I have looked at a lot of stuff and researched for a very long time. This dude is older and he has enough patience to grow a beard I say we listen to him on most things. 😏😂 Nice video 👍🏻
I just got my first ball python yesterday(first pet snake ever actually) and I'm already in love. Lol I've been researching off and on for years about caring for them properly and now I'm once again watching as many videos as I can to make sure I'm doing the best job possible for her. It's a bit overwhelming with all the conflicting information out there. Everyone seems to have their own ideas about how to do things "right" and a lot insist their way is the ONLY way. I'm just doing what most people seem to agree is the proper care as far as people currently know. But I know care advice can and does often change over time for any animal, so I'll be trying to keep my info up to date, rather than digging my heels in and insisting that what I know now is absolutely correct and unchanging once I become experienced like I've noticed a ridiculous amount of keepers do. The health and happiness of all my pets is more important than my ego. 😉 Your video was very informative and I enjoyed it. I was cracking up at your description of the hiring process of pet store employees. Seems pretty accurate, too. Lol I'll be subscribing. 😁
Finally a video starter guide that actually touches on the HANDLING of your new snake ! Thanks loved all the information was one of the best I’ve seen :) Also I love Molly !
i’m looking into purchasing my first ball python, first ever snake, and i’ve been obsessively researching because even though i’ve owned a lot of animals, i’ve never had snakes and they definitely intimidate me. this is my favorite channel for this kind of stuff. he’s personable, intelligent, and kind of looks like my dad lol. 10/10
I'm the same as you, I love rodents, I've had pet rats. But want my ball python to be healthy and happy, I'd never deny an animal what they naturally need to eat. I'll only feed live as a very last option, though. Hate to see the rat suffer or for my snake to get hurt. Great video, I love your content so much!!! You're very knowledgeable, funny and nice!
I have a Pastel Enchi Het Ghost called Priscilla, and she’s been much like your Molly, she’s so inquisitive and tolerates handling :) until she went into shed and disappeared 🙈🥰 thank you for these videos too, I would have been a little lost without them.
I got my first ball python a couple days ago and this is so helpful! Thank you so much for giving me better knowledge for caring for my precious danger noodle🥺
@@GreenRoomPythons thank you! I do have a question though, when it comes to handling, specifically 3 month old snakes, is that 15 minutes everyday also a good idea or should I do more or less? Or just leave him be for a few weeks?
@@Rachel_the_G.O.A.T leave him be for at least a week, until he eats. After that, 15 min is a good guideline but you'll get to know your snake and be able to judge from there
Good afternoon sir I want to thank you for this video, I was called to the school here in Montezuma Ga to give a study on Ball pythons so your video here will be my help ❤
I'm getting my first ball python from a breeder next week! Not my first snake but first ball python. I'm so excited! Thank you for the great information!
@@GreenRoomPythons thank you! I'm so excited! I do have one question, I will be using a tub for him but I'm trying to decide on the best way to do so. I've seen some people cut some of the lid and put mesh and others I've seen just add holes on the sides. Is there one way that is best? My main concern is just making sure there's enough air flow! Thank you!
@@alyssamartinez4412 holes on the side of the tub are probably best. Start with a few and check your humidity with the substrate you're using. Just add more holes as needed
@@GreenRoomPythons thank you for the quick response! I will do just that! I have watched so many of your videos yesterday and today and it's helped so much!
Wow, thanks so much for the kind words Keisha! I'm glad the videos are helping. Congrats on your first ball python! Thats exciting. I'm sure you'll be a fantastic snake mom!
I definitely appreciated your video! I'm new to owning ball pythons and was starting to get frustrated by all the videos I watched saying glass tanks were poor choices. It was refreshing to hear that a glass tank was acceptable, and that you had the tip about humidity when using a glass tank!
