Does size matter?

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Originally Posted by Mitch21

Here goes another thread... lol

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I know what you mean. How did asking a simple question turn into this?

While Mike's delivery may not have been the best, he raises some valid points. For me personally, when I decided that I wanted to breed, I took the time to selectively choose several BABY female ball pythons that I took 2.5 years to raise to breeding weight.

During that time, I learned a lot more about the husbandry and care of ball pythons that was invaluable to me before I ever paired my first snakes.

A breedable sized female is not likely to breed for you in her first year in your collection. They don't adapt well to change and often need a full year to settle in before they'll be receptive to breeding.

I have a female on breeder loan with someone - the male that we agreed she is to be paired with is not ready to breed yet (she was bred to another of their males last season). When asked if I wanted to just bring her home and breed her myself, we decided that the stress of moving her back here would result in a lost season anyway, so she's staying at this breeder's to breed in the '09/'10 season.

Why not just take the time to choose some beautiful baby girls and raise them up yourself to breeding weight? In the meantime, you have 2 years to choose some really cool males to pair them with and great experience under your belt! :)

I suggest a female no smaller than the male.

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

I have seen so many people come and go in these forums that follow the same steps you have taken so far.

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Originally Posted by M&J in NC

:bow: Mike,
Thanks for your concern. It's true that I am new to BPs. But this is a new hobby that I really enjoy. So who are you to judge me? Why do you feel the need to bash others?

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Ah, I see you have taken the next step. Someone shows concern for what you are doing and tries to explain things to you and you consider it bashing you, and judging you.. LOL!

Let me ask you this. lets say you have a friend that adopted a puppy (their first dog) just 2 short months ago. They took the puppy in and gave it a loving home. The puppy adjusts well and is very happy in his new home. Within a couple of weeks your friend realizes, even though he knows NOTHING about it, there may be a buck or two to make by breeding another breed of dog. So what does he do? he turns around and tries to dump the puppy he just adopted so he can try to get a different one that he can breed and make money even though he has absolutely no idea what he is doing. Keep in mind there was absolutely nothing wrong with the first puppy. there were no behavior issues, it fit perfectly into the home... It was just a different color, and its babies weren't worth as much money.

Never mind new bee, I am done with you. As far as the ASF's go, considering I am one of (if not the) largest producers of ASF's in the SouthEast, it is people like me that make it possible for people like you to get into such a wonderful species. To talk about the tragic experience I had recently in such a way tells us a lot about you and your character.

This is normally where I would wish you good luck, but to be honest, I'm just not feeling it.

Good Day

Darn Mike...I love puppies........:P

Thank you Robin and Eddie for your replies. Being new to this hobby, I always appreciate when people take the time to give me helpful info.

Thanks again

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

This is normally where I would wish you good luck, but to be honest, I'm just not feeling it.

Good Day

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Agreed. You are taking this way too personally and defensively. This community is here to help, but it is all based on constructive criticism. If you are just going to label all of the advice as bashing because it doesn't fit into your little scheme, then don't expect the greatest welcome. We love having new people getting into the hobby....when they do their homework. Inexperienced keepers that get in above their eyeballs creates bad PR for all of us.

By the way, don't ever tell me to mind my own business after asking a question to which you would like a response in a public forum. It is rude and ignorant, and I only mean offense by the rude part.

I do not see any comparison between the human error Mike made, leaving out a water bottle, and the conscious decisions you are making.

As has been said, Mike's approach was not necessarily the best, but the points he was trying to make are extremely valid.

Adam Wysocki said it best:

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

Ball pythons will teach you patience ... like it or not ...

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If you don't listen to us, the snakes will teach you.

As long as your ball goes to a good home, then I don't see any problems with it. I also do not think that selling a snake and selling a dog is the same thing. Dogs become attached to their owner. Snakes don't care who their owner is as long as their enclosures are clean, and they are fed and watered. If you want to sell your ball and buy others to breed then do that. Just make sure that you do your research and are ready for the responsibility of breeding and raising clutches. They may not sell as easily as you would think.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

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Originally Posted by Wh00h0069

I also do not think that selling a snake and selling a dog is the same thing. Dogs become attached to their owner. Snakes don't care who their owner is as long as their enclosures are clean, and they are fed and watered.

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I both agree and disagree with this to a certain extent. while a snake does not get emotionally attached, it does get attached to every last detail of the owners climate and husbandry practices.

You have to factor in the fact that it is EXTREMELY stressful on the snake to move and change owners. This is the same reason why adult females often times will not breed the first year you have them. If I am reading other posts correctly the snake in question is 9 years old. How many different owners has it had during that time? Look, there is obviously nothing wrong with selling a snake. :gj:

All I am saying is if you agree to take on the responsibilities of owning a snake, and caring for it... and you put it through the stress of a move, and then turn around and try to dump it off on someone else a month later because it no longer fits your new get rich quick breeding plans... that is not good.