should i buy a baby ball python from a reptile store by where i live?

i called and they said they have 6 hatchling baby ball pythons but they said they will not be up for sale until they have shed and eaten, do you think i should buy it from them or wait till june 20th for a reptile expo?
ive been to their shop and they know what they talk about and they have very healthy looking reptiles, i just need opinions, and how would i know if its a healthy snake?

It's your choice. The expo will definately have more variety and deals(normals sell for really cheap). You could wait until the expo and save some cash to buy a ball python morph of your choice(albino, pastel, spider,etc.). Check out kingsnake.com to see what's out there. Go to the classified ads and select ball pythons. Jason Bowden

Well if you do decide to go to the pet store make sure you check for mites and ticks very well as I bought one a few weeks ago and returned it because I came to find out it was a wild caught bp and found a tick on it! So just be very careful where and who you buy from. I only go strictly to breeders now you might pay more but you are gonna get what you pay for.

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Originally Posted by coolguypat27

i called and they said they have 6 hatchling baby ball pythons but they said they will not be up for sale until they have shed and eaten, do you think i should buy it from them or wait till june 20th for a reptile expo?
ive been to their shop and they know what they talk about and they have very healthy looking reptiles, i just need opinions, and how would i know if its a healthy snake?

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I wouldnt buy(or sell) a hatchling until it shed and had a least 4 meals consecutively. Just because it had one meal doesnt mean it will eat for you.

The normal rule of thumb with hatchlings is a feeding cycle of at least 3 or 4 feeds and at least 1 shed during the same time frame. It's imperative the shop gets the snakes on a regular feeding cycle to ensure they stay healthy once they leave the shop. One feed isn't enough in my opinion to guarentee your new pet will continue to feed regularly once you get it home.
As for buying from pet stores vs. expos, it's really a matter of choice. While alot of the big chain pet stores don't have the knowledge or experience to sell reptiles, many of the smaller shops, especially those that specialize in reptiles do sell quality pets to their customers and will stand behind them if something goes wrong. If you decide to buy from this store, make sure you find out what guarentees come with your pet and that they are decent guarentees at that. Ask who they use for a vet to ensure their health and potential treatment for ailments. Any reputable petshop should not hesitate to give their vet's info and contact information to you should you request it. If they don't, stay away and go somewhere else. There's got to be a reason why they won't disclose who they use to ensure their pets are healthy and ready for resale. Pay particular attention to the state of the shop as well. Is it clean? Does it smell dirty? What do the tanks look like they are keeping their pets in? Is there rotting food, old feces or other uncleanliness in the tanks? These are all great indications about how they care for their pets while they are waiting to be sold. If the tanks are dirty or they are using unsuitbale substrate or there are other indications these animals aren't being taken care of properly, there is a VERY good chance you will end up with a snake that will, at the minimum, need veterinary care and will probably be a headache to get to feed decent and aclimate to it's new surroundings. For a first snake, you sure don't need those headaches right from the start, trust me.
Let us know what you decide and how you make out! ;)

Support your local business.

IMO, no. Try to find a local breeder, and support them. A lot of hatchlings at pet stores are captive hatched, and may have parasites and / or mites. If you find a good breeder in your area, you will know that you are buying a healthy hatchling. Breeders also sell them for less than pet stores; for example, I sold hatchlings last season for around $20 each.

Hope this helps.

If it were me I would look for a good breeder at a show. You can usually get a vendor list of everyone who will set up tables and have time to research them a bit. Pricing will certainly be better at a show. Many times the vendors may be local for you and you can contact them and maybe pick something out before the show.

don't forget to check are classified section here! There are lots of good quailty snakes for sale on this site. Deborah is selling a black pastel ball for a good cause!

I would wait for the show, you can get normal BPs for less than $30 AND you can talk to the breeder about how that snake is doing and how well it's eating! I know pet stores more than overprice their animals $80 for a baby normal is outrageous. I got my normal male from a well known breeder for $15 at an expo here in Iowa, he was well cared for and ate like a champ.