In person or Online, where to purchase first ball python?

I'v been looking into getting my first ball python for a while now and I have everything set up. Now...where do I get the little girl? We have 3 reptile stores in my area and serveral petco that carrie them, and quite a few of them avalible online and if anyone knows of a breeder near SF in CA please tell me, I searched and nothing came up.(I may just have losey search skills though..)
This is my question: Where would be the best place to purchase a normal female quality ball python baby that is friendly?(or tolerant, it's interchangable) In your opnion, In person where I can find them? Or online from a breeder?

I'm looking for a pet right now and have no intrest(yet...) in breeding them. I do want a quality specimen though. I'm also willing to pay the price of one. I'v looked on kingsnake, and reptile breeder websites(although I'm not sure if their reputable). Any help will be greatly appriceated. I'v very nervous of purchasing a little devil by mistake and having to live with it for the next 30 years!


*To avoid any confusion I'm well aware of the behavior of snakes. I simply don't want the one ball in 1000 that thinks my hand needs holes in it like wood needs nails. (even with proper care and handeling)

Thank you for your time and attention!
Sugar

east bay vivarium in Berkeley, CA. ive only been there once but their animals were in good condition and they seemed knowledgeable.

I bought mine when I had him for a rediculous price. 89.99 for a male that was about 2 1/2'. He went on a 3 month fast before I sold him back for 15 bucks!! I would buy over the internet or at a show. You are more likely to find some that are well started and many people that breed balls aren't in it to make a bunch of money and get rich so they care more about the animals.
Hope this helps

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Originally Posted by mr~python

east bay vivarium in Berkeley, CA. ive only been there once but their animals were in good condition and they seemed knowledgeable.

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East Bay Vivarium are good people. Here is there website: www.eastbayvivarium.com They would be a good source for a pick-up.

For online purchases, search around. There are tons of breeders on just this site. You can check out our classifieds section also.

you've delt with EBV? ive never bought anything from them although i was going to get an ackie from them a few months ago.

the guy i talked to at the counter was actually kinda rude, but their animals are in awesome condition and like i said, they seem pretty knowledgeable. i think he was acting rude towards me because i was a kid and i was a little over-excited about getting the ackie. it kinda made me look like an impulse buyer so i can kinda understand.

it wouldnt stop me from buying from them, i just dont want to deal with that specific clerk. he was just one of those pet store workers that was in it cuz he needed some cash i guess, you know the type. i spoke to the manager/owner or whatever at the show in san jose though. he was VERY polite and he definitely knew his stuff.

I know we're talking BPs here... but EBV has some SERIOUSLY beautiful boas. They are actually called EBV Red Groups. Gorgeous red pastel boas... *sigh*

Anyway, I would check www.faunaclassifieds.com and www.kingsnake.com. Both of these websites have quite a few breeders posting nice snakes up for sale... and, on fauna, you can check out the Board of Inquiry and see who to trust and whom not to trust.

Although on the opposite side of the US from you I suggest www.reptilebasics.com here in North Carolina Rich is great to deal with.

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Originally Posted by ladywhipple02

I know we're talking BPs here... but EBV has some SERIOUSLY beautiful boas. They are actually called EBV Red Groups. Gorgeous red pastel boas... *sigh*

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That what the EBV pastels are then? I saw someone selling some ebv pastel boas on KS and I wasn't sure what line it was

Yes, EBV stands for East Bay Vivarium if you're looking at Pastel Red Boas. This is an EBV Red Group Boa owned by a friend of mine... his name is Mr. Red (THIS PIC IS NOT MINE, BUT BORROWED)

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...e02/t6fins.jpg

She just bred Mr. Red to a regular pastel female... and the babies are stunning. They're going to be gorgeous when they grow up.

Sorry for the :hijackd:

wow, i didnt know they were that big. i just thought they were a local shop with some nice animals.

I have never done business with EBV but I do know some people that have bought from them and I have seen the animals that they have purchased. Great stuff! I would not hesitate doing business with them.

I my self wouldn't suggest buying from a pet store. Pet stores don't take the proper time to quarantine there new arrivals. It's just “get them and sell them” attitude. I worked for a pet shop that had that attitude with Ball Pythons. Getting in a shipment of about 20 and putting them all in a 10 Gal tank, Then not 5 min latter I ended up having to take the poor things out to let people look at them and buy them. They never get the proper time to settle in and 9 times out of 10 they have something wrong with them.

Also a lot of times the pet store will not feed them. We would get in 5 day old hatchings that haven't feed yet, when my store found out that I was feeding them they fired me. I was spending money the store didn't have to feed ”worth-less” 160$ hatchings and they could have gotten sick on a customer.

I dot care for pet store BPs. But that is just my opinion.

lllreptile.com is where i got my bp he is awesome and toattly healthy. i buy every thing but boas from them. great to deal with.

I'd go to a show. That's where I go my first BP ever, and the prices and selection can't be beat. Plus, you don't have to pay shipping. The average going rate to ship a snake is about $50....that's in addition to the price you're paying for the animal.

I agree on the show bit... I just went to the Indy show and there were a TON of baby BPs for sale. Most were priced around 25-30 for healthy feeding babies.

NOTE: Make sure the baby's a feeder. A woman at the show had babies for sale for $10. I asked her about them and she said they weren't eating. Don't always go for the best deal.

Go somewhere where you can see them in person. Also look at several to see the differences in personality. If you are going to have the BP around kids, you want a tolerant snake, and something that is not too head shy or easily startled. sp??


Neil

you're in Concord right? im 20 min. away from you! if i were you i would either get the BP now at EBV or wait till the sacremento show in september and you can still purchase it from EBV or many other good places there.

Try to buy one from a local breeder if possible. I talk a bit about pet store ball pythons on my FAQ page. Regardless of whether you buy from a show or online, buy from a breeder that has a reputation to keep in this business. No reputation, no reason not to screw you. Reputation, a reason not to screw you.


Check the animal over CAREFULLY regardless of where you purchase one from. Look out for mites, ticks, respiratory infection, check the animal over completely and find out when it fed last, what it's feeding on and how frequently it's feeding.

Good luck! :carrot:

Hello all!

Well I went with the advice and took a jaunt(more like an journy..) to EBV. It was a very nice store with great service! I took my boyfreind and my best friend with me(because I refuse to venture around the forgin land of berkely alone..) Me and my boyfriend(who is obsessed with snakes and reptiles in general...) picked out a cute little girl ball python, she's very sweet and her name is Kitty(or Belladona, we can't decide). I plan to get more BPs in the future(they're addictive!). I think I'll get my second from a breeder at a show. Thank you all for the helpfull advice! Kitty thanks you all as well!


Sugar

Congrats on the purchase! "Kitty" sounds like a really cute name. And you know everyone is gonna pester you for pictures, so you better get some soon! ;) :P

Once I get a chance I'm going to take some pictures of her and her adorableness and post in the picture area..thing..place(1 am and lacks articulation and literary skills). Right now she's exploring her new home, sure is an outgoing little bugger. Should I wait to take pictures of her after her settle in week? or simply pop in from above while changing her water?

Best thing for the snake would probably be to wait until she's completely settled in and you know she'll eat for you. Maybe you can snap a pic through the glass without bothering her, but otherwise, us impatient photo-addicted souls will just have to wait for what's best for the snake. (We're used to that! ;) )