Preferred Age of BP for Purchased

When you buy a BP, do you rather get a young baby that hasn't been handle much for cheaper, or an older sub-adult that is more tamed but alittle more expensive??

I rather the connection of raising a young ball python. I understand they may not be capable of making a connection but I feel like they are less likely to be aggressive to me or those who raised them...

I prefer to buy hatchlings, or at least breeder-direct, to mitigate the risk of getting an animal that has been exposed to a collection-destroying disease.

I prefer hatchlings but it also can depend on the project.

I can relate to that. I normally get hatchlings but I am looking for breeder size Mojave and lesser platinum for my blue eyed lucy project

Hmm, it seems like I'm the odd one out here but I like "well-started" or sub-adult BPs, around 500-1000g. At that point they have their "personalities," it's easy to set them up by replicating what the breeder was using (my collection is small enough that I don't bred my own rats, so live vs. F/T doesn't make a difference to me and I already have an ASF eater), and I have a much better feel for how they will look fully grown. It doesn't matter for all genes, but I'm super picky about the genes I want to be clean looking: pastel, enchi, hypo, etc. When they're well-started I can see about how much they will darken/dirty up. Aside from that, it kind of depends on the project/timeline. I buy hatchlings - 350g for long-term projects, whereas I might buy an adult male if I have a "spare" female for the upcoming season that I'd like to take in a different direction. With plenty of time to quarantine, of course!

I prefer hatchlings so I can raise them and watch them grow. To me they're pets, not projects.

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Originally Posted by Mr. Misha

I prefer hatchlings so I can raise them and watch them grow. To me they're pets, not projects.

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^ I relate.

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Originally Posted by Mr. Misha

I prefer hatchlings so I can raise them and watch them grow. To me they're pets, not projects.

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Originally Posted by Aerithya

^ I relate.

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i agree. my snakes are all pets first. they all have names, but i plan to breed some here and there.

i like the hatchlings, even if some of them might be feisty. they're so cute! i love to watch them grow. the biggest i purchased so far was Dillamond who came to me around 300grams.

I chose young not because they are cheaper but because I love to raise the babies and see them mature and change (color-wise) in my care.
:)

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Originally Posted by Ax01

i agree. my snakes are all pets first. they all have names, but i plan to breed some here and there.

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Nothing against breeding at all. I'm going to try to breed myself.

Just seems like the pet aspect of Ball Pythons gets lost once people discover that they can breed two snakes together.

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I like seeing them grow. I feel like that the colors change so much from when they are babies to adults and it just amazes me on how beautiful they grow.

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Originally Posted by Mr. Misha

Nothing against breeding at all. I'm going to try to breed myself.

Just seems like the pet aspect of Ball Pythons gets lost once people discover that they can breed two snakes together.

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I'm not sure that (the original quote) was actually directed towards me, but I have both "business breeders" and pets in my collection. That's not to say that I just see them as commodities though; everyone gets the same care and I keep my collection small to ensure they will always have the best of care. It's due to my collection size that I am so picky; I will not breed animals that I don't feel are quality. And, not to start any drama (I'm not at all suggesting anyone here is like the example I'm about to bring up), but the way some people treat "business breeder" BPs (limited handling, racks, etc.) can be better for the snake than how some people keep them strictly as pets (over-handling, "my snake loves when I carry him around town with me!", enclosures that are more geared towards what people like to see rather than good husbandry, etc.). Of course there are good and bad examples to each type; there are breeders who only care about profits to the detriment of their snakes, and there are saintly people who tenderly care for mean-as-cat-poo snakes with boatloads of medical issues out of the kindness of their hearts.

