Reasons for getting more BP's

Every time a new BP owner states they got a BP and plan on keeping it at one, most members (including myself) state that they thought the same thing and then ended up getting more and more. I'm curious as to every ones reason for getting more than their initial snake.

My reasons are that they can be handled just about anytime (besides 48 hour after eating). If you want to just chill and watch a movie/TV show, they will chill with you. Low maintenance, you can make sure they are fully setup and leave for a few days without worrying too much about them. The fact that they are a good conversation started and they can help someone overcome their fear of snakes.

Another reason is the community, I have yet to meet someone who inst passionate about their snakes and love taking a few mins to talk about them.

Thanks for reading and looking forward to reading your responses.

For me, it because they are pretty and you "gotta catch them all"! My collection is a lot smaller then others and I haven't bought another snake in about a year, simply because of cash flow. But with what I have, such as hets, I can still make ones that I don't currently have, like clowns, pieds (well I have a pied just not the combos), bananas and so on. I do want to buy others as I don't have everything to make everything, but there are like 4000+ morphs out there so I kind of doubt I will EVER have them all, but it is still fun. They are great creatures, beautiful, soft, and I wouldn't trade them for the world.

Hi there :)

I'd wanted a snake for many years, but was never in an environment where I could have one - other people, pets, etc. I was finally in a position where I could get one, and my first was actually a corn snake. After I purchased her, I started checking out all the other shops around and happened upon a privately owned shop where I discovered a beautiful reverse king snake - boom, second one. After that, my boyfriend started getting interested in my new excitement and introduced me to ball pythons.

Well, we then picked up our first - a spider. She's so incredibly sweet, I fell in love with them right away. When we were picking up more supplies for her, the owner introduced me to a gorgeous yellow belly lavender pinstripe - boom, another one :)
Yet again, out and about checking out the shops (I think at this point I was looking for thermostats) and we happened to find a bumble bee female being sold as a spider. Huge win there.

I thought we were done at that point, at least for a little while, when I saw a post for a normal ball python that was living in a horrible environment. Picked her up and got her set up. It's taken a while to get her healthy, but she had horrible stuck shed and was seriously underfed. She's finally had a very good shed, looking more comfortable and she eats with zero hesitation.

If it weren't for a space issue, I'm sure we'd have more :) I love them!

For me, they are like..I guess I can say for therapy? They help me be happy. And as i said in another thread not too long ago, my second BP was an unwanted one(son went off to collage and the parents didn't want to take care of him anymore.) So how could I pass that up? They also live longer than a lot of other pets, if you care for them right that is, and low maintenance as you said. I also like seeing the differences in each one, and most of mine are rescues, and I like to see how they transform over the time of being taken care of properly(although I hate seeing 'em in such bad shape). I still look at my first BP and think, 'wow.. she's four times the size from when I got her!', etc.

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Originally Posted by LadyEnfinity

Hi there :)

I'd wanted a snake for many years, but was never in an environment where I could have one - other people, pets, etc. I was finally in a position where I could get one, and my first was actually a corn snake. After I purchased her, I started checking out all the other shops around and happened upon a privately owned shop where I discovered a beautiful reverse king snake - boom, second one. After that, my boyfriend started getting interested in my new excitement and introduced me to ball pythons.

Well, we then picked up our first - a spider. She's so incredibly sweet, I fell in love with them right away. When we were picking up more supplies for her, the owner introduced me to a gorgeous yellow belly lavender pinstripe - boom, another one :)
Yet again, out and about checking out the shops (I think at this point I was looking for thermostats) and we happened to find a bumble bee female being sold as a spider. Huge win there.

I thought we were done at that point, at least for a little while, when I saw a post for a normal ball python that was living in a horrible environment. Picked her up and got her set up. It's taken a while to get her healthy, but she had horrible stuck shed and was seriously underfed. She's finally had a very good shed, looking more comfortable and she eats with zero hesitation.

If it weren't for a space issue, I'm sure we'd have more :) I love them!

