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Im a first time snake owner2007-11-24 2:00:37

Hi, I have just purchased a reptile enclosure for a Children's Python I am getting. It wil be the first time I will own a python, so I need to know just the basics eg. What/what not to put in the cage, what to feed it. Just basic what/what nots like those,

Cheers

Answers:

Please do more research than just asking these idiots. If you google "Childrens Python" all sorts of sites with care sheets will come up for you.

The best advise I got for keeping reptiles was to put all the heating elements at one end of the enclosure. That way there is a super warm basking spot and a cooler area for them to choose from.

Snakes also like a dip in a pool sometimes. Large dog food bowls, cat litter pans, and rubbermaid containers all make good, cheap, waterproof, spillproof water holes for them. Just make sure that it can get in and soak it's whole body.

Good Luck

EDIT

The first answerer is yanking your chain. Do the exact opposite of all he said and you are doing good.

Cheers.

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You need to get to know your snake first. Put him around your neck. That way he can get used to your heart beat. Dont worry if it start's squeezing a littlebit, It's just giving you a hug. Also if you have any other pets (i.e cat's, small dog's) Let the snake play with them alitlle. (so it can get used to them) Other then that. Just put the scraps for your dinner in it's nice new reptile enclosure.

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I am the proud owner of a Pythonus Regis (aka Ball Python) and a herpetoculturalist. Pythons are the easiest of the snakes to care for! First off, you need to start with your enclosure: Is your python a terrestrial or a climber (does he have a short n' stubby tail? or a long, tapered tail?) This will determine whether you require 'head space' or 'leg room' in your enclosure. Ball's are terrestrial, so I'll use my Joey as my example. Joey does not require a tall cage since he's not a climber - all he needs is a sheet or two of newspaper (preferably the stuff that doesn't have the colour ads, just the newsprint) at the bottom of the tank, and if you prefer to use it, get jungle mulch. NEVER USE CEDAR OR PINE CHIPS IN A PYTHON ENCLOSURE! Cedar especially is toxic to most reptiles. Your python will need a waterdish/bathtub that is big enough to fit him in. He doesn't need to be completely submerged, but if he is able to mostly cover himself in water, it's good. You'll find that when your python is shedding he'll spend a lot of time soaking (helps him loosen up the old stuff), so make sure he's got fresh water at least once a week. A heating lamp in a temperate room is usually sufficient for heating - pythons are African or South American, so you can bet that he'll hate winter in Kansas. There is a heating pad you can purchase by Exo-Terra that sticks to the bottom of your tank, but be very careful with these direct contact pads as they can cause burning on your python's tender belly. As for meal time, your python will eat about every 2 weeks during spring/summer, and his appetite will not be as hearty during fall/winter. Don't be alarmed if he won't take a rat for a month or two (if he was on a fairly regular schedule before this), this is normal, believe it or not. Like humans, we won't force ourselves to eat if we are not hungry, and depending on the size of his last meal, he might not be ready to eat when you're ready to feed him. Depending on the size and girth of your python, a young juvenile to young adult size rat is enough (a Burmese will take an adult RABBIT every two weeks.) until he gains in length and girth. Make sure you acclimatize your python to home life - be confident when you're handling him, don't be afraid (he won't bite.unless you smell like rat), take him out often (and it's okay to put them around your neck - my 5 ft long Joey's fav. perch is my shoulders!). There's plenty of books out there that will give you good information on husbandry as well, if you're looking to breed later.

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there are plenty of sites online that offer plenty of care sheets for snakes. we have two burmese pythons, 1 ball python and 1 red tail boa, for your enclosure make sure it has enough space to move around.. rule of thumb atleast half its length. 8 ft snake at the least 4 ft tank. lots of people feed thier snakes prekill becaue its a lot safer than feedin live b/c they dont want thier snakes gettin hurt. hatchling usually eat every 7- 10 days. make srue they always have fresh water. and a retreat/ hide box to keep them from the direct heat.. one side of the enclosure should be warmer than the other sdie.. the basking side can be heated with a basking lamp. which the bulbs are 50-150 watt depending on the size of the enlcosur.e.. they also sell under tank heaters which i myself love. whavter you do no heat rocks! not srue why they even sell those things. please do more research and congrats on your new pet.

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Someone mentioned that "it's okay to put them around your neck". However, I don't recommend this. I have a 4ft ball python who's pretty strong. I let him wrap around my neck a lot and he started leaving red marks. I didn't really think anything about it until my 8 year old nephew was holding him. My snake wrapped tightly around his neck and my nephew freaked out so of course the snake only got tighter. We had a hard time getting him to relax. From then on I refuse to let him get anywhere near my (or anyone else's) neck.

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Do not feed rats to Ball Pythons. Rats have too much body fat, and Ball Pythons cannot process the fat properly. I only feed my snakes the little white feeder mice, one each every 2 weeks.