Help! Where should I buy my very first BP?

[snake eyes]

Hi! I'm planning on buying a ball python and would like to get a captive born baby python for no more than 50$. Any suggestions on where i can purchase one for that price or cheaper? Thanks!

[Jeanne]

Look for a reptile show in your area.

[tigerlily]

Is price that restrictive for you? Just curious since the most basic caging and supplies are not cheap. You might be able to find someone with a good reputation at faunaclassified.com. I think a couple people here did find one for about that price. Good luck and welcome to the site. Sorry I couldn't help more.

[daniel1983]

Where are you located at? I will look around for you if you would like

Yep, Christie is right about the caging and supplies. If you want to keep a ball python properly, you can expect to spend between $75 - $200 on a home for the bp.

Getting a bp is not a 'what ever is cheapest' type of purchase. You get what you pay for with ball pythons. I would suggest getting a CBB (captive born and breed) hatchling from a good breeder in the area. It may cost a bit more now but it will save you a lot of trouble down the road (i.e. vet bills, etc.).

[Adam_Wysocki]

If you're only going to budget $50 for your animal, don't forget the cost of medical visits to a qualified reptile vet. An annual visit to get your snake looked over is always a good idea for new owners and a standard reptilian work-up with a fecal exam could easily be over $50. Buying an animal "on the cheap" may end up requiring more than a few of those vet visits and in the end cost more than what you would spend on a healthy cb animal from a reputable breeder.

-adam

[snake eyes]

Thanks for the advice guys! I'm from the Los Angeles/Orange County area so do you guys know of any reputable good breeders out in this area? I can't seem to find anything in the classifides.

[snake eyes]

BTW, how much would the supplies cost for my cage? Right now, i have a 10 gallon tank, but as the snake gets bigger, i was thinkin of making my own custom cage with wood and blexiglass from the local home depot (any ideas or advice on that?). I have read from earlier posts about all the lamps and heating pads and temp regulation tools, and i was just wondering, on average, how much all that stuff would run, minus the cage? Once again, thanks for the advice and input

[Schlyne]

I admit I bought Issa as a CBB normal for the price of $50, but I then dropped at least $100 or so for caging and everything else that day. (I picked up a thermostat from Matt about a month later, I think). I did buy Issa from a reptile specialty store, but the owners breed ball pythons themselves. Heck, I think they showed me a mojave? (I can't recall) and an albino that day.

Have you tried looking through www.kingsnake.com for shows or local breeders? Of course kingsnake has it's own classifieds, but most of the babies in right now are captive hatched.

Btw, it is about a billion times better to get everything setup, get the heat and humidity properly measured before you bring your first ball home.

[BallPythonBabe448]

I have a ball python available for $80 shipped, thats like $40 for the snake and $40 for shipping (roughly). He's a male and CBB Mike Wilbanks, he's about 2 ft.

Let me know if your interested.

I'd start with a 20 g long, cus they out grow the 10 gallons pretty fast. And it's like 10 bucks more.. but it will last alot longer.

[Chad T.]

what ever you do dont get from petco unless the have just been shiped in and have not been infected with Petco. And good luck on finding one .