I always wanted some summary:P 1. No heatrock 2. Ask parents permission 3. Feed proper size rodent 4. Don't handle the snake after feeding 5. Appropriate humidity when shedding / No high humidity either
I’m A 13 year old, And I got my first ball python in 2018. And she’s is Perfectly healthy, No mites, No scale rot, no respiratory or worms. And she has a 20 gallon tank with 2 hides, a heating pad on one side, some plants, coconut substrate and a large waterbowl. She is 3 foot. And I’m not sure how many grams- petco told me “1800” but i don’t think that’s right. And I also got her from petco, (i don’t recommend buying from there tho) And she’s 2 years old, she thankfully never balls up when I get her out, and she’s not head shy, and has such a big personality, I love her so much. I also did 3 years of research before getting her.
The key is to get the correct info. As there still is "old school" info on the web. It's amazing how things have changed in the hobby over the last 25 years and thankfully it's mostly for the better.
A few other no-no’s: Not doing research prior to getting a ball python. Most rookie mistakes can be swept under the rug, because ball pythons are so forgiving as far as husbandry is concerned, but they have very specific requirements that could do some serious damage if not met. Taking ALL your information from one source. Ball pythons have their own personalities and preferences, so it’s so much better to listen to experienced keepers from all walks of life. The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be to handle sudden occurrences. Not being receptive to advice can also be dangerous. I’ve seen so many keepers ask for help, and then let their pride get in the way, treating helpful advice like a personal attack. The life of someone’s snake needs to be important than their own ego.
Hey Chris, just got my first ball python a little over a month ago and I was an anxious wreck because of all the in depth care guides and forums telling me different things. I'm glad I found your channel, your insights put my mind at ease
This is a fantastic video. I would like to add to your first point though. Heat rocks are bad for all reptiles. Lizards usually need heat coming from above so a heat rock doesn't do anything for basking. Also lizards can get burned too because their belly scales really shouldn't be making contact with something that hot. Heat rocks are just a terrible invention and I don't know why they're still on the market
Unfortunately they’re still on the market because uneducated people keep buying them. What annoys me is, the companies that make them claim they want the best for the animals they make products for.
That isn't 100% true, as some lizards in the wild bask on rocks in the sun that absorb heat, and have been caught at temps above 130 degrees, especially monitors. Much like the blacktop in the 90 degree weather, much hotter than the external temps outside.
I agree with you about the humidity. Some people go overboard with that and leave their snakes in tubs with water beaded up on it 24/7 and that just allows microbes to grow. Snakes often overflow their water dishes and that can flood the bottom of the tub and cause the same problem (and it leaves them without water in their dish to drink when the heat evaporates it). What I do is look at the snake's skin and if it seems dry or it's shedding I spray down the bottom of the enclosure. If skin looks hydrated I leave it.
I had one for my bearded dragon and he did get burnt just a little on his tail and I took it out immediately and gave him cool baths and used a light cream and he was healed completely in one week! It was very scary even though it wasn’t bad!!
Re water: sure, I totally agree that water should always be available - clean water. I change mine every other day provided substrate or excreted stuff has not got in there. It's also worth remembering that a snake that's not feeding needs a lot more water. Snakes get most of their water from the water in the prey item.
I work at a 2nd hand store and found a heat rock on the shelf. As I removed it, a customer actually asked me why I was throwing it away. After explaining the issues with these hazardous products, they were amazed how something that seems so harmless can cause an animal so many problems. A friend of mine had a bearded dragon and the heat rock had over heated and actually left burns on its belly. I would only recommend heat pads, never a heat rock.
The main thing I always tell people with reptiles, aside from the heat rocks, is not to use heating equipment without a thermostat. I had a roommate get a hatchling bp while I was living with them and I kept telling her she needed to get a thermostat, and she kept refusing, and of course her poor snake ended up with a giant burn and it took forever to heal (especially because for some reason she didn't get a thermostat even after that experience).
When we got our snake the pet store told us we needed a heat rock and sure enough our snake burned herself and we had tons of vet bills! It was very sad. Thanks for the video education is so important
Sometimes parents are just reviewing that child’s responsibility. If that kid can’t take care of a snake and doesn’t have his or her own money the parents might not want to take on an extra responsibility. People always assume snakes are low maintenance and are wrong.
Great video, thank you so much for your content. My son is 9 and has always liked reptiles. We are doing a lot of research together and trying to figure out if a ball python is the right first reptile for us. I appreciate your explanations and your experience. There are only 3 stores in my city that sell reptiles and PetSmart is one. At each place he employees like to give their opinions on what they like. One pushed a corn snake, one leopard geckos and one ball pythons. Love the corn snakes but I think I like the less active ball pythons. Every store wants to sell me a tank but after much research and your video on tubs that is what I’d like to use as the snakes seem to prefer it. This video really is helped as so many people keep saying that a draw back to the ball pythons is they are not as easy to feed as a corn snake. Now I know that’s ok as long as everything else is ok. Thanks again, I look forward to your next video.
