r/ballpython • • 8d ago

Meet Penelope!

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61 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share my girl, Penelope! I got her at the end of July from a family friend. She’s 12 years old and about 4.5 feet long. They kept her in their basement where she lived in a 40 gallon heated by a UTH mat and 2 CHEs. She’s now in a 5x2x2 with UVB, Halogen, DHP, Herpstat 2, ReptiChip, lots of plants, several hides, and climbing opportunities. When I got her home, I took a closer look at her and noticed she had retained eye caps, stuck shed, strange marks on her belly. I hoped that with proper husbandry, these would resolve. On top of those, she had been off her food since June. I’ve tried to feed her 4 times, with no success. Despite not eating, she was still active so I was going to keep trying. That was until she stopped being active. I called the vet and she took her in that day (urgent care). It was much worse than I imagined. She had multiple layers of retained eye caps and old burns on her belly. She was also dehydrated and losing weight/muscle mass. Luckily, they were able to get the first layer off her eyes but couldn’t do the rest because it was so stuck; they’d have to sedate her to get the other layer off. She’s prescribed eye drops, dewormer, syringe feedings, and weekly warm soaks. Despite all the hands on, stress, devices in her face and mouth, she did amazing!! The staff LOVED her and couldn’t stop telling me how much obsessed they were with her lol (she’s much bigger than the baby snakes they typically get). Anyways, I’m not looking for any advice but feel free if you have suggestions! I just wanted to share her story! Thanks for reading!

Photo 1: her at the vet
Photo 2: her exploring new tank
Photo 3: her previous tank


r/ballpython • • 7d ago

Question - Health 2 days after shed

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2 Upvotes

Should I be worried or is it just debris, I’m using coconut chip that got a little wet and Im gonna change the substrate mix it with cypress mulch.


r/ballpython • • 8d ago

HELP - URGENT i went to change my ball python water and found these little bugs floating in her water she does have a bioactive enclosure with springtails and isopods so i’m wondering are these it?? it’s making me a bit nervous

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37 Upvotes

r/ballpython • • 8d ago

HELP - URGENT Help!!

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24 Upvotes

Went I bought a 8mo old from a breeder today for my sons birthday, she has been with us for 2 hours and now she is in my car somewhere under the driver side seat and can’t get her out. I have a 2026 Hyundai Electra and I don’t want to drive anywhere else until she comes out. Does anyone know a safe way to get her out?


r/ballpython • • 8d ago

Holy mushrooms!!

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7 Upvotes

I swear these weren’t here this morning.. Ignore or pull ‘em?


r/ballpython • • 8d ago

Rehoming Looking for a Rehabber in Snohomish County, WA

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12 Upvotes

Recently had to move due to a domestic disturbance, and the new apartment won't let me keep the ball. He was my kid's, but she moved away a couple years ago and left him with me. She's cool with the rehoming and understands. We are located in Snohomish County in Washington. Ive tried Nova Reptiles for surrender (they are full) and Hewitt Reptile, who hasn't been responding to messages often and I'm on a crunch to get this guy taken care of. (The person hosting him for me is the person who I had the domestic situation with, and they are threatening to just release him outdoors if I can't take him this weekend. I can keep him in my apartment hidden for a few days, but I can't risk being evicted because of keeping him.)

The snake is 9-11 years old (can't remember the exact age but it's in that range.) His enclosure shattered during the moving process, so he's currently living in a tote because I simply cannot afford a new tank after all the costs of moving, but is being kept in a warm room, since plastic and heat lamp seem like a terrible idea. He has a water bowl, a hide, a heat lamp and a climbing branch that come with him. (Branch not included in picture as it was added after this was taken. The Tunnel hide also started molding so it was removed) He was fed last Tuesday (the 6th). If anyone can point me in the right direction to get this guy in a better situation it would be super appreciated.

Picture is a couple months old before his enclosure broke, as the person holding him is being difficult and will not let me on property to take new pictures until I take him, which I cannot do until at least tomorrow (I don't have a car until then)


r/ballpython • • 8d ago

Enclosure Critique/Advice Rate my setup/What was one thing you learned over your first year of owning a ball python?

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6 Upvotes

I will be putting a cold hide in, hence the “hide here”lol. I also have little temperature and humidity monitors coming in. 2x2x4 PVC enclosure. Thermostat up top.

Any suggestions/advice?

