that will tell you to not handle your snake unless it is absolutely necessary, I disagree. If you purchase a snake you are more than likely buying it as a pet and not a breeder. For this reason I believe you should handle your snake quite a bit. The only time I would tell you not to handle your snake is after a feeding. This is the time you should wait a couple days. Handling your snake will cause undue stress after its fed and can cause it to regurgitate the prey and even in certain circumstances can cause death due to the regurgitation.

Lets talk about how often you should hold your pet snake. A good rule to go by is if your snake is hissing or striking, leave it alone. This is a good indicator it is not in the mood. If its relaxed and does not try these two things you are good to go. I will handle my pet snakes at least once a week, with a few exceptions, like when family come over or to show some friends. When this occurs don't play pass the snake, this will stress it out and can cause it to not want to be held. Friends and family can touch it on its body, but keep them away from its head.

The majority of snakes are docile and unless taunted they will be relaxed and at ease slithering through your hands. It is not a good idea to try to constrain the snake meaning do not hold it to tight, allow it to move through your hands and your neck. I may caution you to not allow a big snake to wrap around your neck, ball pythons are not big snakes, granted they are strong and can squeeze some, they will not kill you. A Colombian Boa or Anaconda on the other hand, never put them around your neck, never!!

I now believe you are ready to start holding your snake. Good luck and remember they are snakes and will strike at times and may even get a hold of you, don't panic. Let then realize your not food and they will let go.

Thanks,
Eric Rovegno
www.ballpythonplanet.com

My snake is not shedding in one piece or its wheezing!

In this post I will talk to you about some of the potential causes as well as some fixes to these common problems. Snakes need heat as well as a good amount of moisture. A good way to know your snake is ill is when you hear it wheezing or it not shedding in one full shed. I will now explain each potential problem and give you information on how to prevent it.

Heat helps with a few things with the snakes body. One of the first things it helps with, is the digestion of the prey item the snake ate. Without proper heat within the tank, and an area where heat is provided at all times the snake will have a hard time digesting its food. This can cause constipation within the snake and can lead to death. The second thing is to much heat or too little heat can cause is an upper or lower respiratory infection. A very lethal infection within the snakes lungs.

Moisture, better known as humidity, can cause its share of problems as well. Having improper humidity levels within the tank can cause upper and lower respiratory problems and as well as the heat can cause death. Another problem that can occur is a problem with shedding. Without the proper humidity in the tank, the snakes skin can dry out or even become to saturated with moisture and cause the skin to come off in pieces instead of one complete shed.

These problems are easy to control. The best ways to accomplish this are by monitoring the levels at which they should be set at. The temperature within the tank (air temp) should be kept around 90-95* degrees during the day and have a 5-10* degree drop at night. There should be a hot spot with a temp of 92* degrees provided at all times. The best way to control these is to buy a thermostat that has the ability to control two to three different heat sources. This will allow you to regulate the air temp and keep the hot spot where it needs to be. As for the humidity level an easy way to control this is to use a spray bottle and mist in the tank every morning. If this is not possible then you can pick up a sheet of 1/4 inch thick plastic drill about fifty holes in it and cut it to fit 3/4 of the top of the tank. This will help hold the moisture in and allow the air to still flow freely. You will still need to mist in the tank at least every two days.

Now that you have some information about what to look for and how to prevent such problems your snake should have a healthy and long life. I hope you have enjoyed this topic and please feel free to visit www.ballpythonplanet.forumotion.com/ and join the forum. Here you can learn more about your snakes as well as meet people with similar interests.

Thanks,
Eric Rovegno
http://www.ballpythonplanet.com/

Where to buy your repitle from

Today, you will learn the reasons you should not buy a reptile from a pet store and some booths at reptile shows.

