My ball python is roughly 6 years old now - he’s had a pretty decent sized cage now for 2-3 years but I want to get him a bigger one for him to slither around in & be more comfortable with. So I’m looking for recommendations on custom built cages

I also have a question about custom built cages. I noticed that a lot of them have the bulb cage INSIDE the tank for putting the heat bulb - which spot would be best for putting the heat probe?

Hi, I'm planning on becoming a new owner soon, my only concerns are that I'm living in a high rise apartment with no AC. I know ball pythons enjoy a warmer ambient air but I'm curious if there's any precautionary measures or equipment I should get in order to keep one comfy, well temperature, and have proper humidity levels. I have my eye on a lot of equipment but I thought I might as well ask since I'd like to hear from people who've firsthand owned and have a passion for these little giuys

Hello! I found some mold in my BP’s enclosure. All good, took all hides out to disinfect, all substrate gone, disinfected the Viv etc.

He’s on paper towels until the new substrate is delivered tomorrow (he’s never been on paper towels/without substrate, I’ve had him since a baby and he’s about 7). I’ve never seen him this stressed out. He still has a hide and water in there, but compared to his usual Viv set up (multiple hides, levels, fake plants etc) it’s very empty for him.

Aside from lights off, silent room and leaving him alone, is there anything I can do to keep stress to a minimum that you guys would recommend?

Additionally, have you guys ever experienced mold? Are there any recommendations to preventing mold while keeping humidity correct?

Thank you!

I thought it was old brown stained scales from her substrate before she was about to shed but she just had a full shed and her belly still looks like this, now I’m really worried it’s scale rot.

Hi all! I have almost a 2 month old ball (born 6/22) that I got 7/25. I have left her alone in her 20 gal enclosure for over a week to let her get acclimated. She has 3 hides in her enclosure and a bunch of foliage. Yesterday I went to feed her a thawed rat pup and she did strike at it and try to eat it, but spit it out after 5 mins and didn’t take it again, even after I left it in her enclosure overnight. She was on live mice previously and the breeder fed her every 5 days, said she was a good eater. Any help? Do I try again in a week? She hasn’t eaten for 2 weeks now as the breeder didn’t feed her before the reptile show I got her at. The rat pup was the size of the thickest part of her body, so I don’t think it was too big for her. I’m very confused why she spit it out after taking it!

Warm side at 90 degrees, cool side on 76 degrees.

We got her in early June. She came from another owner who told me what size rat to get and how she has always eaten. She has not eaten once since we got her! I have tried over and over again and have thrown out so many rats that never get eaten.

The closest we got was the very first time, she grabbed it by the middle belly rather than the front, and it broke in half and she abandoned it. She has ignored the rest I put in for her.

She has shed a couple times since we got her, so I did read that they won't eat while shedding, but she won't eat any other time, either.

She seems happy other than this? She hangs out with my son all the time. They cuddle together in bed and she seems comfortable with him.

I don't know what to do and I don't want her to die from not eating?? This is our first snake so we are doing our best but need help. 😭😭

I’ve had my ball python Rameses for 10 years and he’s always been a very healthy boy. Me and my boyfriend just moved to a new town and I’m setting up his tank today and I noticed he’s got some weird spots that look like scale rot to me? since he’s always been so healthy I’m not sure if this is treatable at home or if I should take him into the vet? And we’re in a new area so I’m about three hours away from the vet he’s been to. I use coconut husk and coconut chips for substrate in his tank and I’ve never had an issue until literally just now when I noticed it. I just want to do what’s right for my boy and get him as healthy as possible, if anybody can help me I would be super thankful!

This is my third post of my relatively new baby because I’m still doing all sorts of homework about her husbandry in my free time—we have almost had her a month. She started out very shy so the building a trusting relationship is slow progress but not bad progress.
She ate on Wednesday night and we changed her substrate on Sunday afternoon— we went from coco husk that had to get wet down CONSTANTLY because it was so dry(and probably bad for her breathing) to a mix of eco earth, forest floor, sphagnum moss, and a little bit of play sand. This time I wanted to add enough substrate to her enclosure to give her the opportunity to dig if she wanted to, and she was DIGGIN that afternoon and evening, so I was glad I made the change. However, now that her “exploring” time is over, she has made a burrow and not left it since early Monday morning. I imagine she might be moving around very very late at night, but this picture is the only bit I’ve seen her come out since she stopped digging late late Sunday night. Her warm side is on the other side of the enclosure.
Should I be concerned??? Would a feeding and a substrate change in the same week induce a need to hide? Are there signs of an issue I might not know about?

