I finally got in my thermostats after the first set was so severely damaged in shipping that UPS never delivered them to me and instead sent them straight back. I now have everything I need to set up my Ball Python tank and make sure I can get the environment stable before I buy the ball python. However, I now have two questions.

1) I had been thinking about buying my bp from either Petsmart or Petco near my apartment, but yesterday I found out about an on-line site where you can buy BPs and feeder mice (Big Apple Pet Supplies)

So if you were me would you rather buy from a local store or from an on-line breeder (supposedly this site gets all their BPs from one well respected breeder, who that is I have no idea). So i am just looking for a little input on this matter. The prices are the same from this site or the local store (both around $75).

2) How long can you leave a BP in its tank without checking on it. In about two weeks I am going out of town for the weekend (friday through late sunday early monday), and in the month of July I have three wedding to attend on three successive weekends. Will the little guy be okay for that length of time or should i just wait buy him in august? The UTHs will be on the thermostats so I shouldn't have to worry about heat or anything, but there always seems to be something that I haven't thought about. The longest I would ever be gone is a weekend.

Thanks for all the input so far, and I look forward to getting my first BP.

TheChemist