Reduced/Banded I posted about!

I went back to the petco to get pictures the day after I posed about that reduced but they came out really bad! So I went back yesterday and got some new ones! Here they are! Tell me what you think. I'm still not sure if I should get him or not! :-\

Right before the guy decided to try and be cute and strike, isn't he just precious! lol
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...6/Reduced1.JPG
After I put him back down, but before I put his hide back over him :)
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...6/Reduced2.JPG

I like him! Looks like a good banded to me

That's what I ment, Reduced pattern/banded lol not patternless :-p I WISH they had a patternless there for that price, I'd have it in a heartbeat.


I'm just still not too sure about this one. I dont really like buying from a pet store, but the chance that could be genetic and he's uber cheap really makes me want him!

Yup I'd say that would be a nice looking banded BP. Are you sure that it is a male? The only draw back is that it's a pet store and Petco of all places. If it were me, I'd wait till the 07 babies start to pop on out and get a nice banded 07 baby from a good, well known breeder. You then will know that the baby is healthy and doesn't have any surprises for you once you get it home... IE mites, sickness, other issues with eating and such, etc.

The one thing I'll give the petco is that I know the girl who works in the reptile section. We're friends and she's in charge of what goes in and out of the store. They keep their reptiles in mostly good condition. I say that because obviously they keep more than one to the cage, but other then that they're good. She feeds them all frozen thawed and if they wont take frozen thawed for 4 weeks, the 5th week they offer live and if the snake takes live, it's adopted out for free as a non-ft-eater. Also none of the ball pythons had visible mites and she said that they had a rate snake come in with mites but it has been quarantined and has not come anywhere near the other animals.


I actually have applied to work at that petco a few times because I like how nice it is compared to the others so I'm still considering. The only thing I'm wondering is obviously the prices change from year to year, but what was an average price for a banded as that would have something to do with my choice

I don't know that I would call it banded, as I don't see any bands going across his back. But he is a nice reduced pattern.


If you like him, get him.

wow he looks so much like my snake!

To be completely honest, you can find tons of bp's that have those kinds of markings. They will most likely be priced as "normals." If you really like that particular snake, then buy him. If buying from a pet store bothers you, then look around online for some good breeders... I'm pretty sure you will find a few that look like that.

One more thing, I am pretty sure that most "reduced" patterned balls are polygenetic, not dominant or recessive. Your odds of reproducing that look would probably be a lot better if you got a male/female pair with the same markings.

Looks like what I call a "Spotless." My female, Bela, is like that; I always wanted to get a similar male and breed it to her to see if it were genetic.. but now she's been bred to a spider and pastel.. :)

This is a reduced banded Ball...

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...s1/Sibs007.jpg

I would have to agree with the masses. That is not Banded. Banded is having pattern all the way across the back, so from hip to hip, metaphorically speaking?

(I don't think snakes have hips, per say, but it makes more sense that way....)

I would call that reduced pattern for sure. Very nice.

Please please don't buy from Petco. I had to learn my lesson the hard way, by losing a baby :(

I think you could get a baby that looks like this from a breeder and you would know exactly where it came from, etc.

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Originally Posted by darkangel

Please please don't buy from Petco. I had to learn my lesson the hard way, by losing a baby :(

I think you could get a baby that looks like this from a breeder and you would know exactly where it came from, etc.

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No offence, But if people dont buy from petco's What happens to the animals? If you know what you are doing, It doesnt matter if you buy from one of us breeders or a petco! They are still living breathing animals!!

Sorry for the rant.... :sunny:

Actually it does matter... you will know a lot more about your individual snake if you buy from the breeder who produced it.

Also, a lot of people buy from Petco that don't "know what they're doing," and can't find out what they should do from the store they purchased their snake. If you purchase from a good breeder, they should be there to help you with any problems before and after the sale.

Although there are petcos (and other pet stores) that dont know what they're doing, all are not like that.

I have bought reptiles from breeders and from pet stores, and I've had good and bad luck with both.

I've had animals from pet stores that died within a couple weeks, and some that thrived, same with breeders.

Just because some pet stores do not take care of their animals does not mean that none do, just as some breeders take excellent care of their snakes, where as others mass produce and treat their snakes very poorly.