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haha, I feel the same way. Also, where did you find a bumble bee being sold as a spider?

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Originally Posted by Nitewolfie

For me, they are like..I guess I can say for therapy? They help me be happy. And as i said in another thread not too long ago, my second BP was an unwanted one(son went off to collage and the parents didn't want to take care of him anymore.) So how could I pass that up? They also live longer than a lot of other pets, if you care for them right that is, and low maintenance as you said. I also like seeing the differences in each one, and most of mine are rescues, and I like to see how they transform over the time of being taken care of properly(although I hate seeing 'em in such bad shape). I still look at my first BP and think, 'wow.. she's four times the size from when I got her!', etc.

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Its amazing to see them grow and wondering what their potential is! I love the fact that you rescue BP's. If given the opportunity I would do that same.

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Originally Posted by Rikoku

Its amazing to see them grow and wondering what their potential is! I love the fact that you rescue BP's. If given the opportunity I would do that same.

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It really is!! And thank you, i'm sure you would too! In fact, I'm sure many people on here would. Right now i'm starting to run out of room, but knowing me i'll make room lol.

My girlfriend and I went to pick up a cheap vision cage we found 2 hours away and I asked the person we purchased it from if there was any good reptile shops around and he told of us one and we went and when we got there she asked about bps so we were taken into this room full of racks and started looking. After looking for awhile we came across this super pastel and my girlfriend gave me this look and out the door we went with the snake. This was in January and within 2 weeks I became addicted with everything about them, since then I have acquired 2 more and another that will be paid off on the 24th. They are beautiful fascinating creatures and I just want more and more. I love all my reptiles but I don't have an addiction like I do with bps and don't see me buying anything else but bps for the rest of my life. I literally get excited every time my snakes take there meal and shed with all the amazing colors popping. All the breeding combinations is quite interesting and is something that I want to educate myself on and apply to my collection one day. I also like that each of mine have a few different behaviors that makes them different from one another. I can't really pinpoint why I love bps so much, everything about them is wonderful and fascinating except when they decide to go to the bathroom on me lol I could live without that!

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Originally Posted by Nitewolfie

haha, I feel the same way. Also, where did you find a bumble bee being sold as a spider?

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It was a Petco - I believe she may be a vanilla bumble bee. Took her over to a reptile shop to confirm her sex and they were just as surprised as we were :)

I used to have one growing up. It was a store bought pet. I had to get rid of him when I moved. 12 years later I always wanted to get back into it. I did. Built a 6 slot rack and have 4 snakes but 2 empty racks! Need to fill those! Then I was trolling Craigslist and saw a steak of a deal for 3 five tub rbi racks.....


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Originally Posted by ceh23

I used to have one growing up. It was a store bought pet. I had to get rid of him when I moved. 12 years later I always wanted to get back into it. I did. Built a 6 slot rack and have 4 snakes but 2 empty racks! Need to fill those! Then I was trolling Craigslist and saw a steak of a deal for 3 five tub rbi racks.....


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You could also make an ad on CL that you're looking for one. If you're lucky enough, you can get one(or more) for free, sometimes you can get a terrarium with 'em too!

Therapy and tubs that need filled

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Three words..... Empty tub syndrome

Got one empty tub and down payment put on a coral glow.

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I always liked snakes. I liked them because they are beautiful; and also I think as a kid I kinda felt drawn to the critters that get misunderstood and unfairly demonized, because I got picked on a lot.
When I was in middle school, I talked my dad and stepmother into letting me get a ball python with my allowance. I had been looking at them in the pet store, and the people there had let me handle all the snakes, and I'd read all the books. At some point the ball python ended up at my mom's house, and I got a corn snake over at my dad's. The ball python died when I was in college (heating system went out in my crappy college apartment, etc...) although the corn survived.
The corn snake died a few months ago at the age of 18 or 19 (I've sort of lost track). I cried for about three days, and then got a new baby ball python.
We are just pet owners, so one is enough. We aren't going to start collecting or anything, we just like having a little buddy around. I could envision a scenario where we take in a rescue or something sometime, or another one lands in our lap or something, but otherwise we'll remain a one snake household. I've had pet snakes for 20 years and have never had more than two at a time, so I think I can resist the temptation to keep adding more. :)

My better half had never thought about snakes much one way or another before meeting me, but he'd lived with my old corn snake for ten years too, and had gotten pretty attached to the little guy. So he wanted a new baby as much as I did, but is also not likely to turn into a collector.

