Thinking about getting a Ball for my younger brother

[Squirgle]

Does this sound like a good idea? Ever since I got my first snake in December he has been talking about wanting his own snake. He even tried to convince me to let him buy a hognose we had at work, but I told him not too. Anywho, my manager is getting a whole bunch of these in like two weeks and I'm considering getting one of them for my brothers birthday (May first). I figured a royal python would be 'cool' enough for him without being too difficult for him to care for without me looking over his shoulder the whole time. What are your oppinions? Oh yeah, is there any difference between male and female? Does one mature faster or get larger or something? From what I know males get slightly larger but is it consistently that way?
Squirgle
BTW he is turning 13 on the first...

[Shadrach]

Ball's tend to be the snake of choice for beginner's and if they are captive bred there is usally very little problem's! As far as male vs. female size is the only real difference! Male's you can expect to get between 4 to 5 feet and female's between 5 to 6 feet, with 6 feet really pushing the large end of the scale. Go ahead and get him one he'll love it!
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[Squirgle]

I thought it would be a good one....so the Females get bigger huh? good to know...
Squirgle
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[ratsickle]

Hi,
The babies tend to be really nervous maybe a 1 y/o thats been returned to the store because its to big.. They are the sweetest snakes when adults, the babies may go off feeding if held to much.. Try real hard to feed only forzen thawed, I trained my ball to eat in a coleman cooler, most ball pythons are attacked by their food they are the numberone snake killed by mice and rats. Visit a few ball pyhon post their are two really good ones.
http://www.ballpython.com/
Ball pythons are the perfect pet snake if understood an cared for properly...
doug
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