First snake and first expo tomorrow

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Neal

Too many snakes to keep birth records and feeding records? That's a pathetic excuse and would of proved my point exactly. Sean Bradley & Tim Bailey both have over 1000 snakes and both of them keep birthing records. Now even with Tim having 1000 snakes he keeps feeding records on all of his snakes. He just wants the money without having to put the time and effort into it. So if I were you I'd never waste my time with that breeder again.

Definitely post pictures once you get a chance. What did you end up paying? I'm curious.

---

^x2

That breeder should have feeding/hatch records. That's just responsible keeping. It sounds like this breeder just wanted to make a sale and doesn't care much for the animal. What if you had a question about what it was eating? There's no way ALL his babies are eating the same prey item. I only have 7 babies in my baby rack now and some are eating live mice, F/T mice, live rats, and even F/T rats! AND THAT'S JUST 7 BABIES! Your baby could be eating anything.

Don't do business with anyone who can't even answer simple questions or be able to tell you when the baby is hatched, when it's last meal was and what it ate, and who it's parents are.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BHReptiles

^x2

That breeder should have feeding/hatch records. That's just responsible keeping. It sounds like this breeder just wanted to make a sale and doesn't care much for the animal. What if you had a question about what it was eating? There's no way ALL his babies are eating the same prey item. I only have 7 babies in my baby rack now and some are eating live mice, F/T mice, live rats, and even F/T rats! AND THAT'S JUST 7 BABIES! Your baby could be eating anything.

Don't do business with anyone who can't even answer simple questions or be able to tell you when the baby is hatched, when it's last meal was and what it ate, and who it's parents are.

---

He seemed pretty sure when he said she was eating prekilled rat pups, but I guess it's unlikely he just knew that snake off the top of his head since he had other pastel babies/juvies with him... He could have just as well been lying :/ Now I'm really nervous to see if she'll eat this coming weekend... I guess I'd better pick up some mice in case she doesn't take rats.

I'll definitely be pickier the next time I go to an expo, whether it's for a snake or a lizard, because I know this won't be the last time. I just hope this time works out okay, because she's a really sweet snake.

@bumblee1028: Thank you! I hope so too, haha.

I'd try the rat pups first. Who knows. The breeder may have been right

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Thalasuchus

He seemed pretty sure when he said she was eating prekilled rat pups, but I guess it's unlikely he just knew that snake off the top of his head since he had other pastel babies/juvies with him... He could have just as well been lying :/ Now I'm really nervous to see if she'll eat this coming weekend... I guess I'd better pick up some mice in case she doesn't take rats.

I'll definitely be pickier the next time I go to an expo, whether it's for a snake or a lizard, because I know this won't be the last time. I just hope this time works out okay, because she's a really sweet snake.

@bumblee1028: Thank you! I hope so too, haha.

---

You're welcome :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BHReptiles

I'd try the rat pups first. Who knows. The breeder may have been right

---

I'd also try rat pups first. My siblings and I just got our first ball pythons earlier this month, and all three of them have taken frozen/thawed rats each time we've offered - even though they were fed live when they were with the breeder, and he said the two smaller ones were fed mice and rats. We did wait a week before offering food, and we're now offering every 5 days.

If she doesn't go for the rat pup, you should still wait a few days before offering food again anyway, so I wouldn't buy any mice until after the first (or even second) feeding attempt with the rat pups. I am new, though, so someone please correct me if I'm wrong ;)

Neal and BHR are giving you great advice. Likely others too, I haven't read the whole thread.
Glad you did your homework and congrats on your new pick-up.

Pictures can lie(make things seem bigger), but from the looks of it she looks to be over 100 grams. I'd say she's most likely had at least 3 meals but I just don't like his excuses that he gave you when you inquired about the snake you were interested in. As far as her being nippy, that's why I said to hold them for a bit to let them warm up. They sometimes as babies won't strike if they're cold, but once they warm up like she did in the car you got a picture of her temperament(possibly). Though it may of just been briefly or she may be nippy for awhile and you'll have to work with her to get that out of her system.

I would say to try rat pups as well since he thinks that's what she's on. I mean judging by the picture size that's what I would have her on as well. The reason he did pre-killed is because the rat pups can bite, so if you choose to feed live just monitor her eating to make sure she gets a solid bite/coil and doesn't end up getting bit. I would try frozen thawed if it were me and all of my snakes eat frozen thawed because I find it works best for me, plus I don't raise my own rodents. If you have any questions feel free to message me or post a thread, whichever is easier.

Thank you all so much again, this is great. The only thing is I might have trouble acquiring frozen rat pups... No one had any left at the expo by the time I bought her, and the pet stores don't sell anything smaller than a small rat. I'm going to try a few local pet stores later this week to see what I can find. None of the suppliers I looked at online are shipping until way after Christmas, and I don't really want to spend bulk prices until I know what she'll eat.

@Neal: She hasn't struck at me at all, she just coiled up defensively a few times. When I held her at the expo she was very active and curious and not cold at all, slithering all over my hands and flickering her tongue at me and the people around me. A photographer there took a photo of her and she stretched out towards the lens. I don't know if she'll be nippy, I guess I'll have to handle her more to see (not for several more days though). She's just gotten nervous a few times and coiled up into that S shape. I'm willing to work with her if she's a little snappy though.

(Also, if I don't get a digital scale for Christmas, I'll buy myself one and get a weight on her by the end of the week.)

It won't let me edit my last post but I did find somewhere to order rat pups online, hopefully I'll have those by the end of the week and hopefully she'll eat for me. If she doesn't take those for a couple weeks, first off I'll contact her breeder and then try mice.

I haven't seen her at all since I brought her home, but maybe that's a good thing. (She's in there, just hiding.) If she's still hiding when I go to feed her, do I just zombie-dance the rat outside her hide?

Yep a hiding ball is a happy ball
:). Yes if she's not out just dance it by the hide.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Thalasuchus

I wound up with a female pastel from J & S Reptiles--it was a really small expo with local breeders from what I could tell. They said she was born in July, but didn't have weight or feeding records. He said he had way too many snakes for that. He also told me she was eating prekilled rat pups and was feeding well.

---

Way too many snakes to keep birth and feeding records on but not so many he knows the one you are about to buy is feeding well?

Sounds fishy.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Thalasuchus

order rat pups online, hopefully I'll have those by the end of the week and hopefully she'll eat for me. If she doesn't take those for a couple weeks, first off I'll contact her breeder

---

I'm not sure I see the point in contacting a breeder who has so many snakes he can't track them but all, but conveniently knows the one you are about to buy is a good feeder.

Good luck with her. Odds are she'll be fine and eat for you, so if you like her that's all that matters.