I will want to take very good care of it--lamp, temp, hiding spot, etc.--so take all of this into consideration. but dont take into consideration the cost of food because that is something i'll buy more often as opposed to a heating pad (which i would only buy once for the next long time). just the essentials i'd buy for the first time. And my last request is: what would i buy, and what is each item for??? i sort of have an idea but i want to make sure
i dont have any of the items required to have a snake in captivity but please help me out
i dont have any of the items required to have a snake in captivity but please help me out
The first thing is a cage. There are many options in caging, from plastic sweater boxes ($10)(with plastic tubs, you cannot use heat lamps) to glass enclosures ($100) to acryllic or custom designed enclosures ($500+). If you are going to get a baby, a ten gallon enclosure is appropriate. Babies will become stressed in an enclosure that is too large and stop eating. Adults can be kept in 20 gallon enclosures, but I reccommend 40 gallons instead. Generally, they do not like to climb, so floorspace is more important than height.
For substrate, you can use commercially available substrates (aspen, eco earth, etc) or simple substrates such as newspaper or paper toweling. If you are having problems keeping humidity high, I reccommend eco earth (coconut fiber).
For heating, you may have to experiment to attain appropriate temps on each side. Heat pads cost around $15 while lamps cost around $15 and bulbs cost $10. Lamps/lighting is not required, but if you choose to use a light (you may need a light AND a heating pad), it should be on for 12 hours and off for 12 hours. Heat pads should be on a thermostat or a rheostat.
For furniture (hides, water dish, etc), you can use cardboard boxes or plastic cups with holes in them and tupperware, or you could buy hides and water dishes online.
As for a thermometer, DO NOT use the cheap ones sold at pet stores. Use either a digital one with a probe (http://willowtreehome.com/Merchant2/grap... for about $12, or a tempgun (http://www.tempgun.com/) for $25. You must also use something to measure humidity.
As for the ball itself, it all depends on where you get it. Anywhere between $20 and $200 (for a normal). Keep in mind that cheap snakes are probably sick, improperly cared for, injured, or imported. Imported snakes are always cheapest, but they usually carry a host of mites, parasites, bacteria, and disease. Also, many imports refuse to eat and eventually die of starvation. Make sure the one you choose is captive bred, and make sure that it is eating. This is very important, because many balls refuse food. The species itself is very picky and may refuse food. Have a staff member feed the snake. If it doesn't eat, you may want to look into a different one.
NEVER purchase any reptile from a chain pet store such as PetSmart or PetCo. They are mostly imported. Also, chain pet store employees really don't know how to care for reptiles, so they are also usually sick.
There are also some breeders not to trust. I'm not going to go off naming all of them; instead, I'll list a few that I personally trust.
www.newenglandreptile.com (NERD)
www.proexotics.com
and many others.
Good luck!! Have fun!! Balls are awesome pets, I'm sure you'll have a blast. Keep in mind that the more you research prior to getting one, the happier and healthier your pet will be.
Also, if you have any more questions, I really do not suggest Yahoo Answers. There are some great, free reptile forums out there that are filled with knowledgable, kind, helpful people.
www.ball-pythons.net
www.reptilegeeks.com
www.kingsnake.com
www.reptilerooms.com
I am a member of all of these forums and I like them all very much. (Especially bp.net, for all ball python owners.)
*The prices listed above are those you might find with an online supplier such as www.reptilesupply.com or www.petmountain.com. At pet stores, these items are much more expensive. Checking craigslist regularly is also a good idea; I have come across some great deals on craigslist.
For substrate, you can use commercially available substrates (aspen, eco earth, etc) or simple substrates such as newspaper or paper toweling. If you are having problems keeping humidity high, I reccommend eco earth (coconut fiber).
For heating, you may have to experiment to attain appropriate temps on each side. Heat pads cost around $15 while lamps cost around $15 and bulbs cost $10. Lamps/lighting is not required, but if you choose to use a light (you may need a light AND a heating pad), it should be on for 12 hours and off for 12 hours. Heat pads should be on a thermostat or a rheostat.
For furniture (hides, water dish, etc), you can use cardboard boxes or plastic cups with holes in them and tupperware, or you could buy hides and water dishes online.
As for a thermometer, DO NOT use the cheap ones sold at pet stores. Use either a digital one with a probe (http://willowtreehome.com/Merchant2/grap... for about $12, or a tempgun (http://www.tempgun.com/) for $25. You must also use something to measure humidity.
