Should I purchase a Ball python from a PetSmart?

[Praireboyfarmer]

I've decided that I want a Ball Python. I've been putting back a little cash here and there. I went to the Petsmart today (to pick up Crickets for my tarantulas) and they were running a sale on two young (and snappy!) ball Pythons. Well coincedentally I have just enough for it's sale price and everything I need to get to go with it. They had just come in a few days ago (or yesterday actually) and they were very stressed. I've asked about their source and they said they buy from a place called "Reptile Industries" which in turn buys from (according to her) certified, reputable breeders.

Is this a good deal though? I was planning on going to a upcoming reptile show and bringing 350 dollars to see what I can get, but going the PetSmart route would save me nearly $100 (well, I don't know how expensive the Reptile show will be) and I'm admittedly tight for cash right now (Trying to get a storm shelter before next Tornado season)

If this is a bad idea though just let me know. Be blatant.

[jjhill001]

I've decided that I want a Ball Python. I've been putting back a little cash here and there. I went to the Petsmart today (to pick up Crickets for my tarantulas) and they were running a sale on two young (and snappy!) ball Pythons. Well coincedentally I have just enough for it's sale price and everything I need to get to go with it. They had just come in a few days ago (or yesterday actually) and they were very stressed. I've asked about their source and they said they buy from a place called "Reptile Industries" which in turn buys from (according to her) certified, reputable breeders.

Is this a good deal though? I was planning on going to a upcoming reptile show and bringing 350 dollars to see what I can get, but going the PetSmart route would save me nearly $100 (well, I don't know how expensive the Reptile show will be) and I'm admittedly tight for cash right now (Trying to get a storm shelter before next Tornado season)

If this is a bad idea though just let me know. Be blatant.

You can get like 5-10 snakes with 350 bucks at a reptile show if you spend you're money right. You can get a normal ball python at a reptile show for 15 bucks on average. I'd wait for the reptile show.

[Praireboyfarmer]

You can get like 5-10 snakes with 350 bucks at a reptile show if you spend you're money right. You can get a normal ball python at a reptile show for 15 bucks on average. I'd wait for the reptile show.

Really? I expected Reptile shows to be more expensive. Is $15-$20 really a realistic price?

[jjhill001]

Really? I expected Reptile shows to be more expensive. Is $15-$20 really a realistic price?

For a ball python, normal, yes. I'm not saying petsmart is a bad place to buy pets. Because some of the stores are run by animal people who have healthy animals. But a reptile show will always have better prices. Think Kingsnake.com or Faunaclassifieds without the shipping costs.

[MDT]

PBF...aren't you from Oklahoma? If so, there is a show coming up in June in Broken Arrow. Dude..if possible (and you are from here), go to that to get your animal. Avoid Petsmart like a plague victim that has Ebola. Seriously...as stated above, for $350, you can get quite a bit at a show, and if you pick your breeder/supplier right, a much more healthy animal.

[Minkness]

I fully agree with what others have said. If you can wait, I highly suggest it! I don't know about a normal BP, but I got a BP morph that is usually over 500$ for under 200$. I also got a hognose for 40$ instead of 100$+. Tanks that are usually 75-100$, I got for 50$!

So, for 350$ you can get a NICE snake, enclosure, supplies, and enough food for 6 months.

=)

[eminart]

I'll just agree with everyone else. You'll get a lot more bang for your buck at a show. Or, if you don't find anything you want at a show, you'd even be better off buying off of the classifieds on kingsnake.com. And, if you are interested in more than BP's, there will be lots more options than petsmart there as well.

[Praireboyfarmer]

PBF...aren't you from Oklahoma? If so, there is a show coming up in June in Broken Arrow. Dude..if possible (and you are from here), go to that to get your animal. Avoid Petsmart like a plague victim that has Ebola. Seriously...as stated above, for $350, you can get quite a bit at a show, and if you pick your breeder/supplier right, a much more healthy animal.

That's the exact show I was looking into. I figured a pet shop would be cheaper as you know... they buy bulk and cheap versus a passionate breeder. But I guess even if it was cheaper, I shouldn't be cutting corners like that.

Thanks a lot for everyone who replied. Y'all probably saved me a lot of headache with this and a costly mistake.

[Minkness]

Buying in bulk is how they make save, and make money, not how they make it cheaper for the customer.

Example.....large rats ordered in bulk from a place like big cheese are like..1.75$ a peice. At a pet store they are like 12$ a peice. (Price may be wrong as I didn't check first, but the general gap is about right).

Local petco has a 'fancy' corn snake for 60$ and don't wven know what kind of fancy it is. BHB you can get a nice morph for that, which includes shipping, and a known genetic history.