Thanks, glad you liked the video! Yes, those glass enclosures are fine with a bit of knowledge and tweaking. And they're great for seeing into the enclosure :-)
100% got scammed at pet store. 38 years old first time into the snake game of a baby ball python. He’s Frankie and a very handsome fella. But he sold us this 250$ bullshit tiny ass tank. Since i went of facebook and got a huge 4x2x4 with a wooden stand and a ton some nice wood sticks for 130$ plus light and pool dish for the snake. Let’s go facebook market place. Frankie been here for 1 week now fed him last monday night and he took thawed mouse no issues had it gone in 8 mins. Had our first poop today. Was all over my son haha. I’ve watched your videos and learned so much. I’m very excited for the next 20 years getting into the snake game. My hot side is running about 94 and humidity is like 70 right now. I got a smaller heat pad on one side of glass tank im waiting to get the temperature thermostat thing still. I’ve been making the substrate moist every 3 days or so. Imma try and do this plastic over the top. Do you have a face book?
Thank you for sharing your wisdom. We got our first ball today (first snake in general) I've been doing research for months now but your channel has taught me so much more than all the other research I've done
This really help me i got a python last week I didn't know how to hold or keep it until I saw your video and it help me a lot thank you so much for helping.
Sir, can I just tell you that you need to post more often. You are a wealth of knowledge!! I have learnt so much from you. As I have from other you tubers. But you are really thorough. I’m getting my first BP soon. Not my first snake. A female piebald, and I wish you could be my mentor. As I might like to breed one day.
Rewatching these. Love the hide comments. My BP is outgrowing her favorite hide. She never wants to leave it, but she's starting to lift it off the ground when she curls up in it 😆 I replaced it with a Tupperware bigger one, but she didn't like it. I'll get two of the same like you mentioned.
I have found that my ball python likes hides that you can’t see him in. He refused to use a rock hide until I put a piece of cork bark over the entrance.
Molly Malone is a beautiful snake! I am also learning a lot about ball pythons. I like the way you deliver the information, you don't just assume that we know what your talking about so you explain things very well! I appreciate what you do and I respect your knowledge.
@@GreenRoomPythons we sure are, I’m going to want to get your most docile snake soon. I get my first blue eyed Lucy (Mojave/Russo) next week and right as I get the hang of these creatures I’m contacting you for a second one, if possible that is.
As an English man I'm offended 🤣🤣 we nearly all call them Ball Pythons but yes they are sometimes called Royal Pythons but mainly because (smug English elitism engaged 😉) as we invented the English language we literally translated their Latin/scientific name to "ENGLISH" which is obviously Royal Python.... seriously though great video my mate. Keep up the good work. Just found your channel and think your videos are great 👍
ive only known then called royal pythons as the latin name is called phython regius regius being laten for royal i thought nothing to do with being snobby or smug
Thanks, I'm' glad you like the channel! It's growing steadily but it's only been going for a year and a half, so it's still very new for a RU-vid channel :-)
By far the best ball python care guide I watched so far!! Thank you! First time hearing tips on how to warm up the rat for feeding. Details like that matter!
Thank you, I'm glad you like this one! There is an updated ball python care guide on the channel that I did a year later with some additional tips in it :-)
We have been watching your channel for a few weeks now and are amazed by your content, knowledge, and your delivery of snake care and advice. We don't have a python or boa... Yet. We do have a Red tailed green rat snake and are imagining that a lot of husbandry will transfer between species. Is there a chance you could do a species profile on Gonyosoma oxycephalum? I understand your channel is Green Room Pythons. However, Gonyosoma oxycephalum are green and snakes... Kent may even like to hold one... 😅
Rat snakes are really cool! I just don't keep any so I wouldn't want to profile the species without the experience. I love how variable they are though between regions and those arboreal green ones are amazing :-)
Hi Bob. Thanks for the useful information without all the useless babble. I love how you get right to the point. Im definitely subscribing to your channel. Oh i love your little baby. I just purchased 2 pied ball pythons a little bigger than her and i just adore them. Take care and thanks again.
I really like your channel. I have been trying to decide between a corn snake or a ball python or maybe even an African house snake as my first snake. I like that my area of the U.S. is temperate and the corns are temperate snakes. Not so worried about when power outages happen. But I also like that Ball pythons are super chill and are a good snake just to chill with while watching TV. I worry a little more about the upkeep.
