Where did you purchase your first BP....breeder or pet store?

To all BP owners,We all started somewhere,what became of our first BP,What was the overall health of the animal,and if you have more,where do you go for them now ? Seems to me that the general concensus is that breeder is the way to go,allthough im curious if the majority of us bought at the 'Dreaded '' pet store.which im not sure but they seem to be getting a bad rap overall...input please....:rolleyes::confused:

I got mine from a breeder. I did my research, and knew who to visit when there was a local reptile show. I liked being able to see all the snakes in person before I made a decision.

I got my first one from a pet store, as I didn't know any breeders. My second animal came from a breeder, and the very large snake I'm getting in a few weeks will come from a rescue.

If I get any more snakes, they will probably come from a rescue.;)

we got our normal from a pet barn. she was healthy and well fed, but she had mites so a lil PAM and mite-off and she was fine.

I have to admit that I got my very first BP from a pet store. It had mites and was not feeding properly. Lesson learned. I now only get my snakes from breeders.

My first BP was purchased from Brian Barczyk about 10 years ago. He has always been great to work with which is why I continue to to buy from him.

I got mine online at petsolutions and it came looking really good i bought another one this year
They don't tell the sex or morph but its healthy when i took it to the vet they said it was so that's were i buy from and they are very good feeders to never had a picky snake from them it ate soon as it got to me

my first was from a pet store and now from breeds becase of the types iam looking for are not in many pet store.

I got mine from a local breeder. He breeds and buy clutches of eggs. I don't know if he, the previous owner, or a random somebody actually bred the parents. She was in good health, but they didn't keep a feeding record which would have come in handy. Had a hard time getting her to eat. I'v only bought one more snake from him. My other two were bought from a show and online.

Preferably, I like to see the snake in person before buying it.

got mine from a breeder at a local exhibition

My first was a surprise Bday present from my now ex wife, she got her at petland and was notorious for stuff like that, buying stuff a guy should really pick up himself. . I did however know the guy that did produce them as I was starting to look into getting one, she was and is healthy. I now will only be getting my "planned" snakes from Breeders, but accidents sometimes happen, Like the 2 $50 "proven breeder" females I picked up last month, hope they prove for me.

I got my first BP's from a reputable online breeder. We don't have many shows in my area, and none of them are very large, so selection is just better online. I was soooo tempted so many times to pick up those sad little critters from the Petsmart though. Very glad I didn't, absolutely gaga for my pastel girl and mojo boy :D

First was a pet store then a breeder. Both were/are healthy and have always eaten good. The one from the breeder would not and still won't take F/T but I am working on him.

I got mine at a little pet store in a mall in Las Cruces, NM. Wasn't any internet then (at least nowhere near like it is now) to look for breeders.

Im new to the herping community so i currently only have my first snake. I got her from the pet store because i dont know any breeders in my area. I have not had any problems with her so far though. She is healthy, eats well, and is very sweet. But now that i do more and more research, i will get my future animals from a breeder (if i can find one near me)

I picked up mine from the local PetSmart. I don't really regret buying from a chain. Mine was pretty healthy and they provided feeding charts and everything, only thing was they were feeding him pinkies when he should have been eating small adult mice so he was giving them a problem with feeding due to prey size. Since I've had him, he eats great and is up to a healthy weight. I would buy from a breeder if I get a second one though, just more of a piece of mind thing.

I got mine from a petsmart as well. It seems to be a common theme that they're underfed there. I'm beginning to suspect that it's because they want the snakes hungry so they're almost guaranteed to eat the first time you try after taking them home.

Then again, I have to say that I've never run into any of the feeding issues everyone else seems to have with BP's. Just a few attempts to eat the mice sideways before I increased the food size.

Got all 3 of mine are from pet stores... All of them are 100% fine.. I see no evil really..

I purchased my very first ball python when I was 8 years old, which was a birthday present from my Dad. It came from a small pet store, not a chain, and it died shortly after. I now buy mostly from reputable breeders, unless there is something in a ball python that really catches my eye.

i guess you could say both.....the breeder I have gotten all my snakes from actually owns a pet store....

My first Balls were a pair of Pastels purchased from Ralph Davis in 2002

I got my first BP (Delilah) at a pet shop, but this shop happens to be a well-respected "veteran" in the business - East Bay Vivarium in Berkeley CA. She was perfectly healthy, mite-free, and is still doing great today! :gj:

The snakes I've gotten since have come from breeders, expos, people on forums, and I also got one more snake at East Bay Viv... my beautiful little Jungle Carpet Python named Kipling.

