Young vs. Older Ball Python

[Cowgirl_1970]

I am looking at getting my first Ball. I have been looking at older snakes w/ their own tanks and then not sure so was thinking about getting one from a breeder or pet store. What do you recommend? I do have knowledge of them as my ex boyfriend had a 4 yr old female that I fell in love with (yes, used to hate snakes, lol) so now I am looking at getting my own. Just alittle confused would love to find a full grown female that eats frozen but I'm coming up w/ males that eat live, what should I do?

[stephanbakir]

Adult snakes can be switched to frozen/thawed but it takes allot of work, and some just don't switch. That being said if you end up buying an adult, remember that it means that you wont be able to watch your snake grow and learn what triggers reactions in him, a friends adult ball python is great, sits on his neck for hours, but if you touch the very tip of his tail he bites.
Most snakes wont do this, just make sure you talk to whoever you are buying from and as for any relevant information.
It's always nice to see people who used to hate snakes and now love them, GRATS!

[Cowgirl_1970]

I found a 6 yr old male, they want to meet in a parking lot to do the sale, I'm not comfy w/ that as I won't be able to handle the snake, they are pretty much almost giving him away and that's what makes me wonder if they have problems w/ him or not. They told me that they moved to an apt. and are keeping the snake at her mothers and her mother is terrified of them so I am the first one that inquired on it. They aren't answering a whole lot of questions that I have either. Maybe I will be passing up a good snake or might be passing up a problem, they did say they haven't cleaned his tank or seen him in two months, that tells me that he's probably not been fed either, all I know is I want a friendly one so that I don't become scared of the again, lol.

[Lankyrob]

I would never buy a snake without seeing it in its enclosure and holding it first, you never know what the condition could be, i wouldnt buy anything from someone wanting to meet in a parking lot either!! They obviously have something to hide - just because the mother is scared of the snake shouldnt mean you cant goto her house to see it.

Wait for one to come along that feels "right"

[Cowgirl_1970]

I'm gonna have to agree w/ you on that, been talking to them for 2 days online and learned this morning about the parking lot swap, then my stomach started turning, lol. Your right I'll keep looking, love this forum, glad I found it, you guys made me feel better about my decision!!!

[Nektu]

If you did find the snake on like craigslist, then your best bet is to meet in a very public place. That being said, I strongly suggest you purchase from a reputable breeder or specialty reptile place. Not being able to see the snake in some sort of environment isn't good. And even worse is when you have questions that the refuse to answer or just skip over. There could be something wrong with the snake as far as health problems.

I honestly believe that getting a snake in a younger state will help in a couple of ways. You get to watch as he/she grows, they get used to you if you handle them. You begin to learn it's quarks and over time will be able to tell when something isn't right just on how they act. This would be your best way to go.

[Cowgirl_1970]

Yes found him on Craigslist. The problem is I'm having a hard time finding a breeder in my area. With gas prices and my big truck don't wanna travel to darn far is you know what I mean. I am located in southern MI about 5 miles from IN by I-69 Interstate if you know of anyone nearby that is a reputable person to buy a Ball from. Thanks!

[Jay]

most ship..

[Nektu]

jay is right. Most will ship with the guarantee that your animal will be alive and some will even do it over night.

There is a local place here that ships all over the place. Pro Exotics. (http://www.proexotics.com/currently_available.html) There are also others. This is just my recommendation and you don't have to use them.

[stephanbakir]

Bob clark also sells ball pythons.
Bobclark.com

[Cowgirl_1970]

Ok good news, passing on the snake that they won't let me see, however I found one 2 hrs from here that I really liked before I found the other one, she sent me tons of pics and tons of info, it's a female TO!!! The gal that has her has to move and is being really picky about where shes goes, we were dickering w/ the price due to her being so far away but we have come to a deal, money and horse tack for her baby, lol. Hopefully I will be going Sat morning to pick her up and she eats live or frozen and comes with a 90 gallon tank!!! SOOO excited!!!

[stephanbakir]

Grats on finding a buyer you like. send pics once you get her!

[Ch^4]

Just some food for thought. BPs can live for 20+ years...a 3-5 year BP is still relatively young and you will have PLENTY of time to get to know them front to back, left to right...

