What got you into BPs?

Is it an addiction now?

I have loved snakes since high school, we used to go snake hunting outside Lubbock, TX as often as we could. We would catch bull snakes, king snakes, hognose snakes, garters, and we have caught a few rattlers. To say I was hooked would be a bit of an understatement.

I got a ball python and a some sort of boa when I was a senior and then moved to college and my mom didn't want to take care of them so I had to sell them off.

Then back in 2011 I was browsing the internet and saw a Piebald Ball Python, oh the love came rushing back and I had to have one. I bought my first ball python in September of 2011 and it has been my drug of choice every since then, now I have over 100 and love it.

Over 100? LOL geesh!I assume you sell also? Lll

I've loved snakes and reptiles ever since I was a little girl, and contrictors have always been my favorites with their thick bodies and the shapes of their heads. So you can imagine it wasn't too far of a leap to get into ball pythons :) All the fatty joys of a constrictor in a conveniently sized package.

I've always loved reptiles, my mom surprised me with my first Corn Snake when I was in elementary school. And now I am back into it with my first Ball Python and Blood Python, and I hope to get a Carpet Python very soon. x3

i like snakes in general....and balls are the most "keepr friendly", so here i am....started with a normal, grew the collection to unmanageable number, thinned it now, now back to a more comfortable number of snakes and i hope to keep it that way...

Wanted a tarantula. Ended up with bp.

Almost three years ago I walked into a reptile store with my girlfriend and told the owner that I need a commitment in my life. That's how i got my Normal girl Faye.

Over time, I acquired four more. Personally, I don't think it's an addiction but definitely a passion. I enjoy each one of my snakes because each of them have their own personality and quirks. I think about possibly breeding to make amazing morphs but we'll see if that happens.

Here's where I might upset some folks... I feel like some people go a little bit overboard with the whole Ball Python "bug". I see so many threads on here where people who have barely bought their first BPs instantly looking to breed and start buying snakes like M&Ms. In my eyes it's irresponsible. These same people post threads on here months later how they're getting rid of their BPs for one reason or another.

If you're new, get a couple of BPs and enjoy them. Learn how to properly care for them (which takes time and experience) and then decide if breeding is something you're truly interested in.

Sorry for the rant..


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I impulse bought a ball python because i wanted something different, fell in love with snakes shortly after. Now i have 4 and plan on breeding when I graduate

Thanks for sharing folks!

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Originally Posted by Mr. Misha

Almost three years ago I walked into a reptile store with my girlfriend and told the owner that I need a commitment in my life. That's how i got my Normal girl Faye.

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I'm curious. What did the girlfriend have to say about that? (specifically the commitment comment hhaha)

As for me, when I was younger, I would always want to visit the pet stores in the mall to see the snakes and reptiles. My mother kept trying to get me more interested in cats or gerbils or something less scaly and more warm blooded, but once I held my first python I was a goner. I recently got my first girl, a Pin named Nagini and I can't wait to expand my collection once she grows to breeder weight. I figure by next year's CRBE I should be good to go!:D:D

Always have been a reptile guy. Started with turtles when I was around 10 and snakes were always fascinating. Got a job at Petco, got me into snakes in general. Bought my first 3 snakes that year. Always told myself if I ever got BPs, they'd be BELs.

Fast forward to 2011 and a friend was giving up his. I was a bit low in my snake interest at the time. He knew I was into snakes so him and his wife adopted Petey to me. He went on a food strike for 4 months, I found this site and now I'm back into snakes again hardcore in general. I only have plans to add for 5-7 more BPs to my collection with a long list of other boas and other colubrids I want to add as well. :)

My daughter wanted a snake. I said no way in H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEY STICK. My husband said maybe. I ended up outvoted and she ended up with a California King snake that changed my mind.

That was two years ago.

