Should I buy this Cinny Female ball python? Yes/No?

Hi everyone, I was in the market for a black pastel or cinny female. A reputable local breeder near me had one so I went to visit. I toured the facility he had set up and there were just a couple things that seemed off to me:

1) A lot of his BP's were really aggressive. Maybe this was from lack of handling, but the mother of the Cinny female was particularly grouchy. Do you think this is a trait the cinny female will inherit from her mother, or will she calm down with handling?

2) The animals were kept on newspaper that was changed once per week. So I noticed a lot of urates in their racks. Is this a huge problem or am I reading too much into it?

The price is good on the Cinny female and she looks healthy as can be. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

JonV

imo, you have to go with your gut feeling.


alot of breeders with large collections will clean on a schedule. so some days, there might be more of a mess than others?


each ball is different, i haven't heard of temperment being genetic yet!


vaughn

If you saw lot's of urates I don't think he's changing the paper once a week. I can only write from my exp my ball's don't go that often. If you left the facility with the wrong vibe check with some other breeder's before you decide.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Emilio

If you saw lot's of urates I don't think he's changing the paper once a week. I can only write from my exp my ball's don't go that often. If you left the facility with the wrong vibe check with some other breeder's before you decide.

---

Having 400+ bps. There is always urates and Crap in my bins. Does this make me a bad breeder? If you like her buy her and change her substrate as much as you like!


each ball is different, i haven't heard of temperment being genetic yet!
Boy, Do I have a story for you LOL!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JASBALLS

Having 400+ bps. There is always urates and Crap in my bins. Does this make me a bad breeder? If you like her buy her and change her substrate as much as you like!


each ball is different, i haven't heard of temperment being genetic yet!
Boy, Do I have a story for you LOL!!

---

Your right bro my bad I didn't take the size of collection into account.:confused: ;)

lots of snakes can get messy! but i dont there there should be a build up of urates... the one smallish breeder i visited (Mr. Brian Gundy of for-goodness-snakes.com) had at least a hundred BP's some cages had some mess but it was some daily mess, upturned waterbowls etc.... only 2 of his BPs showed any signs of aggression/defensive behaviours, he has a sweet high contrast albino baby that did try to strike but it was maybe a couple months old so im certain it was defensive, and another young male normal let out a hiss when he went to put him back in his tub. i can see how it would be hard for breeders to work full time clean cages all night and get time to handle the animals so those animals might need a bit more one on one time to get them tame. just my 2 cents from what i have seen so far. either way you choose i hope you find what you are looking for :)

Nah, there is a way better cinny female in the trade/sell section. :D

but really, if she is healthy looking then I say go for it. The guy i work for has quite a few snakes that are mean too but he says that makes them good feeders. every time you open the tub they bite what comes in, if they are going to be your breeders than it should not matter that much, if its a pet i would get a tame one.

thanks for all your comments everyone! this has been really helpful!

JonV

I also like a Ball with a little but of an attitude. The meaner they try to be, seems like they better thier feeding response. They all seem to tame down well with handling, but the feeding response tends to stay with them. I'll take a slightly grouchy, good eating ball over a finicky eater any day :sabduel: Then again though, I'm not looking for a snake to be a cuddly pet either..........I like to admire them and thier beauty and breed them, but I have other pets for petting and companionship, lol.

Slightly messy bins are nothing to worry about IMO. Happens to all of us from time to time. When my snakes decide to make a mess, they can make it look like I have neglected them for weeks in just a few hours. Other times, they can really go for weeks and look pristine. What i would look for is mold. If you see that growing, you really know that the shiz has been in there for awhile...............and is a sign of less than stellar husbandry.

hey dude I say go for it, like some people said it'll calm with handling and its up to you on when to change the substrait, and just so you know, my balls go a lot on some weeks not so much on others so it really doesnt mean he doesnt know what he is doing, plus cinny's are SO sweet. haha.

Cinny's are sweet. I think I like black pastels even more though, but it's hard to find one even comparable in price! This guy is giving me a pretty good hookup.

JonV

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nevohraalnavnoj

1) A lot of his BP's were really aggressive. Maybe this was from lack of handling, but the mother of the Cinny female was particularly grouchy. Do you think this is a trait the cinny female will inherit from her mother, or will she calm down with handling?

---

I've noticed a difference between the temperments of "pet" snakes that are accustomed to regular handling, versus snakes in a breeder's rack that aren't handled nearly as much. I produced a few babies this year that try to take my face off every time I clean their tubs. Their mother is the most laid back female I have in my collection. Incidentally, these same snakes' feeding responses are STRONG. They calm down with age, though, so don't worry. They'll eventually realize that they are ball pythons after all and will mellow out - in most cases ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nevohraalnavnoj

2) The animals were kept on newspaper that was changed once per week. So I noticed a lot of urates in their racks. Is this a huge problem or am I reading too much into it?

---

Like Jas said, snake's gotta go too. With any large number of animals, I don't see how a one or two person operation could keep up with that. I would be more on the lookout for MOLD in tubs, as an indication that that animals aren't getting cleaned like they should.

I have some snakes that pee several times a week so finding urates is not uncommon, like other have said in large collections. I also like a fiesty girl, she will probably eat well.

But Vaughn had the best advice which is to go with your gut. Cinny females are great animals to have in your collection but if you have a bad feeling for some reason don't pull the trigger. Does he keep rodents in the same room?
I knew a guy that bred his rodents right next to his BP rack and alot of his snakes were snappy. I wonder if smelling lunch all day made them go for the first heat signal they feel.

Don't let urates freak you, some are pee machines.

Like others said, go with your gut. But if the breeder had healthy animals throughout his facility, then I wouldn't sweat it. I don't mind agressive bps :)

Justin

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

I have some snakes that pee several times a week so finding urates is not uncommon, like other have said in large collections. I also like a fiesty girl, she will probably eat well.

But Vaughn had the best advice which is to go with your gut. Cinny females are great animals to have in your collection but if you have a bad feeling for some reason don't pull the trigger. Does he keep rodents in the same room?
I knew a guy that bred his rodents right next to his BP rack and alot of his snakes were snappy. I wonder if smelling lunch all day made them go for the first heat signal they feel.

Don't let urates freak you, some are pee machines.

---

mine seem like the pee 2-3 times a week so i guess i would be guilty of it too but i do change my newspaper atleast 2 times a week.

when i had all my rodents in my room i noticed my balls had a harder time knowing when its feeding time, but its not like the were mean they just smelled the rodents all the time so i would imagine they get used to it and then you might notice less of a feeding response as i did. also dont forget some ppl keep their temps high and higher temps make for some mighty mean balls (babies or adults)

You've got good responses in this thread that should help you to deicde.


Someone with a small group of pet BPs can usually clean more often than someone with a larger group of breeders. Several racks of BPs are usually cleaned on a weekly schedule so you may see poo or urates, depending on the day of the week. I agree that mold will usually tell you that it's been a bit longer between cleanings than it should.

Also, most people, not all of course, that have a larger group of breeders don't usually handle their BPs much. They aren't usually considered pets, more like livestock. Is this wrong or bad? Not IMHO. But many people would rather see a BP that is a bit agressive when it comes to feeding day than a picky eater. Was it close to feeding day for the cinny mother?

There is also a very interesting post on breeding for attitude that is active right now that you might want to read. I found it fascinating.

Let us know what you decide. Good luck