Those are three great choices of snakes. The upkeep is going to be about the same for all of them. All three are very easy to keep. The ball python will just be larger so you'll need to have a bit of a larger enclosure.
I went to a pet store specifically for reptiles and well it wasn’t a chain pet store so I figured the employees there would have been already educated. Well I was very wrong and I talked to the lady in charge of the snakes and the information she gave me was completely incorrect.
I pick up your gauntlet good sir! On behalf of Britain and her majesty the Queen. :D As you may already know, royal pythons are named as such because Central African royalty used to wear them as live jewellery. Originally named Boa regia for this reason by the British biologist and museum curator George Shaw, the distinction between pythons and boas was made a year later by Frenchman François Marie Daudin, hence Python regius. As most British folk haven't spoken Latin since Roman times, we simply use the English translation of the Latin name. Fun fact: In Southeast Nigeria, royal pythons are in fact still revered by people due to their closeness to the earth, allowed to roam free and often helped to safety if found wandering into the street. If one were to accidentally die in a lawnmower attack for example, a small coffin is made for the deceased snake and they are buried with respect.
Hello Molly Malone, she's so sweet !! Wish mine would be that confident....He's scared of everything lol...Even his shadow would scare him lol.... Great video for beginners they have loads of very useful advices...
Thanks! Yeah, I got lucky with her. She just has never been defensive from day one. I expect them all to start out defensive but then calm down once you've built trust with them.
I purchased a mist system so I didn't have to worry about it all the time. It's on a sensor and sprays a spirt of mist when humidity gets too low. Reason for this, I live in Michigan, so when it's winter and the furnace for my home is blasting, it dries the air a lot and quickly pulls humidity. And the exact same happens when it's summer with the AC. For my situation it's perfect and the setup was like 60$
That's great, just make sure you're cleaning out the entire missing system once a week. Those misters are typically not recommended because they breed bacteria and could cause the snake to get a respiratory infection. They can be used though as long as they're cleaned out regularly.
@@GreenRoomPythons thank you so much! And yes, I run alcohol water mix thru them to clear the system and be sure to run water as well before re-installing. Love your videos btw, been binging all of them for days
Made it through most of the videos besides the livestreams, which will be next. Went to morphmarket and updated my profile. Apparently I've been wanting a ball python since 2017. Think it might be time to start putting money away for gathering supplies and enclosure. Really liking the idea of a bio active enclosure but I think that might be further down the road and will start with cocohusk for the hatchling and then as the enclosures get bigger I might try switching over. The plan is for one snake! What are my odds of staying with just one and how long do I have before I break that promise?
@@GreenRoomPythons I will be getting more 😂 The enclosures are really expensive and I prefer those glass ones than tubs. Bc it looks more neat, not ugly and messy. And I found a secondhand glass enclosure for my python. Got it for 20,50$ That's a win and it was in good shape as well
I don't like aspen too. I use reptibark. It's more expensive than other substrate but I really don't want my snake being sick. (California Kingsnake with the name Ziggy) Also I hate feeding live. It's very good that kingsnakes eats very easy f/t mice and later f/t chicks too.
@@GreenRoomPythons True I saw some horrific pictures off Ballpythons that were bit by a rat because the owner was so stupid to leave it alone, and thought the python was gonne eat it direct. Well let me tell you it was not a pretty sight. I understand that sometimes you have to give life but some people give even there cornsnake that eats fine f/t just a life mouse just because they like to see it🤦♂️. It are actually sadistic people imo. I hate them I really do. If they bite the snake the infection can be very very bad. Especially with rats, and ball pythons. The ball python can be even death. Always when feeding life supervise the snake. Also sorry for my poor English I'm from Belgium
Can you do a video on radiant heat panels? Compare pro panel to reptile basics and how to set up probe? I keep getting info on put the probe on the cool side, put it 2 inches below panel, on ground, in a hide, on basking spot, etc
I only have one type of heat panel and I don't even know what it is. It's just whatever comes with the black box cages. I placed the probe on the warm side under the heat panel about halfway down the wall. I use a glue gun to a fix the probe wire to the wall.
