New to BPs..Story and question

also goto www.kingsnake.com and check the classifieds or the breeders section, tons of breeders there, start firing off emails :)

From what I've read and studied, I'd suggest that KS is definitely "buyer beware". Do some strong research before buying from an "unknown seller" (unknown to you) from KS. Instead, get in touch w/someone here that you're able to build a rapport with.....but that's just me.


You can also do some "digging" on Fauna in the BOI (Board of Inquiry) for feedback/info on breeders.


:)

RuLyn

Mike, welcome to BPNet. You're instincts about getting a BP from one of your local stores is bang on. For someone that's never had a ball python or raised a hatchling, pet stores are often the worst place to get one (not all stores, but a lot of them). Many pet store babies are fresh out of Africa, not well started, often dehydrated or non-feeding and carrying internal/external parasites. A snake from a store with employees that won't even handle the snake....big red flag on it's care there for me.

I have three of Will Bird's females (those that Robin mentioned) and they are fantastic snakes. Don't be worried about captive hatched snakes as long as they've been properly cared for once shipped into the States. It's the ones dumped in crummy pet stores or handled by snake flippers/jobbers that often don't do so well.

Your best option might be checking out a lot of the threads here. Most of the members that breed ball pythons have links to their websites. Do some reading, get a feel for each person and then contact them about a nice female 07. With a breeder you'll get a nice baby, properly sexed, with a feeding history, a hatch date, healthy and fit. You'll also have the breeders support as you learn to care for your new snake. That's really the best way to go for a newcomer as far as I'm concerned.

This is a link to the BOI which Robin mentioned. It's a handy place to check out breeders but in the end asking around and really checking folks out plus your own gut instincts will help you choose.

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...play.php?&f=13