Hi Chris I haven’t found much with the effects of the red heat lamps on ball pythons but find all kinds of info on why they are bad for UVB loving/requiring reptiles like bearded dragons. Could you possibly upload a video on those bulbs and the negative effects (if any) they have on ball pythons
I'm a little late on this video. My snakes are cohab for the most part so I have to separate them into feeding bins. One of my tricks to put them back into the main enclosure is to put the bin as close to the enclosure as possible. With my Anacondas and Carpet Pythons I'll direct the upper body of the snakes letting them crawl from the bin to the enclosure on their own. I agree that any form of stress and they could regurgitate. Live feeding a few times a year as a SUPERVISED treat for myself, I like keeping their instincts up. Keep the great videos coming.
I was watching an exotic veterinarian show and there was a ball python with a respiratory infection. The vet told him it was because the snake needed more humidity, that it seems counterintuitive but they need more humidity to not get a RI. It kind of surprised me. I haven’t dealt with any RI yet but it is frustrating how all of the reptile advice conflicts.
I use a humidity box and Aspen in the rest of the enclosure for my ball. They are really good at regulating themselves. You can keep the entire enclosure humid it's just harder to regulate the humidity.
You'd be surprised at how many vets have misinformation about Ball Pythons because even if they're known as an exotics vet they can't specialize in every species. Generally it's recommended to turn up the heat a bit but not the humidity. Humidity can move any infection deeper into the lung and that's the last thing in the world you want. Mammals can cough up phlegm when humidity is used but reptiles really can't do that.
Thank you for the educational type videos you post! In the past, I have worked in a commercially owned petstore and there are a few things that I never really agreed upon and I always liked to encourage people to do a little more research before buying, so many balls would get returned or calls of panic with issues. Of course the store would take returns and get the animals to the vet if the issue wasn't favorable or easy to fix and it really deterred me away from keeping them. Recently, I gave in to my partner and said yes to a ball python when his gecko died..... Now we have 7, looking for the 8th. (Damn Morphmarket, lol) Anyway, they became addictive and found out they are incredible pets, they are so calm, quiet and easy care. My partner has been medically diagonsed with ADHD and high functioning autism, he gets one of the snakes in his hands he calms his sh*t. Lol Apparently, the soft and smooth texture is a sensory motivator and stress reliever. At least that is what we've experienced, so the snakes we have now keep amazing me. I also appreciate that you are a little more professional and can follow what you are saying and usually you give an unbiased opinion, but makes logical sense when compared to some of the other RUclipsr's. I'm not bashing them by any means, but they talk really fast and excitable and mostly all about what they do and what they have and kinda come off as showboating (I get that they are trying to promote themselves.) But having close to definitive answers and opinions about keeping or for business has been a LOT more helpful. ❤ THANK YOU!
I know this is an old post but I wholeheartedly agree that these smooth, chill, slithering BP’s are great sensory input for calming those of us with anxiety (like me) and I can see how it would be great for autism, etc.
I have the same humidity issues (lack there of). I live in golden CO and if i don't spray the tubs down every other day, the humidity tanks to the low 30-40%. Do u use a humidifier in your snake room? Also what part of CO are you? Ill have to come find you and say hi at the up coming show.👍👊
If I do choose to feed in a different tub. I'll just put the tub in their main housing unit and let them slither out when they are ready. Most of the time they eat in their main housing unit and no issues. Changing their bedding to coconut husk though this week.
i'm one of those people who strongly disagree with feeding in separate tubs. That just stresses the snake out in my opinion. It's better to feed inside the enclosure, for my snake anyway. He prefers to eat in a place where he feels safe. Also always frozen thawed. Live feeding is too risky cause my Ballpython is a big fellow. And yep, live feeding is banned here in germany, except if the snake won't eat a frozen/thawed. Only then you may feed alive prey item. The law here is: respect the prey animal's rights, that means proper care and you may not throw it inside a cage with a predator with no ways to escape. But at the same time you're obligated to give your pet what it needs. I get where it's coming from and I agree. 😊👍
Uploading is pretty painful for me too, my upload speed drops down to about 0.5 mega bits per second. I doubt I'll ever be able to live stream which is a bummer. And when it rains I lose my internet connection LOL. That's why I try to stay a day or two ahead of the uploads in case I run into trouble.