I have always loved snakes but as a kid my mom wouldn't let me have any due to my sisters fear of them. So after I finished college in 2007 I picked up my first snake, an okatee corn. It wasn't but a few months later that I adopted my first ball python who I named Bubbles. I also got a red tail boa about the same time. Then my love for snakes hit a new level when I started working with retics. They were a game changer and they reignited my passion for snakes. I then got into keeping different morphs and breeding of balls and retics. Now i have 35 plus snakes and I am absolutely addicted and couldn't be happier.

I love all kinds of animals and have always had a variety. What really go me into snakes and reptiles is my aunt and uncle. They owned a tattoo shop and when I was young my aunt would watch me. I spent a lot of time in that shop and around all kinds of exotic animals. My uncle always had a lot of snakes. Boas, burmese pythons, retics, a rattlesnake and others I can't remember the species of. He had an 18 foot female burm named Fred and a 6 or 8ft red tail boa I was allowed to hold named Sheek, who was also the snake that gave me my first bite at the age of 5. In that past I have had many snakes, but only have one now(sadly). I hope that in a few years I'll be able to up my collection and even try breeding ball pythons. My first bp was a wild caught male I named Shane. I loved that snake, he was very calm and I took him everywhere with me. He helped me change a lot of peoples opinions about snakes. The little kids at my sisters school loved to pet him when I would go to pick her up.

I used to be creeped out by snakes, not scared just not a fan. Then when I was working with the organization I volunteer with, I found myself with a ball python around my neck and a corn snake around my arm. I was no longer scared, and by the time I got home had plans to get my own snake.
We started with my baby, a nice normal boy, and he was our only one for about 3 years. We've since expanded our collection to include a BCI, corn snake, western hognose, and bumblebee. I would eventually like to get a few more, but I like being able to spend time with them on an individual basis. I would get all the snakes all the time and fill my house if it wasn't irresponsible, lol.

My girlfriend. Before her I was into boas, corns, and bloods. I had a BP when I met her but wasn't much interested in acquiring more. Now I'm more than addicted...

I have always liked snakes...caught wild black rat snakes while growing up (catch and release). We saw our first ball python at a little "Strut your mutt" parade/expo.....there was a reptile rescue there and my kids sat with this adult normal and an adult corn for hours....that was 1 year ago ... we now have two great normals. My middle daughter has the same passion about animals that I do....sweet that we conect on that level.

in 2009, my then girlfriend picked out a pastel yellowbelly male. When I was doing research on care, I stumbled across a list of BPs. I was hooked. In 2011 I produced my first clutch with 12 eggs from my original Pastel YB to a normal. No normal babies.... Definitely hooked from then on. Currently have over a hundred now......Um yeah, Its an addiction.

I grew up catching snakes as a kid and wanted to have one but never did. March, 2 years ago the family and I where at petsmart for whatever reason and the kids and I were as usual looking at the snakes and the wife asked if we wanted to get one so we recued the one from the store. Managed this year to talk the wife into a brooks king and so far we have just the 2. Hope and want to get a few more.

I never even knew about snakes as pets until I was a bit older, and even then i never even thought of owning one. I was looking at a local pet store one day and i just saw a sign that said
"Ball pythons, 50% off with purchase of starter set"
I looked through the glass and saw the cutest snake i have ever seen. Ever since then, I did tons of research, online and in books. Finally, I had found another place that sells ball pythons at a lower price (because the starter set was $200, and I got it for less elsewhere and the BPs at the pet store were $100 normal price) i got everything set up, and bought the extra pieces to an ideal ball python habitat, then went out and bought a beautiful normal. I have yet to get another, because I have no space, but i still love them and I hope to get another in the future

Dont know that Im into ball pythons. I do love them, so many pretty morphs. Im 50 yrs old and have had snakes since I could catch them.Used to catch worm snakes and let them constrict my fingers when I was in grade school. I used to catch bees too and let them eat honey off my hands(I was considered weird and a tom boy). Still weird and still love nature.
Of all snakes the only one I would actually consider cute is the ball python, well and maybe those little cornsnake faces too.
But nothing beats the ball for calm and gentle nature and pure cuteness.

