Do keep us updated on your new baby. First snake or not, we want you both to succeed. And if we are being honest, I bet more long time owners than not got started with a "rescue" ball. Either from a pet store or an ad online or in the paper. My first two were rescues, and I'm not ashamed of that. Of course, I was way in over my head and was too stubborn to seek help, so I am kind of ashamed I didn't care the kind of care of them I could have. But I learned from my mistakes, and my current collection are all very loved and well cared for. And I still get my fair share of rescues. My last group of rescues came from a Meth house, so believe me I've seen just about everything that can happen to a ball python.
Gale