I love your videos! keep up the good work man Can you do a video on steps on breeding any snake in general not just pythons....when to put the male with the female..how long should they stay together....when to take him out... how to insure that the male is done and the female will get pregnant Thank you
I mist my custom rolling wooden 50gal twice by hand each day. Starts at 70%. Drops to 60% within an hour. Lasts roughly 8 to 12 hours. Repeat. Is this normal?
Great video chris as always. Can you do a video on treating a snake on meds because i hear alot by buying live rodents from local pet stores you run the risk of internal parasites.
The best way to get your parents let you get a python is to educate them about them and also watch a video in misconceptions and that could help. Me personally, I was that kid who would always bring home stray animals haha Ive owned every kind of animal no joke. Only american animals of course. My mom learned that as long as I take care of them and they stay in their enclosure things are fine. Even if they say no, us kids always hid the animals somewhere haha Those were the days. I always loved all animals and Im now going to commit my life to working with them. Bats make an interesting pet tho. Its like having a fire alarm for a pet. With those high pitch beep sounds they give off for their sonar. I tend to rant but I like sharing my stories about animals. Maybe someone else will get a laugh out of it and Im not the only kid who snuck animals home lol
I just had to switch to mice for my female, she went 2 weeks without a hit on rats but when I showed her the mouse it was almost instant lol shes still little though and I'm sure she will go back to rats down the road.
What should I do I got 2 shakes but 1 is not coming out it's hide ive only had them for 8 days 1 has fed but the other one hasn't been coming out what should I do
With feeding, is it ok to give my bigger ball pythons the baby's meals if they don't eat it? Ngl, I have offered smaller meals to my bigger snakes when my smaller ones have refused. They take it almost every time
I wouldn't leave a live rodent unattended with a snake for even 5 minutes. I have seen some attempt to chew on a snake's tail in less time than that. I have had to reach in quickly once or twice to prevent a rat from doing that. I monitor until I know for sure the snake has control of the rat's head. A rat fuzzy probably won't try to chew but anything bigger probably will if the snake doesn't grab it soon after it's put in the enclosure. Usually it's more out of curiosity than trying to attack the snake. Rodents just like to chew on anything around them.
Yeah u prob don't need to be that rigorous on keeping track of feeding or pooping but at least make sure there's SOME kind pooping going on. Constipation in balls is a bitch. I've dealt w prolapsed rectums before and poop hanging halfway out.🙄but like u say keeping water around super important.. plays a role in how well they poop 💩
Nope same technology snacked cozy up to heat and don’t let go... something about belly pain sensation... unlike lizards who are more sensitive to extreme heat and know when to leave the rock... bottom line always use mats with a thermostat ... cheap and gives a piece of mind
I have heard that they are particularly bad for ball pythons, because they are not as good as many other snakes at regulating their body temperature. Heard this from a couple of sources.
Hi can you do a video or something and see how many type of snake you can name off the top of your head just curious as I'm new to snake keeping and I have done all of research and I can name 32 but I wanna know how many you can as you have keeped snakes for alot longer??
@ second point: When I was a kid I wanted a budgie but my parents always said no. So I went and bought one myself and then told them I won it at the pet fair. I also had my best fried back me up so they ate the story
Got one with a big bumblebee I just got that she had gotten and put in a reptile enclosure that came with all that and I have lights so I took it out cause didn't have need for both but after seeing this I know why his belly scales are like they are
The pet stores where I live (ky) feed live but they tell everyone they feed frozen.....took me 3 weeks to figure out why my baby ball wasn't eating her frozen
Thats exactly what I do. Ive heard it doesn't matter where you feed them but Medusa knows when she's in her feeding tank its time to eat. She gets very active and bops her nose on the floor and sides. We have never had her strike or show aggression when we put hands in her enclosure. We also just take off the lid after she's finished eating and let her slither into her enclosure to prevent injury.
Yes that's what I do with my bp. You cant keep a humidity box in a enclosure all the time with some snakes but with balls it's fine to always have in there. Some snake species use it too much and can get scale rot so those should only have a humidity box during shed.
I have a ball python for six weeks now. Looking kinda thin. loosing sleep. i have tried frozen thawed mice and rats, live feeders, and nothing works. I don't want the snake to die but I'm at a loss for what to do.
How old it is and how much does it weigh? Older snakes can fast for a really long time, if it's a hatchling I'd try a live mouse hopper in there overnight. Or a live rat fuzzy.
@@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures Thank you Chris. He is about 6 months old. Have him for about 6wks now. I do have a live mouse in his set up right now. I have a blanket covering the tank. Hoping he'll eat by morning. Fingers crossed!