As for the ball itself, it all depends on where you get it. Anywhere between $20 and $200 (for a normal). Keep in mind that cheap snakes are probably sick, improperly cared for, injured, or imported. Imported snakes are always cheapest, but they usually carry a host of mites, parasites, bacteria, and disease. Also, many imports refuse to eat and eventually die of starvation. Make sure the one you choose is captive bred, and make sure that it is eating. This is very important, because many balls refuse food. The species itself is very picky and may refuse food. Have a staff member feed the snake. If it doesn't eat, you may want to look into a different one.
NEVER purchase any reptile from a chain pet store such as PetSmart or PetCo. They are mostly imported. Also, chain pet store employees really don't know how to care for reptiles, so they are also usually sick.
There are also some breeders not to trust. I'm not going to go off naming all of them; instead, I'll list a few that I personally trust.
www.newenglandreptile.com (NERD)
www.proexotics.com
and many others.
Good luck!! Have fun!! Balls are awesome pets, I'm sure you'll have a blast. Keep in mind that the more you research prior to getting one, the happier and healthier your pet will be.
Also, if you have any more questions, I really do not suggest Yahoo Answers. There are some great, free reptile forums out there that are filled with knowledgable, kind, helpful people.
www.ball-pythons.net
www.reptilegeeks.com
www.kingsnake.com
www.reptilerooms.com
I am a member of all of these forums and I like them all very much. (Especially bp.net, for all ball python owners.)
*The prices listed above are those you might find with an online supplier such as www.reptilesupply.com or www.petmountain.com. At pet stores, these items are much more expensive. Checking craigslist regularly is also a good idea; I have come across some great deals on craigslist.
It is pretty expensive to buy everything new. Mostly because tanks are expensive. Just try local things like ads in papers and ebay, my friend got a 50 gallon tank and a ball python for just 75 dollars. What you need: Heat Lamp, Heat mat, some sort of decorations (sticks, rocks, and stuff like that), also something he could roll up and hide in. Good luck.
for baby ball pythong
10g tank -$15
10 g screen lid- $14
clamps/locks for lid- $3
Bedding- $5-8
Under tank heat pad- $25
Hide- $12
Water dish- $9
These are just the basics and prices will vary depending on location.
10g tank -$15
10 g screen lid- $14
clamps/locks for lid- $3
Bedding- $5-8
Under tank heat pad- $25
Hide- $12
Water dish- $9
These are just the basics and prices will vary depending on location.
depending on how big your tank is. i have a 75 gallon tank. it cost 80 for the snake and the rest was like 100+. the 50-60 gallon heat pad cost 50, the two lights that i bought from menards were 12 bucks each. the substrate was 25 for the biggest bag. i got the hides from my grandma. i just bought a plastic dog bowl for its swimming thing. the bowl was a lot cheap than buying a big reptile bowl. the heat lamp was only like 12 bucks when i bought it from menards. dont buy the heat lamp from petco cuz they cost like 60 bucks. i bought some leaves from walmart for like 3 bucks. and you need to buy a smaller water dish for it to drink from. and you will need a themometer. i recomend a digital one. they are way more accurate. that is only like 9 bucks. i have a video on youtube if you want to watch my set up. the web address is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_2uuxk8a...
i own a ball python.
If you go on Craigslist or check your local paper, you can find ball pythons for $50. Yes you can start a baby ball in a 10 gallon tank, but what's the point in buying a small tank now when you will need to buy a larger one later on? Waste of money if you ask me. Most of the time you can find people that will include the tank they have them in already for a little bit of an extra fee. You definitely want a blacklight for night time heating, and use regular bulbs for daytime heating. There is no reason to spend $20 on a reptile lightbulb when the ones you can buy in a package of 4 for less than $2 does the same thing. Plus, I am sure you already have regular lightbulbs in your home. You can use an undertank heater, but it also depends on what temps you are getting with your main heat source ( lights ) Make sure you get a thermometer and Hygrometer, for humidity. Other than that the only things you need is a water dish, something big enough to submerge is whole body in, and a hide box which can be a shoebox with a hole cut into the side. You don't need decorations or substrate either. I use non-printed newspaper that I buy at our local newspaper company for 25 cents a pound. Good luck.
My source is myself. I have 27 snakes, 6 of them ball pythons and 48 burmese eggs in incubation.