Advice on getting my first BP?

[Penultimate]

hey listen man, regardless of what everyone is saying, I got my first ball python from a petsmart... a female normal. I've never had any problems with her whatsoever, she's the healthiest and NICEST snake ever. that was over a year ago. my second bp (a male champagne) I bought online from a reputable breeder, and he showed up unhealthy and overly aggressive... I shipped him back a couple weeks later. my advice to you... if the little guy looks healthy, nothing is better than buying IN PERSON. ESPESIALLY IF ITS YOUR FIRST SNAKE. it sounds like you really bonded with this little guy, so you should take a chance on him. how are you gonna bond with something you buy online? you don't know what the snake is going to be like when it arrives... if you really like this bp the whole situation sounds fine to me. honestly, even tho petsmart charged me $40 for a normal when I could have bought one online for $20... I would have paid thousands for her in the end. couldn't even imagine my collection without her... the eating thing isn't and won't be a problem, it's normal for ball pythons, so don't stress about that. you'd be doing a good thing for the little guy. best wishes

I'm going to agree that you need to get a snake you like. Nobody should ever disagree with that.

However, the eating thing can easily be a problem with a baby. If a baby isn't eating, there is very likely to be an issue. A young ball python just doesn't have the extra weight to lose. It's normal for adult ball pythons not to eat for extended amounts of time, but it can be dangerous for a baby. Remember, baby ball pythons are growing. It's just so stressful, especially for new owners, to have a baby ball that refuses to eat and starts losing weight.

A ball python from a breeder might not eat either, please don't get me wrong. The difference is that the breeder is more likely to help the new owner than the pet store is.