@@GreenRoomPythons I will do that because that’s about the same as directions said, just throws me off because the company also told me on the ground, under a hide, or at level to an elevation basking spot
@@LandoFishing The problem with placing it where the snake can crawl on top of it is that they can cover it or dislodge it which would cause your heat to skyrocket. You want it away from the snake against the wall and then set the temperature to whatever it needs to be to get your heat gun to read the correct temperature on the surface
Thank you so much for this amazing video. I have been struggling with humidity. I am using coconut husk and repti chip that I mix. I got so discouraged about the humidity that I bought t a fogger. It jas been working but I do t wa t to hurt my snakes. I will disconnect it. I have to constantly spray and that can't be good either. Plus who has time to stand by the tank with a spray bottle every couple hours. I have covered 2/3 of top of both pvc tanks with foil and duct tape. I have a heater going between the two stacked tanks. I keep the tanks covered with a sheet to keep heat in. I don't know what else to do. I am afraid of my snakes suffering while trying to figure this out. With the fogger my 3 yr old male (Thor) had a much better shed. Coco's, my juevie female's was so good it came off in 2 pieces. Front half and back..I could even see the eye caps. Now I am afraid that I am going to go back to having to soak his shed off.
Make sure you're measuring the humidity properly, with an accurate digital hygrometer placed on the floor of the cage. All you have to do is mix water into the substrate and as long as your screen tops are covered, your humidity should be just fine
Great video. I like your personality. My girl is about 5 or 6 months old as well. I’m happy to see yours was so active as you handled her. Mine is just as active and I was a little concerned about it
Thanks Sarah! I appreciate the kind words... Yeah, active is a good thing. Non-active while in their enclosure is normal, but when they come out, they should be up for either exploring or trying to hide somewhere ;-)
Hi, love the content. I’m using the Govee hygrometers in my tubs and was wondering what range you like? I’m struggling with fluctuating humidity because it’s so cold and I’m running a heater in my room to keep it around 80.
I have been loving your videos! I'm looking into getting a ball for my first reptile, and I would like to just ask a couple questions! If I have cats, and they end up living in the same main part of the house, will they cause a problem for the snake in your opinion? And also, when you reference enclosure length being no smaller than one length of the snake plus one end, what do you mean by 'one end'?
unfortunately my ball hasn't eaten since i got her (abt a month) and she's had a bit of a rough start to say the least. I was a little impatient to leave her be at first though never picked her up the first week + no fault of my own is I actually didn't know that One piece of information from all the videos i've seen: to not handle until they've eaten once. She also was in blue this month so it makes sense she didn't eat at that time but i didn't manage to moisturize her enough to have it come off so i've been handling her more to try to fix her stuck shed which is causing her stress. Not to mention I have to suddenly move cross country. "Rough start" aint even the right phrase, ugh.
Best of luck with her! If she still has stuck shed, put her in a warm damp pillow case for about 20-30 minutes. That should help get the rest of it off. Then just make sure her humidity is around 70%, her temps are good and she has plenty of places to hide. Give her a week (or even two) under those conditions without handling and she'll have a good chance of taking a meal for you :-)
Thank you so much for the awesome video and channel! I found it recently and it really gave me confidence since I am planning on upgrading my ball to a bioactive soon. Regarding the substrate, you mentioned that sand isn’t a good choice, but would it be alright if it’s just a part of the mix? Say half part sand to four parts other substrate?
On average for the day to day humidity what levels do you like to see it at for an overall constant average for humidity?? I know when shedding 75ish% isn't too high for the duration of shedding is it?? Now my humidity after adding the repti bark as the substitute instead of plain paper towels is holding solid at about 60% maybe down to 56 - 58..I'm right in the ball park with the humidity levels am i not or should I raise it a little higher?? Please any input or constructive criticism and or advice is more than welcome with open arms....I absolutely love your channel and content and both my self and my 10 year old son look up to you hands down .. your knowledge on the species is second to non...
I love your videos lol, also me being 16 working in reptiles in and aquarium (knows about the reptiles tho lol) also an experience blackhead breeder if that helps 😂
Noting the thing you said on size of tank, would a tall tank with stuff to climb not be as good as a wide tank with clutter for a ball python? Complete beginner and happy if you even tell me ball python shouldn't be my first snake.