I know the lady who works in the reptile section and she takes amazing care of the snakes, although there are some things that are out of her control, ie the number of snakes in the cage. She takes care of the animals there like they are the reptiles she has at her home.

I haven't made up my mind in buying or not, as I plan on purchasing a pastel and one other morph (haven't made up my mind between cinny, black pastel, spider) this spring/summer and I'm not sure if I want to be putting out 70 dollars currently instead of saving it.

We'll see. I'm also going to the Spartenburg, SC reptile show so we'll see what they have there I suppose and make my decision.

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Originally Posted by Holbeird

Although there are petcos (and other pet stores) that dont know what they're doing, all are not like that.

I have bought reptiles from breeders and from pet stores, and I've had good and bad luck with both.

I've had animals from pet stores that died within a couple weeks, and some that thrived, same with breeders.

Just because some pet stores do not take care of their animals does not mean that none do, just as some breeders take excellent care of their snakes, where as others mass produce and treat their snakes very poorly.

I know the lady who works in the reptile section and she takes amazing care of the snakes, although there are some things that are out of her control, ie the number of snakes in the cage. She takes care of the animals there like they are the reptiles she has at her home.

I haven't made up my mind in buying or not, as I plan on purchasing a pastel and one other morph (haven't made up my mind between cinny, black pastel, spider) this spring/summer and I'm not sure if I want to be putting out 70 dollars currently instead of saving it.

We'll see. I'm also going to the Spartenburg, SC reptile show so we'll see what they have there I suppose and make my decision.

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I agree,over here in ireland, there is one pet store that i know where they keep alot of reptiles in the one tank and one ball.royal in a viv that is way too small, with no hide.and the dont look after the reptiles, the area ia was too cold and they have uv lights on the animals that dont need it and normal bulbs on the animals that do need uv light.
the other store, wher ei buy all my snake food do alot of animals bvut alot of lizards and snakes,and they DO look after the snakes and other reptiles,they have 2 experts there and another 2 learning quickly and they all know their stuff pretty well.

I would not even support Petco, seeing how badly they treat their animals and how incorrectly their setups are.. why would anyone?

i am the reptile specialist in my petco. i know where and how old all my reptiles come in at, and for some reason the bp's that i just recived are really nippy they have all had perfect sheds and have eaten. i have them on a thursday feeding schedule but they are some nasty lil creatures this shipment in. i dont know why but i was tagged by 5 outta 6 of them so i am working with them to calm them down for when someone who is uneducated wants to know about them and handle them they wont be biten. my manager gets mad at me cuz i tell the customer everything they need to know and then he calls me a hobbyist. i tell him i want to at least know that the person thinking about buying the snake or any reptile at that will care for it for its life and not just give up on it. i also explain to them to buy the enclosure and set up the tank as needed and let the temps and humidity be stable a week before they actually purchase the animal and if they dont want to wait that long and just buy the snake i refuse the sale because i care more about the animals health then a sale. impulse buying is one of the worst things anyone can do. the main concern i have for all petstores because a store clerk will sell anything and say anything just to make the sale i go in to detail about how things have to be and how much it cost. not buy this this this and this. not all petcos or petstores are bad to buy from sorry for the rant but i know alot of people who are against petcos and petsmarts. i will defend my petco because i am the one who takes care of the animals and im going to school to be a vet tech and then interning to become a vet. i really do care about the animal more then i care about the bottom line sale. yes, if you are exprianced it would be prefered to buy from a breeder specially since most petshops only push the animals because of impulse buying. also one of my own policies is i wont sell any animal to anyone that is not 18 or older once again sorry for the rant. also nice reduced pattern its a very good looker.

Wow! That has to be the longest sentence ever! :eek:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Wow! That has to be the longest sentence ever! :eek:

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:8:

i fixed it sorry

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Originally Posted by DJ_86

No offence, But if people dont buy from petco's What happens to the animals?

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They stop importing them to sell. So then your left with reputable breeders for your normals and not risk IBD that wipes out entire collections and gets you offers of 10% off the next time you buy one of their animals.