When you are in the market for a reptile your first instinct may be to go to your local pet store. This is not always the best place to go. Why, you ask. The answer is very simple. Most pet stores buy their reptiles from an importer. An importer is someone that removes them from the wild and sells them to the stores at wholesale. The majority of these animals have disease and health problems that may cause death if not dealt with right away. The funny thing is that the pet store will not typically tell you where they bought the reptiles from, and in some cases might not even know themselves where they came from. This fact holds true for some venders at your local reptile shows. I am not trying to tell you that all the venders are selling wild caught animals just that you should ask them for some form of proof they are not wild caught. If the offer for a reptile seems too good to be true then it is probably a wild caught. A breeder would not sell their reptiles for a really low price. This is another good indicator.

So, if you are a person who does not care about all that. There are a few things you can look for to determine if the reptile is in good health.
1. Is the color bright and vibrant?
2. Are the eyes glossy and clear?
3. When you hold the reptile is it wheezing?
4. Is the animal alert and responsive to you when being held, or is it just sitting or lying there?
5. Is the skin tight or is it hanging off?

You can also ask the vendor or pet store when it was last fed. You may even request them to feed it for you while you’re there to see if it takes the food. Ask them how long they have had it, how old is it.

Ok, so now you bought your reptile and have it at home. If you have other reptiles of the same species DO NOT put them together. You need to quarantine you new pet from all others. Schedule an appointment with your local vet and have him check the stool for parasites. If they find parasites, go online and buy some Parazap. This will remove them and even help your snake with other problems that you may not see. After you have quarantined the reptile for about a month and have not seen or noticed any health problems then you are in the clear.

So, good luck with your new pet and make sure to pick up some books and do some online research to find out everything you can about their habitat and their favored food.

If you have any other questions please feel free to contact me through my site and I will do my best to answer them.

Eric Rovegno
www.ballpythonplanet.com

Ball Python Breeding

Today, I am going to talk to you about Ball Pythons and their Breeding.

Ball Pythons reach their sexual maturity at around three years old or about 1000+ grams. The ideal weight for a breeding Ball Python is 1500+ grams. At this weight they are more likely to lay more eggs. In the Herpetology, we call eggs a clutch. Each female is different in that they do not lay the same amount from one to another.
A normal clutch of eggs is around 6-7. A female in prime condition can lay around 10-12 eggs.

Breeding season in Ball Pythons starts when the temperatures drops and the Moisture level increases. I keep my temps at about 85° during the day and about 75° at night. This time usually occurs around November, and lasts till around January. Eggs are usually hatched out around April to May. Most breeders will artificially incubate the eggs to control temps and moisture better, although some will leave the eggs with the female to hatch them out. The problem with this method is it's hard to control the environment.

The overall time it takes from copulation to birth is about 7 months 21 days. This varies though, with when your introducing the female to the male and when you start changing the environment.

I hope you enjoyed this post and if you have any further questions, visit our site. You will find some additional facts there as well as snakes, and books for sale.

Eric Rovegno
www.ballpythonplanet.com

The Ball Python as a pet

Hello Everyone,In today's society people are still afraid of snakes. I might ask you, why? OK, some snakes may be a bit aggressive, but that number is very minimal. I'm talking about maybe three or four species.

Ball pythons are a snake to get started with, because of how docile they are. Another great fact about them is they do not get very large, in fact they are considered a small snake ranging from 4-5 feet. They are also cheaper to feed than dogs, cats, even birds. They only eat once every week, and can even go up to two weeks without eating.

I have owned Ball Pythons, now for a little over seven years. My wife and I started out with one because she herself was afraid of them. That was until we got her home and my wife started handling her. Her I keep saying, Bonnie is what we named her. My wife now loves them as much as I do. This means a lot, due to the fact that she was scared of them before Bonnie. We now own eleven Ball Pythons.

From the time my daughter "Angelica" was just a baby she has held and helped feed our snakes. She actually looks forward to helping us with them and enjoys the responsibility of misting the cages everyday. I feel as though this is teaching her how to be an ethical person. So not only is she learning about snakes, but she is bettering herself. She knows the snakes rely on her to help them live, they return the favor by being a great pet.

I hope you have liked this blog, I will keep posting and if you're interested in learning more about Ball Pythons or looking to buy one, then you should stop by our site.

Eric Rovegno
http://www.ballpythonplanet.com/