hi from Ontario Canada

[Kristine]

hey folks,

Mom of a teenager who wants her first ball python. Her birthday is in early November, and her dad and I are looking for a breeder in or around the Toronto area. She of course has a mile long list of types she likes, but first we need to find some reputable breeders who are fair in price. We know this can be pricey but some prices we have seen online were downright scary.

[citysnakes]

welcome to the forum. i hope you didnt get too scared of snake prices because the cost of a proper setup may send you running. j/k not trying to scare you away or anything.;)

anyway good luck with your search and just ask around if you need help.

[siz]

Welcome to the forum :)
Normal ball pythons aren't too expensive, it's the colour morphs that are pricey. You can get some colourful BPs for under $200, $250, but I personally think the wild, "normal" colouration is beautiful in itself. You can get them for around $50 give or take, from a breeder or at an expo.
My birthday is in November as well, I like to make my boyfriend buy me animals from the Novemeber expo :) You can find plenty of well priced snakes there..It's on nov 22nd this year i believe... Ontario Reptile & Exotic Pet Expo (http://www.reptileexpo.ca)
Good luck!

[BP_okay]

Re: Setups...I was talking to an employee at the big box store the other day and she said they have to throw away aquarium/tanks they receive, so she keeps them and gives them to customers. She told me all you need to deal is put aquarium sealant on the crack and it's good as new. I am considering this for my next tank, as it will be prob be a 40 to 55 gal, but is this really okay/safe to do(as long as the crack is small, and doesn't compromise the stability of the tank)?

[Chu'Wuti]

Kristine, you might give your daughter a complete set-up--tank, under tank heater, digital hygrometer/thermometer, light, power center to control the lighting & temp, two hides, a water bowl, and substrate (such as aspen shavings) for part of her birthday present. Include a "coupon" in her birthday card that tells her you'll be taking her to the herp expo (if you can do that) to get a snake and give her the set-up to get ready. She'll need to set it up and get the humidity and temps right prior to putting the snake into it anyway.

You'll find lots of opinions on the type of tank, heating, lighting, substrate, etc. on the forum.

BP_okay, you can easily use a cracked tank for a snake or other herp tank. You can either take out the cracked side and replace it with new doors, or you can simply seal the crack as you were told; either way, a crack will not affect the stability of the tank as long as you are not using it for an aquarium--it won't have the strength needed for the pressure of the water even with the repair, but it will have plenty of strength for holding a snake or other reptile. The crack doesn't even have to be small; as long as you can repair it in some way, you can use it.

As an example, I have a 10-gallon hex that my son accidentally broke. I took out the broken side and have silicon-glued in a base piece to hold substrate. Above that, I'm gluing in a glass door on a hinge. I'll use a screen and glass top for humidity adjustments. I'm planning to put geckos in the tank.

[Kristine]

Thanks everyone!