Starting a collection, questions

I want to start collecting Ball Pythons and intend on breeding them, I've had them in the past and am finally at a point where I can keep my snakes (hurray no more college!)

My questions are a) my boyfriend is skeptical of keeping more than one snake. Even more so of producing more. I think he'll warm up to the idea eventually, he liked our old snake, but if anyone has some success stories of their SO coming around to the idea that'd be nice to hear.

b)I live in an apartment, they allow snakes but I don't really want to throw it in their face. I am going to want some snakes shipped to me eventually though. I've seen FedEx deliver to peoples doors, but if I miss the delivery or something do the boxes have LIVE REPTILE on them or do they say perishable or ???

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Originally Posted by kendracandraw

I want to start collecting Ball Pythons and intend on breeding them, I've had them in the past and am finally at a point where I can keep my snakes (hurray no more college!)

My questions are a) my boyfriend is skeptical of keeping more than one snake. Even more so of producing more. I think he'll warm up to the idea eventually, he liked our old snake, but if anyone has some success stories of their SO coming around to the idea that'd be nice to hear.

b)I live in an apartment, they allow snakes but I don't really want to throw it in their face. I am going to want some snakes shipped to me eventually though. I've seen FedEx deliver to peoples doors, but if I miss the delivery or something do the boxes have LIVE REPTILE on them or do they say perishable or ???

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A) I think after you get the first 1 or 2 snakes, he'll warm up after seeing how easy it is to maintain them. Starting up is the challenge though.
B) It says Perishable on the outside. The inside should have a slip stating "live harmless reptile". My snakes are delivered to my college apartment door. At first I was afraid it would say "snake" or something on the outside too, but breeders pack their animals well and keep what's inside pretty disclosed (externally at least).

Thank you!

I've also noticed that most people only ship Monday-Wednesday. Is there a special reason for this?

a) Start with two females (one that you choose, and one that he chooses) and set them up in a small rack (maybe 4 tubs deep). That gives you a little room to grow without it being scary, and only one set of husbandry variables to monitor during the couple of years your girls are growing up. It also gives him time to get used to caring for two snakes without the pressure of "When can we start putting them together??" Then, you can select a male together to grow when the girls are up to size. My SO thought I'd gone off the deepend when I started adding the second DOZEN BPs to my collection, but now he offers to feed (especially the babies) and change waters any time I'm going to have a late night or travel for work. :)

b) Quite a few breeders (myself included) will only ship "Signature Required". This reduces the odds that the package will just be left outside your door without so much as a bell ring. This also means that you need to be available to receive when the box arrives. Fedex Tracking is your friend!

Add: People only ship Mon-Wed so there is less risk of a snake ending up in transit and exposed to temperature extremes over a weekend if there is a shipping problem (delayed plane, truck breakdown, etc.).

With overnight shipping, what time do the snakes usually arrive? Or does that completely change depending on where you ship to? I work during the week so that really puts a damper on recieveing packages if they come in the morning or something...

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Originally Posted by kendracandraw

With overnight shipping, what time do the snakes usually arrive? Or does that completely change depending on where you ship to? I work during the week so that really puts a damper on recieveing packages if they come in the morning or something...

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It depends on how rural you are. Most locations near a hub deliver by 10:30am, but farther out places can be noon or 3:30pm. You can find out from Fedex, or it will show up under your tracking information. I recommend taking a half-day off work, if you can, on a day you plan to receive a shipment, or have someone else at your place to sign for it and bring it inside. You could even try to coordinate to receive more than one animal the same day, if a seller is will to hold on for a week or so to ship (usually not a problem).

Ok cool, I'm like 20 minutes from Dallas so that shouldn't be a big deal, thank you! That makes me a lot more confident about getting snakes, I won't have to rely on craigslist for ever lol.

I'm hoping to go to an expo in october, I don't have any money for NARBC this weekend :(, but its nice to have that shipping option open :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kendracandraw

Ok cool, I'm like 20 minutes from Dallas so that shouldn't be a big deal, thank you! That makes me a lot more confident about getting snakes, I won't have to rely on craigslist for ever lol.

I'm hoping to go to an expo in october, I don't have any money for NARBC this weekend :(, but its nice to have that shipping option open :)

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Being willing to take shipments definitely widens your options. I actually shipping a little female to San Antonio about this time last year without any problems, and had two babies "move" to Maryland and Missouri in the last couple of weeks. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kendracandraw

With overnight shipping, what time do the snakes usually arrive? Or does that completely change depending on where you ship to? I work during the week so that really puts a damper on recieveing packages if they come in the morning or something...

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I just learned that my location does not get priority delivery guaranteed by 1030 like many others do. I have ordered many snakes and they have been deilivered before 11 each time but I now I am aware that this is not a guarantee so I have my next snake being held at a hub and I can pick it up at 9.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kendracandraw

Ok cool, I'm like 20 minutes from Dallas so that shouldn't be a big deal, thank you! That makes me a lot more confident about getting snakes, I won't have to rely on craigslist for ever lol.

I'm hoping to go to an expo in october, I don't have any money for NARBC this weekend :(, but its nice to have that shipping option open :)

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You can also have the package held at the fedex facility and you can just go pick it up. Then you wont have to worry about them showing up at your door ;)

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