I'm getting my first ball python really soon. I have two options.

I found a pet store that's family owned, and I went there to check out their ball pythons. It wasnt like petco or petsmart. The reptiles seemed healthy and the ball python that I held had a good temperament and it was eager to check me out and crawl up my arms. The lady said they were 10 months old.

My other option is to order one online from BHB reptiles. It would be the same price as the petstore, but I wouldnt be able to look at the snake before hand to make sure it has a good temperament and is healthy. Also, the shipping would stress the snake out. The upside would be that I would know for sure that it's captive bred and I would be able to pick it's gender and it would be a bit younger than 10 months.

If I got it from the petstore, I would have no way of know if it was male or female. The gender matter to me because males are smaller and I'd prefer a smaller snake. And there could be a possibility that it's not captive bred.


Which one should I do?