best age to buy

Anyone have any suggestions as to how old the snake should be? Just started to look around and wondered if anyone had any suggestions.

That depends on your experience level and what you feel comfortable with. A new keeper may want to start with a baby so that they aren't intimidated by the size and get to learn as the snake grows. You have more control over the snake's health if you get it younger.. usually you don't really know what happened to the snake before you got it if you get an adult.

I think the best time is when their baby's, that way you raise them and you don't have to worry about past treatment and or husbandry.

Wow, you guys arw quick. Thanks.

There is nothing like raising up a young un' .....get a well established captive born and breed young ball python...that is the best way to go IMO ;)

Watching your baby grow up is the best! =D

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Originally Posted by Shelby

That depends on your experience level and what you feel comfortable with. A new keeper may want to start with a baby so that they aren't intimidated by the size and get to learn as the snake grows. You have more control over the snake's health if you get it younger.. usually you don't really know what happened to the snake before you got it if you get an adult.

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The flip side to that is a lack of experience may cause some owners to miss certain things about raising up a baby...

For example, a customer at work (i work at a pet store) asked why their ball was so much skinnier than the ones we had for sale. I asked them what they were feeding, how often, how long had they had it, etc....turns out they bought the snake at another place and they told them to feed it a fuzzy once a week. So the customer proceeded to do this for the next year or so that they had it.

It may seem obvious to most of us on here that as snakes grow, so should the prey they eat. Some people just miss that completely.

My point is that obtaining a more established individual snake can be much "easier" for the casual hobbyist.

Personally, I like to get them as babies and watch 'em grow!

Well, if you have half a brain you should be able to figure out that a bigger snake eats a bigger meal. Silly people..

Work at a pet store that specializes in reptiles, and then hear some of the statements, stories, and professed truths customers make about reptile husbandry. I've banged my head on the wall in the back room so many times its not even funny.

Here's one: A customer came into the store with a box. In that box, was an emaciated rat on the verge of death. He wanted to return it. I asked him what had happened because we'd never sell a feeder in that condition. Turns out that the rat had been living in the enclosure with the snake for the past 2 weeks and he had been feeding it Kraft Singles, cause you know, rats like cheese. He also asked what to do about his snake that now has the end of its tail eaten up. Just another day at work....