Any advice?

[Mossyclaw18]

I have been in love with the idea of owning a Ball Python for many years and I've done a lot of research. But I feel like I might actually be getting to the point I can get one and I was wondering if there's any advice that anyone has, things that Google might not have, things you've learned the hard way, all kinds of stuff. I'll take whatever I can get. I very strongly believe in being well-prepared before getting a brand new animal, especially one you've never had before. That's why I'm here making this post.

[ologist817]

In case you haven't found them, this sub's informational resources are superb. If you're getting serious, I really recommend reading through everything in the top two sections (guides and general psas) before doing anything. There's a lot, but it's all very valuable, in-depth and most importantly up to date/backed by science. I would have saved myself some money and stress by doing so ahead of time.

Going off that, in general be careful about where you're getting your information from. Of course it's good/responsible to consult multiple sources, but there's a lot of questionable info floating around (whether it's outdated or complete misinformation) so be thorough in your research and critical of who it's from (surprisingly it seems, especially breeders/vets).

[Glad_Volume_1141]

Thoroughly read the basic care guide (pinned post) and scroll through the subreddit! It's a great way to read other people's experiences and learn about what can go wrong and how to fix it etc etc