What is the basic stuff I need to know about keeping a children's Python?

Question

Hi all, I am thinking of getting a children's python and I wanted to know some of the costs - python's cost, food, encloser, ect - and some of the basic knoledge.

Oh yes, I live in Australia

Yes, I know about getting the license and stuff, I just need to know about the python.

Answer 1

The childrens python is one of the smallest species of python, so you won't have to worry about it eating anyone. Even if you had a large constirctor, that's not much of a threat if it's appropriately housed and safely handled. Common sense applies there.
As for the price of the python, if you go to http://www.kingsnake.com and check out the classifieds section, you'll find a section called 'other pythons' in whicn you'll find many ads for your children's. The prices there are quite competative and you'll find a good selection as well.
Like any snake, you'll need an appropriately sized enclosure, at least a ten gallon aquarium for a baby, and at least a 20 long for an adult. He'll need a source of heat at one end of the enclosure (keep a hot end and a room temp end to allow for thermoregulation). The best things to use for heat would be either an under tank heating pad or tape or an overhead light or ceramic heat emitting bulb. You will need a water dish that's large enough for the animal to climb into. Pythons like to soak. You can use newspaper or paper towel as a substrate, which is not only the most economical solution, but also the safest for your pet. Never use cedar bedding, if you need something prettier than newspaper. You can use aspen or pine.
As for food, your snake will eat an appropriately sized mouse around every five days, or more often as a baby, if you choose. Frozen pinky mice at a pet store usually run betweem fifty to seventy-five cents each, and up to $1.50 for adult mice. You should always feed frozen as a live mouse can chew your snake and cause infections that could lead to death. Just make sure that the mouse is well thawed before you give it your snake. I thaw my mice in a cup of hot water.
Snakes make excellent and rewarding pets, and the children's is no exception. Do a google search and thoroughly research the snake before you commit to buy. The best herp owner is one who is well educated about the herp of their choice. Good luck and good choice!

Answer 2

You will need a min 20 gallon long wooden tank. You can use aspen shavings for substrate its designed for snakes and it inexpensive. Good size water bowl. Hides rocks and branches and plants Plstic will be fine. Tempretures need to be 88-90 faharenhite and a cool end of 80f a good heat mat will provide the hot temperture you can allow the temperture to drop 5 degrees in the night.
Don't buy electric heat rocks thay will burn the snake mist the tank once a day.
Im not sure what childrens pytons cost ive never had one plus im frome the uk so prices could differ if you from america.
The best thing to do is check out you nearest reptile shop for prices of tanks.
But you will looking at a few hundred quid for the snake and set-up. My boa cost me £180 for a 3ft tank. £200 for the boa and aroung £30 for everything else.

Answer 3

In addition to the information you got, Australia has very restrictive laws concerning snake ownership. You will need to look into whether or not you need a permit to purchase and own your python. I'm not sure if all species are restricted to permits or not. Enjoy your children's python! It should make a great pet for you.

Answer 4

Pythons are exotic snakes that can grow for many decades and are not housepets. It is not safe to keep pythons as pets around children, as they are constrictors, and can wrap themselves around the neck or chest, and suffocate a child. Also some have been known to eat their owners' babies. I don't recommend huge tropical snakes as pets for children.