Hatchling vs. adult with a new owner?

[redshepherd]

I haven't found info on this yet, so I thought I would post! I just joined a couple days ago... I don't yet have a ball python (and have never owned a snake), but I really really would like to... I'm still deciding between a corn snake or a BP though, and have done some research on both. :o

The thing I was wondering is if an already calm/handled large adult would be feisty and nervous again with a new owner? Would it be better for me to start off with the feisty hatchling and let them slowly settle down over time, and would obtaining an adult just be more difficult? Or would they be calm with me from being handled for years by another person?

I might've just asked the same question a million times, but trying to get my point across.. thanks in advance! :3

[KMG]

A few of my snakes were acquired as adults and they are some the sweetest snakes I have. My big Blood and BRB were both a few to several years old when I got them and they have never made an aggressive or defensive move toward me.

My young Bloods made me bleed pretty often when I first got them. I liked getting my big girl how she was more than how I got them.

If you find a adult snake that is feisty and the owner says its just because your new to him walk away. That snake is most likely going to stay that way and may be the real reason they are getting rid of it.

[redshepherd]

Oh, that's really good to know. I'd be leaning towards adult then, or at least a somewhat older snake.. and the thing about a feisty adult makes sense then (hopefully I don't come across a seller like that!)
Thanks for the reply!

[Bluebonnet Herp]

If you receive an adult and it turns out to be temperamental/shy, it'll be a long time and a lot of handling before there are any improvements, if any at all. Juvenile snakes are scientifically proven to learn faster, and a juvenile received as feisty can tame down in a relatively shorter amount of time. As for a snake that's already tame, it doesn't matter if you receive it as an adult or juvenile, as it should remain tame unless you handle it incorrectly and roughly, (which I expect you wouldn't do) or has a sudden hormonal shift for whatever health reason. (unlikely) If you want a tame snake from the beginning with the best guarantee possible, your best bet is to spend time handling it before you buy it and observe its behaviors and reactions such as to movement or being touched. A few animals happen to be natural born cuddlebugs, and these are the best first pet snakes. (I lucked out with my first being placid. Isn't even head shy!)
Snakes, being as anti-social as they are, don't make solid attachments with their first owners like parrots, some cats, or genets do, and unlike them, they can be rehomed without much psychological hassle and can adjust to new owners relatively well so long as sound husbandry is practiced.

[redshepherd]

Thanks for the thoughts- helps a lot.

I suppose it's a bit difficult to decide between the two, because I'm planning on buying off a breeder online somewhere- so I won't get to handle the snake myself for any guarantees. So if I go with adult, I'll most likely be buying from somebody re-homing on these forums (for hopefully more trust). But if I go with a young snake, (well... preferably also from someone trustworthy on these forums haha) it opens up the option to buy from small businesses elsewhere. I'll probably be posting a thread soon on which online breeders are most reliable/less expensive, unless someone sees my post here first? o.o

[Lyssa981]

Another thing to consider, if you aren't in a hurry or particularly picky, is that adults tend to be 'abondoned' fairly often. Kids get a snake, then go to school and parents get stuck with a snake they have no desire to care for. I think parents often don't realize just how long snakes live. This can lead to some good deals. That's basicly how I got mine, complete with set up for almost nothing but the promise to take good care of him. Keep in mind these snakes are often negelcted a bit (or more), mine was mal nourished with a nastey belly burn.

[Asherah]

I've gotten 5 of my 12 snakes as adults for free, including a couple morphs. All sweet snakes the owners just couldn't care for them anymore. I also have a couple hatchlings. They don't present me any problem, no striking etc, but they are more prone to hiss. It's just adorable.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

When it come to Ball Pythons the only main difference is that younger individual will be more defensive compare to their adult counter part.

Can you found an adult that is hard to deal with? Yes it is possible however unlikely.

Adults are very easy whether they have been handled on a regular basis or not, that's in their nature.

[CptJack]

I like adults. Not because of the defensiveness, but because there's less worry about it dying, frankly. They're better established, I KNOW they are eating by the time they've gotten to me, and they have enough bulk that them doing the BP 'thing' and going off food for a week or three (or month or three....) doesn't stress me out unduly. Of course, I'm also now danged certain of my set-ups and know they're not the issue.

I just really, really stress with baby snakes, because they move and they're stressed so of course they go off feed for a bit (not always, but it happens) and then I gnaw my nails to the quick until they settle and start eating. I don't do that with adults.

[LivingwithBalls]

I'm pretty new to ball pythons as well, but my hatchling isn't defensive or feisty at all. He's quite the opposite actually.


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