Common BP Myths?

So, after working at a PetCo for nearly a year, I got to admit I have heard some of the most bizarre myth's about ball pythons, or snakes in general, not just from other associates... but customers as well. So... I'm going to state some of the things I have heard, and would like to hear how y'all believe such myths may have been started. Also... in the off chance there is some shred of proof to them, I would be very interested in hearing what y'all have to say... So here a few are.

1. Ball pythons will grow to the size of their tank.

2. Ball pythons are known to actively escape from their tanks and hunt down small dogs.

3. Feeding a ball python a prey item too small will prevent their heads from growing. As their prey size determines their head size.

4. You can potty train a ball python.

5. Placing their tanks in natural sunlight makes python colours more vibrant. Havn't you ever wondered how pastels got their high yellows? :rolleyes:

6. Ball pythons do not require heating elements during the winter.

7. Feeding solid white mice will cause neurological problems. Contamination from the lab setting has sneaked through into the feeder market.

8. Feeding a mouse pinkie every day is the healthiest feeding method.

9. Snakes love the company, that's why they snuggle together in their cages.

10. Snakes get depressed and hide when they are all alone.

These are just a few of the things I've heard. Some have been amusing, some just made me want to slam my head in the rat cage... Anyone else heard some funny myths they'd care to share?

Haven't really heard any that i can remember but I got a good laugh out of this...good thread :clap: :rofl:

I work at PetCo as well, and I can't say that any other job makes me more depressed with the stupidity of people. Not exactly myths, but I've heard

1) My ball python only likes fuzzies, even though she's 7 years old.

2) My 2 month old ball doesn't like to open his mouth all the way, so I'll only give him pinkies.

3) A ball python ate my friend's chihuahua...and a boa will eat you if you don't feed it every 5 days.

4) Ball pythons don't have fangs because they were removed surgically for safe keeping.

And don't try to give them any advice...because they'll just roll their eyes at you and ignore it. "My animal is alive, so it must be healthy and happy." Its pitiful.

Here's a few I've heard....

Milksnakes are called that because they are attracted to milk. They will get loose and go after your baby. (these are the same folks who think Fluffy the cat is just waiting to smother your newborn infant the first chance it gets)

Snakes are all the same gender. They don't need another snake to make babies. (please don't tell my male snake Riordan this, he rather fancies himself a stud :rolleyes:)

Everyone in your house is going to die of salmonella! (please don't eat at your local fast food joint, you seem to be a bit germ phobic and you really don't want to know what's likely growing on your own kitchen cutting board)

I know somebody who got killed by their pet snake!!!! (when pressed for further information this "somebody" is actually the friend of some guy who may or may not have worked or have gone to school with their third cousin twice removed's ex-wife)

O.M.G.

Totally heard this one the other day.

So you do know that if you cut a snake in half and leave it.. it will reattach it's two halves and be regular again...that's why you should always throw one of the body parts far away...so he can't find it.

:O

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Originally Posted by MeMe

O.M.G.

Totally heard this one the other day.

So you do know that if you cut a snake in half and leave it.. it will reattach it's two halves and be regular again...that's why you should always throw one of the body parts far away...so he can't find it.

:O

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Oh my gawd! :rofl: People are that stupid? Or maybe we are and didn't realize that apparently snake's guts are made of velcro!!! Somebody quick phone National Geographic.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Oh my gawd! :rofl: People are that stupid? Or maybe we are and didn't realize that apparently snake's guts are made of velcro!!! Somebody quick phone National Geographic.

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I was totally just like...

:weirdface

really....

ok ..but what if you cut up like 10 snakes....would they all find their own bodies?!?! :O

he said...i-on'know.


:giggle:

oh... :rolleyes:

Ive never heard anything except only feeding a Bp once a month, and you have to feed it in a separate container...

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Originally Posted by MeMe

I was totally just like...

:weirdface

really....

ok ..but what if you cut up like 10 snakes....would they all find their own bodies?!?! :O

he said...i-on'know.