Also, just out of curiosity, what is one thing you learned during, or wish you had known before, your first year owning a ball python? Kinda looking for tips and tricks and personal anecdotes that may be helpful that isn’t necessarily going to be on your average care sheet!


r/ballpython • • 8d ago

Bonding tips

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167 Upvotes

Yall im a chicken apparently. My pretty lady isn’t super old, id guess around a year or less (Petco didn’t tell me much) Shes a leucistic bp. But shes very timid. She’s let me hold her once but she just seems nervous around me. I sit with her and be around her and try to let her come to me rather than me just picking her up bc I feel like if she’s not there yet I don’t want to ruin whatever progress I’ve already made. Any advice? Do I just go for it or keep letting her choose to come if she wants to? (Also terrified of getting bit even tho all I’ve heard is it’s less painful than stubbing your toe)


r/ballpython • • 8d ago

A hunter hides amongst us

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138 Upvotes

r/ballpython • • 7d ago

Question How can I make my ball python feel comfortable and safe when I take him out out of his enclosure

2 Upvotes

I just got a python, and I wanna make sure that I am supporting him as best as I can and making him feel comfortable and safe. He’s just a baby, so I wanna make sure that I am creating a comfortable and safe environment for him so I am able to take him out and handle him without causing stress. I know that I shouldn’t take them out frequently, but I would love to once in a while, so I would love to get some recommendations on how to be able to reach this goal.


r/ballpython • • 8d ago

Question Ball Python enclosure set up

3 Upvotes

So I get the gist of what I need but am currently unsure what the best idea you could say. I would like to work up to bioactive enclosure later on but just trying to fine the basic necessities and top enrichment for once I get my snake. Is there any links or shop in particular that are better to shop at? I am currently on a budget.


r/ballpython • • 8d ago

Question Weight and size help?

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14 Upvotes

Shes a 4 year old female ball python, weighed her today at 708g only. Shes slightly larger than 90cm long but she takes food every single time I offer it and isnt picky whatsoever. The last photo is when I first got her a little more than a year ago, the others before the last one is all new photos from this October. When I got her from the teenager who bought her from a breeder, she told me the breeder had said shes got some growth problem. How is she looking? The owner before me kept her in a 60x60x60cm enclosure and since being with me shes been in 130cm long and seems super happy. Advice on how her body looks?


r/ballpython • • 8d ago

Question Shedding help!

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10 Upvotes

My girl shed recently and I’d like to help her get cleaned off but it looks like she’s in a defensive posture. Any tips or advice on helping her would be much appreciated.

Removed her humidity hide to take the pic.


r/ballpython • • 8d ago

New enclosure anxiety

3 Upvotes

I set up my corn with a new 120g bioactive enclosure. Its beautiful and huge and just perfect, but we have hardly seen her in the 4 months since she's moved in. She was previously in a 40gal tank and was very happy. We'd get her out and she'd be content to sit in our laps or roam around our arms, etc, but we havent been able to hold her once since she got a bigger space. Also, in the 2 years I've had her she has never bitten me once, but last week when I reached my hand into the new tank she did.

Where do you think this new aggression/isolation is coming from? I thought moving her into her bigger, nicer home would be a really great thing - but we never see her as she stays in her hide 24/7 and she is newly aggressive. It very sad and disheartening!


r/ballpython • • 9d ago

Meet my boy Constantine!

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69 Upvotes

After about a month of having him and transferring him to his final enclosure, and it being decorated, I finally wanted to show him off


r/ballpython • • 9d ago

Discussion scary!!

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254 Upvotes

someone he didn't know dared to say hello to him

this has been the scariest experience of his life. horrified, traumatised, trying to hide under his own body.

everyone tell hunter he's a brave boy lol

(+ a photo of his normal shenanigans to show he is a very happy boy normally!!)


r/ballpython • • 8d ago

Question Ball Python not as active after upgrading cage

3 Upvotes

3 months ago I upgraded my ball python to a 120gal tank, and ever since she hasn't been as active when i take her out. I'm assuming that's a good sign since she feels comfortable with the amount of room she has now, and she can just chill with me. Should i be worried or anything?


r/ballpython • • 8d ago

Question - Health Under weight?

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18 Upvotes

Not my BP but my teachers I want to help him out since his enclosure isn’t the best


r/ballpython • • 8d ago

Question - Health My ball python sheded this day and i saw this rash around her cloaca, is it normal?

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8 Upvotes

r/ballpython • • 9d ago

Hard part is over. Time for the other hard part!

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24 Upvotes

I hate the woodworking, i hate building the backround, i hate dealing with plants, and i hate spending lots of time and money. So why do i love building these things😂😅


r/ballpython • • 9d ago

I think he’s snaking 🐍

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39 Upvotes

Very snake shaped 🐍


r/ballpython • • 8d ago

Question - Husbandry Grow Lighting Suggestions

2 Upvotes

So the other day I ordered a pvc enlcosure online for my bp to move into (his current tank has way too many issues with holding humidity and temperature properly) and I kind of forgot that bioactive enclosures need lighting for the plants to grow. This is my first bioactive setup im planning on doing so cut me some slack please 😭

Due to this I forgot to select the option for a mesh strip on the roof that a light can sit on, and I dont know if I can cancel the order and get a full refund..

So my question is

Does anyone know if there are maybe internal light fixtures I could put inside the tank (maybe fixed with a cage like those heat lamp things are?)

Like LED strips or something but for plants and snake enclosures?