Greetings all. I hope that you'll have some patience, as I am a newbie to this website & I have a ton of questions (just a warning...). :wink:

I also hope that my questions won't seem too odd or stupid, but I am in the beginning stages of purchasing a ball python. (Still getting things set up first, of course, and doing tons of research beforehand.) So here goes:

1. I know that pet birds can be effected by Teflon fumes (from cooking). Do ball pythons get effected as well? (And along those lines, how about candles & insense?)

2. Where can I find a reputable local breeder? I'd rather not purchase my soon-to-be new snake @ a pet store, and I would feel odd about having my snake shipped to me w/out me seeing it in person first. (Call me paranoid, but that's just me.)

3. I've seen pics of snakes w/plastic boxes as a hiding spot. I know this is cheap, but is it worth it in the long run?

4. My brother advised using white vinegar as a cleaning agent for the cage (which his snake's vet advised him to use; apparently, it's non-toxic to snakes). I've also heard of using Roccal-D and/or Nolvasan. What works best?

5. Does the temperment of the snake depend on its sex?

My older brother used to have a ball python (who was really cool; the snake passed away about 2-3 years ago). This started my love for snakes, and I am really excited with the prospect of getting my own snake.

Quick funny story: my boss has a pet snake (king; rat; I forget which type). Anyways, his older daughter wanted to bring it to school one night for show & tell. Unfortunately, he was out of town, & his wife doesn't like snakes that much. He asked me to come & transfer the snake from it's home tank to a little portable tank, & do the reverse when they came back home. So I helped him out, & they gave me a Beanie baby snake as a thank-you gift.

:lol:

Anyways, thanks for your patience and for reading my 234838098 questions.

Pax,
LC