Debating rescuing baby bp from Craigslist.

And when I say ‘debating’ I mean reeeeeally debating. It’s obviously a second (third if you count my cat) responsibility. And I’m basically giving the third degree before I’d truly go through with anything. Very most important being health. I’d have to see her and inspect her before I paid. Or he. They don’t know the gender. But ‘she’ is five months old and a gorgeous bumblebee morph. If I got her I’d go the tub route at first - having splurged on an exo-terra upgrade for my pastel -
and that’d be a new learning curve too. Hmm. Darn it. D: D: The struggle is so real. I’ve had the name and morph basically picked out for my next snake, and she’s pretty damn close. Halp.

Read up on Quarantine procedures first.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...antine-process

'Rescue' snakes can be a lot more expensive than you think.

You mean buying? Buying a ball python that isn't even sick or suffering isn't rescuing... even if you don't buy it, somebody eventually will!

If you want the BP and have the funds and time to be responsible for a new pet, then go for it! But don't think of it as a rescue... People like to call buying any animal off craigslist a rescue these days, even when the animal appears perfectly healthy lol.

I don’t know, buying it may be rescuing it too. I went to pick up my kid from a Kids house one time and the boyfriend was smoking in the house. They had a ball python in what looked like one of those smaller plastic aquariums you see at petsmart😳

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Originally Posted by Stout76

I don’t know, buying it may be rescuing it too. I went to pick up my kid from a Kids house one time and the boyfriend was smoking in the house. They had a ball python in what looked like one of those smaller plastic aquariums you see at petsmart��

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Like I said, buying a healthy or what appears to be a perfectly fine pet isn't rescuing. What you just wrote though is not that, and could be considered a rescue, since it was living in poor conditions/suffering.

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Originally Posted by littlemaxbigworld

And when I say ‘debating’ I mean reeeeeally debating. It’s obviously a second (third if you count my cat) responsibility. And I’m basically giving the third degree before I’d truly go through with anything. Very most important being health. I’d have to see her and inspect her before I paid. Or he. They don’t know the gender. But ‘she’ is five months old and a gorgeous bumblebee morph. If I got her I’d go the tub route at first - having splurged on an exo-terra upgrade for my pastel -
and that’d be a new learning curve too. Hmm. Darn it. D: D: The struggle is so real. I’ve had the name and morph basically picked out for my next snake, and she’s pretty damn close. Halp.

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Honestly, only YOU know the answer to your question.

You know your financial situation better than we do. You also know your capabilities better than we do.

Weigh out the pros and cons, and make an educated decision.

- Do you have the resources to purchase tha animal, new equipment, more feeders, etc...(I believe you're waiting for pay day to buy a scale?)
- Do you have money stashed away for vet visits? More animals = more potential for a trip to the vet
- Are you sure you're ready for another?
- With your limited experience will you be able to accurately assess the animal and it's health? (Keep in mind snakes are VERY good at hiding illness)
- Do you have a place in your home for proper quarantine and are you familiar with the process?
- is this an impulse buy or are you truly ready? And do you truly want THIS particular animal?

This will be a 20 year commitment, so take your time to decide. If you decide to go for it, but the animal is already sold, it wasn't meant to be...

These are just some of the questions you should be asking yourself.

Good luck, keep us posted!!!!

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

You mean buying? Buying a ball python that isn't even sick or suffering isn't rescuing... even if you don't buy it, somebody eventually will!

If you want the BP and have the funds and time to be responsible for a new pet, then go for it! But don't think of it as a rescue... People like to call buying any animal off craigslist a rescue these days, even when the animal appears perfectly healthy lol.

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I only say rescuing because it’s pretty clear from the post that it’s husbandry is really sad. There’s so many depressing looking BPs and tanks in CL though I wish I could help them all. Ones in an empty tank with a wood arch hide and like one plant and a lamp. Who are probably stressed out of their minds. I wish I was rich and could save em all in the fantasy reptile room I wish I could afford hahah

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Honestly, only YOU know the answer to your question.

You know your financial situation better than we do. You also know your capabilities better than we do.

Weigh out the pros and cons, and make an educated decision.

- Do you have the resources to purchase tha animal, new equipment, more feeders, etc...(I believe you're waiting for pay day to buy a scale?)
- Do you have money stashed away for vet visits? More animals = more potential for a trip to the vet
- Are you sure you're ready for another?
- With your limited experience will you be able to accurately assess the animal and it's health? (Keep in mind snakes are VERY good at hiding illness)
- Do you have a place in your home for proper quarantine and are you familiar with the process?
- is this an impulse buy or are you truly ready? And do you truly want THIS particular animal?

