What to Look For?

[Q Ball]

I was wondering what all you look for when buying any kind of BP?

[ohyeahnow]

You want to find a ball python that looks healthy. By this I mean I well rounded ball. You do not want one with folds in it's skin. If the snake has been cared for properly it should not have reminates from it's last shed. While this can occur if humidity is not right, there are simple methods that any good snake keeper would use to assist the snake in getting rid of his leftover shed. Skin folds are not a good sign either. The snake should also be round in shape. You do not want one that is thin and can visibly see his spines and or ribs. The snake should have clear eyes, not suken in eyes. When handled a healthy ball puthon will flick his tongue a lot. You should examine the snake for external parasites such as ticks or mites. The snake cloaca should be free of waste both urates and feces, A reputible dealer would be a good place to purchase from. If you should chose a pet store, look for one that is clean and whose animal collection looks healthy. Captive bred and born pythons are generally healthy, have less chance of internal parasites than wild caught ones. Wild caught snakes are not only depleting snakes from nature, they can tend to be more agressive, and often harbor many internal and or external parasites. Before purchasing one, realize they can easily live for over twenty years. Because they require a specific environment it is strongly advised to set up your snakes environment first, making sure you have a good handle on the temperatures, both hot side and warm as well as the needed humidity. Read up on them before purchasing to make sure you have the needed supplies. It would be wise to find a vet that deals with snakes first and take your snake in for a fecal exam to make sure it is not harboring parasites. This site has excellent answers found in both the care sheets link and the facts link. Look these over, and ask questions if you have any. I am a new member and have found those on this site very willing to offer help and advice. Once you are educated on the requirements and have your snakes home properly monitored you are ready to look for a snake.

Good luck. Snakes and BP can make excellent pets. I at times use mine for educational services to enlighten the public, eliviate fears and spread interest.

[WingedWolfPsion]

What to AVOID:



The circled animal is very thin. You can see grooves running along each side and its backbone is protroding. Compare it with the healthier animals around it, and you'll get an idea of what you should be looking for.

I also recommend that your first snake be a CBB baby. Don't buy a CH pet store baby, which is more likely to have health problems. If you can avoid it, don't buy from a pet store at all, as they seldom sterilize cages in between batches of animals.