Tips on buying a healthy snake

[Arcapello]

You would look for the same thing in a snake you would look for in any other animal you want to buy: alertness, clear eyes, unlabored breathing, perhaps some curiosity if the snake doesn't seem overly shy - tongue flickering, coming out of its ball... If you're getting a baby, make sure they've shed out and eaten at least a few times - you're not going to want an unstarted baby as a first-timer.

If the vendor seems shady, walk away. If you get a bad feeling about the breeder or the snake don't be afraid to walk away - a good deal is often too good to be true, so be wary.

Also I would have your enclosure ready to go before you even head to the expo. You don't want to bring your new baby home only to realize oh no, their hot spot's too cold/hot and there's condensation inside and they can't go in to settle down until you get it figured out.

I have the terrarium mostly set up now. I'm going to finish it tonight or tomorrow so that it will be ready at least 3 days in advance. Thanks so much for the tips!

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Just a comment on "aggressiveness" - You are getting a baby snake, not a puppy. Ones that might do a little defensive striking, in my experience, tend to be good eaters. They typically grow out of it, and the occasional hatchling tag feels like a flea bite. If you are too uncomfortable with the idea, then by all means, don't pick that baby. However, don't assume it's "mean" because it happens to be willing to try to defend itself in the midst of a crowded and confusing expo.

One thing you can do for selecting a vendor/breeder: Look up the vendor list on the expo website and search for reviews for those vendors on the Faunaclassifieds.com "Board of Inquiry". That way, you can know before you walk in the door who has a positive reputation for quality animals and helpfulness.

Thanks for the tips, and aggressiveness is just something that I've heard to look for. I won't worry too much about it. In your opinion, should I get a baby/hatchling, a juvenile, or an adult? Is it just a matter of opinion?