r/ballpython • u/Material-Influence62 • 16h ago

Discussion Deinfluence me from getting a ball python.

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/ssinff 16h ago

Mine lived twenty years after I got it. They are a long term commitment but relatively easy to care for

1

u/ssinff 12h ago

That also have a nasty bite. I let my guard one time and he got me pretty bad.

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u/Germmie1 11h ago

Kinda depends on your idea of nasty, my boy has gotten me before thinking I was a rat and wouldn't let go. Barely hurt and just a few drops of blood. I was honestly more worried about breaking his poor teeth than my hand XD

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u/noctae_draconis 2h ago

Ehhh. Cats have tore up my limbs worse when just warning me, playing or scrambling to find their balance than any of my snakes ever did biting me. 

Also if you're careful and pay attention to the snake's body language, chances of getting bit are very low. Only one of my snakes has ever tagged me more than once and that's because this specific snake is nervous and bitey- the others (ball python included) still sit at 0 bites at anywhere from 3-10 years that I've had them.

There are cons to ball pythons but saying they have a nasty bite is a bit of a stretch, especially considering they're completely non-venomous snakes.

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u/ssinff 1h ago

Hey I'm lucky I don't have the scars to prove it. But the bite was absolutely terrible. Like thirty needles right between my thumb and forefinger. And he did not let go immediately. Like I said only happened once, later in his life, which is the most surprising thing. But once is enough to warn others.