:giggle:

oh... :rolleyes:

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Meme this sounds suspiciously like you are trying to sneak some math into my morning online!

10 snakes divided by 1/3 of the circumference of Y....

:taz: Stop that Meme! My head hurts now! :P

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Originally Posted by MeMe

I was totally just like...

:weirdface

really....

ok ..but what if you cut up like 10 snakes....would they all find their own bodies?!?! :O

he said...i-on'know.


:giggle:

oh... :rolleyes:

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but but but... how else do you get pieds??? :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Gooseman

but but but... how else do you get pieds??? :rolleyes:

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exactly.

:gj:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Meme this sounds suspiciously like you are trying to sneak some math into my morning online!

10 snakes divided by 1/3 of the circumference of Y....

:taz: Stop that Meme! My head hurts now! :P

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well..actually...the answer would be...

10 snakes divided by 1/3 of the circumference of Y = 1 yellow chair.

;)

Yeah I love the one about people who think a pinky once a month is good enough for a snake thats could easily take a large rat. I had the girl at the pet store near me try to pull that one. They had a BP that probably weighed about 6-700g and they were feeding it one freakin pinky a month. Totally ridiculous.....

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Originally Posted by Gooseman

5. Placing their tanks in natural sunlight makes python colours more vibrant. Havn't you ever wondered how pastels got their high yellows? :rolleyes:

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Ahhh it all makes sense now..... I'm gonna go put all my normals in a cage in direct sunlight... I need some more pastels lol.

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9. Snakes love the company, that's why they snuggle together in their cages.

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I had this conversation with the girl at Petco yesterday, she keeps BPs and was trying to tell me that the 5 CH babies they had in one like 15 gallon sized tank were all snuggling because they love each other. I guess she's got 3 BPs that she keeps in the same tank :rofl:

I'm amazed at the disproportionate amount of strength they think Ball pythons have. Yes... you get into the bigger snakes and they are strong - but I can't convince my grandma that my almost 3 foot ball python cannot strangle me because I'm stronger than it.

She says that I'm wrong, that they are stronger than they look... She told me she's worried about me home alone with him and asked me not to take him out of his tank unless I had someone with me... wouldn't Stan be proud to know that someone thinks he's such a killer! :D

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Originally Posted by Gooseman

but but but... how else do you get pieds??? :rolleyes:

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From the Pied Fairy! For goodness sakes Ben didn't I sit you down and explain all this to you years ago! :P

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Originally Posted by MeMe

well..actually...the answer would be...

10 snakes divided by 1/3 of the circumference of Y = 1 yellow chair.

;)

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*scribbles madly with her pencil and paper* oh no! I got = 1 pink hand towel!!! Wait maybe I forgot to carry the 2...... *scribble, scribble, cuss, cuss*

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Originally Posted by anendeloflorien

Yeah I love the one about people who think a pinky once a month is good enough for a snake thats could easily take a large rat. I had the girl at the pet store near me try to pull that one. They had a BP that probably weighed about 6-700g and they were feeding it one freakin pinky a month. Totally ridiculous.....

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Oh I know the answer to this one!

Translation of that is....we are too damned cheap to feed anything else to these snakes that we hope to quickly pawn off on somebody!

Do I get a cookie? :)

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Oh my gawd! :rofl: People are that stupid? Or maybe we are and didn't realize that apparently snake's guts are made of velcro!!! Somebody quick phone National Geographic.

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Be a great technique to adapt into human surgeries! could you imagine chopping off a couple of fingers, then reattaching them!? COOL!

Sort of like Manji from the Blade of the Immortal Comic! :rofl:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

*scribbles madly with her pencil and paper* oh no! I got = 1 pink hand towel!!! Wait maybe I forgot to carry the 2...... *scribble, scribble, cuss, cuss*

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yes...carry the 2, and divide it by the square root of 3 red m&m's.

:nerd:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Oh I know the answer to this one!

