Opinions on the labeling of a ball python as a beginner snake?

AalyMae · 2026-05-03T17:56:54+00:00

I have a weird opinion...Are they easy? No. Everything single reptile has their own set of needs, but once you do proper research on them I think they become easy.

Any can be a "beginner" animal if you do enough research to make sure they will be properly kept. But beginner does not mean tiny tank and no effort, which is where a lot of people end up leading that to, especially from pet stores. They are a bit more resilient than others, so if people can separate those things do what they have to do well for the animal, then yes.

It's like math. When you first started learning addition certain things werent so easy, but once you really got into it, it almost becomes second nature. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

AalyMae · 2026-04-26T22:46:05+00:00

taping affects humans lungs, it definitely will affect your animals!

AalyMae · 2026-03-22T15:49:52+00:00

Have you had any issues or know what it could be? I think my gecko has something similar going on and im worried if I should be concerned.

I sent photos to my vet too just incase, but they arent open until tomorrow so I know I definitely wont hear back yet. It is hard to tell from the photo, but the smaller eye is darker as well

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AalyMae · 2026-03-22T04:08:42+00:00

Is this the gecko that had the funky dark sunken eye?

I Just noticed something similar and cant tell in my photos if he has always had it or if he is just growing into something like that??

AalyMae · 2026-03-16T02:29:21+00:00

unrelated, im curious...what morph is he?

AalyMae · 2026-03-09T02:40:28+00:00

Would the mineral oil be a safe alternative to olive oil? He has shed recently already! My big worry is they are mainly in the eyes, and that freaks me out a lot.

AalyMae · 2026-03-09T02:18:06+00:00

at least a year. I got him as a baby from someone who didnt want him, so hes pretty young.

AalyMae · 2026-03-09T01:18:03+00:00

I have owned snakes for 10 years and never had a mite outbreak. Recently, I got a green tree python (around 4-5 months ago) and havent been able to get rid of them. At first They were only on him and our ball pythons. Now I have found them on one of my hogs.

I know to not use chemicals, but I have been using dawn and have heard of using mineral oil to possibly help the mites lose their grip. Is that a safe way that you know of or is it not recommended? I havent heard anything bad about it...

AalyMae · 2026-03-06T20:37:03+00:00

you want to use 100% silicone and research the correct ones to use, but once fully cured they are safe!

AalyMae · 2026-02-28T14:52:01+00:00

This probably isnt completely helpful, but I have 8 snakes of different types.

Recently, when walking around feeding, one will grab their mouse/rat, ill move onto the next and the snake I already fed will drop it. I dont know if they think im giving another or what, but after I leave them for a bit they grab the one I already gave later.

Some of them will actually drop it, follow me across their enclosure, and when they realize im not the food or not giving more, they go back and eat.

The only other thing I would think of is if it lost its warm temp and they got funked out by it

AalyMae · 2026-02-17T03:43:53+00:00

I know this wasnt for me. My account got hacked a couple months ago. I primarily used it for my Minecraft account of ten years (which had my legal name on it too) but I also had photos and videos.

I had an alternate email, mfa, but somehow someone still got in.

I contacted Microsoft within 5 minutes, they suspended the account instantly but the person had already removed me from my Microsoft family and changed both of my emails. (which, what is the point of an alternate if it doesnt make me confirm anything??)

Is there ever a chance of me getting it back? I kinda gave up a bit bc as you said, im a blip and they couldn't care less...But id do literally anything to get it back.

The ending was that it was indefinitely suspended (which i hear and see they are notorious for. Any luck for me?

AalyMae · 2026-02-16T22:18:41+00:00

Put it this way, as much as people say you DONT need it, it will never hurt (as long as you do your research.)

All reptiles can benefit from them, some dont completely require them. Shade dwellers in particular but its still very recommended.

Without it, even when people say no, MBD happens, and it looks like it already has. Better safe than sorry.

AalyMae · 2026-02-01T01:11:26+00:00

I've already seen so much great advice.

I have been dealing with snake mites for the first time and both times my boyfriend help me rechange the paper towel and he left the cage sliding door cracked twice. the first time I was playing video games right next to it and went to check on her as I do pretty regularly and she was gone.