I agree with you, why apologize. I have had only one for the last 2 years and its enough as I don't know enough about them to have multiple. Its a learning curve and these are animals, not toys. I have met and talked to long term snake owners who have snakes that were found outside due to people not wanting to look after them and I live in Canada! It freezes here in September! One or two snakes for a new snake enthusiast is enough until they really learn the animals and even then, unless your a breeder or going to run your own zoo, choose the amount of snakes you own wisely and spend quality time with a few. So many pet shelters are busting at the seams and I am sure the snake issues isn't much better. I think your comment is spot on!

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Originally Posted by Mr. Misha

Here's where I might upset some folks... I feel like some people go a little bit overboard with the whole Ball Python "bug". I see so many threads on here where people who have barely bought their first BPs instantly looking to breed and start buying snakes like M&Ms. In my eyes it's irresponsible. These same people post threads on here months later how they're getting rid of their BPs for one reason or another.

If you're new, get a couple of BPs and enjoy them. Learn how to properly care for them (which takes time and experience) and then decide if breeding is something you're truly interested in.

Sorry for the rant..


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I was always fascinated with snakes and reptiles from an early age. When I was 5, and living in Texas, I had a rat snake and my father and I would go frog hunting from time to time. We even saw a rattle snake on occasion on those trips. Fast forward about 25 years I find snakebytes tv on YouTube and I saw all the color and pattern mutations that bps had to offer and my artistic side was bit by the bug over the living art aspect that they bring. I quickly went from buying a hypo from BHB to now having 4 and will probably get a GHI in the next few months

Little old me was scared of them. Boyfriend decided to get one. I was like why? He said why not? He got it. I held it. 4 years later and 28 bps. We are breeding. Wham!


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I guess this may sound silly to some, but Damballah Wedo. He's the Haitian Vodou Lwa, the oldest of the Lwa and he's represented by a snake.

I felt Damballah Wedo giving me direction to get a snake, so I started doing research on which ones were good as pets. Corns seemed to wiggly lol. But the BPs, I fell in love. There's some stunning morphs out there, but the normals have captured my heart. I did a ton of research and watched countless YouTube videos. Then I decided to go into a reptile store and actually talk to the guys. Snakey Shakes (as I've taken to calling him) was looking at me, then while chatting with the guy, he started slithering up the glass. I'd never even handled one, and this little guy gets to smelling me and wrapping around my arm, just being a super cutie. So I paid half, so I could go get him a set up, and I picked him up the next day.

In our almost two weeks together, Snakey Shakes has shed and eaten, totally made me wish is started with snakes instead of cats and dogs lol.

We used to catch garters as kids, but other than that, I had no real thoughts of caring for a snake. I've never been scared of them but never thought to own one. But Damballah chose otherwise, and I'm a very happy snake momma now. I mean shed and he's eaten, I couldn't be happier with him.

The deciding factor: feeding videos believe it or not. My daughter and I were just fascinated by the feeding videos. I couldn't wait for Snakey Shakes to eat, and it's even more cool to witness first hand. I know in time, I'll get one more bp, I'm really loving the pastels. I'm not thinking of breeding at all, just two (maybe three) companion animals.

I think I've always been into snakes just knew my parents wouldn't want one in the house. One day someone throws out a 30 gallon fish tank i see it and know right away I want a reptile. At first I was looking at chameleons but realised they're not that simple to take care so that went nowhere. I had the tank just sitting around and it's killing me that it's empty. Finally one day me and my girl go to stay at my parents house in pa and go hiking. I figure let me bring the tank and hope I find something. Well, as luck has it I find a garter snake and caught it. Put dirt in the tank and made it look nice. I stop at walmart on the way back home to my parents and pick up some groceries. I get home unload the car put the tank on the cart and put groceries on and around it. Bring it in the house and my parents are helping with the bags and they see the tank but dnt really acknowledge it. They finally realize I have a snake and am not at all that happy. They weren't gonna tell me to throw it out so it's been in my room since. After a few days of having it I want another. The snake was a little crazy and bit me so I wanted something calmer and bigger. Before you know it I'm stuck between a ball python and a carpet python. Decided on the BP and while at work placed an order online from a breeder sun and it arrived wed. Couldnt be happier with her. I just told my parents the other tank is for the garter snake when I clean the tank. The BP is always in its hide anyway so it's not like they see her. Now I'm on this forum everyday reading things and looking at all the diff morphs non stop. My girl gets annoyed sometimes and says I talk about my snakes more then her. Lol.
Sorry for that being so long. It's way different typing on a phone then on a computer. My mind thinks differently. Lol