I record food and shed just cause I don’t feed them in shed , I don’t even bother trying to feed them in shed cause every time one ate in shed they had a crappy shed in multiple pieces . I was thinking maybe it makes it tougher for them to get the shed off , From what I keep reading power feeding shortens the lifespan of them , so I’ll do up to 2 items in a weekend and that’s it , idk how true it is cause I fed my 2 that I had for 16 +years twice a month
True but wouldn't a heatmat still be better since the python can be comfortable in their cave while warm instead of having to pick between heat and safety?
What rack system did you start out with? I made my first one and not ready for ars yet.. $$$.. looking to get a good subadult rack to grow my collection out some. I have 8 snakes so far.
I see it like this on feeding live. Do the snake have a freezer at their home? No. Well then I'm pretty sure they do find eating live in the nature. Now I'm not telling anybody how to feed their snakes cuz I know some d******'s going to cry about what I'm saying and say that I'm being a gatekeeping prick or some stupid s***. It's an opinion if you don't like it chew on a piece of wood for all I care. But that's how I see it they eat live in nature they don't have freezers or nitrous or nitro or whatever you use sorry. But I do feed mine small mice. You know what now I'm going to do a live feeding on RUclips.
![YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Missing Everything [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dTYeMZGzOzw/mqdefault.jpg)
I always wanted some summary:P
1. No heatrock
2. Ask parents permission
3. Feed proper size rodent
4. Don't handle the snake after feeding
5. Appropriate humidity when shedding / No high humidity either
Christina Cho thanks for that
just learned #3 the hard way ): lost my near $500 female pied due to problems after she regurgitated a rat pup
@@Mateo-lo4dz im sorry :/
You are the real mvp
thank you man, saved me 20 minutes
I’m A 13 year old, And I got my first ball python in 2018. And she’s is Perfectly healthy, No mites, No scale rot, no respiratory or worms. And she has a 20 gallon tank with 2 hides, a heating pad on one side, some plants, coconut substrate and a large waterbowl. She is 3 foot. And I’m not sure how many grams- petco told me “1800” but i don’t think that’s right. And I also got her from petco, (i don’t recommend buying from there tho) And she’s 2 years old, she thankfully never balls up when I get her out, and she’s not head shy, and has such a big personality, I love her so much. I also did 3 years of research before getting her.
Yeah ppl need to educate themselves before acquiring any reptile
The key is to get the correct info. As there still is "old school" info on the web. It's amazing how things have changed in the hobby over the last 25 years and thankfully it's mostly for the better.
A few other no-no’s:
Not doing research prior to getting a ball python. Most rookie mistakes can be swept under the rug, because ball pythons are so forgiving as far as husbandry is concerned, but they have very specific requirements that could do some serious damage if not met.
Taking ALL your information from one source. Ball pythons have their own personalities and preferences, so it’s so much better to listen to experienced keepers from all walks of life. The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be to handle sudden occurrences.
Not being receptive to advice can also be dangerous. I’ve seen so many keepers ask for help, and then let their pride get in the way, treating helpful advice like a personal attack. The life of someone’s snake needs to be important than their own ego.
Hey Chris, just got my first ball python a little over a month ago and I was an anxious wreck because of all the in depth care guides and forums telling me different things. I'm glad I found your channel, your insights put my mind at ease
I'm getting a ball python soon and i'm so excited videos like these really help!
Awesome!
This is a fantastic video. I would like to add to your first point though. Heat rocks are bad for all reptiles. Lizards usually need heat coming from above so a heat rock doesn't do anything for basking. Also lizards can get burned too because their belly scales really shouldn't be making contact with something that hot. Heat rocks are just a terrible invention and I don't know why they're still on the market
Unfortunately they’re still on the market because uneducated people keep buying them. What annoys me is, the companies that make them claim they want the best for the animals they make products for.
That isn't 100% true, as some lizards in the wild bask on rocks in the sun that absorb heat, and have been caught at temps above 130 degrees, especially monitors. Much like the blacktop in the 90 degree weather, much hotter than the external temps outside.
I agree with you about the humidity. Some people go overboard with that and leave their snakes in tubs with water beaded up on it 24/7 and that just allows microbes to grow. Snakes often overflow their water dishes and that can flood the bottom of the tub and cause the same problem (and it leaves them without water in their dish to drink when the heat evaporates it). What I do is look at the snake's skin and if it seems dry or it's shedding I spray down the bottom of the enclosure. If skin looks hydrated I leave it.
Heat rocks shouldn’t be used for any animals. I hate that people invent products that hurt animals
It's not supposed to hurt it
They’re ok for desert lizards
I had one for my bearded dragon and he did get burnt just a little on his tail and I took it out immediately and gave him cool baths and used a light cream and he was healed completely in one week! It was very scary even though it wasn’t bad!!