Hi 👋🏻 bob i have a question. How big should a male an female ball python be before you go an start to mate the two python's together? Thank you very much bob😊😊😊😊
Hi Bob. Thanks again for this very informative video. I am wondering where you found your wireless temp/ humidity ? Also wonder what to use to sanatize your enclosures? I don't think it would be wise to use Lysol . Where did you find the minni bag sealer? Thanks for your help. We are having good success with our first feeding. Zinger was a breeze to feed caught on right away. Tiger is still really skittish. My question : if their feeding day is Tuesday and they don't eat until Thursday should we still keep the feeding day day to Tuesday? Also, do they need any vaccinations? The girl at the pet store really didn't know too much. We truly do appreciate your he lp and taking your precious time to do so.
Hi Leslie! Those Govee temp/humidity devices, as well as the vacuume sealer can be found on Amazon. I use F10 or Chlorhexidine to sanitize - both are animal safe. No vaccinations needed for snakes. Whatever day your snake eats, just plan to feed them a week later. That may change your feeding day occasionally but they don't always eat on our schedule :-)
Sir, please tell me the safest way to heat up my 4x2x2 pvc for my ball python. Right now I have a mat under it connected to a herpstat. I have it set at 101 and its still only getting to 79 degrees at the bottom inside.
Most of the PVC enclosures are too thick for a heat mat to work well. Best thing to do is install a CHE or a heat panel at the top of the enclosure. A ball python doesn't need specific belly heat. They just need heat, so it can come from the top on the warm end.
@@GreenRoomPythons unfortunately heat panels were not available when I ordered my custom enclosure. I really wish they were. I will have to look into one and how to set it up myself. Thanks!
Why not use pine shavings? I read a lot of controversy about whether or not it’s okay. Can someone give me the science? OR maybe a link to a site that gives the science?
The science is just that they are irritated by softwoods. They're basically allergic to pine, cedar and other softwoods. I've never heard anyone argue in favor of putting snakes on pine shavings and I hope this isn't a controversial issue in the community. It will cause them problems.
So is it like only a 1 to 2 day time frame that you can handle them a week? Because then when do they start feeling the need to eat again/ going into hunting mode or is that only really triggered with the sent of rats of mice?
You mentioned using a humidifier or fogger to manage humidity does more bad than good, I was just curious what resons those would be because I got a girl who has been using a humidifier or fogger and just wanted to know more about if there is a better way to do it. I just berly got this humidifier with a snake a bought and it seems that its easier to control the humidity because it has a dial to control how much but I just want to do it the best way you know.
The problem with humidifiers is they tend to build up bacteria in the tubes and cause snakes to have respiratory infections which can easily kill the snake. So I always suggest that people make sure that they completely take apart their equipment and clean it out at least once a week if they're using a humidifier. Ball pythons aren't a tropical species so they don't need constant humidity blowing into the air. If you use a good substrate like coco husk or anything that holds water well, you can just mix water into the substrate and you'll have good humidity for a number of days. If you spray water it will evaporate immediately and if you have a screen top that's not covered your water will evaporate immediately. So really all you need to do is cover a screen top and mix water directly into the substrate 🙂
@@GreenRoomPythons maybe, they are falling off after awhile, and it’s just on the side of her belly and but she isn’t show any shyness or not active as usual. Just over worry She isn’t showing shading signs tho. Pale eyes or a pink belly. Imma just play it by day.
Me and my boyfriend are new noodle parents. Our girl is due to molt in 2 weeks, is there anything we can do to help her? I know you dont touch them during shed, but do we need to put humidity up more to help her shed easier? Light cycle? Supplements? Sorry lots of questions, want to make sure shes as happy and content as possible!
