Age/Weight at which to buy?

[Aqualoon]

Hi all,

Still new around here, for those that haven't seen my other thread(s) I plan on buying my first BP in the spring. So until then it's research, research, ask a ton of questions.

I plan on getting a male, not sure what morph yet (been browsing through morphmarket.com, so hard to choose just one!) but I noticed when I filter by hatchling the sizes vary from 80g up to 150g+. To me, the 150g+ seems a bit big as I want to get the guy when he's still small. I am buying for a pet, no breeding intent, and I would like to have him 'grow up' with me.

My question being: is there an ideal size at which to buy? Like for dogs you need to wait 8/9 weeks of age - I have't read anything for BPs in this regard but I just want to make sure that I'm not getting something that's too young/small.

Thank you

[LittleTreeGuy]

I bought my first a little over a month ago. A female that was about a month and a half old and weighed around 65g and maybe 15" long. She was pretty small but I had no reservations about getting a young one. I think the more time they have around you, the better, so i went with as young/small as I could find. That may not really make a difference, but I'm glad I got what I did and when I get my next one, I'll look for a young one then as well. Plus, I just think the young ones are pretty neat.

[Aqualoon]

Thank you very much. I agree that I love the looks of a young snake (adults as well mind you, but find them really appealing when they are lil noodles).

[Ax01]

150grams is not that big, still a baby. however the only difference between a 150gram BP and a sub 100gram one would be that that larger one could take on larger prey - an adult mouse.

i would recommend getting one around this size as it is an established eater, maybe a few sheds, has a bit of size and still cute and small enough.

also the bigger u go, the less likely in my experience that the baby would be skittish and bitey. they're less nervous as they've now been around humans.

[ItsAllNew2Me!]

I find it doesn't really matter as long as you know the temperament of the snake. That is why it is better to buy the animal in person because you can see how it acts. As long as it looks healthy for its size i say go for it. I have bought animals at 55grams and others at around 300g. at 300g there is still alot of growing left so you wont miss out . Just find something you like that is healthy. Size doesn't really matter.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

150 grams is still very small and very young (keep in mind they grow at a different rate), since you have limited experience I would recommend something that is in the 100 grams range, this means a very well started animal. If you get one that is in the hatching weight range and your husbandry is not optimum right away the animal can go down the hill very fast, I have seen it over and over year after year.

Based on that I actually don't even let go of my animals anymore until they reach 100 grams (unless they are sold to experienced keepers)

[Aqualoon]

Thanks for all the responses. This allows me to browse breeders and the market with a weight range in mind that I will be buying at.

Further on down the line I'll be making another thread on items to purchase as I want to get everything setup and running at correct temps/humidity at least a week prior to actually purchasing a lilone'.

[PitOnTheProwl]

The best question is: how much feeding headache do you want to potentially have?

50g to 75g is about right out of the egg.
I don't release anything until it is over 100g so that WE BOTH know and understand that it was eating before it left me.