Breeder out of Winston Salem, NC. I don't buy from pet stores when it comes to animals. All pets come from breeders........well except my beta fish, but he is mainly decoration. hah

Guilty As Charged:
My first BP was from a pet store, but Zeus has an awesome personality and he was free of any defects (besides some stuck shed so all in all besides the outrageous price he was a good buy and i wouldn't trade him for the world

I purchased mine from an exotic's pet store, they have been around for at least 30 years and all they sell are reptiles and some fish. My boy was very healthy and once I had picked him out they fed him in front of me to show that he was a good eater. I do visit the store often and they are always happy when I bring him in so they can see how he is doing, if I were to buy another one I would go back to them again.

i didnt even know that there was different morphs of balls before i bought mine i was just really attracted to its colors when i saw it in the store and part of me regrets buyin my girl from Petco but i wouldnt trade her for the world shes my first and i love her

I purchased my first snake online from a breeder, I did my research and they seemed to check out. I got a cute baby Axanthic. Seems healthy, so far. I just got him. Thus, my reason for joining this forum.

If I ever buy another ball python it will definitely be from a breeder! I hope to start breeding them in a few years. They're really too awesome to have just one, plus I've always been into genetics. However, I'm currently very happy with just one. :)

Also, I went to Pet Co and I saw three ball pythons in like a ten gallon, it was horrible. And they were all kind of in the same corner... ball pythons shouldn't be in the same tank especially a tank that small. Ugh, never buying any type of reptile there.

My first was online. The only pet store ones I purchased were owner surrendered adult females.

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Originally Posted by coldbloodaddict

My first Balls were a pair of Pastels purchased from Ralph Davis in 2002

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I bet the majority of the members would be shocked what you paid as well.

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My very first bp came from a reptile shop near where I live, we are very frequent visitors there, and I know there animals come from local breeders if not the owners themselves. So technically I believe I did both petstore and breeder lol. Since then I have rescued 2 adults from different situations and bought 2 possible het pieds from a breeder. (crossing my fingers on those 2 in about 3 ish years :D)

Because I work at a chain petstore (the horror I know) I am very careful about what reptiles I buy from chains, because I am "in charge" of the reptiles in my store I would buy from there. However unless I knew who was in charge of the reptile section I would be very careful about buying from a petstore.

I did get my very first snake from my store, he was a owner surrender, and I cant stress how lucky I have been to have him.

I bought my Spider a few weeks ago from a breeder in VA and the animal was/is in excellent health. he is a great feeded, has a perfect temperment (never hisses or stikes) and is very active when I take him out of his tub. I was extremely happy with the breeded.

I now have a Bumblebee female being shipped in approx 3 weeks, and the breeded has been emailing me for the past few weeks with constant updates on her feeding and health. The breader has a PHD and is a vet, so I feel lucky to be able to get an animal from him. He is also genuine and willing to help me learn. he seems like a great person!

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Originally Posted by rabernet

I bet the majority of the members would be shocked what you paid as well.

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Oh Yeah!!!

It was $5,000 for the pair! The female was a hatchling, the male had a little size to him and was breeding for me in no time.

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Originally Posted by coldbloodaddict

Oh Yeah!!!

It was $5,000 for the pair! The female was a hatchling, the male had a little size to him and was breeding for me in no time.

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HOLY@#%%^^&...Wow you must really like your BP,S..As much as I love my Jazz..dont think I would spend that much:O

I got my first ball python..gee, I don't even remember... at least 10 years ago? I know I was in middle school at the time, so maybe as much as 13 years ago. It was from a little mom and pop store (don't remember the name, they're out of business now I think) in Abilene, TX. I saved up all my money to pay for him, I remember he was $99 and that was the most money I had ever spent on something. My parents bought the tank for me, of course we had the no-no heat rock, light, screen-top 20 long tank, etc. and despite it all that guy ate like a pig and thrived, no problems at all! I still have him to this day, even though he's 'just' a male normal I wouldn't even think of getting rid of him :D

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Originally Posted by wuffielover

I got my first ball python..gee, I don't even remember... at least 10 years ago? I know I was in middle school at the time, so maybe as much as 13 years ago. It was from a little mom and pop store (don't remember the name, they're out of business now I think) in Abilene, TX. I saved up all my money to pay for him, I remember he was $99 and that was the most money I had ever spent on something. My parents bought the tank for me, of course we had the no-no heat rock, light, screen-top 20 long tank, etc. and despite it all that guy ate like a pig and thrived, no problems at all! I still have him to this day, even though he's 'just' a male normal I wouldn't even think of getting rid of him :D