Any digital hygrometer/thermometer. I use Govee. If you look at the more recent care guide video I put out a few weeks ago, there's a link to the exact Govee unit in the description
I started my research on ball pythons around December 2020 because one day I just saw IG posts on ball pythons and thought, "Wow, these are pretty cool snakes" 😂 and after liking one photo the algorithm kept showing me more lol. Planning to get my first ball python in the spring or summer. Just one question about humidity/temperature, is there a way for me to time when the hot side has reach the exact temperature it needs? I'm just wondering when it's okay for me to turn off the heat source so that I don't have it on all day or all night, but when the temperature goes down a bit I can use some timer to connect to the thermostat that controls the heat mat's temperature. I don't know if my question is clear haha but I'm just a bit confused and concerned that I may hurt my future ball python when adjusting the temperature/humidity.
Your thermostat will control the heat mat or overhead device by turning it off when it gets warmer that what it's set to. It will turn back on when it dips below the set temp. You won't have to manually do it at all. Just make sure you're using a temp gun to check temps on the ground so you know your thermostat is set correctly
If you go to the description of this video, you'll see links to everything including heat mats and thermostats... *EDIT: Not in this video. Go to my 2022 care guide or any of my most recent vids and you find the links
What substrate do you recommend for Colorado? It’s very dry here and I’m researching for a future BP. I would love to do paper but I don’t think there’s any way in Valhalla that it’ll hold any humidity.
Good question, I would stay away from foggers completely. There have just been too many cases of foggers cultivating bacteria resulting in RI for the animals. Its better to use good substrate and mix water in to keep the humidity up.
Great video. I am doing due diligence before deciding if a ball python is right for me and this helped me calm my nerves. I think what scares me the most is switching to frozen/thawed, any resources that you would recommend? Thank you
Its great that you're doing your research ahead of time! Im glad this one helped.. The video i posted last week, "what to do with your new ball python" talks about the technique i use to switch a live eater to frozen thawed. I've been able to successfully switch all of mine. But you can also find a snake thats already on frozen thawed so you don't have to worry about the switch :-)
You said in this video that if you are starting a snake off for the first 30 days you want them on paper towels or newsprint before substrate... what exactly do you mean by that? Its not good to bring home a snake and put them on substrate?
You want to be able to see mites that the snake could have and you won't be able to see it if you have the snake on something like Coco husk. The background of white paper towels or unprinted newsprint will make those little black mites show up a lot better so that you can get control of them. If the snake just has mite eggs on them when you bring them home, they will hatch and be big enough to see within 30 days.
@@GreenRoomPythons thank you so much! I have been wayching your videos every day for almost 2 weeks now preparing to get my new snake next month... Any recommendations on how to maintain humidity without the substrate?
I have a heat mat and also a deep heat projector, I live in Michigan so winters get cold. Keeping the hot side hot is going well but while my hot side is around 85 degrees my cool side is barely into the 70’s…. Any tips?
Oh! Forgot to ask also. I was advised to keep 1 side for basking and the other side as the "cool" side. Sounds stupid now reading it ... but, what's the best way to achieve this? Is it where I set up her hides? Do I only spray 1 side? Any help thanks
Yeah I think I talk about it in this video. You'll want a warm side hide and a cool side hide. No need to spray either one. Just mix water into your substrate to achieve the right humidity
I have a question about the ambient temp in a household setting. We have a glass bioactive with a ceramic heat emitter and a heat mat for belly heat. I have the hot spot right at 90, but I’m having issues with the ambient heat staying warm. Is there something I should put over the screen to help warm up the cold side?
Hi I've had my ball python 3 weeks going on 4 and I'm scared to death my son and I will kill him. I'm such a worrier but he eats each week on time (he's super active when hungry). He looks healthy. I'm so thankful for the humidity info as I bought this fogger type but was wary to plug it in. I've been using a damp towel and just move it around. I also have a basking light but have noticed it dries out the area more quickly. If I get the CHE will that cause issues no longer having an actual light?
It will be much better for the snake. They don't need a light in their enclosure. Their day night cycle can come from the ambient light in the room. Congrats on your new snake!
When bringing one home. The week passes and you attempt the first feeding. Do you feed them directly in the enclosure? I heard some people feed and house separately? Do you do this? Thank you for your info !
Definitely feed in the enclosure. No reason to move to feed - and it can potentially cause regurgitation. Moving to feed is an outdated practice that some pet stores still suggest because the employees don't know better :-)
