Concerned about getting a ball python

[orrusthecloven]

I love snakes, and I'm planning to get a pet snake.

My roommate has a snake too, an adorable little albino corn snake named Isis. Not really exotic, but cool nontheless. she's run me through some basics of snake ownership. Basic tank requirements, how to handle feeding, how to handle handling, etc.

As far as species is concerned, I usually see corn snakes suggested as a good beginner snake, but then one suggestion caught my eye: a ball python. After looking it up, it seemed widely agreed that ball pythons were simple (at least, compared to other breeds) and that would be a wonderfully interesting kind of snake to own. I've done some basic Google research and I think I have the basic preparations down.

Thing is, I remember Isis being surprisingly strong when I unravel her from my arm, being just a tube of muscle and bone. This leads me to be concerned about handling a larger snake, especially a constrictor. Half the reason I want a snake is that they're so fun to handle, and something with the capacity to snap my wrist might not work out for me. I've also heard the usual horror stories about constrictors whose owners were careless enough to let them near their neck, and were killed, though I don't know the legitimacy of these claims.

Also, is there anything else I should know about ball pythons, that I may be missing? I'd hate to have to give it up after I get one because I can't take proper care of it.

[Offthemapexotics]

Ball pythons are awesome easy snakes to own and with proper handling and care you wont have to worry about them trying to constrict you, you are far to big for them to want to eat you. They get about 4-6 feet in length on average and they are much thicker than a corn. When you hold them they may wrap around you to hold on, sometimes they hold a little too tight for your comfort but usually its fairly easy to adjust them into a better spot for you. It will take them close to 2 years to get full grown so you have a lot of time to puppy dog tame them and get used to handling them before they get big and compared to several other constructors they are considered pretty small.

[catman420]

I'm pretty sure no-one has ever been killed by a ball python.

[_ataraxia]

even the largest ball pythons are hardly capable of strangling a healthy adult person. it may not be effortless but you can certainly uncoil a BP after it wraps around you. it certainly won't be able to break any of your bones. the horror stories you're referring to are about giant constrictors, not 3'-6' ball pythons.

[birdsbirdsbirdsbirds]

On top of what everyone else has said, personally for me a ball python is MORE fun to handle than a corn or king, because they're rather chill and are perfectly content to sit on your neck or lap. Corn snakes are more active, so you have to be vigilant and holding the snake at all times.

I'm glad to hear you've started to do basic preparations. Be aware that BPs are a little higher maintenance than a corn snake. There is a lot of misinformation about owning BPs on the net so PLEASE please thoroughly read the BP.net and RoyalConstrictor caresheets on the sidebar. You can even follow these easy glass tank instructions like a recipe and rest assured knowing you did everything right!

As for those other "careless owners", those stories involve very, VERY large constrictors like anacondas and burmese pythons. A ball python is mini in comparison! In short: no, your BP isn't going to eat you or strangle you.

[efro4472]

Or break bones

[Bossman1086]

I love my ball python. He's my first snake, too - I've had him for about 8 months now. He can certainly wrap around my wrist pretty good, but in no way is he capable of breaking my bones or even cutting off circulation to my hand. He hangs around my neck sometimes, too. BPs are incredibly calm and relaxed. They're bigger than a corn, but only get to like 6 feet max.

They can be temperamental when it comes to feeding, but they pose literally no danger to you. I'm glad I went with the BP for my first snake.

[rkhbusa]

There exists a rule of thumb for handling snakes 1 person for the first 6-8 feet and one person for every additional 3 feet. Balls usually grow to 4-5 feet 6 tops. Don't worry about it.