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If you know what you are doing, It doesnt matter if you buy from one of us breeders or a petco! They are still living breathing animals!!
Sorry for the rant.... :sunny:

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If you know what your doing you stay away from people or company's that place the all mighty dollar over their customers and animals I mean " they are living breathing animals" after all

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

So then your left with reputable breeders for your normals and not risk IBD that wipes out entire collections

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You would be surprised to know what some "reputable breeders" Have going around there collections! Not very nice at all... :P

This may not be the place to ask it, but the places or breeders that deal with the big pythons (retic, burm, ect) What happens to the ones that don't sell? The place I got my girl from has a TON of snakes for sale, and they had some baby retics. What happens if they grow up and noone buys them?

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

They stop importing them to sell.

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LOL ... but they'll still be exported ... if not to the american pet trade, than they will go to the asia food market. Asian countries have been trying to get their quotas increased for a long time. ;)

Animal exports from West Africa are a main stay of the economy ... they will make their money ... one way or the other.

-adam

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Wow! That has to be the longest sentence ever! :eek:

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My brain. It bleeds. ;)

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Originally Posted by DJ_86

You would be surprised to know what some "reputable breeders" Have going around there collections! Not very nice at all... :P

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Having IBD and selling and infected animal(s) with complete disregard for the customer sure different things. I agree that reputable breeders are just as capable of have it. Please let me and us know if you know of any reputable breeders sending out IBD infected animals please let us know so we can avoid them.

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

LOL ... but they'll still be exported ... if not to the american pet trade, than they will go to the asia food market. Asian countries have been trying to get their quotas increased for a long time. ;)

Animal exports from West Africa are a main stay of the economy ... they will make their money ... one way or the other.

-adam

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No man...LOL I meant Petco not the pet trade as a whole. People or company's that put money over the animals is in my mind not fit to sell them. Agreed ????

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

I would not even support Petco, seeing how badly they treat their animals and how incorrectly their setups are.. why would anyone?

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Because although the company as a whole is frowned upon, there are some petco stores that take very good care of their animals.

I still plan on buying from a breeder as I said, and I will go to a breeder any day before I'd go to a pet store, but although it's not the number one factor, money is an issue. If two breeders are selling the same snake, both seem to be in good health and same size/age but one is charging 2 grand more, it'll make you think twice before deciding to buy the expensive one. just my :2cent:

I personally look at buying from a petstore not as a "purchase" but more of a rescue. I feel like I have the time to devote to them to ensure that they are clear of pesky parasites, and nasty internal things.

I've actually "saved" several pet-store snakies. Where afterwards, I've found them the best homes I can be sure of, and they are given to a nice family.

They can't help who's trying to make a profit off them, they deserve a chance at the best life they can get!

just my :2cent: ....

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

LOL ... but they'll still be exported ... if not to the american pet trade, than they will go to the asia food market. Asian countries have been trying to get their quotas increased for a long time. ;)

Animal exports from West Africa are a main stay of the economy ... they will make their money ... one way or the other.

-adam

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Funny how here you think awwww cute bps. And somewhere else they're thinking yum yum chunky snake. Still hard to decide whats worse for them, petco or snake fried rice.

In my area there don't seem to be any locally-owned reptile stores. There is one that I have been to, and it's disgusting. First off, I'm about 98% sure it's a drug front, the owner doesn't let people handle the snakes, and the smell of urine and feces is just suffocating. It's a shame because it's basically my only chance to handle snakes I've only seen in pictures and read about. The only other option is Petco. When I bought my baby ball from Petco, he appeared perfectly healthy. I guess that's the problem... You never know exactly what you're getting but atleast from a reputable breeder you would have a better idea of the origins of the snake and its care. I thought I saved some money by using a lps, but I ended up paying 90 dollars in anitbiotics that I never got to use. If I could go back in time I would have happily paid the 50 bucks for shipping and ordered a normal online.

I am not trying to say Petco is inherently evil. It's just... Unpredictable. You could have a great reptile specialist working to care for the snakes but if they're not displaying symptoms while they're in Petco's care, how will anyone ever know? Just my opinion, biased heavily by my own recent tragic personal experience...

What pet store if you dont mind me asking, I live in NC and there's a horrible reptile place just over the boarder if ft. mill sc :-p

wondering if we're talking about the same place lol

It's actually in North Augusta, SC.

im with snakiemom on this one thats how i look at it even though i do work at a petco your still rescuing an animal from any type of petstore