Re water: sure, I totally agree that water should always be available - clean water. I change mine every other day provided substrate or excreted stuff has not got in there. It's also worth remembering that a snake that's not feeding needs a lot more water. Snakes get most of their water from the water in the prey item.
I work at a 2nd hand store and found a heat rock on the shelf. As I removed it, a customer actually asked me why I was throwing it away. After explaining the issues with these hazardous products, they were amazed how something that seems so harmless can cause an animal so many problems. A friend of mine had a bearded dragon and the heat rock had over heated and actually left burns on its belly. I would only recommend heat pads, never a heat rock.
The main thing I always tell people with reptiles, aside from the heat rocks, is not to use heating equipment without a thermostat. I had a roommate get a hatchling bp while I was living with them and I kept telling her she needed to get a thermostat, and she kept refusing, and of course her poor snake ended up with a giant burn and it took forever to heal (especially because for some reason she didn't get a thermostat even after that experience).
Really enjoy your videos, you do not just regurgitate the same information other channels do. I agree with the humidity.
When we got our snake the pet store told us we needed a heat rock and sure enough our snake burned herself and we had tons of vet bills! It was very sad. Thanks for the video education is so important
That's a bummer!
I don't use heat rocks for any of the animals I have/had because they're actually not good for any reptile
How to convince parents to get a python? Get cooler parents!
Thanos_Is_A_Big_Fat _Grape yes I have
Absolutely just throw the whole family out lol I always wanted ball python as a child now I'm 24 and finally got one
Sometimes parents are just reviewing that child’s responsibility. If that kid can’t take care of a snake and doesn’t have his or her own money the parents might not want to take on an extra responsibility. People always assume snakes are low maintenance and are wrong.
Just get one don't ask for permission
@@MrSouthsideMuscle they can’t get rid of it if it’s already in the house 🤷🏽♂️
I've been watching your channel for a while and I gotta show you some love. Great info. Me and My pythons are happier because of you.
Great video, thank you so much for your content. My son is 9 and has always liked reptiles. We are doing a lot of research together and trying to figure out if a ball python is the right first reptile for us. I appreciate your explanations and your experience. There are only 3 stores in my city that sell reptiles and PetSmart is one. At each place he employees like to give their opinions on what they like. One pushed a corn snake, one leopard geckos and one ball pythons. Love the corn snakes but I think I like the less active ball pythons. Every store wants to sell me a tank but after much research and your video on tubs that is what I’d like to use as the snakes seem to prefer it. This video really is helped as so many people keep saying that a draw back to the ball pythons is they are not as easy to feed as a corn snake. Now I know that’s ok as long as everything else is ok. Thanks again, I look forward to your next video.
Hi Chris I haven’t found much with the effects of the red heat lamps on ball pythons but find all kinds of info on why they are bad for UVB loving/requiring reptiles like bearded dragons. Could you possibly upload a video on those bulbs and the negative effects (if any) they have on ball pythons
Great info. Thanks for getting the education out there.
I'm a little late on this video.
My snakes are cohab for the most part so I have to separate them into feeding bins. One of my tricks to put them back into the main enclosure is to put the bin as close to the enclosure as possible. With my Anacondas and Carpet Pythons I'll direct the upper body of the snakes letting them crawl from the bin to the enclosure on their own. I agree that any form of stress and they could regurgitate.
Live feeding a few times a year as a SUPERVISED treat for myself, I like keeping their instincts up.
Keep the great videos coming.
I'm going to get my son and I a snake. Thank you for your information. I'm definitely putting a lot of time into researching the animal before hand.
I was watching an exotic veterinarian show and there was a ball python with a respiratory infection. The vet told him it was because the snake needed more humidity, that it seems counterintuitive but they need more humidity to not get a RI. It kind of surprised me. I haven’t dealt with any RI yet but it is frustrating how all of the reptile advice conflicts.
I use a humidity box and Aspen in the rest of the enclosure for my ball. They are really good at regulating themselves. You can keep the entire enclosure humid it's just harder to regulate the humidity.
You'd be surprised at how many vets have misinformation about Ball Pythons because even if they're known as an exotics vet they can't specialize in every species. Generally it's recommended to turn up the heat a bit but not the humidity. Humidity can move any infection deeper into the lung and that's the last thing in the world you want. Mammals can cough up phlegm when humidity is used but reptiles really can't do that.
Thank you for the educational type videos you post! In the past, I have worked in a commercially owned petstore and there are a few things that I never really agreed upon and I always liked to encourage people to do a little more research before buying, so many balls would get returned or calls of panic with issues. Of course the store would take returns and get the animals to the vet if the issue wasn't favorable or easy to fix and it really deterred me away from keeping them.
