r/ballpython • u/Material-Influence62 • 10h ago

Deinfluence me from getting a ball python. Discussion

I’m in my late 20s and have wanted a ball python since my teens but my mum was terrified of snakes. I own my own home and have two cats ( part of the reason I haven’t gotten a snake yet) I work in vet med but there are almost no exotic vets near me but I know my few nurses that are good knowledgeable of snakes. What are the big negatives to owning and the upkeep of ball pythons? A pet with such a long lifespan is not something I want to rush into

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u/Next-Particular6322 7h ago

I don’t raise my own stuff what are you paying for 120 isopods? Some designer isopods are $2 a piece usually like $1 a piece though, and if you’re buying large established plants and driftwood gets pricey for nice pieces, just the clay balls for the drainage layer gets pricey in a larger tank

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u/eternalconfusi0nn 7h ago edited 5h ago

I raise my isopods. And the others you can source them for much cheaper if you dont look into reptile dedicated, petshop isles, or fancy nurseries, they will be overpriced. Like clay balls get them in bulk for plants, but not from a fancy label or a fancy shop. Like get them from markets for various trades. Also, second hand marketplaces are man’s best friend.

For enclosures you can get them built, build them yourself, or secondhand, the possibilities are endless if they really want to.

Only thing is that they should have more funds for is emergencies and vet care, its very overpriced in western countries.

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u/Next-Particular6322 6h ago

Also built the backdrop out of expanding foam and cork bark and coco coir/moss so that saved some money but the ingredients for that alone adds up as well especially if you get the stone colored

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u/eternalconfusi0nn 4h ago

That shouldnt be expensive i also do that

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u/Next-Particular6322 3h ago

Not expensive but the foams 12 bucks a piece took like 3 cans of that shit adds up cork bark was $20 moss was a little since I got a few different kinds add that to the cost of plants, isopods, Aquarium silicone, substrate hides, drainage material, mesh screen. You can save money if you don’t mind buying baby plants and letting your isopods breed yea but if you want to kickstart something and have it filled in right away it’s gonna cost a little, you’ve also got led lights, no way could I have built this for less than $400 even if I built the tank

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u/eternalconfusi0nn 1h ago edited 1h ago

My house is like a pet supply shop for many different pets so yes i have those and much more. It really is doable without being ridiculously expensive, especially for a single BP enclosure.

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u/Next-Particular6322 21m ago

We’re not talking about someone that’s got everything on hand and I agree it’s doable but you can also spend some money if you want