Taking ball to the vet..some help please?

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Originally Posted by SnakeEyes

so if thats the case, then how would keeping a new snake QT for 90 days prove anything?

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Because IBD kills pythons in a matter of weeks. If they have IBD, they won't survive the 90 days.

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Originally Posted by ollie

LORDJACKEL - About trusting and not trusting the breeder..iv never got snakes from him before..so im alittle bit nervous about it..i dont think i have any real reason to be..just i just need to make sure these snakes im getting will turn into good breeder's..they weight from 1300g - 1900g..but before i try any type of breeding with them i want them 100% top condition..eating great..ect..

Again thanks for all your replys :D

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Ollie,

For what it's worth, wild caught adult females rarely make good breeders. They just don't adapt as well to captivity.

Now if these were bush babies from Africa and raised up in captivity, that's a different story, but if captured as adults, your chances go way down.

Dave and Tracy Barker address this in Pythons of the World Vol II: Ball Pythons

There really are no short-cuts to breeding. I suspect someone's offered you a great deal on 10 breedable sized females. You have to ask yourself why it's such a great deal.

I'd much rather see you get some young ball females and take a couple of years to raise them yourself.

I'm perhaps confused here. These are breedable size females, WC's that have been in captivity for 12 months and 10% of them haven't eaten in a year???? Somethings not right about that. Do you have recommendations on this importer from others? What sort of guarantee do you have on live arrival, health, proper sexing, etc.? Do you have current weights on all ten? Have you any experience dealing with adult wild caught ball pythons? Sounds like you don't already have a relationship with a vet experienced with snakes.

Like Robin said adult WC's are an iffy proposition. I have one here we rescued and she's yet to stablize enough weightwise to consider her breedable (at least in our opinion). I can't imagine taking on 10 of them. :eek:

Just a thought but rather than end up with 10 possible problems (they could in reality have been unpacked from Africa last week, they could have internal/external parasites, they could be all males...unless you know your supplier, it's a crap shot dear)...so rather than go through that what about putting that buying dollar towards something with less issues. How about a couple of nice 05 female bps from a good source, or some 06's even. If you could find a couple or three 05's you'd be ahead of the game, and if they are in good shape you could be ready to breed them next season.

Here's a link to a very reputable UK breeder.....

http://crystalpalacereptiles.com/categories.php?cat=11

Hey thanks again for all the replys..

Iv spoke to breeder about my conserns..and this is how it is..i can pay more..for feeding adult females..that have been in captivity for 3 yrs..they where wc babys

Or i can do what i was going to do and get the other ones what are much cheeper..some will feed and some wont..and they have been in captivity one year..

Im going to pay for for the feeder's that have been here for 3 years..he assures me that they are healthy ect..now as they have been in captivity 3 years..will they still be alright for breeding?

Thanks

Ollie

Ollie,


The ones that he's had for three years - when you say wild caught babies, do you really mean captive hatched and brought over here as babies?

Well started CH babies are fine. I would not touch a group of wild caught adult females no matter how long they've been in captivity - they just don't do as well and are generally very stressed out by captivity.

Still seems odd to me 1,300 to 1,900 grams and some of them haven't eaten in a year of captive life? Just doesn't add up to me. Do you have direct experience with getting WC adults going? As well remember that weight is only one determination for suitability to breed. A very big, long female at 1,900 grams might be very underweight and 1,300 grams is not even minimum to try in my opinion. Did this supplier confirm they've all been treated for both internal and external parasites?

They have been in captivity for around 3 years in Africa or Ghana to be exact and you can tell this when you see the snakes they are great snakes.

These snakes are originally from the wild but have been in our shippers captive breeding farm for at least three years

^ That is what the breeder has said..

Then he has other ones that have been around in captivity for only 1yr- i have 100% definutly ruled them out!

The ones the breeder is talking about now..( the bit i quoted ) they are feeding..

What do you think?

Im starting to think id be alot better getting some baby normal females..

Thanks

Ollie

I'm sorry Ollie, I will be the first to admit that I don't know squat about African shippers, but it seems odd to me that they are:

a) keeping WC females for three years just for the sake of keeping them when they collect eggs each season from the wild and release the females that they don't decide to keep to sell in the same season

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These snakes are originally from the wild but have been in our shippers captive breeding farm for at least three years

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b) If they WERE using them as breeders, why are they now selling them? Were they not producing for them? You'd think if they were producing, they wouldn't want to sell them only to have to replace them with new breeders if they've already established these.

Get you some nice babies and take the time to raise them up yourself. Joanna already suggested that you contact Crystal Palace, and I agree with her.

Im not getting them at all im keeping clear.. :)

Thank you all for all your help


Ollie