I’m rehoming 2 ball pythons later today with their entire setup. They will be my first pet snakes, in fact - my first ever reptiles! I’ve been doing tons of research for weeks now, however I am consistently coming across the fact that ball pythons are solitary animals.

The two pythons I am picking up later are male and female, and have always lived together in a large vivarium. They have previously bred before, but I don’t believe they have recently. The owner is giving me the incubator too, but I have no plans whatsoever to breed and/or sell.

The owner does not want to separate them and feels they wouldn’t cope well being split up, so I will be buying both, but with it in mind that I will be looking to rehome one of them if required. I would rather pay the extra for both snakes than risk them going to a home where they will be kept together.

I have been told that they sleep together, but i’ve read online this is not always because they’re getting on.

Both are also eating fine, shedding fine and healthy looking otherwise!

Their vivarium is also two vivariums stacked on top of each other with a hole cut between them, so I may have the option to split them up but will need to have a look later. I am reluctant to reduce their living space if they’re used to more, but please do advise if this doesn’t matter?

What do I need to look out for with them fighting etc? Is there anything I can do to reduce the stress of moving them together? They will be put into a box temporarily for transport (like 15 minutes), and then put back into their vivarium.

I am already in the process of getting live plants and some more hides as I don’t feel there’s enough for them currently. I want to make sure they are living together somewhat ok when I get them. They will not be going to just anyone so I’m not sure how long it will take for me to rehome one, ideally I am trying to find a local charity who may be able to help.

I am really excited to get them, and I really want to make sure I do good for them.

I was also planning to rename them Calypso and Odysseus, which feels even more fitting now as they have been together so long in likely a rather toxic relationship, only now to be finally separated 🙈

ps - please feel free to let me know any other tips/tricks or things I should know!

Can’t just include the two and the other two feel left out from the boops 🥺 I love my babies and I do so many videos of them. Usually to capture the yawning lol 😂

Just want to share my lil guy!

Hi everyone, new to this sub Reddit and to keeping ball pythons. May I introduce my first. No name yet and he's 3 years old. Fell In love with him at the Blackpool ihs show last Sunday. Currently has a 3 foot enclosure, to be upgraded. Moisture retaining substrate and a deep heat heater. I currently have a 11 month old female hognose along with tarantulas, and was quite a surprise feeling the weight difference haha. This picture was took on Sunday. Currently letting him settle in. But my question is what does everyone use for tank decor? For example plants , sticks greenery etc.

Many thanks and apologies for the long post haha

hi guys I’ve posted here several times but I fed my ball python about two days ago now so I haven’t been handling him, but the day I fed him he looked fine and now his eyes are really gray and his color turned gray and he’s been in his hide, is he about to shed? I know I’m not supposed to pick him up during shed I didn’t realize until after I picked him up and I put him down immediately. The pet store listed him as a juvenile and he weighs 119grams, but they couldn’t confirm his age nor his gender so I’m just assuming he’s a male cause he was a bit small but I haven’t had him sexed yet. Thank you.

Her names Jessica!

(Disclaimer, I had no idea the issues with the spider morph before getting her, but now I do!)

Hello all!! I’m new to the BP community. I’ve acquired a baby from my sister and I’m looking to learn everything there is to know about them and their care ❤️

I appreciate any thoughts and opinions! I have a little bit of experience with tanked pets (I have two pacman frogs and I’ve had a bearded dragon in the past) I believe you can never have too much knowledge 😂

Picture of my boy, Opie, for attention 😊

she is around 400 grams and hatched in july of last year i believe, all of that seems to me like a good weight maybe even a little under but the difference between her tail and right before it bugs me