This will be a 20 year commitment, so take your time to decide. If you decide to go for it, but the animal is already sold, it wasn't meant to be...

These are just some of the questions you should be asking yourself.

Good luck, keep us posted!!!!

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You’re absolutely right and they’re all things I’ve been debating. As far as funds go I have them. It’s just a matter of if that’s where I want them to go right now. I’m waiting to buy a scale because i like to leave a clear twin amount of money in my account and only spend the cash I took out for that weeks fun spending, and unlike feeders and husbandry I’m not putting the scale in my ‘things I spend my saved account money on’ category. :)

I do have a small bit. And my cat has a vet plan as well. I try to stay as prepared as I can. But I definitely don’t have a huge stash. /:

I know I wouldn’t necessarily be able to tell if it’s sick. There’s some things I’ve learned to look for having spent hours reading through others’ posts but I’m very far from an expert. And that worries me lots.

Quarantine no. There comes the lack of expertise right up to stage front. Until the post above and your post as well I didn’t know about it. Which shows that I’m likely not ready. I have more to learn about and practice before I can just go get another friend.

The person selling as well doesn’t seem to care much at all and communicating with them hasn’t been pleasant or articulate which also concerns me a lot.

You mentioned the snake is 5 mos. old, but how long have they actually had her? Some illnesses are slow to show up, others are fairly quick.

Pictures can hide the real body weight: a snake may have taken a deep breath when photo was taken, & actually be thin/underweight.

Is the snake feeding? They might be having trouble getting the snake to eat. Ask (yourself?) why they want to sell a snake they've barely owned.

Do read up on quarantine since you have others...it's a hassle & will be for quite some time if you do it right. You risk all your others if you don't.

Assessing the health when you see/hold the snake: Eyes- no stuck eye-caps, clear & undamaged. Mouth-normal pink color, tongue tips not stuck together;
Snake should not have to open mouth to breathe, should not see bubbling or hear whistling or crackling sounds. Body: no lumps, bumps, bite wounds,
caved-in areas (can be broken ribs etc). Look CLOSELY for ticks & mites. Look at the cage they've kept snake in...is there adequate heat? If not, the snake
may be on the verge of illness (it can be hard to tell). Is the cage clean? If there are feces, do they look normal? Look at the snake's vent: any "residue"?
(should not be) Watch the snake move...you know what normal looks like, right? See if the snake can right itself when gently turned over. Look for any
abnormal neurological signs...:O

Their communications (lack thereof) would concern me too: consider that this snake may be stolen & they just want a quick sale, & couldn't care less. If that's
the case, do you really want to pay them for what they did?

IF you go see this snake & DON'T bring it home, DO remember to change your clothes (wash & disinfect them), & shower thoroughly before you get anywhere
near your own snakes. Really. Be skeptical but as one who has rescued snakes, also be open to it...it can also turn out great. (how's that for ambiguity? LOL)

One more thing...if you pass up this snake for whatever reasons, well, it's not the last snake out there...there are plenty of snakes that you'll want, if & when
you are ready at a later time. Good luck deciding! :D

A bumble bee would cost you $75 to $125 from a breeder, what do you get for that: A quality animal, that you know is well started and healthy, hatch date, lineage info etc and customer service.

What do you get with an adoption from CL you get an animal that you have to pay for, you have no history, and the animal may or may not have been well cared for and could cost you hundreds more.

Ultimately your choice, just know that sometimes the adoption fee is only the tip of the iceberg.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

You mentioned the snake is 5 mos. old, but how long have they actually had her? Some illnesses are slow to show up, others are fairly quick.

Pictures can hide the real body weight: a snake may have taken a deep breath when photo was taken, & actually be thin/underweight.

Is the snake feeding? They might be having trouble getting the snake to eat. Ask (yourself?) why they want to sell a snake they've barely owned.

Do read up on quarantine since you have others...it's a hassle & will be for quite some time if you do it right. You risk all your others if you don't.

Assessing the health when you see/hold the snake: Eyes- no stuck eye-caps, clear & undamaged. Mouth-normal pink color, tongue tips not stuck together;
Snake should not have to open mouth to breathe, should not see bubbling or hear whistling or crackling sounds. Body: no lumps, bumps, bite wounds,
caved-in areas (can be broken ribs etc). Look CLOSELY for ticks & mites. Look at the cage they've kept snake in...is there adequate heat? If not, the snake
may be on the verge of illness (it can be hard to tell). Is the cage clean? If there are feces, do they look normal? Look at the snake's vent: any "residue"?
(should not be) Watch the snake move...you know what normal looks like, right? See if the snake can right itself when gently turned over. Look for any
abnormal neurological signs...:O

Their communications (lack thereof) would concern me too: consider that this snake may be stolen & they just want a quick sale, & couldn't care less. If that's
the case, do you really want to pay them for what they did?