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Originally Posted by Latifah

I guess this may sound silly to some, but Damballah Wedo. He's the Haitian Vodou Lwa, the oldest of the Lwa and he's represented by a snake.

I felt Damballah Wedo giving me direction to get a snake, so I started doing research on which ones were good as pets. Corns seemed to wiggly lol. But the BPs, I fell in love. There's some stunning morphs out there, but the normals have captured my heart. I did a ton of research and watched countless YouTube videos. Then I decided to go into a reptile store and actually talk to the guys. Snakey Shakes (as I've taken to calling him) was looking at me, then while chatting with the guy, he started slithering up the glass. I'd never even handled one, and this little guy gets to smelling me and wrapping around my arm, just being a super cutie. So I paid half, so I could go get him a set up, and I picked him up the next day.

In our almost two weeks together, Snakey Shakes has shed and eaten, totally made me wish is started with snakes instead of cats and dogs lol.

We used to catch garters as kids, but other than that, I had no real thoughts of caring for a snake. I've never been scared of them but never thought to own one. But Damballah chose otherwise, and I'm a very happy snake momma now. I mean shed and he's eaten, I couldn't be happier with him.

The deciding factor: feeding videos believe it or not. My daughter and I were just fascinated by the feeding videos. I couldn't wait for Snakey Shakes to eat, and it's even more cool to witness first hand. I know in time, I'll get one more bp, I'm really loving the pastels. I'm not thinking of breeding at all, just two (maybe three) companion animals.

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Interesting.
I've been wondering if the increasing popularity of snakes is due to a change in human consciousness. I don't currently own one, but have been rather oddly fascinated/fixated learning about them. For the past few months, I've left off all my usual hobbies (historical costume, spinning, weaving...), and have mostly just been watching snake videos. STRANGE to say the least!

My dad and uncle (his brother) bred retics and Burmese pythons. When I got a bit older I wanted a snake I could handle on my own and my dad introduced me to a ball python I fell in love instantly but my mom always said it wasn't very becoming for a girl to have a snake [emoji52] here I am at 27 and finally have my ball python and my son has his very first corn snake! We will absolutely be adding to this collection!


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My son moved out of his apartment and back home but had a normal ball python that he could not/did not sell (and didn't really want to sell). I was helping him clean up on the final day and what was that in the corner of his living room - his little female ball in her small Exo Terra enclosure. My question of "what are you planning on doing with that?" was answered by "I guess I have to bring her home with me." I was not terribly excited because, as with all pets, I knew who was going to have to take care of it. I was not too happy about this, mainly because the responsibility always falls on me. I ended up ensuring that the temperature, humidity, etc were in better shape (thanks mostly to this site), fed her and started to handle her more. And she won my heart. Loved her enough that I talked my wife into getting a Hog Island Boa and I've told her that I would like, at least, one more. the biggest issue that we have is lack of space in our current house. I am planning on retiring soon and there are plans to add onto our lake house/cottage for our hobbies (she grows African Violets (and shows them as well) and Orchids which creates an environment that works well with snakes).

