So me and my wife used to have a iguana and I had it outside one day just chilling on my shoulder taking in the sun, and something spooked him and ran off. I went looking for him for about 3 hours and no luck. After about a week of looking occasionally, we both decided that he, unfourtinatly, was not coming back and decided that we wanted to invest into another reptile, but something different, something a little easier to take care of and so on. So we decided on a Ball Python. I've always wanted one and knew people who care for different kinds of pythons. Also it just seemed to be a little easier to take care of since we have a baby on the way and me working overtime lately. So ive done a lot of reading today and think ive got a good idea of how to take care of my new BP. My biggest concern was of course being bit, and from what ive read that doesn't seem to be a big issue. But if anyone has any advice, any at all, im more than happy to listen. and thanks in advance for your time.

You don't have to worry about being bit. They're not poisonous but they are escape artists. They are very strong snakes that can pry their way out of an inclosure. I have a basic wire top on mine that I have to keep weighted down with about 40 lbs. and still have enough room for the heat lamps. He's only about 2 feet.
You'll have to feed them an appropriately sized mouse once a week. You can get them frozen or live. The frozen ones will need to be warmed up. I don't know if you feel comfortable keeping frozen rodents in your freezer.
If you buy them live, then you will need to put them in a bag and whack them hard against the tank or the wall or something so that they cannot fight back and potentially sink their teeth into your snakes neck.
Mice WILL fight back! You either have to kill them or cause enough injury to where they can't do anything. Or else take the risk of your snake getting injured.

Don't give up on your Iguana! He's probably in a bush or tree somewhere.

Agreed,,,I would keep looking. Just ask several members here that have had escapees. It will return and it is out there

Congrats on the BP. Dont forget to post pics.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

Just an after thought if you're still reading this, Iguanas don't stay on the ground. Their main defense is to climb a bush or a tree to a certain hight so if they feel threatened they can jump in any direction and haul booty. I imagine it will be hard to spot a green lizard in a green bush, But if you rattle the bush You might be able to hear the animal drop and run away.
In the future if you decide that you would like to get another lizard, There are lizard leashes that are for sale. They come in different sizes. I use one for my Savannah Monitor.

So my wife just had our son 3 weeks ago so I haent been around lately, but still no sign of the iguana. Im sure he's long gone by now and our bp is doing great. I feed him every wensday, luckily I found out shortly after buying the snake that a friend of mine actually has been breeding snakes for 3 years and has owned several bp's and right now owns a retic and a burmese. So he's been helping me with all my little questions. The only thing I worry about is his bm's he's only gone a few times and from what I understand they have a bm everyday, and ours so far has had about 4 since we've owned him..

Snakes typically have a bowel movement after a feeding. My bp's only go after a feeding, not every day. Whoever told you though go every day is either feeding WAY to much, or has very little experience with them.

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If one of my snakes had a bowel movement everyday they would be on the way to the vet. Once every week or two is more like it!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

I am new to BP, but everything I know about snakes and have read is only after a feeding. That's what my BP's do. I think I'd on my way to the vet too if htey were pooping daily.

Kate

Yeah, If you had read my post on "Python Regularity" My Ball went almost a month with no BM! Then had two within a week.

LOL and with the size of the "gift" that my BPs as well as my boas leave me,...
if they did that every day they would dry up and blow away!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!