Should there be a debate about captive bread vs. Wild caught?

[J.Vandegrift]

About 2 years ago I had wanted to get a pet for myself. My wife had 2 cats that we had recently purchased for her. I have always wanted a python since I was in 1st grade. Meanwhile my mother would never allow me to have one. So my wife was not a huge fan of snakes since her father had 5 Argentina Boa’s that were about 16 feet long. Her father is a trauma surgeon in Argentina and he had built a large enclosed environment for them all to live in their back yard. My wife saw how these snakes attacked and was hesitant about buying a python.

I had done a lot of research about what type of snake to buy. I finally choice to get a Ball Python due to the length of life they have over the red tail boa or other types of snakes that we can easily legally purchase. I was debating on captive bread since so many people recommended it over the wild caught pythons from Africa. I went to a few breeders websites and went to the store that had just received 5 wild caught baby pythons. I found the one I wanted and yes it was a wild caught ball python from Africa.
I named her Samara which is Arabic which means “Guarded by God”. Since I am Baptist and some extremist believes snakes are curst. I wanted to show that she was Guarded by Christ. I have read many websites and books which says you should not handle your new snake for 2 weeks. I did not listen and I was holding and loving on my new baby from day 1. She had been the best snake that anyone could ever ask for. She had gone from 16 inches to over 42 inches in just 2 years.

My wife who fell in love with Samara in just 2 weeks had found a ball python that was captive breed about 6 months later. Sahara was 1 and half when we adopted her. Sahara had also lived in a cage with other pythons and she was vey nippy at first. We had separated them at first and Sahara who appeared to be a picky eater would not eat on a regular schedule. So we put both in the same cage and Sahara started to eat normally. Every now in than Sahara will fast and go without eating for weeks. While Samara my wild caught python will not miss a meal to save her life.

I have read so many threads about how pythons are not active and stay in a ball most of the time. I guess we have two pythons that do not fit that mold. Samara is almost like a dog. Soon as I get home she peeks out of her log and comes out and wants to be picked up. While Sahara lives most of her life in the water and no she does not have any pesticides. They both enjoy going to Petco and Petsmart with us. In the spring and summer times we take our pythons out on a nature walk. We let them down on the ground and let them crawl around. I know many will disagree with out methods. Each person has the right to do with what they want with their snakes. Our pythons are more than pets to us, they are a part of our family.

This is where I think the debate begins… When we have captive break pythons they have a weaker immune system and a higher risk of inbreeding. While wild caught pythons are less likely to be inbreeded and they have a stronger immune system. There are negative sides to purchasing wild caught as well. In my limited experience of buying both as pets not for a business I have to say my Wild caught python is bigger and stronger than my captive breed python. My wild caught python will let me cover her head and put her head in my mouth. While my captive breed will hide her head if you get near her. The Wild caught will never miss a meal while my captive breed is very picky. I have studied these snakes for 2 years… I have talked with many exotic vets who believe the same way I do about Wild captured being the better of the two. Although I am sure many breeders will disagree… I would like to hear your side on this topic. Do you own a wild or captive breed python. Have you ever owned both what is your story like?

Wow there is a lot of wrong info there. Sorry. 1st, your snake is not WC it is Captive hatched meaning eggs were collected from from a wild snake, hatched, and then shipped to the US. Your snake has never lived in the wild. As far as I know they don't import true WC hatchlings, only adults. I can assure you that true WC snakes are not easier to feed than captive bred or captive hatched animals. Maybe you should do a true experiment. Buy 50 CB snakes and 50 true WC snakes. I guarantee that you will change your opinion on this subject. And yes, I have owned plenty of both.

P.S. Why would you want to put your snakes head in your mouth??? You know they eats rats with that mouth right?