IF you go see this snake & DON'T bring it home, DO remember to change your clothes (wash & disinfect them), & shower thoroughly before you get anywhere
near your own snakes. Really. Be skeptical but as one who has rescued snakes, also be open to it...it can also turn out great. (how's that for ambiguity? LOL)

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Yeah I have been extremely skeptical and basically fell off the band wagon when I got an email back and they ignored many of my questions. Sometimes silence is enough of an answer unfortunately. And I'm not a rich kid who can adopt all the noodles and quarantine them all and get them all vet visits and save all the noodles. As much as my heart wants to.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

A bumble bee would cost you $75 to $125 from a breeder, what do you get for that: A quality animal, that you know is well started and healthy, hatch date, lineage info etc and customer service.

What do you get with an adoption from CL you get an animal that you have to pay for, you have no history, and the animal may or may not have been well cared for and could cost you hundreds more.

Ultimately your choice, just know that sometimes the adoption fee is only the tip of the iceberg.

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Yeah I've decided after a few interactions with the person that I'm not going to. They have been vague and that alone is a huge red flag when I've asked a novel of questions which any quality snake-parent, even one rehoming their noodle, should be HAPPY someone is asking about. /: I have to accept that I can't adopt and save them all.

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Originally Posted by littlemaxbigworld

Yeah I've decided after a few interactions with the person that I'm not going to. They have been vague and that alone is a huge red flag when I've asked a novel of questions which any quality snake-parent, even one rehoming their noodle, should be HAPPY someone is asking about. /: I have to accept that I can't adopt and save them all.

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We know just how you feel...:sniff: So much temptation, & so hard to say no to a :snake:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

We know just how you feel...:sniff: So much temptation, & so hard to say no to a :snake:

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So difficult. It sucks. But I also have decided to see if I can volunteer at the zoo. A decade ago as a teen I worked in the reptile house with the education animals feeding and cleaning, and I'm reaching out to see if I can do that again. I think it'll help me lots with my need for all of the noodles. :rolleyes:

That's a perfectly GREAT idea! I am a former zoo volunteer myself, though it wasn't even with reptiles. That was WAY back, before I got "bit" by "snake fever", lol.

Anyway, if you can help with their reptiles, it's also a chance to learn more about quarantine & make all sorts of connections to others with similar interests. It's a
great experience & who knows where it might lead? :snake::snake::snake: LOL

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

That's a perfectly GREAT idea! I am a former zoo volunteer myself, though it wasn't even with reptiles. That was WAY back, before I got "bit" by "snake fever", lol.

Anyway, if you can help with their reptiles, it's also a chance to learn more about quarantine & make all sorts of connections to others with similar interests. It's a
great experience & who knows where it might lead? :snake::snake::snake: LOL

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Haha if I had the means to feed into snake fever I would have a million. I keep joking that I need to be rich enough to rent the room across the hall in my house and make it my reptile room, and how if I had FOUR pythons then I could rotate handling them, one snake a day id always get my fix and never stress them out bahahah. One day!!

And that's true too! So much to learn. I want them to email me back nooww. I need to know if I can do this haha I hope it wasn't a teenager-only type volunteer position!

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Originally Posted by littlemaxbigworld

I only say rescuing because it’s pretty clear from the post that it’s husbandry is really sad. There’s so many depressing looking BPs and tanks in CL though I wish I could help them all. Ones in an empty tank with a wood arch hide and like one plant and a lamp. Who are probably stressed out of their minds. I wish I was rich and could save em all in the fantasy reptile room I wish I could afford hahah

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Petco also has incorrect husbandry for their snakes 99% of the time, but that does not make buying from Petco an animal rescue.
I'm personally in a grey area if the animal is already sick/in clear distress on whether it's rescuing, even if someone buys them. Unfortunately many animals on craigslist are in not ideal conditions, but are fine upon selling, and you can't buy them all.

Well, if you believe you made the right decision than I believe you did too. Only you really know, though. I know how temptation works, trust me on that one. It's easy to want to jump on an opportunity to give an animal a good home, but we can't take them all in...

I think you'll know when the right time is, and when the right snake comes along. It may be soon, it may not. You've only had your BP a little while, maybe you'll decide you want another BP, maybe it'll be something else, another species, who knows?

Any which way, I think your gut will tell you when the time is right.

Keep learning, you're off to a great start!!!