Recently, I gave in to my partner and said yes to a ball python when his gecko died..... Now we have 7, looking for the 8th. (Damn Morphmarket, lol)
Anyway, they became addictive and found out they are incredible pets, they are so calm, quiet and easy care.
My partner has been medically diagonsed with ADHD and high functioning autism, he gets one of the snakes in his hands he calms his sh*t. Lol
Apparently, the soft and smooth texture is a sensory motivator and stress reliever.
At least that is what we've experienced, so the snakes we have now keep amazing me.
I also appreciate that you are a little more professional and can follow what you are saying and usually you give an unbiased opinion, but makes logical sense when compared to some of the other RUclipsr's.
I'm not bashing them by any means, but they talk really fast and excitable and mostly all about what they do and what they have and kinda come off as showboating (I get that they are trying to promote themselves.)
But having close to definitive answers and opinions about keeping or for business has been a LOT more helpful. ❤
THANK YOU!
Glad you enjoy my channel, I've been trying to be different than everyone else LOL
@@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures No worries, you are different for sure and give more useful information, thank you. :)
I know this is an old post but I wholeheartedly agree that these smooth, chill, slithering BP’s are great sensory input for calming those of us with anxiety (like me) and I can see how it would be great for autism, etc.
Im 16 and I’ve wanted a ball python for a while but my mom is really scared of snakes but I convinced her and now I’m getting one in a couple weeks😂
That's awesome!
So what humidity would be a good all around humidity to maintain everyday pre-shed?
How to convince your parents: Do research and convince them that you know what you're doing and are going to take proper care of it. Plus videos .
If you are going to feed live food you should supervise everything and keep some tongs handy
Should I be concerned if my boa goes to strike and startles herself? And then wants nothing to do with it ..
Yeah don't want to leave your snake alone when live feeding it can be bitten and damaged by it's prey
How’s supervisin goin to help if ur snake goanna get bit it’s goanna get bit
@@jefec5752 To take the mouse out, babe😩
I have the same humidity issues (lack there of). I live in golden CO and if i don't spray the tubs down every other day, the humidity tanks to the low 30-40%. Do u use a humidifier in your snake room? Also what part of CO are you? Ill have to come find you and say hi at the up coming show.👍👊
First again..i really do love your vids bro you are very informative
Thanks!
I find that with my in laws accept what I bring in if I don't ask them. They always say no unless it's already here 🤣
Hey Chris, thank you for the information. 🐍🦎🐸🐊🐢👊🏼
The humidity of my tank goes between 40 and 60 and very rarely jumps up to 70%. Is that okay?
Love your videos my only negative comment is they make me want more all the time lol
If I do choose to feed in a different tub. I'll just put the tub in their main housing unit and let them slither out when they are ready. Most of the time they eat in their main housing unit and no issues. Changing their bedding to coconut husk though this week.
I enjoy your videos
Thanks!!
Great video!
i'm one of those people who strongly disagree with feeding in separate tubs. That just stresses the snake out in my opinion. It's better to feed inside the enclosure, for my snake anyway. He prefers to eat in a place where he feels safe. Also always frozen thawed. Live feeding is too risky cause my Ballpython is a big fellow. And yep, live feeding is banned here in germany, except if the snake won't eat a frozen/thawed. Only then you may feed alive prey item. The law here is: respect the prey animal's rights, that means proper care and you may not throw it inside a cage with a predator with no ways to escape. But at the same time you're obligated to give your pet what it needs. I get where it's coming from and I agree. 😊👍
So helpful
Heat rocks r awful way back when I was a kid I had a bad incident with one love ur videos man gonna upload a video tommorow had some trouble today
Uploading is pretty painful for me too, my upload speed drops down to about 0.5 mega bits per second. I doubt I'll ever be able to live stream which is a bummer. And when it rains I lose my internet connection LOL. That's why I try to stay a day or two ahead of the uploads in case I run into trouble.
I love your videos! keep up the good work man
Can you do a video on steps on breeding any snake in general not just pythons....when to put the male with the female..how long should they stay together....when to take him out... how to insure that the male is done and the female will get pregnant
Thank you
I mist my custom rolling wooden 50gal twice by hand each day. Starts at 70%. Drops to 60% within an hour. Lasts roughly 8 to 12 hours. Repeat.
Is this normal?
They don’t need constant humidity lol
I put a fogger on when my ball python is ready to shed.
What is a good humidity temp , mines is a 80 and the heating pad is at 95
Awesome! Any chance we can get another cow video?
I'll probably give an update when my cow has a baby calf and probably put it on the end of a snake video. Stay tuned!
What humidities exactly do you use?
I don't measure humidity, I just make sure the coconut husk is damp on the bottom and dry on the top.