I met my first BP at a little event in town. He's a spider and was a rescue, and I fell in love with it as soon as I got to hold him :) So a few weeks later I adopted him. Then my mum wanted one, so she got herself a normal rescue. Then the people across the road saw we had snakes, and brought their seven year old kid a mojave, and when he got bored of it, they gave it to us for free. Im still planning on getting more, when the time comes, but I might wait for a few months first XD
Basically all my reasons to get more is that they came up at the right time when we were looking for them, and, imo, helping out a rescue snake is better than buying shop brought animals :3

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Originally Posted by LightningPython

Basically all my reasons to get more is that they came up at the right time when we were looking for them, and, imo, helping out a rescue snake is better than buying shop brought animals :3

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THIS IS SO TRUE.
Sorry for the caps, but it is, at least to me. I've heard- today even- of snakes at the pet shop being a little nippy(they're also young so) or more that just a little nippy. Rescues, I swear, are the best pretty much any animal when their health is back, which is also pleasing to see them go from a skronny, or banged up little thing to a nice looking snake.
Although, I have yet to actually buy a snake from any store myself so..

I started into BPs most recently.... my students and I were watching a video on snakes, and I was just as fascinated by the snakes as the kids were... so I started doing my research on ball pythons... and purchased one from a verified breeder with good references. That BP now lives in my classroom and we monitor him every day and over breaks too. That was the first week of March 2016.

Then a month later, I picked up a second snake, a larger BP female, and I'm not sure why. I'm really not. But I had her shipped in and she is doing well.

I now have two other snakes from the same clutch on a payment plan and will have them home soon.

After that. I will have no more room for any more snakes.

This is good because I would buy more :)

My husband wanted vipers but I told him no. I love the man, but he can't remember where he left his keys. I cannot risk a gamble as to if he locked down the snake habitat or not.
Going on easter egg hunts for a viper in my house is not how I want to spent the wee hours of my mornings.

This said, I adore the ball pythons because the ones I have are very gentle, very sweet and just very relaxing to be around.

Idk I've never think why I buy things. If I like it I'll buy it, so I guess I love ball pythons

Me right now: "Don't get another one unless it's a spider or something with spider....Don't get another one unless it's a spider...Don't get it unless it's a rescue..." etc xD I just found this normal baby off CL that's unwanted in the house and they also have five beardies... Trying not to get em but it's so tempting to get em....

Well, I'm already picking up my second one next week after having purchased my first in January...and an Angolan Python next summer (finally got husband to agree to one!!). Aside from the common reasons many give (that I also agree with), they have a wonderful ability to assist in the easing of my mental health problems. They are wonderful for relieving depression and anxiety. I have not found another pet that works so well for me. Quite a blessing!

It's multi-part reasoning for me.

First... they are collectible "living art" which are gorgeous to look at and fun to handle. I like to have a diverse and healthy collection of snakes with different patterns and markings.

Second... compatible with the first... I use mine as an aside to my day job, teaching science. I keep snakes that show certain aspects of behavior or color patterns pertinent to what I teach.

Third... keeping snakes and reptiles is very therapeutic. If I Have a crappy day, I can go down to my basement herp room and rewire some tanks, clean tanks, feed, take photos, etc, and it calms me down. I'm alone... focused... and having fun. My dogs and other animals are great for this too, but something about being in the herp room is very zen to me.

addicts don't need a reason.

:D

I love snakes and just got into them last year, and my first was a king. Then one bp. 6 months later I have 5 snakes and wanting more.

