How long to wait..

[blakkangell]

I got my first snake in March and have been very quickly plague with snake fever haha. I got another snake in July and now I am wanting yet another snake. All my friends are saying I should wait, which is probably true, but I literally just want to buy every snake I see. So I was wondering how long every one else has waited before adding more snakes to their collection?

[SnakeyJay]

I got my first snake in March and have been very quickly plague with snake fever haha. I got another snake in July and now I am wanting yet another snake. All my friends are saying I should wait, which is probably true, but I literally just want to buy every snake I see. So I was wondering how long every one else has waited before adding more snakes to their collection?

I'd say get to grips with the species that you have atm, perfect every aspect of their care while you consider where you want to go with what you buy.... I find the slower you decide what to get, the more you realise that is actually out there.

There's some fascinating species around and plenty of time to own them, just take your time so you know what your buying is what you actually want. :)

Everyone has their own way, nobody can say when someone is ready, it all comes down to what you can afford, what you can house and what you can realistically look after for life. Goodluck :)

[Andy_G]

Definitely what Jamie said. Slow and steady, perfect what you have, and take the time to figure out your next purchase. Avoid impulsive buying.

[Minkness]

I am nooooot a good person to answer this question as my own collection exploded fron 1 to 18 in not even 2 whole years, and I already have more on the way and others I'm waiting to be born!

That being said, do what is RIGHT. Don't impulse buy. Research what it is you are thinking of getting, and look at adult care before getting a baby.

Reptiles are an adiction and can be a pretty serious one. So keep yourself in check and have a plan and information before moving forward.

Good luck!

[blakkangell]

I've done a ton of research and have determined I want at least 3 more snakes: a MBK, a tessera corn snake, and a banana butter bee ball python. My two snakes I have now are doing great, Lily had some issues about a month ago, but I resolved them and now she is going strong. I'm doing my best to wait, but with all the cute faces I just want my 3 other babies already! It's so hard to say no :)

[blakkangell]

Also I've read that spider breed can have neurological problems like wobble. Is that true for EVERY spider snake or do just a few have it?

[Andy_G]

Also I've read that spider breed can have neurological problems like wobble. Is that true for EVERY spider snake or do just a few have it?

It's linked to the spider gene and all of them have it. The degree of which it is exhibited varies though...from constantly corkscrewing and not being able to right themselves to a slight wobble when under stress. They can still make great pets though.

Do you have an area to quarantine your new addition(s) away from your regular collection?

[Minkness]

I had a bad experience with the spider gene myself and will NEVER get another again. Broke my heart....

[REM955]

I am new to keeping snakes and I have my own plan for slow progression:
Wait until the latest addition reaches a year in age, researching the next in the mean time. It is something I am comfortable with and perhaps the best considering the path I am looking at.

Granted, I do have a bit of patience (or mis-labelled anxiety) when it comes to interacting with anything alive. I ended up browsing on here for a year and a half before getting my first snake.

Also, as I have realistically only two places for them, I have one as a quarantine which somewhat enforces the rate of progression.

Echoing Andy's concern, one sick animal is expensive enough without worrying about two.

[blakkangell]

It's linked to the spider gene and all of them have it. The degree of which it is exhibited varies though...from constantly corkscrewing and not being able to right themselves to a slight wobble when under stress. They can still make great pets though.

Do you have an area to quarantine your new addition(s) away from your regular collection?

I wonder why it's linked to that specific gene? I'll have to keep that under consideration when looking into getting a ball python because I think seeing that would break my heart like Mink said. And yea, I have a quarantine area.

[bigsnakegirl785]

I wonder why it's linked to that specific gene? I'll have to keep that under consideration when looking into getting a ball python because I think seeing that would break my heart like Mink said. And yea, I have a quarantine area.

It's linked to the way the baby develops in the egg. From my understanding the pattern mutation disrupts the way the cells develop while the embryo is forming, causing inevitable neurological problems. It cannot be bred out because of this, and individuals who started out with little to no wobble could at any time develop a very serious wobble later in life. Reducing any and all stressors seems to help to some degree from what I've been told by a few owners of spider gene animals, but I've also heard of a few cases where it was so bad the snake could barely eat and best course was to euthanize it. This is rare but doesn't mean an animal with lesser wobble isn't suffering. I find it unethical to breed and knowingly buy any snake with a morph linked to wobble of any sort, not just with spider ball pythons.