@@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures awesome thank you for the info.
Hi I have in de winter trouble with the humidity and I got a humidifier is it bad to put it on low for a few minutes is it bad for my ballpython?
I made sure to do a lot of research before asking my mom for a snake i love him so much
Nice!
Great video chris as always. Can you do a video on treating a snake on meds because i hear alot by buying live rodents from local pet stores you run the risk of internal parasites.
The best way to get your parents let you get a python is to educate them about them and also watch a video in misconceptions and that could help. Me personally, I was that kid who would always bring home stray animals haha Ive owned every kind of animal no joke. Only american animals of course. My mom learned that as long as I take care of them and they stay in their enclosure things are fine. Even if they say no, us kids always hid the animals somewhere haha Those were the days. I always loved all animals and Im now going to commit my life to working with them. Bats make an interesting pet tho. Its like having a fire alarm for a pet. With those high pitch beep sounds they give off for their sonar. I tend to rant but I like sharing my stories about animals. Maybe someone else will get a laugh out of it and Im not the only kid who snuck animals home lol
"The best way to get your parents let you get a python" is to get them to watch all of my videos! 😁
@@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures Words have never been more true! ^_^ You are the best on RUclips!!
I just had to switch to mice for my female, she went 2 weeks without a hit on rats but when I showed her the mouse it was almost instant lol shes still little though and I'm sure she will go back to rats down the road.
Can I do a Moss box for the humidity of a ball python? I see it’s common for other snakes but I don’t know if I can do it with a BP... Please advice!
As long as your snake fits in the box it should be OK.
What should I do I got 2 shakes but 1 is not coming out it's hide ive only had them for 8 days 1 has fed but the other one hasn't been coming out what should I do
With feeding, is it ok to give my bigger ball pythons the baby's meals if they don't eat it? Ngl, I have offered smaller meals to my bigger snakes when my smaller ones have refused. They take it almost every time
I wouldn't leave a live rodent unattended with a snake for even 5 minutes. I have seen some attempt to chew on a snake's tail in less time than that. I have had to reach in quickly once or twice to prevent a rat from doing that. I monitor until I know for sure the snake has control of the rat's head. A rat fuzzy probably won't try to chew but anything bigger probably will if the snake doesn't grab it soon after it's put in the enclosure. Usually it's more out of curiosity than trying to attack the snake. Rodents just like to chew on anything around them.
Yeah u prob don't need to be that rigorous on keeping track of feeding or pooping but at least make sure there's SOME kind pooping going on. Constipation in balls is a bitch. I've dealt w prolapsed rectums before and poop hanging halfway out.🙄but like u say keeping water around super important.. plays a role in how well they poop 💩
I remember growing up we had a heat rock with our boa it did fine...... I heard that they are different now with technology
Nope same technology snacked cozy up to heat and don’t let go... something about belly pain sensation... unlike lizards who are more sensitive to extreme heat and know when to leave the rock... bottom line always use mats with a thermostat ... cheap and gives a piece of mind
I have heard that they are particularly bad for ball pythons, because they are not as good as many other snakes at regulating their body temperature. Heard this from a couple of sources.
I wouldn't use today .. i use radiant heat panels or flexwatt ....was just say 30 years ago didn't have all this stuff
Hi can you do a video or something and see how many type of snake you can name off the top of your head just curious as I'm new to snake keeping and I have done all of research and I can name 32 but I wanna know how many you can as you have keeped snakes for alot longer??
Not sure I can even name 32!
Im 13 years old and I have ball pythons and cornsnakes and I dont have a heatrock but a heatmat
good info
My dad would not let me get a snake, so I bought my own reptile house. My life in strange.
Nice!
@ second point: When I was a kid I wanted a budgie but my parents always said no. So I went and bought one myself and then told them I won it at the pet fair. I also had my best fried back me up so they ate the story
I have a humidity box I put in when it's time to shed lol reptile moss and in a crayon box works great mine stays 50ish
Got one with a big bumblebee I just got that she had gotten and put in a reptile enclosure that came with all that and I have lights so I took it out cause didn't have need for both but after seeing this I know why his belly scales are like they are
I just got a ball python and this is really useful
Edit: I spent most of my life in west Africa
That's awesome! I'd like to visit West Africa someday!
My dad got me a ball python i didt even have to ask
I just changed my ball pythons enclosure from 20 g to 40g. Now he won’t go to the warm side. Should I worry.
oh yeah yeah
The pet stores where I live (ky) feed live but they tell everyone they feed frozen.....took me 3 weeks to figure out why my baby ball wasn't eating her frozen
Is 20 to 30 percent humidity good for my ball python
No it is not you need about 50-60 percent regularly and 70-80 in shed
20 years my first one lived with a heat rock as his only heat. If I only knew then.
