New Member, Old Question

Snakes are individuals, some will hit anything and others will only do things on their terms be it live or mice, in the dark, etc..

With ball pythons I would definitely shoot for the pre-killed of your choice but I would also be prepared for live if you get one of those:snake::rage:

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Originally Posted by angllady2

Well, you can't take the impression of snakes at a show you see for maybe 15 minutes as a way to judge how the breeder keeps the snakes all the time.

By the same token, have you ever been to a cat or dog adoption event ? The animals are crammed into tiny cages or crates and usually look pretty depressed and unhappy. Do you think those cats and dogs are kept that way all the time ? Of course not. But it would be impossible to have 20 cats and 15 dogs running around playing and hiding instead of being adopted. :colbert:

Same thing with snake shows. I mean, you'd be less than thrilled if you were taken from your nice, warm familiar tub at home, plopped into a cramped, unheated box with no hide under bright lights with all these things picking you up and poking at you all day too. Cut the breeders some slack. :rolleyes: No one is going to buy a snake they cannot see, and no show has the room for every vendor to bring 8 or 10 full sized racks, not to mention how to heat said racks.

I've bought many snakes from shows, and I've also made some very knowledgeable friends at shows.

As to making the switch, most snakes will change over given some time and if you make the effort.

Gale

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Yea, you do raise a valid point :oops:. I never really thought about it that way.

What do you think of reptile specialty stores? We have several in the area all of which breed their own BP's, corns, etc, etc. I called and prices are reasonable considering I wont have to pony up shipping costs. Some they feed f/t, some they feed live, which is fine by me so long as I can get one of the f/t variety. Reviews on google are promising.

A local reptile specialty store is can be a good option if you are fortunate enough to have one.

My advice there is visit each store a few different times. Go on different days of the week, and at different times of the day. Talk to a few different employees if possible. I would say over the course of two or three weeks.

This gives you the best chance of getting a realistic view of each store. If you talk to at least three different employees and they all seem like the know their stuff. If you watch them in action with other customers and you like what you see and hear, if the animals are kept clean and appear healthy and well cared for over a period of time, then I'd say you've found a gem and I'd start picking out my new snake.

If however, your first impression is good, and later in the week someone tries to convince you that ball pythons are vegetarians that live in water. And the shed that was in the corner of that cornsnake cage 2 weeks ago is still there along with a pile of poo. If a customer with a concern or complaint is treated poorly or ignored. Then I say pass on that store and keep looking.

Just remember, ball pythons are plentiful and easy to acquire, so wait for the one you like, from someone you feel comfortable with.

Gale