Translation of that is....we are too damned cheap to feed anything else to these snakes that we hope to quickly pawn off on somebody!

Do I get a cookie? :)

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Nope you get a pinky... Now GO AWAY I'll feed you again next month lol :taz:

Ive had someone tell me ball pythons are rear fanged. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by MeMe

yes...carry the 2, and divide it by the square root of 3 red m&m's.

:nerd:

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the dark chocolate ones!:cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MeMe

yes...carry the 2, and divide it by the square root of 3 red m&m's.

:nerd:

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Sneaky wench sneaking in more math!

Oh man these are great! I needed a laugh this morning (sick).

I like the one I've heard many times where the BP gets out at night and strangles everyone in the family.

Or the old lady that told me that if you let a snake lick you you'll die from some horrid disease that gets in through your skin.

And of course, everyone has heard that snakes give you subliminal messages to twist and pervert you because it is the spawn of Satan...

:O:rolleyes:

That one someone mentioned about the snake not being able to open its mouth wide enough to eat anything but a pinky...that was a good one. :8:
I also liked that one about enhancing their colors in the sun. Man, I'd better move my two pastels. Maybe they'll turn into Supers!! :rofl:

Out of all of them, I seriously think the strangest was hearing that solid white mice are bad. I mean... When a customer comes in, asks to have two male mice boxed up for them while they go look at fish... and then throws a HUGE fit because the mice are white when she get's them... And then explains that we're irresponsible because we sell "contaminated" mice... It just makes me... want to grab my aluminum foil helmet. Grab every item on the shelf. Examine them for hidden cameras or microphone's... Communicate only through sign language and cave paintings. And then perform interpretive dance to show my disdain for the government and all their secret spy programs and attempts to remove evil animals (such as snakes) from the homes of practicing warlocks. (as apparently only the astrange keep herps). But lucky for us... we can bypass all that, by only feeding colored mice. whew. I had to bake her a cake to thank her for all that new information I received.

EDIT: Wow... time to put the coffee cup down... no more caffeine needed today.

Ummm...got a video of that interpretive dance? :banana:

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Originally Posted by Gooseman

So, after working at a PetCo for nearly a year, I got to admit I have heard some of the most bizarre myth's about ball pythons, or snakes in general, not just from other associates... but customers as well. So... I'm going to state some of the things I have heard, and would like to hear how y'all believe such myths may have been started. Also... in the off chance there is some shred of proof to them, I would be very interested in hearing what y'all have to say... So here a few are.

1. Ball pythons will grow to the size of their tank.

2. Ball pythons are known to actively escape from their tanks and hunt down small dogs.

3. Feeding a ball python a prey item too small will prevent their heads from growing. As their prey size determines their head size.

4. You can potty train a ball python.

5. Placing their tanks in natural sunlight makes python colours more vibrant. Havn't you ever wondered how pastels got their high yellows? :rolleyes:

6. Ball pythons do not require heating elements during the winter.

7. Feeding solid white mice will cause neurological problems. Contamination from the lab setting has sneaked through into the feeder market.

8. Feeding a mouse pinkie every day is the healthiest feeding method.

9. Snakes love the company, that's why they snuggle together in their cages.

10. Snakes get depressed and hide when they are all alone.

These are just a few of the things I've heard. Some have been amusing, some just made me want to slam my head in the rat cage... Anyone else heard some funny myths they'd care to share?

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Didn't I make a Myths topic yesterday? :confused:

Yea, petstores are pretty silly like that. :D

My all time favorite one is one I get a lot....

"You have snakes! But...but...you look so normal! You don't look like the kind of person who has snakes!!!"

I always want to smile sweetly and say...."well true but I don't have my goat sacrificing matching sweater set on today dear" :P

I mean okay it's that freaky for a middle aged mother of 4 who volunteers in your library to have some snakes? It's not like I'm wandering the halls, muttering incantations with the big boa drapped over me and giving you the dang stink eye. :rofl:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

My all time favorite one is one I get a lot....