I feed mine in a separate tub and then put the feeding tub in the tank after there done eating (with the lid off), then the just go in on their own.
Thats exactly what I do. Ive heard it doesn't matter where you feed them but Medusa knows when she's in her feeding tank its time to eat. She gets very active and bops her nose on the floor and sides. We have never had her strike or show aggression when we put hands in her enclosure. We also just take off the lid after she's finished eating and let her slither into her enclosure to prevent injury.
Can't you use a humidity box to help with shedding so it I'll shed even without much moisture
Yes that's what I do with my bp. You cant keep a humidity box in a enclosure all the time with some snakes but with balls it's fine to always have in there. Some snake species use it too much and can get scale rot so those should only have a humidity box during shed.
What do u feed your rats
I feed Mazuri 6F
I didn’t ask my mom 😂😂 i just got him and showed her
I have a ball python for six weeks now. Looking kinda thin. loosing sleep. i have tried frozen thawed mice and rats, live feeders, and nothing works. I don't want the snake to die but I'm at a loss for what to do.
How old it is and how much does it weigh? Older snakes can fast for a really long time, if it's a hatchling I'd try a live mouse hopper in there overnight. Or a live rat fuzzy.
@@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures Thank you Chris. He is about 6 months old. Have him for about 6wks now. I do have a live mouse in his set up right now. I have a blanket covering the tank. Hoping he'll eat by morning. Fingers crossed!
I record food and shed just cause I don’t feed them in shed , I don’t even bother trying to feed them in shed cause every time one ate in shed they had a crappy shed in multiple pieces . I was thinking maybe it makes it tougher for them to get the shed off , From what I keep reading power feeding shortens the lifespan of them , so I’ll do up to 2 items in a weekend and that’s it , idk how true it is cause I fed my 2 that I had for 16 +years twice a month
RRR Reptile Ray Raz my ball python is a very great water so he always eats in shed 🤷♀️
Blood pythons poop like 2x a year lol
It is only May second that i have posted this comment but the video came out May twelve!
😎
You ever thought about doing educational show at schools
Heat rock is only bad if left uncheacked I use one with my ball python and he is doing fine it is plugged to a temp control
True but wouldn't a heatmat still be better since the python can be comfortable in their cave while warm instead of having to pick between heat and safety?
Do u ever ship rodents if u do I maybe interested great video thank u
Nope, I don't ship rodents.
It's so frustrating how much different information there is out there. Nearly everyone has slightly different advice.
Compile all the information and then use that to figure out what works best for you and your snake(s) :)
What rack system did you start out with? I made my first one and not ready for ars yet.. $$$.. looking to get a good subadult rack to grow my collection out some. I have 8 snakes so far.
I actually started with ARS racks just a few levels at a time.
The VE-6 rack is great for sub adults and not overly expensive.
feeding live in the UK is against the law which im a supporter of but we can feed live if its the only thing the snake will eat
Why don't you ship snakes ? If you did I would buy one
A heat rock is to fry eggs 🤣😂🤣
This happened to my ball python but it was a heat mat it overheated
My mom let me get a ball python..
My parents are 75 years old.
Hey how can I post the snakes and send a link? I'm younger then you but definitely not internet savvy like you lol
You have to post them on another website the post a link.
Just got a ghi python, he actually just ate 30 min ago
But she said she has had him for 7 yrs
Don't tickle your snake's cloaca!
🤣
I’m interested in buying a ball python is there any way I can contact you? Facebook by chance?
Actually I only sell at local reptile shows here in Colorado. The next show is Reptilian Nation in Denver, Jun 8-9, 2019.
My snake is the size of yours that you have in the video are rat pups ok. Heard they are more meaty than mice.
I see it like this on feeding live. Do the snake have a freezer at their home?
No. Well then I'm pretty sure they do find eating live in the nature.
Now I'm not telling anybody how to feed their snakes cuz I know some d******'s going to cry about what I'm saying and say that I'm being a gatekeeping prick or some stupid s***. It's an opinion if you don't like it chew on a piece of wood for all I care.
But that's how I see it they eat live in nature they don't have freezers or nitrous or nitro or whatever you use sorry. But I do feed mine small mice. You know what now I'm going to do a live feeding on RUclips.
Can i get a snake for free??? I can't afford 500 snake :(
Go to an expo or local reptile shop "not a big box pet store" you will find alot of beautiful morphs for under $150 or normals as low a $40
U smoke weed right?
Not any more, I used to back in my college days LOL.
I have a heat rock and the snake 🐍 is fine with it
🐍🐍🐍🐍