Unwritten rules of selling hatchling Ball Pythons

[Wh00h0069]

they had in a cuby not bigger than a shoe box ... horrible his home now is like a jungle compared to that small thing .... tisk tisk on you bad dreeders

If he is a hatchling, then a shoebox is he perfect size tub for him. This is what most breeder keep their hatchlings in for the first few hunderd grams. Ball pythons normally don't do well in large enclosures.

[Ben Biscy]

i agree with this. they do like to be confined in close quarters, esp if they can't see traffic.

terrariums are a little more difficult, but still fine if you offer plenty of vegetation and at least two hides. ime, bp's don't like to see what's around them.

[ColinWeaver]

I don't put animals on my price list or on my table until they are established feeders. For me, that's at least three meals taken on their own without any coaxing.

Animals that are finicky feeders stay off my price list (and off my table) until they start acting right.

However, I do sell "unfed & unshed" to other breeders and people who know what they are doing. I ALWAYS disclose it before the sale so people know what they are getting into. Experienced ball python owners (which has a subjective definition on its best day) and breeders are wise enough to make the decision on their own: buy unfed/unshed or wait for me to get the animal feeding right.

Several of the higher-end morphs I have I took straight out of the incubator, still wet with egg yolk. I don't care. I'm impatient and don't want them falling into the hands of someone else (this does get a little competitive at times). I also accept the responsibility of doing so. I do not expect the breeder to do anything if I ever have trouble.

Regards,

[JenH]

I kept back some trouble feeders last year and still have them, though they ae feeding fine now, Im just got attched to them. But thats ok always room for one more. Point is I dont feel right sending them to a home unprepared.

I do the same - I held back a few that didn't want to eat and waited till they were eating regularly. I tend to sell fat babies - the pet stores I work with love that...

Now, I bought a pin right out of the egg at Tinley. It was the only one that matched the markings I wanted. So, I took the risk, since I have had success getting non-feeders to eat. He did start on his own after his first shed, so it wasn't a big deal. The breeder did talk to me about it and made sure I was comfortable taking him. Also told me to call if there were any problems.

[harm286]

If he is a hatchling, then a shoebox is he perfect size tub for him. This is what most breeder keep their hatchlings in for the first few hunderd grams. Ball pythons normally don't do well in large enclosures.

No this is after i returned the hatchling back ... i traded him in for my mojave male n he is a good foot something about 7 months ... and he was in something smaller than a shoe box ... i dont know i have a problem with small spaces sorry

[kc261]

No this is after i returned the hatchling back ... i traded him in for my mojave male n he is a good foot something about 7 months ... and he was in something smaller than a shoe box ... i dont know i have a problem with small spaces sorry

It is fine for YOU to have a problem with small spaces, but you should try to understand that the BPs don't look at it the same as we do. Most BPs do better in a smaller enclosure than in a big roomy one.

[rabernet]

No this is after i returned the hatchling back ... i traded him in for my mojave male n he is a good foot something about 7 months ... and he was in something smaller than a shoe box ... i dont know i have a problem with small spaces sorry

That's a common mis-conception by many new keepers. Just because YOU as a human would want more space, doesn't mean that a ball python does.

Ball pythons prefer smaller cramped space.

[harm286]

I mean really its my choice and how i feel about it isn't so good..
I just feel like i gave them a better home compared to a small like shoe box with no lighting ummm and no misting or nothing ...
My snakes are fine though seem very stress free thank you though

[Freakie_frog]

I have yet to do any shows. But I can tell you that I don't feel comfortable letting go of any animal that hasn't eaten at least 3-5 times.

Since its my name and my reputation going with that animal I want to make sure that the buyer gets the best animal they can get. This means that they get a healthy, visualy apealing, animal with a good feeding responce.

IMHO it speaks better of the breeder to tell customers..I want to make sure my animals are the best I can sale, even if it means I may lose a sale because I don't have something available right then.

Still my policy almost 10 years and about 100 shows later

[zina10]

Still my policy almost 10 years and about 100 shows later

As a customer of yours, I can say that I was 100% satisfied with the hatchling you sold me as well as the entire transaction