"You have snakes! But...but...you look so normal! You don't look like the kind of person who has snakes!!!"

I always want to smile sweetly and say...."well true but I don't have my goat sacrificing matching sweater set on today dear" :P

I mean okay it's that freaky for a middle aged mother of 4 who volunteers in your library to have some snakes? It's not like I'm wandering the halls, muttering incantations with the big boa drapped over me and giving you the dang stink eye. :rofl:

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I'll show you that interpretive dance, if we can get pics of that goat sacrificing matching sweater set in action. you've peaked my interest. I've heard of them before, but never actually knew people sported them. Do they come in wool?

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Originally Posted by Gooseman

I'll show you that interpretive dance, if we can get pics of that goat sacrificing matching sweater set in action. you've peaked my interest. I've heard of them before, but never actually knew people sported them. Do they come in wool?

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Not mine! I'm allergic to wool! It totally messes up your incanting...incantationing - oh heck whatever the verb is for that - if you are scratching like mad and running off to find the allergy meds. :rolleyes:

Now I need to go rinse out my sweater set and practise my stink eye some. I'm still looking far to middle class and mommyish apparently. :irkd: How's this?

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Originally Posted by Argentra

And of course, everyone has heard that snakes give you subliminal messages to twist and pervert you because it is the spawn of Satan...

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Well see that explains why every time I get a new snake another voice starts talking to me giving me precise instructions on how to take over the world :weirdface. Of course now there's 14 voices all trying to talk over each other and THEY'RE ALL SCREAMING! HOW CAN YOU PEOPLE NOT HEAR THEM!!!!!!!


OH yeah and don't even get the mice and the rats started.... It's always the same "no no no no don't feed my babies to the giant dinasors" That and "give me yogies NOW"

one i hear alot is they will only grow to there prey size.

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: this is the funnyist post i have ever read lol. More like this please:please::please::please:

My friend was convinced that my balls would grow + feet:rolleyes:

ha.... the other day I showed someone a super phantom and they asked why did they drop it in bleach:rofl: Not a myth but darn funny!

I get the "you have snakes?" all the time. "why would you keep them?" My reply usually is.. I like them better than most people. They dont ask me stupid questions.
I also have been asked if I was afraid of them getting out and eating my daughter. I said no.. Normally I dont keep the cages open:D
Then heres the funny one.. Why do you have to feed them mice or rats.. They are too cute to be fed to them.. Cant you feed them insects like the crickets you feed the dragons?

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

giving you the dang stink eye. :rofl:

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jo, i think i might actually pay to see that...

this is funny in a sad way. I feel bad for the pets that some of these people own.

They're good beginner pets. :P

No really I think they're terrible beginner pets though, but that's just my opinion.

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Originally Posted by AaronP

They're good beginner pets. :P

No really I think they're terrible beginner pets though, but that's just my opinion.

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I am just curious why you think that. and what do you consider a good starter snake.

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Originally Posted by Chuck

I am just curious why you think that. and what do you consider a good starter snake.

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Balls can be difficult to get to eat, have to have very specific heating( most non forum people provide above heating:rolleyes:) humidity has to be just right, the cage has to be just right, or all sorts of problems can occur.


I think a pet rock would be a good choice instead

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

Balls can be difficult to get to eat, have to have very specific heating( most non forum people provide above heating:rolleyes:) humidity has to be just right, the cage has to be just right, or all sorts of problems can occur.


I think a pet rock would be a good choice instead

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Exactly.

There are easier snakes out there.

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Originally Posted by Chuck

I am just curious why you think that. and what do you consider a good starter snake.

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A good starter snake could be something like a Corn, a Bull Snake, or maybe a Childrens/Spotted Python.

The first one about growing to the size of a tank is an old,old rumor that I used to only hear said in relation to tropical fish. "If you buy a small aquarium the fish will stay small". I believe that it was a sales tactic of pet stores to be able to sell to people that couldn't afford a large enough aquarium. In recent years I have heard it said about various creatures.