I guess I'm just a little defensive about people (any people, I'm not saying anyone here is) assuming that applying some business rationale to decisions means there's no room for love or passion for the animals themselves. I choose the snakes that I know I will always love, not just whatever fits my budget to scratch an itch. My one true pet snake is a normal who was almost thrown away - she's not going anywhere, even though it doesn't make "business sense" to keep her. I care where my snakes come from and where they go. They may not all be pets to me, but I treat them with the assumption that they should be good pets for somebody. Of course, while breeding I also do so with the understanding that at any point all of the snakes in my possession may well end up as my permanent pets, which is totally fine by me. And aside from the hatchlings and one female who I just can't figure out, they all have names. ;)

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Originally Posted by Mr. Misha

I prefer hatchlings so I can raise them and watch them grow. To me they're pets, not projects.

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Make no mistake in the assumption there.
All breeding has an end goal.
Care doesnt change for any of my 500+ pets. (Rodents included)

I do not have a preference, I buy based on the animal want, If I see something I really like age will be irrelevant to me.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Make no mistake in the assumption there.
All breeding has an end goal.
Care doesnt change for any of my 500+ pets. (Rodents included)

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Not making any assumptions and not talking about quality of care.

Can you honestly say that the 500+ animals you have are ALL pets? If so, great but I doubt that's the truth for everyone.

My point is that sometimes "project" aspect takes over the pet aspect in the BP community.


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Originally Posted by Mr. Misha

Not making any assumptions and not talking about quality of care.

Can you honestly say that the 500+ animals you have are ALL pets? If so, great but I doubt that's the truth for everyone.

My point is that sometimes "project" aspect takes over the pet aspect in the BP community.

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Depends what you are considering a pet? Care and handling Yes. Taking extended time to "play" with and so forth, the 300ish rats and chickens wouldn't count. LoL

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Originally Posted by Mr. Misha

Can you honestly say that the 500+ animals you have are ALL pets?

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Well, I don't have 500 but I do have 80 snakes total. Some are only pets. Some are only breeders. Others are both - or neither. I do have several that would not make good pets, as they abhor handling and cuddles. Others not only are tolerant of handling but seem to actively seek it out, so they get treated as pets.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

I do not have a preference, I buy based on the animal want, If I see something I really like age will be irrelevant to me.

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Nicely put,young lady..:gj:

visited the PET STORE i got my lovely Lemon Blast for some live feeder rats for tomorrows feeding and was told it should have been he should have been sold for $100 something and i got it for $53 dollars and some change LUCKY...so price or size doesn't matter, if it's something you want make way and go get it..

If I like it, and can afford it, I buy regardless of the size. As long as after all my questions to the breeder/seller satisfy me. I've bought hatchlings and breeder animals.

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Originally Posted by Chkadii

Hmm, it seems like I'm the odd one out here but I like "well-started" or sub-adult BPs, around 500-1000g. At that point they have their "personalities," it's easy to set them up by replicating what the breeder was using (my collection is small enough that I don't bred my own rats, so live vs. F/T doesn't make a difference to me and I already have an ASF eater), and I have a much better feel for how they will look fully grown. It doesn't matter for all genes, but I'm super picky about the genes I want to be clean looking: pastel, enchi, hypo, etc. When they're well-started I can see about how much they will darken/dirty up. Aside from that, it kind of depends on the project/timeline. I buy hatchlings - 350g for long-term projects, whereas I might buy an adult male if I have a "spare" female for the upcoming season that I'd like to take in a different direction. With plenty of time to quarantine, of course!

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I concur. Then again, we are impatient and prefer not waiting an extra year to get our projects off the ground.

I prefer hatchlings as well. For me, watching them grow and getting the experience of raising one to maturity is very satisfying, this is one of the chief reasons the hobby attracted me in the first place. I can appreciate some folks opting for mature adults for breeding projects, and a lot of times, folks will take on rescue adults that need a new home, which is admirable.

I bought my BP at around 4 months old, not because it was cheap, but because I wanted to raise it from a young age.

Pretty sure I got my little worm at 3-4 weeks old, despite what store told me. He was so small, only around 50 grams.


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