have you done your research?
^.=.^ ball pythons are amazing animals.

Oh yes, I've done a lot of research. He lives in a wonderful large breeder tank, and probably lives better than I do. The only mistake I made was buying a heat rock. I've gotten a few people to say not to use it because it may burn him. I also know all about the shedding and feeding and everything else. ^^ I spent a lot of time learning about him before I got him, so I feel prepared to handle him. ^^

Oh yes, he's beautiful. ^^

wow! you sound like a devoted and intelligent person! I'm always happy to hear about someone doing research and learning about an animal before buying it. I have about 30+ abandoned reptiles, mostly lizards, a corn snake, a hermit crab, a toad, and a giant tree frog. I get them from impulse buyers, so that's why I asked, it looks very healthy! as for the heat rock, it's better to have a heat pad, but I wouldn't know, I deal with lizards all the time. ^_^; most of my animals are up for adoption also. want one?

Oh yes, I've wanted a snake since I was a little kid. I've loved them mye ntire life.

It's sad to hear about so many abandoned animals, but I'm glad that they have someone to take them in. ^^ The only reason I can't say yes to getting a few from you, is because I am new to this, and also a college student. I know that if I get more pets, the cost of food goes up, and I don't want that at the moment. Give me a year or so. ^^

Yes, I will be getting a heat pad, I just need one that is large enough for my tank. it's 36 long by 18 wide by 17 inches deep so I'd need one that is a bit bigger than just a four by four inch pad that they have at the store. For now though, I have a heat lamp, and a small portion of his tank is in the sun, so he is basking in that right now. ^^

natural sunlight is always good for them.
^.=.^ I keep my pets in my sunroom, it's has big plate glass windows.
I'm in college too, but I'm living my my parents and I've taken the summer off to get a job to save up for a small piece of land I can build on.
I have a really loooooooooooooong way to go, but I have plenty of time. I have prepaid so I don't have to pay for college. (whew!) I've always loved lizards, and it all started with a big blue tounged skink named larry. a freind gave him too me with a bit of metabolic bone disease and some problems with his nostrum (nose scale) and from then on, whenever someone had a pet they didn't want anymore, or couldn't keep they gave it to me and I did all I could. I've had to learn some basic vet skills on my own, and I have lost a few animals to simple things before I could get them to a qualified vet. But the positves outweight the losses, and most of the animals I've gotton I've been able to bring back to health.

I'm glad you are being careful about the nuber of animals too. its hard to find good homes for reptiles.

Hmmm... We shoudl talk one of these days about some vet related things. I don't believe there is a qualified herp vet around here, and with at least a decade ahead of him, there is a high chance he could get sick. I'm no professional myself, but I'd love to learn.

*Nods* I have to pay for my tuition, which makes me much more money conscious, but I would love a room like that, I don't think I would ever leave XD

Most of the time husbandry keeps snakes healthy.
keeping the substrate clean by spot cleaning every now and again, makeing sure you don't leave live mice in the tank with the snake unsupervised.(I kill my mice fresh, or use frozen with larger animals.) but the only thing I could think you would have a problem with would be minor abrasions from foodstuffs or tank decorations, or shedding problems in the later years. otherwise as long as the humidity is balanced and the water is kept clean I don't think you'll have many problems.

He's a beauty!

I've had ball pythons as best friends for almost 30 years now. A couple of them are nearly 40 years old.

I put 4 to 6 layers of paper towel over a heat rock and then put the rock and overlying towels into a ZipLock bag to prevent the paper from becoming wet with urine - and much more thermally conductive. Simple test: press the palm of your hand hard against the paper insulated rock; if you can comfortably do this for a few minutes, its not too hot. Belly heat is helpfull both for digestion and for dissolving urate crystals from their tissues and depositing it in their cloaca for excretion as a white mass.

Here is my second generation hatched in my own home python:
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/517825/

Hehe, I plan to own him as long as I can. ^^ I'm in an apartment right now, and will be during my college life (Should be three to four years here) so I will have him for a good long while, but my mother made it very clear she doesn't want him in the house. :p So no luck in going back home if I need to XD I should be fine though.

There are two things I worry about with your idea there. #1. If this heat rock gets hot enough to burn skin, wouldn't I have to worry about the plastic melting? #2. How can I completely close the bag if the electrical cord is sticking out? I wouldn't want him finding the hole and crawling into there.

But, I also figure if you have owned them for a while, you know a thing or two. ^^ I will definately take a look into this, but for now, I have a heat lamp, which is working well.

Thats a beautiful python you have there. Thank you very much for showing me. ^^

Polyethylene's melting point is way above the temperature required to burn skin. I zip the bag as far closed as the cord allows, and then fold the flap under the rock. Never had a snake try to crawl in.

Cute!

Thank you very much. ^^

snakes are COOL :)
I used to catch guarder snakes and black racers in my back yard when I was a kid back in Orlando Florida, I would keep them as pets for a few weeks/months feeding them toads that I would find in abundance at night when I'd go walking (especially after it rained). I even had to take care of my friends garder snake while he went out of town, turned out they mated (mine was the female) and a few weeks later babby guarder snakes got to be released in the near by retention pond :)

Awsome! Sounds like you have had quite an adventure with your snakes. I never had proper containers or tanks when I picked up snakes as a kid, so mine would last a day at max before escaping back intot he wild. Mom never let them inside, so they went back into the forests. :p

He is so pretty ^^ And it really looks like he is watching back at the viewer, which is quite thrilling! :P

He is a beauty, with such lovely slender head and body curves! ^^

Eee, what a cutie! I just had my first hatches yesterday, so exciting. Great snakes!

Hehe. I was thinking about buying a female. I definately wouldn't mind hatchlings. I have the tank for it and everything as well ^^

He looks just like mine, except smaller. Is he loving and loyal?
Mine is, give me neck rubs and hisses at my dad, you gotta love animal loyalty.

Well, as of late, I think he may be a she, but as per loving and loyal... I'm not entirely sure. She hasn't been handled by any other than I, but I do know she knows who I am.

Be careful with those neckrubs though hun. ^.^;; They can feel your heartbeat, and if you ever seem like potential meal, you may be trying their loyalty. :p

I know, but i am careful. Any way, you just know, and i keep him well fed. there is nothing to worry about, though i know he can kill me, he is five feet long

i love that snake i got 1 to and i got 4 other snakes

awwww he's so CUTE!!!!!

Hehe, thank you very much. I should get an updated photo sometime. He's grown. :-D

I'm faving this, because my first pet ever, was a ball-python named Squeeze. Thanks for sharing! ;3

No problem! ^.^ Thank you much for the fave! I actually have a second Ball Python named Trill, and 2 Red tailed boas who don't exactly have names yet. :p I'll try and get pictures up of them soon!

I'd love to see them. I miss my snakes, so pictures bring back great memories. ^.=.^