[Andy_G]

I find it unethical to breed and knowingly buy any snake with a morph linked to wobble of any sort, not just with spider ball pythons.

I agree with this. It's why I never got into jag carpets (same gene involved). It's funny how ethics can get thrown out of the window when something new comes along.

[Minkness]

It's rare that I agree with BSG. But this...so much this....

I was sold a lesserbee at a show by a guy who was just a good salesman...and not much else. I was mildly aware of wobble at the time but didn't know how severe it could be. He was honest that the dnake had a slight 'barely noticeable' wobble only when feeding, but he was fine. And in honesty, I didn't notice it for several months. Then he stares going upside down and swaying. He was always grumpy and stressed easily so he was pretty much ahands off snake after a year and a half of me having him. Eventually he stopped eating. I tried everything I could and no matter what he wasn't interested and when he was, he'd miss once, then completely give up on it.

I ended up giving him to the people at the reptile store I frequent because they had someone there experienced with severe wobble cases. Since being with that person he had taken a few meals and is doing better, but still randomly goes upside down and falls over and scares himself andothwr such behaviors.

I'm happy he isn't get euthanized, but it still sucks because he was my 1st BP and grumpiness aside, I really liked him.

Because of this though. I REFUSE to buy any morph that so much as has a WIFF of spider in it.

Now, my situation is probably not the norm for this morph. But it is still something to consider and be aware of if you choose to go with a spider.

Also, Jag carpets apparently are knkwn to have wobble so while I really want one, I don't think I ever will get one. ._.

[macandchz]

i had a feeling something like wobble would happen with all the interbreeding that has been happening. it happens in people, too. the Amish in Ohio have a specific neurological disorder that strikes some children as do the mormons in utah.

[bigsnakegirl785]

It's rare that I agree with BSG. But this...so much this....

I was sold a lesserbee at a show by a guy who was just a good salesman...and not much else. I was mildly aware of wobble at the time but didn't know how severe it could be. He was honest that the dnake had a slight 'barely noticeable' wobble only when feeding, but he was fine. And in honesty, I didn't notice it for several months. Then he stares going upside down and swaying. He was always grumpy and stressed easily so he was pretty much ahands off snake after a year and a half of me having him. Eventually he stopped eating. I tried everything I could and no matter what he wasn't interested and when he was, he'd miss once, then completely give up on it.

I ended up giving him to the people at the reptile store I frequent because they had someone there experienced with severe wobble cases. Since being with that person he had taken a few meals and is doing better, but still randomly goes upside down and falls over and scares himself andothwr such behaviors.

I'm happy he isn't get euthanized, but it still sucks because he was my 1st BP and grumpiness aside, I really liked him.

Because of this though. I REFUSE to buy any morph that so much as has a WIFF of spider in it.

Now, my situation is probably not the norm for this morph. But it is still something to consider and be aware of if you choose to go with a spider.

Also, Jag carpets apparently are knkwn to have wobble so while I really want one, I don't think I ever will get one. ._.

At least we can be civil. ;)

i had a feeling something like wobble would happen with all the interbreeding that has been happening. it happens in people, too. the Amish in Ohio have a specific neurological disorder that strikes some children as do the mormons in utah.

It has absolutely nothing to do with inbreeding whatsoever. This is linked to the gene itself, and is not a cause of inbreeding. It doesn't matter how much you outcross the animals every single spider is always going to have a wobble.

[blakkangell]

Yea, I'm not going to support that even though I love what the spider gene does. I'll probably go with a banana butter enchi or something like that. Plus seeing the snake do that swaying and such would make me cry every time.

[SnoopySnake]

Make sure you are quarantining any new snake/s. 90 days is preferable. Any new snake needs to be completely separate from the others, use different supplies, interact with/tend to that snake last. If you bring in a new snake and it ends up being sick or has mites, you don't want your others to get infected.

[blakkangell]

Make sure you are quarantining any new snake/s. 90 days is preferable. Any new snake needs to be completely separate from the others, use different supplies, interact with/tend to that snake last. If you bring in a new snake and it ends up being sick or has mites, you don't want your others to get infected.

