Ball pythons are a snake species that has it all: easy to care for, a winning temperament, and thousands of beautiful color and pattern combinations to choose from. These qualities have earned ball pythons more than just being one of the most popular and widely sold snake species. It’s also led to them having the reputation of being one of the all-time best first reptiles for beginners. Regardless of whether you’re learning the ropes or are a seasoned serpent-owner, you’re sure to have an enjoyable experience keeping a ball python as a pet. Lets find out why ball pythons make good pets.
5 Reasons Why Ball Pythons Make Good Pets
Ball pythons win in all categories of pet ownership, including the practical aspects.
Friendly
If you’re new to the world of reptiles, a friendly species like the ball python is the best way to start your relationship. These snakes are one of the friendliest, being the few that can tolerate frequent human interaction (handling). Not only will they allow you to pick them up, but once they do they love to wrap their way on arms, wrists, and shoulders.
Easy care requirements
What’s not to love about a pet the requires minimal effort and oversight? That’s exactly what you get when you own a ball python. Native to the grasslands of West Africa, they like their enclosures to be kept warm and cozy. No need to worry about any fussy humidity levels. But don’t worry if it takes you a couple of tries to get their tank environment perfect, they’re hardy snakes that can tolerate a few temperature mishaps.
Non-aggressive
Calm and mild-mannered, ball pythons are not the fighting type. When confronted with a threat, these little guys curl up into a ball while they wait for the danger to pass (hence, their namesake). So how does this benefit you, the owner? A snake that’s rare to go on the offensive is a safe one. Even if their bite wouldn’t hurt you, knowing that your snake won’t lash out offers peace of mind.
Thousands of morphs to choose from
Morphs are variations in color and pattern that are different from an animal’s standard appearance. Ball pythons have thousands of them, the most of any other snake species. This makes them the undisputed kings of customizable pets.
Inexpensive
At the end of the day, if the most wonderful animal in the world is out of your price range, it’s not going to do you much good as a pet. Their simple care needs help keep costs to a minimum (less equipment to buy) and the snakes themselves are inexpensive thanks to their widespread availability. Keep in mind that newer and rarer morphs will make the cost of your ball python increase.
You can’t go wrong with owning a ball python. These sweet, low-maintenance snakes are fun to keep around and a great way to get accustomed to snake ownership. Ready for one of your own? Thanks to their unrivaled popularity, you can find ball pythons for sale virtually everywhere that snakes are sold. But for the best selection of ball python morphs, you’ll want to take your search online to specialty online reptile shops whose inventories are dedicated to animals like these.