How long have you kept ball pythons?

I was just wondering how long everyone has kept ball pythons. I think this would be a good opportunity for everyone to see how much ball python experience our forum members have.

I guess I will start it off...ha

I am only a ball python 'rookie'. I have kept a ball python since October 2004, but had been interested in getting one for a really long time. When I was younger, I had always just caught local snakes, lizards, and frogs and kept them as pets until my parents made me let it go. Since I have moved out of my parents home and such, I finally had the opportunitity to get a python....and of course a ball python was my first choise.

i use too keep and breed them 15 years ago when i was 17 then when i got my own place i got out of it. no room but when i bought my first house 8 years ago i thought about it but wanted to do it right this time so i waited a little and have just got back into it in the past two years. so i guess if you add it up i have about 8 years of experience but 20 years of reading and learning.

I bought Issa, my first ball python in October of 2004, about a week before the Tinley show. He is currently my only ball python, but I'm thinking about changing that later this year.

Going on 2 yrs now w/ my Ozzy.
Ahh....Seems like only yesterday!

Ummm you know you are a newbie ball python owner when you can still count it by days LOL - 28 days of ownership....whoohooo!

Actually both my husband and I have always liked snakes and other "non-traditional" pets. I became fascinated with corn snakes and ball pythons years ago when a breeder visited my older son's classroom though it was my husband who did the research and got us both hooked on the beauty of ball pythons, both normal and morph.

Needless to say, this one won't be our only bp. We have an adoptee bp coming soon and are saving towards our first hets.


~~Joanna~~