I can't say that I have never purchased an animal from a pet store, because I have. But after experiencing the awesomeness of repticon and the ease of shipping, I will probably never buy another reptile from a store again!

Good luck and I hope the show is nothing but awesome-sauce for ya!

[Albert Clark]

I will just have to add that I did purchase a normal female from Petsmart . I went there really just to look but they happened to be having a 50% off on bp's and I just felt I had to take advantage of the sale. Picked out a nice looking 3 mos. old and really never looked back. She ate two days later in her new enclosure and she never stopped eating a year and a half later. Never had any health issues with her. She is still the timid little normal I brought home at 870 gms now. I did scrutinize the baby balls that were in the Petsmart enclosure at the time of purchase and happened to pick a winner. Today she is the best feeder in my rack and still a scaredy cat. I do think you can get a great deal and a fantastic animal at any reptile show as well as great prices. But Petsmart is not to be sold short imo. Just be careful wherever you buy and take someone with you to the place where you intend to buy. Someone you trust and is knowledgeable about the health of ball pythons. Good luck. And there are normals sold for 20.00 at most shows. ;)

[Aaron_S]

Buying snakes from petsmart is just paying too much. Large breeders usually supply the chains through a wholesaler so the quality of animal is captive bred. However, it's also dependent upon how each store cares for the animal.

Overall, it shouldn't be an issue at the right price aslong as the health is there.

I can say this for a fact as I know some of the guys personally who supply them.

[Albert Clark]

Buying snakes from petsmart is just paying too much. Large breeders usually supply the chains through a wholesaler so the quality of animal is captive bred. However, it's also dependent upon how each store cares for the animal.

Overall, it shouldn't be an issue at the right price aslong as the health is there.

I can say this for a fact as I know some of the guys personally who supply them.

Yeah, that is true, bc even with the 50% off she still cost me 45.00

[jjhill001]

I'm not going to say all pet store animals are inferior. In fact you can find some really jaw dropping examples of some snakes/lizards in a pet store and what's best is the people selling it have no idea how good of a specimen they may have.

I've found that lately that pet smart's policy of basically only selling 5-8 different types of reptiles has drastically increased the quality of their animals. They only have to teach employees how to care for a few species and the majority (Balls, Leopard Geckos, Corns, Beardies) are all CB. The obvious WCs are basically anything under 25 bucks but typically are fairly easy to care for (anoles, green tree frogs.)

[Jrich]

I would highly suggest buying a ball python at a reptile show. For the amount you said you had you could possibly get more than one ball python that aren't normals. You will probably have a much, much larger selection at a show as well as sellers that can tell you right off the bat how those snakes were being raised before hand, when they hatched, etc. I also find that a lot of the time the supplies are cheaper there too. Before I go to each show I do a little research about which supplies I need or will need eventually and price check at the local pet store, amazon, and a few other places so when I get to the show I can compare prices and get what I need for much cheaper. On another note, you'll never know what you'll run into at a show or who you'll meet or what you'll come home with.

[smoothie4l]

Definitely reptile convention 100%. You will be able to ask about the snakes history, any possible health problems, possibly pictures of the parents, and you will be able to get the snake and all the supplies you need for it for under $350
( although I have never been to a convention that sold just plan tupperwares which is what I prefer for my snakes so always make sure you have a tank/enclosure at home so you're not scrambling looking for cage last second)
Remember to barter if you can!!! I got my Woma from $600 to $350 from bickering alone!

Also what kind of tarantulas do you have~? Tarantulas are cheap at conventions too

[sirtalis]

Personally I would never purchase a reptile from petsmart, but that just my opinion, at the last reptile show I went to, they had normals for $10-20, most breeders at an expo will also set the price a little high for bargaining, kinda like at a car dealership :p

[jjhill001]

If you see a snake you can bet your life that they would take 5 dollars less than what they are selling it for.

[Nydders]

1,000% Repticon! You could get SO much for $350; (multiple) reptiles, to housing/husbandry, to food... There are even some oddities you could splurge on, like rocks, minerals and animal skulls, lol. The atmosphere is great, the people are nice and knowledgable, the animals are beautiful and there is so much to experience. Can't beat it. Plus, the prices are a million times better when you buy direct.
I know not all reptile stores, (or stores such as PetCo or PetSmart) are bad, but in my personal experience, the workers are generally uneducated and there solely for the retail aspect. Not that it's their fault, really-- some training would be nice. I had a PetSmart where the lady was afraid to pick up the Blood Python I wanted to see, so I had to get it myself. Poor bugger had a pretty bad protruding spine, underfed and malnourished-- but feisty and way over priced. $275 over priced