Should I Get Her Or Not..?

[BallPythonsRule]

Well I'm talking to this guy and he has a female BP for sale.. She is 1 1/2 years old, about 3.5 ft and eats medium rats... Only thing is she is housed with a hog island boa and a RTB. I said that IBD can spread, and the risk of cannibalism and stuff... he said that as long a they're the same size it's ok. He knows because he's been keeping them since he was 3.... Ok, I've only had snakes for 2 years but I KNOW housing snakes together for non-breeding purposes is asing for trouble.. right?
Any way should I get her? She's only $30, way less than any adult females...And I need one to prove my male out... He's sending me pictures(s) so I'll post them later..
Advice... anyone?

[ladywhipple02]

Even if you would purchase her, you should keep her in quarantine for three months or so... in this case, I would personally keep her in quarantine---far away from other snakes---for a good six months to a year (that's just me, of course).

Don't jump the gun just because the snake is cheap and you're in a hurry. That's normally when things go wrong... and you usually get what you pay for...

[Jerhart]

Hmmm...I duno...I am no IBD expert, but I dont think she is the female for your male...because for one she probably hasnt been cycled...and you should quarantine her for a while before introducing her to anything. She just may not be ready THIS season to breed...you may be rushing her. If I were you I would spend that extra dollar and find a nice large healthy female who has been cycled, they are everywhere on KS I can assure that you will be much happier with the results. Just my thoughts! Good Luck!
-Josh

[Stewart_Reptiles]

IBD kill a ball python in a matter of weeks so if she has been housed with Boas for a while and has not shown any problem it is safe to say that IBD is not an issue.

Now as far as getting her to me it is not buying an animal but a rescue mission.

If this person as such poor husbandry practices there is no telling what else can be wrong, mites, BP being stressed, BP not eating, RI etc.

Do you even have any guaranty that this is a female???

I will leave it to this is saving money worth having to deal with possible problems and taking risks? (only you can answer that)

Now would I take her? No thank you!

[BallPythonsRule]

Even if you would purchase her, you should keep her in quarantine for three months or so... in this case, I would personally keep her in quarantine---far away from other snakes---for a good six months to a year (that's just me, of course).

Don't jump the gun just because the snake is cheap and you're in a hurry. That's normally when things go wrong... and you usually get what you pay for...

I understand, I usually quaratine for 2 months, this snake will def. get about half a year. I am planning to take her to the vet for a check up and to check for parasites and stuff before I put her with my other babies...

Hmmm...I duno...I am no IBD expert, but I dont think she is the female for your male...because for one she probably hasnt been cycled...and you should quarantine her for a while before introducing her to anything. She just may not be ready THIS season to breed...you may be rushing her. If I were you I would spend that extra dollar and find a nice large healthy female who has been cycled, they are everywhere on KS I can assure that you will be much happier with the results. Just my thoughts! Good Luck!
-Josh

I don't want to breed her as soon as she comes home, of course... I'll give her time and stuff, not breed this season... My male is way too small any way.

[BallPythonsRule]

Now as far as getting her to me it is not buying an animal but a rescue mission.

True.

If this person as such poor husbandry practices there is no telling what else can be wrong, mites, BP being stressed, BP not eating, RI etc.

That's why I'm planning to go to the vet asap I can.

Do you even have any guaranty that this is a female???

I will take my probing kit, to make sure.. It better be a female since he's 1 hour away.

[FatBoy]

I would agree with all the above post....be careful.

[BPBeth]

I would certainly give you the thumbs up on rescuing this poor snake. And you are certainly right in having an herp vet examine this animal as soon as you get it. I would have a vet look at the snake, take some blood and fecal specimens and quarantine before introducing this snake to any of your current specimens.

[bcampos]

Looks like another purchase of a "rescue" snake to help perpetuate the cycle of sellers keeping animals housed in garbage....

But it does make you feel good to say that you "rescued" something doesn't it?

Seems to me that the small personal "feel good" one gets from perpetuating this cycle is not worth giving money to the people who keep animals this way.

[BallPythonsRule]

I'm meeting up with the couple today and getting the snake. I'll update later.