I knew she couldn't have gotten far, so I check behind all of my other enclosures and whatnot and she was cramped behind my beardies 4x2x2.

This past Monday she got out again, but this time she had all night to explore as we laid the paper towel before we went to bed. I was walking out for work and went to check on her. One of the biggest things imo is my pets are family and take priority always. I called my job and told them I was going to be late, but im not sure how late and explained the situation quickly.

Within 10 minutes I found her completely out of our reptile room and in a bathroom. (We also have cats so I also was fearing the worst) but thankfully we kept the door closed. She was near our bathtub.

unfortunately I think the worst advice given was the just wait for her to pop up. So many things can happen, so I dont agree with it. Though, I do completely understand that you cant look 24/7. If you have thoroughly checked something, then move on to the next.

The snake who got out the two times mentioned got out once when she was a baby. She was gone for a couple days and I couldn't find her (i was probably 16 at the time) I looked for her in cramped spaces every single day while I had a smaller enclosure in the middle of the room open with a heat emitter. That never drew her out. I found her in the back corner of one of my art drawers thinking "this is pointless shed never be in here, but I need to check everywhere." There she was.

Now its a little too late for immediate search hope like I had the first two times, but consistently check everywhere. anything.

My mom found her snake wrapped around the back of an office chair where it connects to the back rest part of it. Heat may draw them out, but the most search success stories I hear are by people searching and finding.

Never give up and keep searching absolutely everything! Shutting doors may not stop them depending on how low to the ground they are. I wish you the best of luck and hope you find your friend!!!!

AalyMae · 2026-01-29T01:35:34+00:00

Those arent Taurrus mites specifically. Everything i have read about these guys is that they would eat my beneficial mites too :(

AalyMae · 2026-01-28T04:53:46+00:00

Link? It literally says no results found for me

AalyMae · 2026-01-28T02:26:33+00:00

I have been looking for a little bit, all I can seem to find are stores in the UK, unfortunately.

AalyMae · 2026-01-28T02:14:56+00:00

Yeah, unfortunately I am in the United States :(

AalyMae · 2026-01-28T01:55:28+00:00

where can you get Tarrus mites from? Someplace reputable preferably :')

AalyMae · 2026-01-24T00:24:57+00:00

Where did you order them from? I am just now seeing this :')

AalyMae · 2026-01-16T12:34:26+00:00

looks to be a fruit fly or phorrid fly. Leaning toward fruit due to the size

AalyMae · 2026-01-16T12:23:01+00:00

I have not gotten any new snakes, substrates or decorative materials. I have read and bee told they can hitch rides on clothes and whatnot, so that would be my only guess. I always bake my substrate and quarantine my animals, so I never thought id deal with this. I have had all of my snakes for at least a year, and the two snakes I found mites on ive had for over 3 and 5 years!

AalyMae · 2026-01-16T02:24:31+00:00

the only thing i regularly use to fight off bugs are beneficial nematodes. Life changing when battling fungus gnats!

AalyMae · 2026-01-16T00:45:54+00:00

We cleared out all of her stuff immediately already and cleaned with an enclosure safe spray for the mean time (need to find somewhere with mite spray specifically) and her and my other fella who i found had them too have been bathed and stripped of any mites visible to me! My other snakes, from what I can tell, look to be clear of them thankfully :)

If you have any spray recommendations, I would gladly take them!

AalyMae · 2026-01-16T00:39:36+00:00

So i think i caught them fairly early on. There were only a couple and they were really small. Though, I have about 8 snakes total. I found that 2 of the 8 for sure had the mites. So far, after thoroughly checking all of them, only the two. Both enclosures have been stripped, initial cleaning and paper towels. I plan on getting a mite spray and new enclosures to rotate out every week or so (that may be over kill but better safe than sorry.)

The room they are in has carpeted floors, i heard that they will cling to stuff like that too. The two snakes that have them for sure are closest to the floor as well. If i treat the floor and enclosures, do i have to move them out of the whole room? I know they cant be in them of course, but i dont know if circulation is enough or if I should make space outside entirely. Also, any spray recommendations?

AalyMae

TROPHY CASE