Bonjour a tous, hello all

[piketpik]

Hi,
My name is Harold ,I am French, I arrived in Utah 3 month ago.

I've always been fascinated by snakes (and the book by Nicole Viloteau : la femme aux serpents). Looks like my spouse will let be have one for Xmas.:)

It's ganna be a ball python.

I would be gratefull to get advices. (placement of the tank: can that be in the main entrance of the house, or should it be in a quiter place... size of tank, where to buy tank and snake, anyone in Utah that I could meet)

See ya

Harold

[PDXErik]

Bonjours! Comment ca va? (That's about all I know)

Quiet place, away from windows and doors. Around some human activity so that it can get used to people being around.

If you can, start with a 40 gallon tank. Research the conditions you should keep in there, humidity and temperature.

Talk to vets around you, find a herp vet that you like, kind of like insurance, you don't really want to use them, but they're nice to have when you need them.

Good Luck! Bon Chance! I love these little buggers.

[Joe]

quiet place with little traffic is best, if starting with a hatchling snake then i would suggest a much smaller enclosure, I would start with a 10 to 20 gallon tank then after the snake is established feeding and has grown out of this type enclosure to move him to his forever home. ball pythons especially are known to be less stressed and have a greater feeding response in smaller environments, good luck and happy herping!

[piketpik]

OK, gents thanks for those advices. :)

I was thinking 30 gallon tank (for what I've read on different forums).

If the yougster like a smaller enclosure, there is probably a way to reduce the inside volume by having a box in the tank :confused: ?? it would save buying an enclosure that would not last.

Is it OK to buy the python in petco or would it be better to get to a breeder (petco price is $US 50 right now).

Can we expect any kind of interaction or it is just to watch inside is tank? (I already handle pythons and boas, I just love to touch their skin :freakedout: )

[PDXErik]

Expos are definitely better than ANY pet store. Well, there are some small mom and pop places that might be ok, but totally an expo.

[TailsW/Scales]

Welcome to the forums.


I'm going to STRONGLY advise against buying from DeathCo. I mean PetCo. I have never been into a PetCo where their little Ball Pythons haven't looked under weight and dehydrated. Not to mention ALL their baby BP's are WILD CAUGHT!!!! :no: Your best bet is to find either a local breeder or as was mentioned above go to a show. It's better to wait and have a very healthy perfect little snake, and support the breeders. Just my two cents.


Best of luck in your search.

[PDXErik]

Welcome to the forums.


I'm going to STRONGLY advise against buying from DeathCo. I mean PetCo. I have never been into a PetCo where their little Ball Pythons haven't looked under weight and dehydrated. Not to mention ALL their baby BP's are WILD CAUGHT!!!! :no: Your best bet is to find either a local breeder or as was mentioned above go to a show. It's better to wait and have a very healthy perfect little snake, and support the breeders. Just my two cents.


Best of luck in your search.

Local breeders and expos are 1000% better than ANY pet store. I still defend my local Petco as there are some actually knowlegable people there and the animals are kept humanely, they're handled all the time, the conditions are appropriate, etc.

1) Breeder
2) Expo
3) (local pet store that is quality and specialized in herps and knows what they're doing)
4) go back to 1

I purchased my ball and my little rtb from a petco and I have no regrets about it. Their enclosures cost thousands as they automatically regulate humidity and temperature (at least at the one I visit). I can't claim that at home (yet).

Edit: My PetCo doesn't have any wild caught animals (outside of fish, perhaps). CB balls and RTBs are WAY too common domestically, I haven't seen anything offered at PetCo that isn't pretty common that way.

[TailsW/Scales]

Edit: My PetCo doesn't have any wild caught animals (outside of fish, perhaps). CB balls and RTBs are WAY too common domestically, I haven't seen anything offered at PetCo that isn't pretty common that way.

I hate to do this but I am going to call you and your PetCo out on that one. Call or go into the PetCo and ask them for the breeders name and phone number of where they got the snakes from. If they are truly captive bred the store will have the information. Once you have that please post it on here. Thanks