Yes, I know. Thanks

[EL Ziggy]

I agree that slow and steady is the best approach but I also know that's sometimes easier said than done. Showing restraint when it comes to buying more snakes is a daily battle for many of us. I'm trying my best to not buy another critter until next year. I'm doing ok now but I also haven't seen anything that's knocked my socks off yet :). I think the secret is really just knowing and respecting your limits. Don't get more animals than you can comfortably afford to buy, house, and care for. Sometimes the animals themselves are the easy part. But nice enclosures, RHPs, and some thermostats can be a bit pricey. More snakes also means more snake food and more space that you'll need. Gotta keep an emergency vet fund stash too. If you can handle all the responsibility, and it's still fun for you, then the more the merrier.

[Minkness]

Couldn't say it better myself Ziggy!

I am looking at dropping another 200$ on feeders this weekend. Phew! But it's totally worth it to me, and I am lucky enough to be able to keep up with my animals needs. =)

[SnakeyJay]

I've done a ton of research and have determined I want at least 3 more snakes: a MBK, a tessera corn snake, and a banana butter bee ball python. My two snakes I have now are doing great, Lily had some issues about a month ago, but I resolved them and now she is going strong. I'm doing my best to wait, but with all the cute faces I just want my 3 other babies already! It's so hard to say no :)

I'm not really a corn lover but I had one as my first snake many years ago... I kinda miss him so a friend is giving me a tessera corn in a couple weeks too. I'm not really into my morphs so tbh I'd be just as happy with a normal. :)

[Magdalen]

Couldn't say it better myself Ziggy!

I am looking at dropping another 200$ on feeders this weekend. Phew! But it's totally worth it to me, and I am lucky enough to be able to keep up with my animals needs. =)

How long does that last you?
Why I am going to stick with 2 or 3 critters of the scaled kind. I already have one animal that eats my money haha.

[Minkness]

3-4 months EASY. I have alot of small snakes roght now so part of that order is like 200 fuzzies lol.

Though I think I may wait till next pay day (2 weeks) and just grab some fuzzies for 2 weeks. I'm not out of anything else really and I need to get a new kennel for my dog.

But yeah, it's not cheap, but reptiles are like my only hobby these days. I sometimes go out to dinner for myself, but for the most part...nope....haha.

[Magdalen]

Hmmm ok that's not too bad. Reptiles are definitely not my only hobby haha. Plus my car that was paid off died right after I lost my other job. So now I have a car payment I didn't really want on top of everything else.
So that's part of why I am starting slow again with reptiles, getting back to the OP. I only one snake and felt that gotta have them all that you're talking about. I want more hognoses but am going to wait until I have his care down. But I'm hoping to pick up an African House snake soon (at the expo). They happen to be easy feeders which will be nice. I also did like the bubble bee BP too. Didn't know about the wobbles gene. Is the spider related at all to the bubble bee gene?

[riddick07]

I'm not one to talk either lol. I have a lot of snakes anymore. I spent close to $500 when buying my last feeders since I ran out of everything. It should last me about 4 months or so for the majority but I tend to buy a wide variety of feeders and not just rats/mice. If you can find a local breeder of rats or mice you can probably save quite a bit of money I saved 60-70 from just the rat side buying local.

I quarantine 60 days. Most of my animals are on the ground floor and I have 2 rooms on the 3rd floor for new animals. It would be nice to have a separate building but for now that's not possible for me! I will sometimes bring an animal to the second floor in the kitchen or living room and spray with F10 the areas they were in. I treat new arrivals for mites when they arrive. I just assume I get free mites with every snake lol

If your snakes are setup/established and you have the ability to provide for more I don't see why not personally. Just remember the equipment will likely cost more than all the animals combined unless you get into the expensive snakes of course! I just spent $1200 on just two cages an 8ft and 5ft...and that's not heated yet or on a herpstat...the pain lol

[blakkangell]

I think what I'm going to do is wait till next summer, or at least do my best. And kind of treat it like a reward if I do well in school. I really really want an MBK right now because I think the jet black is just absolutely gorgeous. But I've been looking at banana enchi mixes and I really like those now too. :)

I'm not really a corn lover but I had one as my first snake many years ago... I kinda miss him so a friend is giving me a tessera corn in a couple weeks too. I'm not really into my morphs so tbh I'd be just as happy with a normal. :)

I wasn't a big fan of corns either, but the tessera morph really caught my eye and I think they are gorgeous so now I really want one. They are kind of hard to find though, and I already know I want a male, and his name will be Charlie haha

[bigsnakegirl785]

Hmmm ok that's not too bad. Reptiles are definitely not my only hobby haha. Plus my car that was paid off died right after I lost my other job. So now I have a car payment I didn't really want on top of everything else.
So that's part of why I am starting slow again with reptiles, getting back to the OP. I only one snake and felt that gotta have them all that you're talking about. I want more hognoses but am going to wait until I have his care down. But I'm hoping to pick up an African House snake soon (at the expo). They happen to be easy feeders which will be nice. I also did like the bubble bee BP too. Didn't know about the wobbles gene. Is the spider related at all to the bubble bee gene?

