New Here, Just Saying Hi and Seeking Advice/Opinions

[ZouLou]

Hi all. I am new here. I currently do not have a any reptiles but plan to get a ball python in the next month or so. I went to my first reptile show this weekend in Pomona, CA, but I refrained from purchasing anything as I first want to get my cage set up and start checking the temperature and humidity readings I get. I believe I am going to start with a simple tub setup while I determine the ideal cage setup for me. I am a mechanical engineer who specializes in thermal management testing so I am confident in my abilities to create a system that can keep the keep the numbers I am looking for in check and hey I always like a little construction project.

So here is where your opinions and advice come in handy for me. This will be my first ball python and my first snake in general. I have found many books on the subjects and was planning on picking up a copy of "The Complete Ball Python" by Kevin McCurley. Are there any other books I should look out for?

I am looking to keep a single snake as a pet so I am not looking to get a bunch and start breeding. I am looking for a snake that is a maximum of $200. Honestly I was thinking about just getting a normal to save the money but morphs are tempting (hey who doesn't love eye candy), so I was looking for any suggestions for morphs I might look at. I really love the lighter colored morphs like bumble bees and stripes are really pretty as well, but they are usually out of my price range. Any suggestions or incite is appreciated.

Also I live in downtown LA. If anyone is local, do they have an suggestions on a place to obtain live feeders in case I need to start by feeding live. f/t I should have no problem with as I plan to buy those online. Thanks in advance for the help.

PS - Is anyone here planning to go to the Anaheim NARBC in September?

[Neal]

Hi all. I am new here. I currently do not have a any reptiles but plan to get a ball python in the next month or so. I went to my first reptile show this weekend in Pomona, CA, but I refrained from purchasing anything as I first want to get my cage set up and start checking the temperature and humidity readings I get. I believe I am going to start with a simple tub setup while I determine the ideal cage setup for me. I am a mechanical engineer who specializes in thermal management testing so I am confident in my abilities to create a system that can keep the keep the numbers I am looking for in check and hey I always like a little construction project.

So here is where your opinions and advice come in handy for me. This will be my first ball python and my first snake in general. I have found many books on the subjects and was planning on picking up a copy of "The Complete Ball Python" by Kevin McCurley. Are there any other books I should look out for?

I am looking to keep a single snake as a pet so I am not looking to get a bunch and start breeding. I am looking for a snake that is a maximum of $200. Honestly I was thinking about just getting a normal to save the money but morphs are tempting (hey who doesn't love eye candy), so I was looking for any suggestions for morphs I might look at. I really love the lighter colored morphs like bumble bees and stripes are really pretty as well, but they are usually out of my price range. Any suggestions or incite is appreciated.

Also I live in downtown LA. If anyone is local, do they have an suggestions on a place to obtain live feeders in case I need to start by feeding live. f/t I should have no problem with as I plan to buy those online. Thanks in advance for the help.

PS - Is anyone here planning to go to the Anaheim NARBC in September?

That's good that you're being a responsible pet owner and doing your research before purchasing anything. Though you can always save your money and not buy that book, because we have wonderful care sheets on the forum. Then you can always ask any questions you have as you'll get first hand knowledge from many people who have been keeping for quite some time. They also have a nice DIY section towards the bottom of the forum which can help you build a rack system or a tub system, whatever your needs are.

As far as getting your eye candy and wanting to stay under $200, you're going to want to stay with a single gene snake, meaning nothing fancy. Most of your double gene snakes like the bumblebee will be past your $200 price range. Though if you attend a show you may be able to pick up a male hatchling for something near there, money always speaks at shows but please don't take me as meaning to low ball somebody. Say something is priced at $225 or something, offer him $200 and in most cases they're willing to go lower at a show and you save on shipping. Spiders are nice light morphs as well as pastels and both can be acquired for under $200, just for a heads up a male will be cheaper then a female.

To find a morph you like, check out: http://www.worldofballpythons.com/morphs/

[ZouLou]

Thanks a lot Neal. Maybe I will save my money on the book and just rely on the information from the forum. I have been looking through worldofballpythons.com for about a month now but their morph list is so long its a little overwhelming especially because there is no way to sort such as simple morphs from designer morphs. Also along with the lack of sorting it gives only minimal idea towards pricing by labeling things a simple morphs rather than designer. Speaking of shows and cheaper prices, yea I saw that in Pomona. I believe I saw one booth that was offering a bumblebee for around $225 or so. I am really looking forward to the show in Anaheim.

[DPBallPythons]

Perhaps a lesser would fit you? Baby (and some adults aswell) males go for below $200, and they are a great looking single-gene morph. This forum contains more or less all information you'll need to keep ball pythons, and we have many experienced breeders and keepers who are more than willing to help you. Make sure to post pictures of your new pick-up(s)

[ZouLou]

Thanks a lot for the lesser suggestion. Really like the look of them. I really wish worldofballpythons.com had a visual description on what makes a BP one morph vs. another as some of them look so similar. I guess I am not always too detailed oriented when it comes to visuals to notice subtle differences.

[Pythonfriend]

You are doing the right thing by buying directly from a breeder at a reptile show or without a reptile show.

Cut out the big box chains, it will save you money and will reduce the profit of these chains. Some stores just dont feed their pythons, never.

i would suggest a pinstripe or spider. The spider gene changes the character of the ball python a bit, some say they are better as pets.

[steve_r34]

u could just browse breeder pages to find what u like and get idea of prices and then go to the show with that knowledge or buy online if u choose otherwise 2 of my faviorte people to deal with is Garrick at royal constrictor designs.com and Mike at python regius .com they make great animals and have great customer service

[martin82531]

I'm not sure if it is on the Google Play Store, but there is an app on the iPhone WOB Morph List, shows pictures and such. Pretty cool app.

[ZouLou]

To Pythonfriend: Yea I plan to buy from a breeder for sure. Seems like the right thing to do. Like when buying a dog I would always suggest a breeders if you don't want to go the rescue way. Also thanks a lot for the spider info. I will admit I do like pinstripes for sure as well.

To Steve: Thanks for those two breeders. I have pretty much looked through all breeder websites I can find to see a good assortment of morphs, but I find so many that are way out of my price range. The show was good because I was able to pick up tons of cards of breeders in my area.

To Martin: Thanks a lot the app is on Google Play so I downloaded it and will check it out a bit tomorrow.

To all thanks a lot for all the morphs suggestions, they are great. This gives me a slightly small bowl of options to focus on, which is awesome as looking at all the morphs was a little overwhelming.