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

Balls can be difficult to get to eat, have to have very specific heating( most non forum people provide above heating:rolleyes:) humidity has to be just right, the cage has to be just right, or all sorts of problems can occur.


I think a pet rock would be a good choice instead

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From some of the things I've seen, I'm going to have to disagree with this. Balls make pretty decent starter snakes in my mind. Given some of the things I hear customers say as to how they keep their snakes, and have a fat BP on their arms when cruising petco for their new heatrock... I'm gonna have to say they can survive a fair amount of stupidity on their owners part. Not to say they are bulletproof, let alone idiot proof. But I believe some of their problems are over exaggerated. But... That's just my opinion.

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A good starter snake could be something like a Corn, a Bull Snake, or maybe a Childrens/Spotted Python.

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A corn snake is not really that much easier to keep than a ball. I'd say they are on the same level with regards to care as hatchlings because they have just as many feeding issues, especially if they are from a pet store. BP's are less aggressive and skittish than baby corn snakes, IMO, and they aren't as easy to lose due to their size as babies.

Thanks guys/gals I needed a laugh. I was in a pet store the other day and someone asked me (they thought I worked there) "can you tell the age of a snake by checking their teeth?" WHAT? no but that works for horses. I love the one "if a snake tastes human blood they will always be looking for a way to kill you and eat you" LOL there are some really ......interesting.... people out there.

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Originally Posted by Gooseman

From some of the things I've seen, I'm going to have to disagree with this. Balls make pretty decent starter snakes in my mind. Given some of the things I hear customers say as to how they keep their snakes, and have a fat BP on their arms when cruising petco for their new heat rock... I'm gonna have to say they can survive a fair amount of stupidity on their owners part. Not to say they are bulletproof, let alone idiot proof. But I believe some of their problems are over exaggerated. But... That's just my opinion.

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I would just like to point our just because the animal is alive and looks healthy that does not mean that it makes a good beginners animal. I have had pets for many years and the snake is the one that eats the least and requires the most attention as far as the housing issue goes. If you want a beginner pet go buy two parakeets and feed them and water them daily they will be just fine. But for a snake the word "beginner" belongs no where in the vocabulary.

Not trying to be rude but I hate pet stores such as petsmart and petco they have no business selling pet food much less pets. I find no defense for them. When you have some one cranking out puppies and selling them sick and with fleas usually some one calls the local SPCA but with chain stores such as these that sell sick fish, birds, reptiles, and other miscellaneous animals PEOPLE ACTUALLY PRAISE THEM because they donate to a charity or have animal adoption days!!!!! WOOOP-DE-FRIGGEN-DO!!!! I could care less I really wish people would open their eyes and take off the rose colored glasses and realize that chain stores like this really should not be in business and most people are just to dumb to realize it until it is too late and they have already bought a "pet" from this place.

I was one of these "innocent" by-standers. I bought pets from the conglomerate places and I always thought oh they take such good care of the animals until you start to learn what each animal requires for housing, food, attention, and medical attention. i mean what are these people thinking!!!!

Please some one tell me I am not crazy and that I am not making all this up.

I also know that there are a few people in this forum that run pet shops and do a darn fine job at it. You care about each animal that is there. You pay attention to them you ensure proper diet and housing. This is not directed to you few that don't just care about the "sale". To you few whom are to few I tip my hat to you.

I think some people in this forum would agree with me on this subject.

Oh yah Goosman sorry for using your post as a jumping board for this I really didn't mean to I started writing and all these angry feeling came out. None of them are meant towards you I hope you understand and take on offense I really don't mean any of this to you.

:mad:

:hijackd:

Ok I am off my soap box sorry you guys had to endure that.

To the "OP" ..... nice post, good laughing stuff....:)

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Originally Posted by hoax

Oh yah Goosman sorry for using your post as a jumping board for this I really didn't mean to I started writing and all these angry feeling came out. None of them are meant towards you I hope you understand and take on offense I really don't mean any of this to you.

