Backwater Reptiles?

Hi there, I'm planning on getting my very first ball python ever in a few months. (I'm waiting until I buy everything I need and set-up the enclosure first). Anyway, I don't want to buy a snake from Petco or Petsmart so I was wondering if anyone has any experience with Backwater Reptiles? They seem legit but I would feel more comfortable if I new that other people here had good experiences with them.

I would but from a breeder here in the forum (theirs a bunch haha) aka someone you can trust and talk to iv never had experience with backwater reptiles but I don't like big commercial breeders (except bhb reptiles because he is legit IMO)

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Backwater Reptiles is a 'middle man' a huge import/export animal mover. I'd use the Board of Inquiry on FaunaClassified along with MorphMarket to find a good private breeder.

I would not buy from Backwater; a simple Google search on their name + "snake mites" will give you plenty of reading material.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...g-Herps-Online

Thanks everyone for the responses! I read about them on the BBB and they had good reviews but you're right- it seems like they are kinda shady. I'll be doing better research.

I'm in the same boat my setup is almost complete just waiting for a few things in the mail. Then of course I'll be breaking it in for a week or two. But I've been looking around online and YouTube especially I'd say 90% of the searches "shipping reptiles gone wrong" were about backwater reptiles...
I've heard nothing but good things so far about LLL but again I have no experience as I'm about to start my journey soon.
Just look around on this forum there is plenty of references to recommended private breeders I've been looking on here for at least a month and I find a new one prolly once a day just using the search bar! :)

I normally don't comment unless I have first hand experience, but there is a lot of negative press out there from others. Lot's of youtube videos of unhappy buyers. I'd do your research before you commit to anything.

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Originally Posted by cletus

I normally don't comment unless I have first hand experience, but there is a lot of negative press out there from others. Lot's of youtube videos of unhappy buyers. I'd do your research before you commit to anything.

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I will second this. You can find plenty of bad reviews on them if you search youtube. things like dead on arrivals, shipping the wrong species, being rude to customers, charging flat rates of $39 for shipping but shipment having a price tag of $15, accepting refund only if you ship to them at your expense. Do your research.

Always try to find from an actual breeder. A lot of these people that import animals like that on a large scale will have issues with mites, not all but most. Also by speaking to a person who actually breeds, they know your particular animal.

Hear nothing but bad things about them.