This... sooo sooo this! lol

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...b6&oe=5646BCBD

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Originally Posted by BWB

My son moved out of his apartment and back home but had a normal ball python that he could not/did not sell (and didn't really want to sell). I was helping him clean up on the final day and what was that in the corner of his living room - his little female ball in her small Exo Terra enclosure. My question of "what are you planning on doing with that?" was answered by "I guess I have to bring her home with me." I was not terribly excited because, as with all pets, I knew who was going to have to take care of it. I was not too happy about this, mainly because the responsibility always falls on me. I ended up ensuring that the temperature, humidity, etc were in better shape (thanks mostly to this site), fed her and started to handle her more. And she won my heart. Loved her enough that I talked my wife into getting a Hog Island Boa and I've told her that I would like, at least, one more. the biggest issue that we have is lack of space in our current house. I am planning on retiring soon and there are plans to add onto our lake house/cottage for our hobbies (she grows African Violets (and shows them as well) and Orchids which creates an environment that works well with snakes).

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My mother was fond of African violets. As I recall, they do well in warm rooms - seems like maybe a natural addition to a snake room. There is a vendor on Etsy that sells them, and I've been toying with purchasing a couple.

double post, sorry

i am a fish hobbyist, so i go to the pet stores A LOT. I also have a phobia of frogs. so when i go to the pet stores i dont go anywhere near the area the frogs would be, which is normally with the reptiles. well i went to one pet store that has various reptiles, but no frogs, so i always go check out their spiders and "lizard type" reptiles. they have BPs and boas but i NEVER noticed them before. this one day as i'm walking by they were all in their cage with their upper body lifted up and heads facing the top of their enclosure. kind of like if you dangle something over a cat. they were all sitting like that and i thought it was interesting. so i just watched them for a minute, they never moved, nothing ever came down, and i knew i was going to buy one! that one turned into 4 over the course of a couple of weeks. the 1st one was a baby, a normal, and so adorable. his name is Osiris. I went to buy one more because they were on sale 1/2 off and i wanted a female (not to breed), just to have it. I wound up buying two more instead! the second was totally unplanned. she was slightly larger than the rest that were on sale and no one was interested in her so I bought her, too. That made the family 3. I went to another pet store to get some things for the 2nd and third (named Aset and Queen Makeda) and they were giving a tour of the animals to some kids. they pulled a snake out of the enclosure that i hadnt seen while i was shopping for the first one, Osiris. Shes a Butter Pastel, or so they said, and very pretty. the rest of the BPs were normals so she stood out. i snatched her up, too! i love them so much. i NEVER thought about having a snake for a bet, and i never understood why anyone would even want a snake for a pet, but i do now. now im just fighting the urge to buy more while i get to know the ones i have.

6 years ago I was completely terrified of snakes, I wouldn't even go into the same room as one, but then my girlfriend wanted to get a baby cornsnake so I done some research and decided to face my fears and handle one, from then on I was cured.

I then done a few more months research and sorted out a set up for the cornsnake then we went and purchased one, that's when the addiction started.

Several months later I was still continuing my research on ball pythons then I decided to buy one, fast forward 4 years I now have 8 ball pythons and 3 cornsnakes [emoji38]

Now bp's are my kryptonite, I just can't say no to them, even when they're being feisty and striking at me I still find myself saying 'awww'

I've found them to be such a rewarding animal to interact with, although they do have their ups and downs with feeding but that doesn't put me off at all.

Now I wonder why on earth I was ever scared of snakes in the first place :)

It's funny cus when most people are kids they want a pet cat or dog bit I was like SNEK, MOM, I WANT A SNAKE!! so when I was 10 I got a bubblegum corn snake for my birthday but he passed away only a week or two I got him, the breeder my parents bought from was extremely disreputable we learned later. I don't blame them they didn't know better. So next year we did more research and got my first bp for my 11th birthday. I named her Raven. She was my best friend!!! I was homeschooled so we spent a lot of time together. When I was 18 I moved out of the country and couldn't take her so I gave her to an extremely well equipped and experienced lady I knew for years. Four years later I'm back in the US, got a stable job and home so I brought Louie into my life! a lil boy bp, and I'm never letting him go. I love him! I love bps! It must be in my blood from birth haha. xx