Purchasing baby BP's

[frankykeno]

For us all newbies out here LOL....what's the general advice on that first BP purchase of a new baby

1) how old should it be?

2) what about first feedings from the breeder and sheds....any rule of thumb on how many before the baby should be shipped out?

3) assuming us new owners have done all the proper research re CB rather than WC, housing, heating, food size, etc....do baby ball pythons have any special needs different than the sub-adults and adults that would not be covered under those issues?

4) what is a good purchase if one wants to eventually breed as far as sex of snake, normal type or hets (I assume if het 100% are best????)

5) how does one know a good breeder from one that may be less than honest?

Hope the answers will help a lot of us newbies in making our decisions wisely.

[Schlyne]

1) I'd say get one that is at least 2 months old. That was the estimated age of my ball python when I got him.

2) I have no idea.

3) You might want to provide babies with a few extra hides to feel secure, but that's up to you.

4) Get females. You want more females than males, and if you have a bunch of normal females, you can later buy some really nice morph males, and breed them to your females when they're old enough. You'll have to wait for the females to put on at least 1500 grams before you want to breed them. As for getting het's versus normal's..I can't really go over the pro's and con's of that one, I'll let one of the breeders do it.

5) Read reviews, check the Board of Inquiry on Fauna.

Just my opinion, but that should help a bit

[Python-77]

1. I aggree wait until its atleast 2 months old, the highest mortality rate for reptiles is the first month.
2. Ask the pet store/seller/breeder to feed the snake you are looking at getting. If they give you the line " he just ate yesterday" ask him when he will be feeding them again and so that you can be there. Any reputable seller will have no issue with you watching a snake eat.