Wild caught bps

Is it a good idea to get a wild caught adult female ball python?

If I had a chance to get a female adult that I knew for a fact was wild caught, I would jump at the chance.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rat160

If I had a chance to get a female adult that I knew for a fact was wild caught, I would jump at the chance.

---

Why?

always had an interest in wild caught snakes, plus sometimes you may find a hidden gene or something. Sure its probably rare but I still think wild caught snakes tend to have cooler patterns and such. If you think about it all the morphs we have today all stemmed from wild caught snakes.

Getting a wild caught BP requires some skill and a lot of patience.
For one depending on where and who you got the snake from it may need to be treated for parasites.
Also being wild caught and being as ball pythons typically are, they are bound to not eat for you for you several weeks since they have just been snatched out for their natural habitat and gone thru who knows what stresses to get to you.
they are also likely to be far more snappy since encountering people was not at all part of their former daily lives.

I myself have had 3 WC females in the past { thats 1 of them in my avatar} and after about 2 months of trying to get them to adjust the person I bought then from graciously took them back as I had gotten in over my head with them. I later on got a LTC (Long term Captive) male, which is still a W.C. but they have been in captivity for at least a year prior. I still have him to this day and he still proves to be my most finiky eater but he sure does like to breed lol. if only the females would take -_-

If you dont have previous experience with them I wouldnt suggest it

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kyote19

Getting a wild caught BP requires some skill and a lot of patience.
For one depending on where and who you got the snake from it will need to be treated for parasites.
Also being wild caught and being as ball pythons typically are, they are bound to not eat for you for you several weeks since they have just been snatched out for their natural habitat and gone thru who knows what stresses to get to you.
they are also likely to be far more snappy since encountering people was not at all part of their former daily lives.

I myself have had 3 WC females in the past { thats 1 of them in my avatar} and after about 2 months of trying to get them to adjust the person I bought then from graciously took them back as I had gotten in over my head with them. I later on got a LTC (Long term Captive) male, which is still a W.C. but they have been in captivity for at least a year prior. I still have him to this day and he still proves to be my most finiky eater but he sure does like to breed lol. if only the females would take -_-

---

ANd the snake in your picture is AMAZING!!! I would seriouy take a WC in a heartbeat. I only wish I could import.

FYI Importing Wild Caught snakes is how the GHI ball was discovered!

:P I know thats where the GHI came from, the GHI is drool worthy with what it does in combos and I'm hoping to land my own 'special something' one day with my CH, its really hard to find WC now a days, I know outback reptiles sell a few they had a WC spotnose they were selling last year.
but I'm fine with going after those weird /interesting CH babies that stand out. Sure it's after all the big names have rummaged thru them but you never know what awesomeness might have slipped thru the cracks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kyote19

:P I know thats where the GHI came from, the GHI is drool worthy with what it does in combos and I'm hoping to land my own 'special something' one day with my CH, its really hard to find WC now a days, I know outback reptiles sell a few they had a WC spotnose they were selling last year.
but I'm fine with going after those weird /interesting CH babies that stand out. Sure it's after all the big names have rummaged thru them but you never know what awesomeness might have slipped thru the cracks.

---

I havent heard good things about Outback and probably wouldnt buy from them though. Still I have a few projects up my sleeve. I have a couple snakes that are a little more than just Dinkers...

Have at least two that no one can tell me what they are...

not good things about outback?, I just bought an awesome CH baby from them last year, no problems on my end, I wonder whats been happening over there :confused:

Oh and you have any pics of the 'little more than dinkers' that I could see *wink wink * ;)

Male

http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_6072.jpg
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...9014277983.jpg

Female - Shes a really light colored banded with a really blushed head. She unfortunately slugged out last season.

http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...9014242063.jpg

Ohhh I'm really loving the banded one, her bred to an enchi could make some sweet crisp colored babies. She has a look to her thats like her genes might help 'neaten up' patterns :P

and I don't know what you have heard about outback or whatever reputation they have gotten lately but they are selling WC females right now on kingsnake, they are mostly WC gravid females. but there are a couple that are not gravid. just letting you know.

I would never presume to tell anyone what to do in this debate as it is very much to each his own, but I personally would never purchase a wild caught snake. I personally do not like the idea of taking a snake from its wild home and would never do it. Of course, that is just me, it in no way makes it wrong if you do. :)

Yes, I know all of our captive bred snakes are here because of importation, yes, importation is how we discover new morphs. I just would never want a wild caught or CH snake for my collection, I prefer my pets to be bred as pets and their wild cousins to stay wild.

Once again, that is just my choice. For those of you with wild caught snakes or who want wild caught snakes, I pass no judgement, you have every right to them provided you give them the best care possible. :) And Rat160, those are some beauties you have there!!

I have 4 WC females and they are PITA feeders. I wouldn't suggest WC unless you are experienced.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Maddumpling

Is it a good idea to get a wild caught adult female ball python?

---

personally I would avoid it. There's no reason for wild caught imports anymore. The captivity production is huge now. The only reason I can see for importing a wild caught female is if your importing a brand new morph or mutation to try to introduce it into the market. There are so many risks and downfalls to bringing a wild caught snake into your collection - for me, I wouldn't mess around with them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Emily Hubbard

I would never presume to tell anyone what to do in this debate as it is very much to each his own, but I personally would never purchase a wild caught snake. I personally do not like the idea of taking a snake from its wild home and would never do it. Of course, that is just me, it in no way makes it wrong if you do. :)

Yes, I know all of our captive bred snakes are here because of importation, yes, importation is how we discover new morphs. I just would never want a wild caught or CH snake for my collection, I prefer my pets to be bred as pets and their wild cousins to stay wild.

Once again, that is just my choice. For those of you with wild caught snakes or who want wild caught snakes, I pass no judgement, you have every right to them provided you give them the best care possible. :)

---

Totally this. With all of the CB snakes avaliable to us I don't agree with importing at all. BUUUUT... to each their own ;)

WC adult female BPs are known to never lay clutches and the few that do are said to take years to settle before clutches are seen.

I used rescue WC bps back in the '90's. They ARE a PITA. Everyone I rescued had mites and sores where live food was thrown in their cages and they didn't eat. Some had cases of mouth or scale rot. None ate for me for months it seemed. They're very skittish and will ball up at everything unfamiliar to them which makes it difficult to treat them.

WC demands alot of time and patience. They can be very rewarding animals, but not for an inexperienced keeper.