Hello,
I’m new to owning a snake, this would be our first, we are getting one because our 9year old boy really wants one, he fell in love with ball pythons at a breeder hosted party a while back.
Are there difference in gender temperaments or is it just the size? As a first, should we get a male or a female?
Thanks in advance!
For picking a ball python they are all different in personality the only thing I’d watch for really is feeding response. I have a spider that after eating and you put your hand in there she will think it’s food and strike. But it’s nothing to be alarmed about. Just as a common rule of thumb you are not supposed handle after feeding anyway. Some say 24 hrs some say 48. They could regurgitate the food cause they could get stresssed out from being handled after eating.
Those are all lovely choices and congrats to you and your son for into getting into the snake world!
There’s honestly not too much difference in temperament at all in males vs females, but individual snakes can definitely have their own personality. Males are a bit more prone to going on hunger strikes during breeding season, but females do occasionally as well.
Size isn’t always a certainly either. I have a 5ft male that is still a bit longer than my biggest female. I also have a female who at 4 years old is the same size as a male born the same year. I’m hoping she hits a growth spurt.
I think the main concern could be health down the line. Females still do go through ovulation cycles and can get a little moody. They will occasionally still develop ‘slugs’ which are infertile eggs. It’s rare but sometimes they even reproduce on their own.
Males will run the risk of an infected or prolapsed hemipene. But I feel like that isn’t common if you aren’t actively breeding them.
That said… If you are able to ask the breeder who they recommend as a vet, that’s a great thing to know early on. BPs don’t need routine things like a dog or cat, but finding a vet if they do seem sick can be very difficult.
A couple of extra tips:
-They can be fussy eaters. Ask what they’re eating when you decide on one. The hardest part is getting them to eat the first few weeks.
-Try not to handle them until they’ve eaten at least 2 meals for you.
-They can be very shy or defensive. It can take some time for them to open up.
Housing is a very hot button topic.
Recommended cage sizes are usually around 4’x2’x2’. Breeders will typically use what’s called a rack system which is typically smaller than this. Many breeders are looking towards larger rack sizes for their BPs now but a lot of private groups can be very against rack or ‘tub’ setups and want the full cage sizes only.
I personally like to recommend the smaller ‘tub’ or cage setups as a first for new owners. It makes the snakes more comfortable when they have a cozy space they feel they can properly hide in. You can learn how your snake is behaving and get them eating well for you. Once you have the hang of it and feel like you can see the behavior patterns, that’s when you can try moving them to a larger setup.
I’ve seen a lot of people who try putting too small or nervous of a BP into a big cage too fast and they can definitely become defensive and go on hunger strikes.
There’s a lot of people here with some really good experience so if you have any specific questions or want to get a check on the enclosure before bringing your little one home, definitely make a post and ask. =)
It’s also a lot easier to clean and maintain humidity levels in a tub. You’ll be using a heat tape or pad most likely if you decide to use a tub. With that said you will be told to use a thermostat and I aswell will say to get one. If you have the money a dimming one ( ve or herpstat are great ). They tend to work best for keeping heat where it should be. And have fail safes in them as well as other features built into it.
@mrccrsmith The only thing I want to stress is finding an exotics vet before you bring your BP home. This is one thing new owners neglect a lot of times. If your snake gets sick it’s way better to take it to a reptile vet than to get advice online, even here. Small issues like shedding can be advised but larger issues that cause concern are better advised/seen by a vet. It’s the same with humans…
Best wishes on whichever one you choose!
Thank you for the tip! I will start searching right away!
Hopefully you won’t ever need one but just in case! Sounds like you are already on the right path by asking questions ahead of time! There is a ton of knowledge here!