Two Questions

Ok, so I went to Petco to look at the ball pythons, and see how much its going to cost me for all the supplies. And well anyway, I just had two questions.

1) If I feed the pythons dead feed like 75% of the time, but then someimes mix it up with a live mouse every once in a while would it be ok? Or would the snake figure its dead and not be aggresive enough in getting it?

2) The snakes I looked at seemed pretty healthy, temp was about 85, humidity was 45, and I asked the person there all those important questions like if they were captive bred, have eaten, and stuff. But like two of the three in the cage looked as though they had recently shed, but had only shed about 80% of their skin. They still had some pieces all over their body, but they seemed pretty active for a snake. Is that a big probelm, or is it jsut becasue of the low humidity?

1) It is really a good idea to stick to feeding dead, switching back and forth may not be a good idea, it may be as you said- they may not be aggressive enough from being conditioned to eating dead prey items. Also, feeding dead prey items is safer for your snake, so why change a good thing when you have it- meaning, if it is already eating frozen thawed or fresh killed. Really, the way I look at it, the novelty of seeing a snake kill its prey wears off, trust me. I feed fresh killed to my boa, and it is so easy- but I have to feed my ball pythons live prey because they WILL NOT eat fresh killed or frozen thawed, I have tried to change them over, but it is not gonna happen... I feel aweful knowing how that poor rodent is dying.

2) Let me say this- you are probably gonna pay more there than if you went to a breeder or it may be close to the same, really it is not price, it is the quality thats important. Plus, I would not buy a snake I did not know its history and beginning whereabouts. And you asked questions of the person at the store, but let me tell you this, they will say ANYTHING they THINK you wanna hear to make a sale.. I know, I witnessed this when I worked in a pet shop from my co-workers; also; alot of times, the employees in a major retail place like that really have no idea where the animal came from or if it really is cb or not.... and to answer your question, those snakes shedding problems were most likely from low humidity.

1 I wouldent want to confuse them by feeding live and dead prey,either feed dead or feed live, dead is safer, there is NO risk of your snake being injured

2 Its becuase of the low humidity, the humidity in the cage should be around 50 to 60%

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I asked the person there all those important questions like if they were captive bred, have eaten, and stuff.

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Were they captive bred and eating well ?

(This is a little off topic...) I'm in Mass too... just wondering what Petco you went to?

1. I have seen a ball python become confused or reluctant regarding live prey after it's become used to dead prey, so I'd suggest picking something and sticking to it. If you want to go with dead but can't always get it, you can pre-kill the prey for your snake.

2. For the amount you'd pay for a wild caught or captive hatched ball python from Petco, you can have a nice normal captive bred one shipped to you by a known breeder. It's worth it to do that instead and significantly reduce your likelihood of parasites and increase your odds of a good feeder.

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Originally Posted by invadertoast

(This is a little off topic...) I'm in Mass too... just wondering what Petco you went to?

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I went to the Petco in Woburn btw. So actually getting a the snake from a breeder might be a good idea. Because I am getting it for "christmas" from my parents. They said they would only get me the habitat and stuff, becasue they wouldn't get the sanke and hide it from me, they would end up probably killing it. So if I can get them to order it like a day or two before it would be perfect. But is the snake safe in shipping, especially during the colder months? And keeping in mind that I live in Mass, can you recomend a website that can sell me one? I have seen some sites, but most of them are either really far away or are just selling designer morphs. I mean morphs are cool, but I don't got the cash. Thanks for you help!

hi i agree with everyone here stick with feeding the f/t mice
and as far as shipping a snake its safe as long as you have a good breeder
there is one breeder that i really like and his prices are good and heres his web site

www.simonereptiles.com
he has very good feedback and has always done good by me

Thanks for that info, can anyone else answer the questions in my last reply and recomend a site?

Go to the links section of the site, there are breeders listed there.

Ok thanks! I don't mean to bug you guys, but jsut wondering if anyone can persoanlly recomend an online breeder that they had an expirience yet.

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Originally Posted by Andrew00

temp was about 85, humidity was 45

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Not to sound like an ass here, but how do you know that? Was this according to the spring type dial hygrometer and thermometer in the cage? How can you be assured of their accuracy? Had they been calibrated against a digital one? If they had a digital type in there then I would believe the numbers.

Also where were they positioned in the cage? was there a thermometer at both ends of the cage so you could see if there was a good gradient or was it only on one end?

You gotta look at these things to learn what the store won't or can't tell you. Sometimes it's the reading between the lines that makes the difference. :wink:

Some other things to think about -
Get what you need and set it up without the animal. Make sure you have everything positioned correctly for the right temps and humidity for a couple days. Where you put it in the house may make a difference with light comming through windows, ac vents going, etc. Sounds like your first snake that needs the enviroment controlled, so practice keeping the enviroment stable for a few days or a week around the clock before getting the animal and putting it in there. If there is some unforseen problem you might as well sort that out without putting the animal through your learning experience.

Also if you get cage decorations from your pet store that are cast resin. run your hands all over it and check for burs or sharp spots from when it was molded and file them down. Was picking some up at Petco once that had sharp spots that could have lacerated my snakes as they slid over them had I not found them first and dealt with them.

They had a single thermoter and humidity dial thing in the back wall of the cage.

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Originally Posted by Andrew00

And keeping in mind that I live in Mass, can you recomend a website that can sell me one? I have seen some sites, but most of them are either really far away or are just selling designer morphs. I mean morphs are cool, but I don't got the cash. Thanks for you help!

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NERD (http://newenglandreptile.com/) is right up in NH, they're not too far a drive. Maybe you could make at trip up and bypass the whole shipping thing? I haven't bought anything from them personally, but I can assure you they're awesome! :)

I agree with Lindsay .... give NERD a call for a CB ball python ... stay away from Petco, you can't even imagine the horror that those snakes have been through. Kevin and Kara at NERD will take very good care of you, and if you make a trip up there you will be blown away by the cool toys that they have!!!

-adam

I talked to a guy i know from work today who has two BP's and asked him where he got em... he said "oh i went up to NH & got them up there" I said "where, new england reptile?" he said "nah, Petco... got em at a great price too! only 70 a piece"

i was polite & just said "oh, not bad" but inside was thinking "uhg... big mistake"