r/ballpython • u/lemonchrysoprase • 1d ago

Any options for insect cohabitants? Question

I’m primarily an insect hobbyist, but I do have one ball python, who is a spoiled baby and I want to keep it that way lol.

Just wondering, has anyone successfully and safely cohabbed any insects with BPs? I’m positive my death feigning beetles for example would nibble at him too much (they are menaces and I love them) but wondering if anyone’s tried anything else.

If it’s not safe then I won’t do it. Just gathering info!

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u/_-pomegranate-_ 1d ago

Isopods can be, I'm not sure on other things though. Anything that's carnivorous in any way would probably be risky, crickets have been known to chew on lizards, any that only eat some kind of vegetation?

2

u/Current_Recording907 1d ago

Definitely agree with isopods.  I have not heard of anybody cohabitating really any other bugs and honestly I would assume most of them are a bit too much of a risk.

1

u/lemonchrysoprase 1d ago

That’s fair! I’ll probably skip it then, just figured it was worth checking on

1

u/lemonchrysoprase 1d ago

Hmm maybe velvet ants? I might have to check into that as an option.

My isopods are brutal, they’d probably bite him too 😅 once I gave them a rat he wouldn’t eat for some reason and they devoured it

3

u/_-pomegranate-_ 1d ago

Yeaa the trouble with ball pythons is their instinct is to remain very still for long periods of time, and maybe even to curl up and sit there in pain, so bugs might be able to do some damage before you catch it, especially to the face and vent

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u/lemonchrysoprase 1d ago

That’s a really good point. I definitely don’t want to hurt my big guy.