What age is too old to buy a ball python?

[leslie8190]

Hi everyone,
So I was thinking of buying a new ball python and I found one for sale. It's an albino male but the thing is, it's 16 years old already. The seller is asking 150(shipping not included of course). My question is, is this too old and is the price reasonable or should I just buy a baby albino? Thank you guys so much and hope you all have a wonderful day.

[OkamiFlautist]

I mean, BPs can live into their 30's, so that guy would likely still have another ~16 or more years left in him. Do you want to go through with raising a baby snake, or would you prefer to have one that's already an adult? I would assume it comes down to personal choice in the end!

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

[bcr229]

LOL I was thinking 50... 55... to ensure that I didn't outlive it and have to make provisions for it in my Will!

So, is the snake "too old" for what? Breeding? Keeping as a pet? Or something else?

There are a few downsides to buying an older critter:
- If they've been living in the same place with the same husbandry for many years, a move can be really stressful for them.
- If they've been passed around through multiple collections, that increases the opportunity to have picked up one of those illnesses that some snakes can carry but they'll never show symptoms. This is more common with boas than pythons though.

[mdb730]

If it was me, I would not spend 150 on a male albino that's 16 years old because with older snakes come more vet bills. I have a big male wild type BP that is about 20-21 years old, I feed him differently than I do my other snake, he gets wean rat every 5-6 days instead of a small to medium every 10-11 days like I do my other adult males. He moves much slower than he used to and is scheduled to see the vet next Tuesday because he has developed stiffness on the back of his body. In fact he sees the vet more often than any other snake or reptile I own. If I were you i'd buy a baby, a baby male albino is about the same price he is asking for this adult.

[leslie8190]

Thank you!

[Danger noodles]

If he hasn’t been turned into a wallet or a pair of boots I’d say it’s never to late to give a snake a good home

[303_enfield]

Two things:

Old snakes like old dogs need to be see an handled.
At 16 the snake "should" be free or a bonus for buying something else.

$150 + $75 shipping. I'd pass but I'm cheap!

I don't breed snakes. At what age would a breeder be retired?

[LeeAnnT99]

LOL I was thinking 50... 55... to ensure that I didn't outlive it and have to make provisions for it in my Will!

I, as well, thought you were talking about YOUR age. Because, I considered that as well. I'm in my late 50's and I've always wanted a BP. I hesitated because of my age and how long they can live, if well cared for. But, I found out, after talking to my family -- my oldest daughter will take her, my niece will take her, and we have a much younger friend, who already has a couple snakes, who is also willing to take in Lilia -- if I go anywhere.