You’re wondering if a ball python is a good pet. This is a reasonable question to ask, it is a snake after all!
“They’re scary and slimy and they actually kill people, you know?! I don’t think a ball python would be a good pet for Charlie!”
Rumours can get pretty crazy, as you can tell. Your pet snake (probably 😉 ) won’t kill you and here at Urban Reptiles, we don’t have a clue where “slimy” comes from… When it comes to keeping a ball python as a pet, there aren’t many reptiles that make as good pets as these cute little sneks do!
Ball pythons are extremely popular pets to own and are kept as pets all over the world. They come in an endless number of morphs too which means you’re spoilt for choice! (morphs are simply the pattern and color variations if you weren’t sure.)
Ball pythons make wonderful display pets and look absolutely stunning in a well-kept terrarium. Not to mention these snakes are just about the cutest snakes on the planet!
In this article, we’re going to cover some general information about the ball python, as well as some information about if ball pythons make good pets and why this is so.
So, without further ado, let’s get into it!
Side note: If you’re in search of a new pet snake, check out our post on the best pet snakes!
Table of Contents
The ball python
The ball python is native to sub-Saharan Africa and is one of the smallest snakes found on the continent. They are constrictor snakes, and this means that they suffocate their prey by wrapping around it and squeeze until they suffocate, or their blood stops flowing.
Ball pythons aren’t venous, but they do possess sharp teeth which are pointed backwards and are hard to remove if they do bite. Luckily, the chances of a pet ball python biting is small. They aren’t dangerous to humans so no worries there, but they can cause you to bleed slightly if you are bitten.
In the wild, they feed on bird chicks and small rodents. In captivity, they are usually fed thawed-out mice or rats. Ball pythons usually reach an age of about 20-30 years old in captivity, but some have been known to grow over 40 years old.
If you do go with a ball python as your next pet, then make sure you’re ready to care for your pet for a long time to come.
Why they make such good pets
Ball pythons make great pets for a vast number of reasons. To start with, they’re extremely calm animals. This makes them much more forgiving when it comes to handling, cleaning and feeding than skittish snakes.
Once they are used to you, the chances of something going wrong or them getting annoyed or angry, are slim. Even if you do scare them and get bitten, it’s not the end of the world. You just have to ensure to disinfect the wound properly to prevent infection. It will hurt a little bit but it’s nothing to worry about.
Their small (but not too small) size also comes in handy when it comes to things like cleaning and handling. It makes them easy to move from one spot to another and you don’t have to worry about it injuring you while you’re handling it, as you would with some of the larger snakes you can get as pets.
On top of this, they are also easy to care for. They don’t require a whole lot of special care and they are hardy too which makes them very forgiving. Obviously you need to know what you’re doing, but with the right information, they are easy pets to care for.
Lastly, how often do you get the chance to learn about snakes in such a hands-on way? There’s no better way to learn about snakes than to have one as a pet.
These snakes are beautiful animals and there’s a lot you learn about them when you have one as a pet.
You not only learn a lot about ball pythons, but also about reptile keeping and even the feeder animals you have to give them.
How hard are ball pythons to keep as pets?
Ball pythons are relatively easy to keep as pets, once you have done the proper research. They don’t have many special needs and are hardy snakes.
As with most reptiles, they are very different from cats and dogs, so this needs to be kept in mind. Ball pythons won’t let you know when something is wrong as clearly as a cat or dog can. This is one of the things that makes reptile keeping a little more challenging.
You really need to learn the signs your ball python gives off to tell you when something is wrong. This is why getting the right information is so important. These things could be things like not feeding, not being very active or behaving differently than usual.
Another thing to keep in mind is that ball pythons do need a form of heating in order to control their temperature. As with all reptiles, ball pythons are cold-blooded so get their heat from external sources. They need a good heat source in order to thermoregulate, usually in the form of a heat mat or lighting.
Humidity is also something you need to keep an eye on, which isn’t something that’s important for more-traditional animals. Regulating humidity is easy once you get the hang of it though.
They aren’t hard pets
FAQ’s
Is a ball python a good pet?
Yes. Ball pythons make great pets as long as you do the research beforehand. We would even go as far as to argue that they’re one of the best pet snakes you can get. Check out our article comparing ball pythons with corn snakes for more information on this (we’ve even created a rather terrible-looking infographic to help you out)! Once you know what you are doing and get the hang of it, they make very rewarding pets.
Can a ball python hurt you?
Ball pythons are wild animals, of course they can hurt you. However, a ball python bite isn’t deadly to humans in any way. Just make sure you disinfect it properly if it does happen. Apart from some mild pain and discomfort, there shouldn’t be any issues!
Do ball pythons smell?
Ball pythons themselves don’t smell. Their enclosure can start to smell if urine and faeces aren’t cleaned up though. It’s important to change the water regularly and spot-clean their enclosure to prevent them from stinking up the room.
Are ball pythons friendly?
Ball pythons are a “friendly” snake species. They are calm in nature and are easy to handle once they are used to it.
Can ball pythons kill you?
This is extremely unlikely! Maybe the two small puncture wounds could get infected in some strange way that you catch something, but we’ve never heard of this happening. The chances of a ball python killing you is probably the same as the chances of you dying from a grazed knee.
Conclusion
Ball pythons make good pets. They are easy-going and are one of the more rewarding reptile species you can keep as a pet. Always make sure you get the right information before purchasing any reptile. As you grow into the hobby of reptile keeping you’ll start noticing what your ball python likes and dislikes, and can personalize its care accordingly!