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I just recently bought my first bp, a pied female & she came from a breeder. In the past as far as my other snakes, some came from pet shops, some from expos, & some from breeders. Now I prefer breeders & expos to pet shops.
I had to respond to your post as I live 60 miles north of Abilene, Tx. & possibly the pet shop you bought your first bp was Pam's Pets & Fish. If so, they are still open & still selling normals & sometimes pastels. Just thought you might like to know, if that was the place. :)

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I had to respond to your post as I live 60 miles north of Abilene, Tx. & possibly the pet shop you bought your first bp was Pam's Pets & Fish. If so, they are still open & still selling normals & sometimes pastels. Just thought you might like to know, if that was the place.

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No, it wasn't Pam's (I remember their name, lol!), it was the little place on S 14th... apparently it burned down a few years ago :O

My first one I got at a pet store, but it was on consignment from a breeder for less than 8 hours. Does that count ;)

The three others I got from breeders (Matt Jackson also on consignment & Chad Ramsey)

Mine Cane from Petsmart and only for 2 reasons. 1, I saw him, decided I wanted him specifically, then did my research and got em. 2, Ive talked to the people that handle their reptiles in person and they were pretty well-versed. One of them even graduated from my academy, which focuses on biology and science. I probably wouldn't trust any other Petsmart.

I just got my first snake, a BP, about a month ago. Her previous keepers put an ad on craigslist to trade a stereo for her. I just so happened to have the stereo they were looking for! lol I had no intentions of keeping her, I was after a certain boa at the LPS that I work PT at. She is about 4 years old and hadn't been handled for at least 2 years when I got her. When she un-balled, the horror of her condition became aparent. I diddn't have the heart to sell her or even place her. Her name is Anapo. She is my first snakey and she is so docile, sweet and thriving in my, albeit novice, care. :D

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Originally Posted by wuffielover

No, it wasn't Pam's (I remember their name, lol!), it was the little place on S 14th... apparently it burned down a few years ago :O

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Yep, it was burned down by the people who broke in & stole their animals. The owners did rebuild & reopen, but never was able to recoup their losses & closed down for good. Funny thing tho', the man responsible for the break-in & fire was killed by his son sometime after the fire. That's how the police found out who did it. Many of the animals & supplies were in the house where it happened. I miss that store, they had some interesting reptiles.

Both my snakes came from breeders. If I ever saw an animal I wanted in a petstore, I might get it. For now, though, I like what I get from breeders. I've never been to a show. Maybe someday!

I got both of my BP's from both a pet store and a breeder... lol

I bought them both from Ben Siegel's brick and mortar in South Florida. They were extremely helpful when I bought the first one. Even going so far as to do everything they could to make my girlfriend, who wasn't a fan of snakes, comfortable with them prior to leaving. She now loves the snakes and will pull them out and hold them.

They are a 45 min drive for me but the customer service and animals are worth the drive for me.

Mine is coming from a breeder as the local PetCo charges $90 for a normal (which i was willing to pay as I want a python very badly) and they are all very sickly and have mites...=[[[[
My snake is coming from RobinsReptiles but I originally saw him with the WildMorphs.com guys at a W.A.R.E. show.

Got my ball as an unexpected birthday gift from a pet store...he had mites, but was otherwise healthy and a good feeder/good personality. I'll likely get future balls from a good breeder, but hey my parents didn't know any better :P

Oh...and for a normal, he was pricey...around $100 I believe. Ouch.

I got mine from a great local pet store called tropical hut in oregon
They breed there own snakes mine is doing perfect

Our first BP came from PetCo. His name is Charlie, and he is the most tame snake we have.

Our second is Lucy, she is our little snot. She has an attitude problem, but when my husband picks her up, she calms right down.

Superman, our pastel, came from a breeder.

Our boa came from Glades, and our Blood came from Rich Crowley.

Got my first BP from what is widely known as a reputable reptile store. She was sick. The other one I bought at the same time died in a week. The store would not refund or replace him. I paid about $200.00 at the vet to save the other one which needed many shots, fluids, de wormer etc.

I don't support that store because of this but I still have that first BP and she will be 8 years old this April.

Pastel at the Toronto Expo last year from a breeder named Dennis haha he was auctely a cool guy and sold me a healthy and happy BP! :D :gj:

our first bp, a little spider male, came from Michael Munro of Hidebox Pythons