Axanthic Ball Python!

I was wondering regarding a price on an axanthic Ball python I found on BHB Reptiles.
It's 300. Yet it's simply gorgeous, and born earlier this year!
i've heard many great things from BHB, and would like some community based input!

http://bhb-reptiles.myshopify.com/co...ll-python-male

Brian Barczyk (from BHB) and Mike Wilbanks are the biggest breeders; BHB has a permanent collection of between 10000 and 20000 animals.

i dont think you can go wrong here.

I've just heard of their reputation. And I can spend that money.
Well I've got to buy a tank and all the goodies first.


Funny, my last name is wilbanks aswell, what're the odds.

I'm not certain if that's the exact one you get in the pic, but if that's generally representative of their average axanthic male (I suspect it is from them) then I'd say go for it.

ETA: is there a reason you're looking at a male instead of a female? Just curious.

BHB is great as far as their animal quality goes. Only 300 for a male? Wow, they've gone down since the last time I looked.

The only major problem I've heard from BHB is mites, but treatment and QT can knock those out easy. Always QT new animals no matter where you get them. :gj:

Sent from my warm hide

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Badgemash

I'm not certain if that's the exact one you get in the pic, but if that's generally representative of their average axanthic male (I suspect it is from them) then I'd say go for it.

ETA: is there a reason you're looking at a male instead of a female? Just curious.

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I've read (No real experience here, only text intelligence haha) that the females get much larger. and I want to keep it under a maintainable size as to where I will never need two people to pick it up or anything.
Now my turn for the questions, why do you ask?
Inform me of more differences, since I know I don't know them all!

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Originally Posted by Archimedes

BHB is great as far as their animal quality goes. Only 300 for a male? Wow, they've gone down since the last time I looked.

The only major problem I've heard from BHB is mites, but treatment and QT can knock those out easy. Always QT new animals no matter where you get them. :gj:

Sent from my warm hide

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I'm brutally new here, so I need some filling in!
on the terminology there, QT?

A female will only get to about 4.5-5 foot, at the most. In rare instances they have been larger.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by reptilesbeforemammal

I've read (No real experience here, only text intelligence haha) that the females get much larger. and I want to keep it under a maintainable size as to where I will never need two people to pick it up or anything.
Now my turn for the questions, why do you ask?
Inform me of more differences, since I know I don't know them all!

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I'm brutally new here, so I need some filling in!
on the terminology there, QT?

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A female ball python usually at most gets to 5 feet. You will never need two people to manage a ball python. They don't get that big. I made the "mistake" of buying a male ball python as my first one. I thought I'd never breed so I picked a male so he'd hopefully be smaller. Well two weeks into owning him and finding this forum I knew that's exactly what I wanted to do one day. But now I have a male taking the space where I could have a female growing up to size for when I'm ready to breed ball pythons (in about two years). Now don't get me wrong he's my favorite, but I sure do wish he was a she. If I were you, I'd start with a female.

QT- quarantine.

Quarantine! :) basically, you keep your new ball separate from any other reptiles you have, preferably in another room so there's no chance is contamination from the newcomer. That way, if the new guy has any health issues (respiratory infection, mites, pathogens, parasites), they can be monitored and treated without concern of spreading it through your collection. The reccomended amount of time for QT varies between a month and three months, but it's personal preference as to how long it lasts.

Sent from my warm hide

Females do get bigger, but not much. My female axanthic is also my avatar pic here, she's an average size for an adult girl at 2,300 grams (about 5 lbs.), I can still pick her up with one hand. I asked about females only because you would then have to option to pick up a nice combo gene male in the future if you want to breed, males are generally cheaper than females. If you have no interest in breeding then just pick out something you like.

Definitely search around the forums here and learn as much as you can before you commit to one, it will save you a lot of future headaches.

a male axanthic is still useful for later breeding; you could later get a female fire het axanthic or enchi het axanthic or both and use the male.

its the normal males and the basic single-gene males that dont really fit in a breeding project later on. a visual recessive male may still be quite useful.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Archimedes

Quarantine! :) basically, you keep your new ball separate from any other reptiles you have, preferably in another room so there's no chance is contamination from the newcomer. That way, if the new guy has any health issues (respiratory infection, mites, pathogens, parasites), they can be monitored and treated without concern of spreading it through your collection. The reccomended amount of time for QT varies between a month and three months, but it's personal preference as to how long it lasts.

Sent from my warm hide

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Ah! Okay! Yeah I have a friend with a baby brazilian rainbow, and a regular female ball, and he informed me of this! He said it's a crucial moment to not handle too much, as they're anxiety is a little racey due to all the new territory and faces and all that goodness.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marrissa

A female ball python usually at most gets to 5 feet. You will never need two people to manage a ball python. They don't get that big. I made the "mistake" of buying a male ball python as my first one. I thought I'd never breed so I picked a male so he'd hopefully be smaller. Well two weeks into owning him and finding this forum I knew that's exactly what I wanted to do one day. But now I have a male taking the space where I could have a female growing up to size for when I'm ready to breed ball pythons (in about two years). Now don't get me wrong he's my favorite, but I sure do wish he was a she. If I were you, I'd start with a female.

QT- quarantine.

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Yeah? I'll research some more then. I've noticed they're solely more expensive, why is that? I'm sure I'm not going to be breeding, just want a new scaly friend. Any other prominent male v. female traits?

My 13 year old female is easy to handle. She's 2300grams (5lbs lol) and right around five foot.


My Zoo:
Hera [2300g normal female] Warlo [1100g pinstripe male]
Willow [400g bumblebee female] Godric [800g pastel male]
Apollo [100g orange ghost male] Castiel [55g BRB]
Keika & Woo [pugs female] General Tsao [pug male]
Flynn & Jack [male bunnies] Leo [husband]

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I feel it'd take me years of studying before I could even briefly touch on the breeding subject!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hazardous_Pink

My 13 year old female is easy to handle. She's 2300grams (5lbs lol) and right around five foot.


My Zoo:
Hera [2300g normal female] Warlo [1100g pinstripe male]
Willow [400g bumblebee female] Godric [800g pastel male]
Apollo [100g orange ghost male] Castiel [55g BRB]
Keika & Woo [pugs female] General Tsao [pug male]
Flynn & Jack [male bunnies] Leo [husband]

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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So you're recommending female as well? :o
Are they more expensive due to breeding possibilities?

yes, females are generally more expensive due to breeding possibilities.

also they take longer and need more weight before they can be bred, so the price of a female goes up as she gains weight.

Axanthics and Pieds are my favorite. Next expo is Oct13 and I'm looking for one or the other and getting one if I get get it to a reasonable price. Babies ofcourse

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Badgemash

Females do get bigger, but not much. My female axanthic is also my avatar pic here, she's an average size for an adult girl at 2,300 grams (about 5 lbs.), I can still pick her up with one hand. I asked about females only because you would then have to option to pick up a nice combo gene male in the future if you want to breed, males are generally cheaper than females. If you have no interest in breeding then just pick out something you like.

Definitely search around the forums here and learn as much as you can before you commit to one, it will save you a lot of future headaches.

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I hope you don't need two hands to pick up 5 lbs,that would be pretty sad