New Baby Ball Question

In all politeness, why would you buy such a small baby without demanding to have it fed before you bring it home? I would definately not want to spend $20, let alone $500-1K on a snake that was not reliably feeding, no matter what its age.
If it Was a rescue, all you hafta do is tell us; we are not bad people! We sit here for free online and take our time to help people with questions; it is not like we get paid in cash or something..

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by alilshadee

Thank you for the concern about how much money I spent on my snake even though no one knows the circumstances on why the snake had to be given away after 3 days after hatching.

---

Ok I'll try and help out here first of all did you buy the snake or was it given to you (this includes way cheep). I don't care about the price you paid. I care about the value the breeder placed on the animal. Example: a train wreck spinner or a kinked up ball, super small, or even slightly deformed means you got take for a fool and just gave the breeder your money for the privlage of messing with an animal that will only die. See a "breeder" is some one that has the animals best intrest in mind. Selling a three day old ball says I'm pushing these things as hard and fast as I can casue I have neither the time, space, money or experience to deal with hachlings and I'm in it for the money. Also if its not asking to much who did you get it from? We are a buyer and animal friendly group here and by leting us know who is doing business in this way we can then try and answer questions if they arise or even steer people clear of them if they are going to buy and are in your area. We do all this in the hope that your expeience will in the fature help some one else avoind the trouble your going through now.

Quote:

---

Also thank you for the advice on the enclosures... now I know how to house the rest of my 10 b/p's....you are right ,I don't have the experience with hatchlings that young, that is why I was asking for the feeding advice, not your opinions on how you think or do not think I can care for b/p's.

---

There are many tricks that will help getting a young ball started..Check this out for starts http://8ballpythons.com/journal/gett...ingseating.htm.

I hope this helps.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ginevive

paid in cash or something..

---

WHAT!!! You mean this check I just got is no good. And to think I had been sitting here all day keeping careful track of my hours. :rolleye2:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lord jackel

WHAT!!! You mean this check I just got is no good. And to think I had been sitting here all day keeping careful track of my hours. :rolleye2:

---

I know... Phoney money... my bank threw it back at me and laughed. It kinda hurt my feelings...:tears:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by alilshadee

Thank you for the concern about how much money I spent on my snake even though no one knows the circumstances on why the snake had to be given away after 3 days after hatching. Also thank you for the advice on the enclosures... now I know how to house the rest of my 10 b/p's....you are right ,I don't have the experience with hatchlings that young, that is why I was asking for the feeding advice, not your opinions on how you think or do not think I can care for b/p's.

---

You asked how to take care of a hatchling ball python and I told you. I'll remember to keep my advise to myself next time.

I apologize for offending anyone..I felt like I was being kinda attacked so again I apologize....I basically got handed a baby ball spider for free because the breeder is no longer with us and his mom gave me one..hence the 3 days old thing...you guys are right, I don't have the hatchling experience and I admit it..so any advice would be great because I will be recieving more here in a couple days.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rabernet

It's very unlikely that you'll get it to start on F/T. You'll need to find a source of rat pinks or hopper mice and feed her live to get her started. Wait until after her first shed.

---

The above is correct ( of course :bow: ) but it CAN be done - it's just a heck of a lot harder and infinately more frustrating on occasion. I had 3 hatchlings last november and started them all on F/T - but it took a long time;

they were hatched 21&22/11/06 -2 of them shed 1/12/06 and one retained.

I had a lot of problems geting any of them to start ( that's why you're better with live - at least most of them realise that is food) and used a lot of tricks and threw away a LOT of food.

One ate on 15/12/06, one on 14/1/07 and the last finally ate voluntarily on 19/4/07!

Now you don't need me to tell you that's a fairly horrible feeding record. If I'd had access to small enough live prey items I am certain thing's would have been a LOT better.

I hope you have no problems with your little spider and ask for any info you think might help. But, yeah starting the hatchlings can be tougher than keeping adults as you correctly guessed so have a good search on the forums for tips and tricks like those on Adams website and consider starting live if possible then trying to convert to F/T later.

Just my :2cent:



dr del