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Don't worry, I'm pretty hard to offend.

But... you can't keep every tard who wants a snake from getting one. My point was that, some ball pythons are kept in deplorable conditions, and yet still manage check every box in what we attribute to a healthy snake. Eats, sheds, breeds, and is of decent weight. This is not to mean the snake is truly healthy, but is instead rather hardy. So... assuming said "beginner" reads through a caresheet, and/or joins a site like bp.net and puts into practice what they've read rather than use it as TP, then there's atleast reason to believe that a ball python could well be kept by a beginner.

As far as PetCo selling snakes is concerned. It all comes down to the indiviual associate handling the sell, and taking care of the animals in store. If the associate has a passion for snakes, and knows what they're talking about. I see no reason to banish snakes from PetCo, but if said associate doesn't have a clue... then please. Keep your head up, and stay away from fans... as there may be some fecal matter flying your way shortly.

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Originally Posted by whitewolf

A corn snake is not really that much easier to keep than a ball. I'd say they are on the same level with regards to care as hatchlings because they have just as many feeding issues, especially if they are from a pet store. BP's are less aggressive and skittish than baby corn snakes, IMO, and they aren't as easy to lose due to their size as babies.

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Corn snakes are still only 1 part of that post, there are other animals that I named, and I've not heard nearly as many problems with corns than I have with Ball Pythons. The corn snake I had was an awesome animal...I just don't like them cause their poo...oh man, talk about a whole other kind of stinky.

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Originally Posted by hoax

Not trying to be rude but I hate pet stores such as petsmart and petco they have no business selling pet food much less pets. I find no defense for them. When you have some one cranking out puppies and selling them sick and with fleas usually some one calls the local SPCA but with chain stores such as these that sell sick fish, birds, reptiles, and other miscellaneous animals PEOPLE ACTUALLY PRAISE THEM because they donate to a charity or have animal adoption days!!!!! WOOOP-DE-FRIGGEN-DO!!!! I could care less I really wish people would open their eyes and take off the rose colored glasses and realize that chain stores like this really should not be in business and most people are just to dumb to realize it until it is too late and they have already bought a "pet" from this place.

I was one of these "innocent" by-standers. I bought pets from the conglomerate places and I always thought oh they take such good care of the animals until you start to learn what each animal requires for housing, food, attention, and medical attention. i mean what are these people thinking!!!!

Please some one tell me I am not crazy and that I am not making all this up.

I also know that there are a few people in this forum that run pet shops and do a darn fine job at it. You care about each animal that is there. You pay attention to them you ensure proper diet and housing. This is not directed to you few that don't just care about the "sale". To you few whom are to few I tip my hat to you.

I think some people in this forum would agree with me on this subject.

Oh yah Goosman sorry for using your post as a jumping board for this I really didn't mean to I started writing and all these angry feeling came out. None of them are meant towards you I hope you understand and take on offense I really don't mean any of this to you.

:mad:

:hijackd:

Ok I am off my soap box sorry you guys had to endure that.

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i also work at petco...it depresses me some days i have to go in b/c of the idiots that think that they can care for animals, much less snakes. If for some reason I really feel as if that person cant take care of an animal, i will not sell it to them...whether they get pissed or not. I work in the reptile/fish department...so i have to comment on what you said about selling injured or sick animals- we do not sell any injured or sick animals...we pull them off and treat them seperatly and immediately. I know not all stores are like this...It really depends if the company wants to hire someone that wants to work with animals and has some sort of motivation other than $, or a lazy ass who just wants his paycheck at the end of the week.

Yep, at my petco, our animals go straight to the vet...we have a vet that will take them at any time.

Another one I've heard:

-Snakes have retractable teeth like cat's claws.

-had one person tell me my snake was "tasting" me when flicking it's tongue and insisted I was in denial.