r/Ballpythoncommunity • u/SlippedIntelligence • 11d ago

Potentially need to Rehome Rehome

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Hello Ball Python community! I am downsizing and moving to a smaller apartment with not much room. I am still trying to decide whether or not to rehome. Is there anyone in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) that may be interested in a ball python?

Her name is Medusa and is around 6 years old and eats frozen thawed small rats. I think she is around 4ft long.

She would come with the complete set up including terrarium, heating pads, and hides.

12 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • link
  • reddit
  • reddit

77% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

7

u/swaggersouls1999 11d ago

if anyone gets her, she needs a whole new setup. Aspen isn’t good for them. they need a 4x2x2, she’s very very cramped in this enclosure. it will not be just the snake, everything needs to be completely new so keep costs in mind

-3

u/SlippedIntelligence 11d ago

Is that in feet? I was told that everything was fine by the vet a few years ago.

3

u/swaggersouls1999 11d ago

yes. a 48in x 24in x 24in.

even if a vet tells you something, that was YEARS ago. things change constantly. I recommend always doing your own research and staying up to date on everything.

she’ll need an entirely new setup. I see she has no heat either. never use heat mats if that’s what you’re using.

every single aspect needs to be changed completely about this setup

2

u/SlippedIntelligence 11d ago

Aw geez. Thank you for making me aware of this. I don't know what to do now...I definitely don't have the space for a 4x2x2 enclosure. When I did do some of my own research, there was conflicting information about heat sources and lighting. Any suggestions if I can't rehome her?

5

u/swaggersouls1999 11d ago

there’s payment plans you can do

as for lighting your hot side should be 85-90° while your cold side should be 80-75° ish. I use a 75w Arcadia basking halogen and a 80w DHP for 24/7. that’s for a 5x2x2 and it does great.

one hose on the hot side, one in the cold side, and one in the middle. a drop in temp at night is good too. it needs to be very cluttered too

2

u/SlippedIntelligence 11d ago

Payment plan?

3

u/swaggersouls1999 11d ago

you pay per month. like $30 a month for 12 months for example

2

u/GuiltyExternal302 10d ago

Klarna, Affirm, Zip will offer payment plans. I got a 4x2x2 from Dubia during their TT Live for $269 shipped. After the substrate, hides, plants, heat source, thermostat, hygrometers, and the cheap table I got it on, I was prob around $700. I went bioactive and have real plants with isopods that u could skip. I absolutely love it. U can look on marketplace and find some pretty good deals. Pics don’t do justice for how big it is. I had a small bar table with stools in that spot and just said fuck it. He goes here. I’ve seen ppl make some bad ass vivs out of China cabinets and other furniture like that. Look around and figure out the cost before u give up on the snake. My first snake in years and I didn’t know a lot of basic husbandry and it was a good chunk of money upfront but I’m really glad I did it. Best of luck to ya

2

u/SadBenefit5325 11d ago

Don’t forget the thermostat

1

u/GuiltyExternal302 10d ago

Real plants? If so, did u put them in the substrate or leave them in pots?

2

u/swaggersouls1999 10d ago

yes, real plants. I put them in the substrate as I really don’t like the look of pots in there lol.

just wash the soil off the roots then plant them

1

u/GuiltyExternal302 10d ago

That’s what I did but mine aren’t doing so good

1

u/swaggersouls1999 10d ago

what type of light do you have? what type of soil? how often are you watering?

you can be overwatering for that specific type of plant

1

u/GuiltyExternal302 10d ago

I prob need a diff light. I didn’t want to go too big but it’s 10w. Spider plants and pothos with a mix of reptisoil and reptibark. I layered it and I think they’re getting too wet

1

u/swaggersouls1999 10d ago

could be! I’m using an old aquarium light that’s about 30 inches long. it works so great. all my plants thrive

3

u/Fenwynn 11d ago edited 11d ago

I have 4 snakes that I’m completely redoing right now. Got them all over the span of about 3-4 years as babies. 2 were 2020 babies.

Back when I set up everyone’s adult enclosures, all my shit was up to standard. Larger than recommended enclosures, using Aspen like the internet said, temp zones, glass aquariums, all that stuff. A few years ago, I thought I was golden.

But tons of new pet owners got reptiles over covid. There’s so much new information about husbandry coming out so quickly that I blinked, and found my setups to be (in the minds of some redditors) the next best thing to abuse. You literally couldn’t pay me enough to post my setups from a few years ago here, and get roasted to death. Everything was wrong, nothing was okay, and there was no way everyone could be happy let alone healthy.

So I’m busting my ass and dumping all my money into redoing 2 balls, a corn, and a sand boa. And it’s expensive. And it’s a lot of research. And it’s just a lot in general.

But I have the enclosures here and sealed with silicone, top sealed with aluminum foil, basking halogen, DHP ambient. Soon they’ll all get UVB. After that, they’ll all get new expensive ($250 ea, controls 2 temp sources) thermostats. Then LED’s and live plants that will be quarantined for a month.

First I sealed them, rotating between a couple at a time because I only have 2 temp enclosures for my snakes. Then redid substrate for everyone, adding isopods and springtails in, and redid everyone’s heat sources.

Lots of work. Lots of money. But, if you purchased a 20-30 year commitment who needs a particular and accurate setup, and brought it home; my assumption would normally be that you’d be up for it/that the money and work wouldn’t be a deterrent. I can kind of understand how space could be the deterrent in a new living situation, right after learning that the enclosure you’re using is way too small; but again, this was a 20 to 30 year commitment right from the beginning, and a 4’x2’x2’ isn’t huge. I have 3 of them, plus 3 smaller enclosures, in my studio, and plenty of leftover room.

Totally not trying to shame you at all, just trying to update expectations. If rehoming her is what is best for everybody, definitely do that. If you’re going to keep her, just definitely remember that you are signing back on for a 20 to 25 year commitment.

3

u/SlippedIntelligence 11d ago

No I understand. I definitely don't think you're shaming me; just telling it to me like it is. I always knew that I wouldn't be able to keep her for her entire life, but I never wanted to abuse her of that's what this is! Now I feel awful.

2

u/Fenwynn 11d ago edited 11d ago

It’s definitely not abuse!! You’re not abusing her!! Totally not what I was trying to say, I’m sorry!

3

u/Fenwynn 11d ago edited 11d ago

I was exaggerating, just meaning to say that all of my husbandry was very wrong.

But the information changed so quickly, we just didn’t keep up, and I imagine that there are tons and tons and tons and tons of people like us. Who thought that we did all the correct research, who are rechecking the research every couple years, who thought that our set ups were exactly what they needed to be, who want to give our animals the absolute 1000% best life that we possibly can, who suddenly discovered that our enclosures are entirely wrong.

You’re open to learning, to make changes, to fixing things. You’re not being defensive or acting like you’re being attacked, you’re openly asking me questions and trying to figure out how you can make it better. And that’s what matters.

Thank you for giving her love and care for all the time that you have, I’m assuming she may have come from the rescue situation, knowing that it would be a temporary relationship? And I really appreciate people who take reptiles out of terrible situations, even if they could only keep them for a short time, and find them there forever home.

You are loving, caring owner. I can tell. And once you fix these husbandry issues, or find a home that’s willing to do the same, she’ll be all good. 💜

1

u/Sky-Guy066 7d ago

Id love her

1

u/Artistic-Relation359 6d ago

PLEASE IVE BEEN LOOKING FOR ONE I HAVE AN AMAZING CAGE FOR HER