Unwritten rules of selling hatchling Ball Pythons

[Mike Cavanaugh]

I have seen a couple threads lately, and have seen examples at recent shows where breeders are literally selling hatchling Ball Pythons right out of the egg. I am talking about babies that haven't had their first shed yet, let alone a meal. Maybe we should make some agreed upon acceptable guidelines that we as BP.net members can hold as our standard.

Personally, I think a baby BP should shed, be fed a few times, and allowed to shed again and then fed again before going on a for sale table. I think this should be the absolute minimum assuming the BP is trouble free (meaning it does not refuse meals). Obviously the harder to start babies that are refusing meals should be kept by the breeder for twice as long, or at least until it is eating regularly. Snakes I sell will have at least 3 sheds.

Think about it. Who is most likely going to buy a brand new baby at a show that hasn't even shed yet? or one that has only had 1 meal? I'll tell ya. The brand new newbee that has none of the knowledge or stuff required to get a hatchling up and running. They get the new baby snake home and want to set it up all wrong, and of course want to handle it all the time. Not to mention all the stress the little baby has being on the table, or moving from one location to another.

Now I know some people are importing hatchlings into the united states, and they are brand new hatchlings, having never eaten. IMHO, this is a little different because most of the time the person buying these 10 or so snakes at a time usually has the know how to take care of them. HOWEVER, before that person resells any of the snakes, I think the same waiting period must exist. My personal opinion is that in this instance, they should be kept twice as long before reselling.. A good feeder should be allowed time for 4 sheds before being resold.

Please share your thoughts on this subject. BP.net has enough members that breeders might think twice before selling a newbee a snake that is not ready to be sold at a show. Maybe I am just dreaming...