My biggest question is for people that have 8,10 or 20 why they dont just breed? Maybe some do but I see lots of people on facebook just buying babies that have 10+ Already. I don't know how to breed so thats my excuse lol

Always been into snakes, used to catch all the Gardner, corns, racers, rats growing up and keep them for a couple weeks to watch them then let them go. Even caught some pregnant ones unknowingly at one point had probably 40-60 Gardner snakes. I think my fascination stems back to the root of snakes. Power. They're 100% raw power. How many people have had hatchlings or yearlings wrap tight around your arm or fingers to get warm to find wow... This little guy is strong. I think that may be my draw is the power and predator instinct first and foremost.

Obviously I can't leave out the beauty of patterns and temperaments (I still believe all anacondas are jerks) still beautiful though lol but each one has their own little personality.


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My first BP came into my care accidentally. She was the result of a call we had (I'm a po-po) and when I went to escort it off someone's front porch I realized this was no native snake! There was Bettie Page, in her 4-foot glory, just chilling on someone's front porch. The lady who called it in wanted me to kill it, but I knew better. Plus the snake looked to be in pretty good shape...

After posting Found Pet listings in the area and on Craigslist with 0 responses, I kept her. She was my very first rescue, and every snake I've gotten since her has been as well. I never really "signed up" for BP ownership, it kinda found me and I started doing a ton of research since then. I took 2 from a local herp group I'm a part of (mostly filled with well-meaning morons and hoarders) that were suffering from improper husbandry and parasites, and I found all the rest, or other people found them and knew I would take them.

Funny thing is, just yesterday I got one more adopted out and took another BP back to a friend's house (I was babysitting the snake for a month while he was out of town), and was telling my significant other how relieved I was to have 2 fewer snakes in the house. Then an hour later I got a call--another found BP under the steps of a student housing complex here in town. :rolleyes: While it is infuriating that people could be so irresponsible, there is a deep sense of love and reward I get from taking on each of these beauties, getting them the proper vet care, restoring their health and temperament, and then very importantly: adopting them out to GOOD homes (I screen each adopter thoroughly). Plus it's a great way to love and care for lots of snakes without getting overly attached or hoarding, so it's a win-win. :)

Thanks for everyone addition to the thread. It amazing reading everyone's input and different reasons there are in this community.

My wife is terrified of snakes. Like pee her pants lock herself in the bedroom afraid. My kids love our Harold. They want to hold him every single day. I'd love to get another BP at least but the wife is NOT having any of it. We are working on her and getting the wife to calm the heck down. She knows the snake won't hurt her and how gentle it is but she still cant start him.

Heya,

Still new here. But, I never really thought much of snakes until I met my boyfriend. He introduced me to his Ball Python, Cassie, and I almost
instantly fell in love. She's Het Pied. I knew not long after that, that I wanted one. I had done lots and lots of research and watched an absurd amount of videos and
became amazed/fascinated with them. I had no clue that they could live so long and that sealed the deal for me. Another life long pal for Cassie, myself, and my partner.
Funny random insert, before Cassie was Cassie, I called her Mr. Snakie all the time because I swore she was a male. lol. I patiently waited until we could have her sexed until I decided on which one
I wanted to purchase. I was going to get a baby bumblebee until I ran across my little guy, Tidus. He's a coral glow/banana. Waiting for him to get his weight up. Jake (the bf) told me to choose wisely because
that will be my only one. I might try talking him into a blue-eyed leucistic in the distant future. :P

For the addicts on here, it may be more useful to think how to prevent acquiring more. I have a note to myself that helps a little. Rat bill, rat bill. When your rat bill starts looking looking like a car payment you know you have a problem.

Given how easy they are to take care of and their manageable size plus all the different gene's and possibilities how could i not get more.:D

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Originally Posted by LadyEnfinity

It was a Petco - I believe she may be a vanilla bumble bee. Took her over to a reptile shop to confirm her sex and they were just as surprised as we were :)

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Do you have a picture of her ? :)


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