It's bumblee like the bee, and yes, it contains the spider morph. Look on worldofballpythons if you ever have a question of what genes are contained in a morph, the morphs will be listed to the left.

I have 11 snakes and only spend maybe $260-280 for a year's worth of food. The snakes have been moving up in sizes lately, but that has only added on maybe $100 to the overall cost. Once everybody are adults, I won't be spending much more on them per year, maybe $300-350/yr. Their enclosures/adult set ups are the most expensive things, because I like to provide full-sized enclosures for my older snakes.

[blakkangell]

It's bumblee like the bee, and yes, it contains the spider morph. Look on worldofballpythons if you ever have a question of what genes are contained in a morph, the morphs will be listed to the left.

I have 11 snakes and only spend maybe $260-280 for a year's worth of food. The snakes have been moving up in sizes lately, but that has only added on maybe $100 to the overall cost. Once everybody are adults, I won't be spending much more on them per year, maybe $300-350/yr. Their enclosures/adult set ups are the most expensive things, because I like to provide full-sized enclosures for my older snakes.

Yea, I buy feeders from the pet store because I don't have the freezer space for a large order. I'm looking into breeding mice myself, but that seems like a lot of effort for two snakes. I know I'm going to drop about $400 in the next year or two to get a PVC enclosure for Lily, but Jasper would just upgrade to her old one after I clean it out. I just want to have all the snakes and all the animals haha, my parents don't understand it. That's why I love this forum, everyone else is pet crazy too :)

[Magdalen]

It's bumblee like the bee, and yes, it contains the spider morph. Look on worldofballpythons if you ever have a question of what genes are contained in a morph, the morphs will be listed to the left.

Ah yes that was what I meant. I just didn't spell check my post.

[SnakeyJay]

I wasn't a big fan of corns either, but the tessera morph really caught my eye and I think they are gorgeous so now I really want one. They are kind of hard to find though, and I already know I want a male, and his name will be Charlie haha

Well I said I'll have it because of the white stripe down the back.... It really reminds me of the redsided garters!

Hahaha Charlie the corn, sounds like you've got it sorted already name wise :D

[Tsubaki]

Hmm, now i wonder how much i spend monthly, I suspect I'm out more money than you guys on avarage while I don't even have that large number of snakes anymore... I have a freezer for my snakes so i usually buy bulk whatever im out of, and they dont always carry everything.. so just looking at what I spend monthly isn't going to work, math time. Currently I use approximately 4 medium rats, 2 large rats, 4 adult rats, 4 small/medium rabbits and 4 XL rabbits a month. There are no local breeders anymore, I have to drive 2 hours to the nearest store I'm willing to support. I tried ordering online there is 1 company, but it was expensive and rubbish.. also they did not sell anything over large rats and the delivery hours made no sense. So I ended up going back to that one store I like, these are their prices.

4x1,70=6,80
2x2,30=4,60
4x3,00=12,-
4x4,00=16,-
4x5,00=20,-

So 59,40€ a month, which would be 66,25USD or 86CAD... 712,80€ a year excluding any supplies. Bit more than what seems to be average...

[dannybgoode]

I've managed to wait 9 months or so snake to snake with a lizard in between.

It's so much down to personal circumstances though. If you have the time, space, money etc and the right snake comes along then go for it.

If you're new to keeping and are still finding your feet then you may want to wait until you know what you want next and indeed to be sure that reptile keeping is the hobby for you.

Do consider each purchase carefully though. I know a person who got bit by the bug, ended up very quickly with 10 or so reptiles and are now having to move some on because they simply hadn't considered how much space they'd all take in their adult vivs.

Very easy to get carried away...

