The New Snake Blues

[PhoenixGate]

I've been wanting to increase my snake collection for a long time. I want to breed ball pythons and other species, even though realistically I won't be able to start for a while. There's just not enough room at my current place. I can start collecting a few animals and raising them up though.

I went to wander around the local petco today and saw that they have a baby spider ball available for $199. Work has been going well recently and I just happen to have that much in surplus money. I want to buy him really badly (not even sure if its a him, they haven't sexed it), but I'm sure my brother would object. I want to try and convince him to let me get it, even though I really shouldn't. I've got plenty of other things to spend $200 on. Its just that he's such a pretty little guy, he's showing quite a bit of white and he only has a minor head wobble. I held him for a few minutes and saw him roam around the cage, and his head corkscrewed once each time he was trying to run his nose along the top of the enclosure.

Its driving me nuts knowing he's just sitting there and not coming home with me.

[Shera]

I would hold off if I were you. Especially if that's a male (but even if it's a female), you can likely get a better price than that. Do you have an enclosure ready to go?

[cory9oh4]

For one, you can find a spider for far less than $200. Secondly, if that $200 in burning a hole in your pocket spend it on savings

[PhoenixGate]

I don't have another enclosure ready to go. I do have the bedding, hides, and a heat lamp I'd just need a new tank. The only reason I considered the $200 price was because the cheapest I've seen spiders go for online is $150 plus shipping. It wouldn't be that much less just to buy it from petco. Sigh, I really should just be talking myself out of it. I don't even have a car right now. Plus I have to order more food for the two snakes I already have in a few weeks.

I've been feeling the itch to collect a few more snakes for a while. They're just so pretty and I can already see the hatchling rack filled with new adorable little baby snakes in my house. I wish my brain would just shut up about it until I can afford all that.

[Artemisace]

I've seen adult spiders for WAY less than that on craigslist, there's a spider I'm actually going to look at Monday for 150. And that's cage, snake and EVERYTHING. So maybe consider that, but if you have things in your life that need to be taken care of then I'd say take care of that first. There will always be more snakes, and you should be taking care of yourself so you can take care of them.

[cory9oh4]

If you do buy one at least check out kingsnake.com

http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.p...=32&de=1008591 spider there thats is pos het hypo for $100

http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.p...=32&de=1018116 even has some multi-gene spiders in your price range

http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.p...=32&de=1018261 females in your price range

Just don't rush into anything, you may have regrets later. If you have other priorities, take care of those first. Prices will continue to get lower the longer you wait. There won't be a shortage of any morphs anytime soon

[kat_black181]

I don't have another enclosure ready to go. I do have the bedding, hides, and a heat lamp I'd just need a new tank. The only reason I considered the $200 price was because the cheapest I've seen spiders go for online is $150 plus shipping. It wouldn't be that much less just to buy it from petco. Sigh, I really should just be talking myself out of it. I don't even have a car right now. Plus I have to order more food for the two snakes I already have in a few weeks.

I've been feeling the itch to collect a few more snakes for a while. They're just so pretty and I can already see the hatchling rack filled with new adorable little baby snakes in my house. I wish my brain would just shut up about it until I can afford all that.

If you're already thinking of other things in your life that take priority over buying another snake, take care of those first.

A lot of people start out with good intentions when they take on more animals, but the animals are the ones who end up suffering when you don't have the funds to provide their basic requirements, food, habitat, vet bills, etc.

[PhoenixGate]

This is all stuff I need to hear, thanks to everyone who's replied so far. I just got so excited to have a mmph of a bp right there where I could hold it and drool over it. Its been 8 years since I've been able to go to a reptil show, and back then I only had eyes for the corn snakes, purchase wise.

[Jessiefish]

I'll be a semi-enabler... all reptiles will be 50% off next weekend (12th-13th) at Petco. Sleep on it, think about your other priorities, and if he's still there during the sale -- get him.

[Pythonfriend]

do not buy living things at petco, period.

when you are on this forum, you are beyond that, and you will never buy a ball python from a big chain. You buy from local breeders or order from less local breeders, or you pick up rescues.