[Jendee]

Id say get an aaadult/sub adult for your first bp alot of baby bps are finicky eaters. Watch out for craigslist, Ive done parking lot swaps, some people just dont let anybody in there house completely undersdtandable. It was good to walk wy from that situation though. Have you all on this site heard of kingsnake.com??? its the reptile portal of the world lol literally thousand of snakes and other reptile critters are advertised there from breeders and breeders who do ship....just saying lol

[Cowgirl_1970]

So now I found the snake I want but have to make a decision on to get her or not. She is 2 hours away, which will cost me $75 in fuel, I got her talked down to $100 plus horse tack, however the tank has no lid, no temp or hum gauges, so I will have to order a lid for the tank, clips, and gauges and whatever else she don't have. apparently she lets the snake come and go in and out of the tank as she pleases, so that is a worry to me since I work and she will have to be in her tank all day and not roaming my house, lol. Oh, and she has no heat lamps ???? She claims her house is warm enough for the snake, so theres another expense, if she were closer I would consider but having second thoughts....urrgghhhh Then the snake that is just north of me, maybe I could just go see him and see what condition he's in, I'm trying to talk them into coming to their mothers house to see him, but haven't heard anything back. I agree w/ you Jen I really don't want a baby, I know how to take care of an adult so that's what I'm focusing on right now, but may have to purchase a young one.

[dshin963]

no matter how "warm" her house is the snake still needs a heat gradient... also no lid, no thermometers, no hydrometers... really seems like an irresponsible reptile owner...

[stephanbakir]

no matter how "warm" her house is the snake still needs a heat gradient... also no lid, no thermometers, no hydrometers... really seems like an irresponsible reptile owner...

He's right, there is no way you can manage your snakes temperature better then he can. and i have no idea how someone owns a herp without a thermometer or a hygrometer... some you can get away without a lid but the other 2..
As i said, Bob Clark sells some good ball pythons. You get full papers for them and he's a great guy. (there are no doubt american breeders that focus on ball pythons, i just don't know about them

[infernalis]

and just to toss it out there.. I took our BP away from someone who was doing everything horribly wrong.. Been a great snake ever since.

[dshin963]

I love it when I hear of snake rescues :D
Makes me feel all tingly inside... I should keep comments like this to myself... :D

[infernalis]

when you realize that only a minuscule percentage wind up in the hands of competent keepers, it sort of neutralizes the fuzzy feelings.

[dshin963]

... well that just put a little rain cloud on my day... thanks Wayne... now I feel obliged to rescue a snake today... :D

[stephanbakir]

Good luck with whatever you end up chosing.

[infernalis]

... well that just put a little rain cloud on my day... thanks Wayne... now I feel obliged to rescue a snake today... :D

go get one.. post pics!!:):yes:

[dshin963]

LOL you are all terrible influences :)
I am planning for a Blood Python as soon as I can afford and accommodate her :)

[Lankyrob]

As a first snake i wouldnt recommend a rescue, i would recommend getting one that is more likely to be halthy and where you have someone to refer back to if issues arise. Rescuing i great but being left alone with a snake taht could have hidden issues isnt great, it doesnt sound like either of these people would help you out if you ran into problems whereas a breeder should help you out and even replace a snake if there was major issues.

[Cowgirl_1970]

Well from what they are telling me the snake is not mean, they say he's healthy, pretty much only been handled by one person, they have had it since it was a baby, it is 6 years old now they say. They had his price high but has lowered it since they can't care for it anymore. Tank needs cleaned, he needs fed in a week, he looks healthy from what I can see from the pics they sent me, maybe alittle thin, just hope that I can help by bringing him home, your right I have no one close by that can help me so I am going to take my time w/ him and hope these people are being honest with me and see what I get, and since he is in his own tank and I get his temps right and make him comfortable hopefully I'll have a happy snake. I would think if he was a rotten snake they wouldn't of had him for so long???? Just a thought, lol

[Lankyrob]

Seeing some of the rescue snakes available and the filth they live in and the skeletal conditions a snake can take a lot of punishment before dying, doesnt mean it isnt going to be a hell of a jobtoget it ack to health. Not saying your snake will be like this tho

[infernalis]

Sometimes when we "rescue" a critter, we have to make the hard choices.

[Lankyrob]

Sometimes rescuinng just to euthanize is better than doing nothing at least then the poor animal is out of its misery.