[sattva]

I'm probably a bad example! I am retire and have nothing else to do... I have bought 3 snakes in the last 4 months and with a little luck I will find a blue eyed leucistic ball python on the September 24th. :crazy:

[toddnbecka]

Personally, I spend weeks resarching a species before I finally decide whether or not to add it to my collection. Have to consider both short and long-term housing and care requirements. Then, we go to a reptile show and Becky sees this Dumeril's boa she really wants, and we bring her home w/out advance preparations. Had a 33 long tank sitting empty, spare heat mats and open sockets on a Herpstat 4, so it was fine. Baby snakes are fine starting out in smaller tubs, but not for their whole lives.
If you find you're in over your head you can always reponsibly rehome a snake. Just don't do like some folks and abandon the animal/s when moving out, or neglect caring for it/them properly. You're taking on the complete responsibility for the health and overall well-being of the animal, and IMO you have an obligation to provide a proper environment and decent quality of life. As long as you can do that, the only limit to the number of animals you maintain is a matter of $ and space to house and feed them.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Hmm, now i wonder how much i spend monthly, I suspect I'm out more money than you guys on avarage while I don't even have that large number of snakes anymore... I have a freezer for my snakes so i usually buy bulk whatever im out of, and they dont always carry everything.. so just looking at what I spend monthly isn't going to work, math time. Currently I use approximately 4 medium rats, 2 large rats, 4 adult rats, 4 small/medium rabbits and 4 XL rabbits a month. There are no local breeders anymore, I have to drive 2 hours to the nearest store I'm willing to support. I tried ordering online there is 1 company, but it was expensive and rubbish.. also they did not sell anything over large rats and the delivery hours made no sense. So I ended up going back to that one store I like, these are their prices.

4x1,70=6,80
2x2,30=4,60
4x3,00=12,-
4x4,00=16,-
4x5,00=20,-

So 59,40€ a month, which would be 66,25USD or 86CAD... 712,80€ a year excluding any supplies. Bit more than what seems to be average...

That's even worse than what I used to spend! Granted, I only had 3 at the time and you have way more, but if I tried to feed the same amount of snakes you have at the pet store I think I'd beat even you. lol I was spending $500/yr just for Cloud, Bud, and Draco, so $41.67/month. Now it's roughly $21.67-23.33/month for 11, including the shipping if I bought everything at once.


I started out pretty good with new additions, had Bud for 5 years before I got Cloud, had Cloud like 2 years before I got Draco, got Sanji the following year, and then I've got the other 8 within the last 2 years. bahaha But, I have plenty of room for everyone's adult enclosures, I can afford their food, and was able to afford their prices.

Plus, I may or may not be getting 2 more within the next 6 months...I have my eye on a breed-ready female, and then I'll need to get a breed-ready male soon after. Or at least a yearling/subadult male and grow him up.


I also don't plan on living here much longer, I hope to move out of state in the next couple years, and hopefully I'll have enough to buy a house by then. I want to stay there for a long time.

[blakkangell]

Well I said I'll have it because of the white stripe down the back.... It really reminds me of the redsided garters!

Hahaha Charlie the corn, sounds like you've got it sorted already name wise :D

Yup! And I want a female MBK whose name will be either Medusa or Namira, which I'm leaning towards the second. I had Jasper and Lily named before I officially had them too.

Personally, I spend weeks resarching a species before I finally decide whether or not to add it to my collection. Have to consider both short and long-term housing and care requirements. Then, we go to a reptile show and Becky sees this Dumeril's boa she really wants, and we bring her home w/out advance preparations. Had a 33 long tank sitting empty, spare heat mats and open sockets on a Herpstat 4, so it was fine. Baby snakes are fine starting out in smaller tubs, but not for their whole lives.
If you find you're in over your head you can always reponsibly rehome a snake. Just don't do like some folks and abandon the animal/s when moving out, or neglect caring for it/them properly. You're taking on the complete responsibility for the health and overall well-being of the animal, and IMO you have an obligation to provide a proper environment and decent quality of life. As long as you can do that, the only limit to the number of animals you maintain is a matter of $ and space to house and feed them.

I have been researching every species I'm interested in since March. I've decided to wait for awhile and go to an expo next summer.

[Tsubaki]

That's even worse than what I used to spend! Granted, I only had 3 at the time and you have way more, but if I tried to feed the same amount of snakes you have at the pet store I think I'd beat even you..


Wish i had another choice, but petstores is the only thing i can do right now.. And even those seem to have trouble to get food to everyone, prices are going up.. Rabbits are scarce :mad: