Advice on getting my first BP?

[BWB]

Although I didn't intend to buy from a Petsmart or Pets Unlimited (another big box style pet store here in Canada and where I bought her) I was pleasantly surprised that they had a Hog Island Boa. I went in to see and handle her and she was a treat. The guy that I talked to knew snakes quite well and I got the feeling that he really cared for the animals that he sold. The actual purchase was irritating but she only spent a few minutes, probably 10, in a little cardboard box and I had an enclosure ready for her so as soon as I got her home (after admiring her and showing her off to my wife - not too interested (said that she wasn't as pretty as the ball)) in she went. I've had no problems with her and she has adjusted well. One of the problems that I have encountered here, in this part of Canada, is the lack of available breeders. Plus I don't trust that I will get a healthy animal by ordering it online.

[MidSouthMorphs]

While im sure Garrick is great, as well as other breeders mentioned here, nothing is guaranteed buying from a breeder. In addition to having an issue with a breeder in the past, I recently bought a snake from one of the TOP retic breeders in the nation. Rave reviews, everyone loves this guy. I spent more on the animal, compared to other breeders, because I was so impressed with the glowing comments others made about him on this very forum. While the animal arrived healthy, it had nowhere near the personality/temperament and feeding habits of which the breeder had specifically told me it had.

I followed EVERY piece of husbandry advice from the breeder to the letter. It has been months now and I have a snake that is unmanageable, difficult to maintain, and is proving hard to re-sell. Once the sale was made, and I voiced my issue to him, he stopped responding and has now fully disappeared. Point is, there is something to be said for having the animal in your hand, and able to interact with before you purchase. Im sure that there are many breeders that can ship you a healthy, active, and docile bp, but there is nothing wrong with purchasing a first snake at a pet store, provided YOU believe it is right for you.

I promise you that the ~60$ you spend on this animal at petsmart will not make or break their business. Yes these stores have a history of keeping reptiles in bad conditions, but if you find a goodie, do what you think is best.

Point is with purchasing from a chain, you're supporting the cruelty of the animal warehouses they come from. That's why I will never buy from them, because once you do you're supporting that company and the way they treat their animals. And you were unhappy with the breeder and a snake with an attitude? Interesting!

[MidSouthMorphs]

Although I didn't intend to buy from a Petsmart or Pets Unlimited (another big box style pet store here in Canada and where I bought her) I was pleasantly surprised that they had a Hog Island Boa. I went in to see and handle her and she was a treat. The guy that I talked to knew snakes quite well and I got the feeling that he really cared for the animals that he sold. The actual purchase was irritating but she only spent a few minutes, probably 10, in a little cardboard box and I had an enclosure ready for her so as soon as I got her home (after admiring her and showing her off to my wife - not too interested (said that she wasn't as pretty as the ball)) in she went. I've had no problems with her and she has adjusted well. One of the problems that I have encountered here, in this part of Canada, is the lack of available breeders. Plus I don't trust that I will get a healthy animal by ordering it online.

All of my snakes were ordered online and every single one of them is very healthy. Canada has Markus Jayne Ball Pythons, I've heard great things about them as well.

[Penultimate]

Isn't there an expo coming up in Portland soon? Would that be a good place to go and find a first snake? I've never been to one myself.

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There is! It would be an excellent place to buy a first snake, and they're just plain fun to go to. HDI Reptiles is great, that's where I got my first and two others. I would not hesitate to buy from them again. Excellent service and beautiful animals, answered every question I had. The Tropical Hut plans to come as well. I plan on going, there should be some nice stuff for sale.

http://www.nwreptileexpos.com/portla...-reptile-expo/

[JoshSloane]

I'm not trying to advocate for or against petsmart/petco. Notice I was the first post on this thread to suggest a breeder instead. I agree that there shouldn't be widespread support for these big box stores having reptiles for sale. i support and appreciate the activism, but let's be honest, whether the OP buys this snake or not will not have any affect on the chain.

I personally know of plenty of breeders whose animals are in awful condition.

And yes I am very unhappy with the breeder I mentioned earlier. I was 100% misled as to the temperament of the animal.

[frostysBP]

Dude s/d- D retics are known to be flighty and nippy as yongsters and just about every retic keeper will tell you that... just because u made a choice to get a more aggressive snake now ur going to bash the breeder not cool.....

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[MidSouthMorphs]

I'm not trying to advocate for or against petsmart/petco. Notice I was the first post on this thread to suggest a breeder instead. I agree that there shouldn't be widespread support for these big box stores having reptiles for sale. i support and appreciate the activism, but let's be honest, whether the OP buys this snake or not will not have any affect on the chain.

I personally know of plenty of breeders whose animals are in awful condition.

And yes I am very unhappy with the breeder I mentioned earlier. I was 100% misled as to the temperament of the animal.

True, I'm guessing the retic temperament matter more than Ball Pythons due to their size and potential. I've never owned any myself, I've thought about adding one in the future.

[JoshSloane]

Dude s/d- D retics are known to be flighty and nippy as yongsters and just about every retic keeper will tell you that... just because u made a choice to get a more aggressive snake now ur going to bash the breeder not cool.....

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I'm not calling out the breeder by name, not going down that path. And it's not a SD. Yes I know they are nippy. What I'm saying is that the information the breeder gave me no way matched what I received. I've had MANY nippy youngsters. This animal is demented. Also, what I am more angry about is that once I raised objections he disappeared. To me that in no way represents a business well. What I'm pointing out here is that buying from a reputable breeder in no way guarantees you will have the same experience as others did.

[JoshSloane]

Also, as someone who runs a small breeding operation myself, I have exchanged and replaced animals if my customers weren't happy with their purchase. It's just good business practices.

[tbowman]

While im sure Garrick is great, as well as other breeders mentioned here, nothing is guaranteed buying from a breeder. In addition to having an issue with a breeder in the past, I recently bought a snake from one of the TOP retic breeders in the nation. Rave reviews, everyone loves this guy. I spent more on the animal, compared to other breeders, because I was so impressed with the glowing comments others made about him on this very forum. While the animal arrived healthy, it had nowhere near the personality/temperament and feeding habits of which the breeder had specifically told me it had.

I followed EVERY piece of husbandry advice from the breeder to the letter. It has been months now and I have a snake that is unmanageable, difficult to maintain, and is proving hard to re-sell. Once the sale was made, and I voiced my issue to him, he stopped responding and has now fully disappeared. Point is, there is something to be said for having the animal in your hand, and able to interact with before you purchase. Im sure that there are many breeders that can ship you a healthy, active, and docile bp, but there is nothing wrong with purchasing a first snake at a pet store, provided YOU believe it is right for you.

I promise you that the ~60$ you spend on this animal at petsmart will not make or break their business. Yes these stores have a history of keeping reptiles in bad conditions, but if you find a goodie, do what you think is best.

Get out of here with that. He told you it was nippy.