Newbie! Picking first BP

[Trisnake]

Don't buy from the pet store. Redshepherd did a pretty good job explaining why... they tend to be disgustingly overpriced and more than most beginners can or want to handle, what with the likelihood of mites and other health issues hitching a ride home with the new critter.

Try attending your locale's next reptile expo. Most places have some within reasonable driving distance, they occur multiple times a year, you get a huge selection of animals you can examine in person and who's breeders you can talk to if you have questions, and I'm sure your kids would probably think it's a blast. Plus prices tend to be more than fair at the expos, and you don't have to pay shipping. They also have tons of reptile related supplies too if you need to stock up, and always for cheaper than any pet store.

[Slither Seeker]

I don't think all pet stores are bad and I don't think all private breeders are good (take a look at the post titled "very skinny Ball Python". I personally want to put my hands on pet before I buy, a reptile expo would be ideal but the one closest to me was in 4 hours away when we were ready to buy so it's not always practical. we have two outstanding pet stores locallyl, Denny's pet world and Bridges pets. Bridges does an amazing job with their reptiles and their prices are quite reasonable. I got my Fire Spider there for $150. as for a place like petco it's very hit or miss depending a lot on management, so it's definitely "buyer be where". I try to avoid petco but have to admit that their 50% off reptile sale and $1 a gallon fish tank sale have drawn us in more than once. Our BRB was purchased there for $75 two and a half years ago and has been in perfect health and our Bumblebee was purchased there for $100 and I'm not too ashamed to admit it. One or both my BP's came with mites, not sure which and dealing with that sucked but otherwise all our snakes are shedding and eating readily.

[redshepherd]

I don't think all pet stores are bad and I don't think all private breeders are good (take a look at the post titled "very skinny Ball Python". I personally want to put my hands on pet before I buy, a reptile expo would be ideal but the one closest to me was in 4 hours away when we were ready to buy so it's not always practical. we have two outstanding pet stores locallyl, Denny's pet world and Bridges pets. Bridges does an amazing job with their reptiles and their prices are quite reasonable. I got my Fire Spider there for $150. as for a place like petco it's very hit or miss depending a lot on management, so it's definitely "buyer be where". I try to avoid petco but have to admit that their 50% off reptile sale and $1 a gallon fish tank sale have drawn us in more than once. Our BRB was purchased there for $75 two and a half years ago and has been in perfect health and our Bumblebee was purchased there for $100 and I'm not too ashamed to admit it. One or both my BP's came with mites, not sure which and dealing with that sucked but otherwise all our snakes are shedding and eating readily.

That's great that you found a good pet store/reptile store local to you!

Most people don't have good pet stores near them selling reliably healthy snakes. But everybody has access to online reputable breeders with good reviews and healthy animals.

[Craiga 01453]

I personally like to meet an animal before I buy it, but have given very serious consideration to buying from some of the reputable breeders found on here as well as morphmarket.com. If you are able to attend an expo, that's a fantastic way to meet many different animals and vendors. There will almost definitely be a BP there that is what you're looking for. Most expos have info on the internet that lists the vendors who will be there. Do a little studying before you go and have some tables in mind that you definitely want to visit. I have bought from two local reptile shops as well as from expos and have been happy with each animal so far. So it's really a matter of preference. So far, I'm happy with each of my snakes, but am possibly looking for something more specific for my next snake, so I may end up ordering from a reputable breeder.

You're doing your due diligence and starting out on the right foot, so I'm sure you will provide a great home for your animal. Any which way you choose, I'm sure you and your family will enjoy your ball python for many years to come. Good luck and welcome to the forum!

[JodanOrNoDan]

I don't think all pet stores are bad and I don't think all private breeders are good (take a look at the post titled "very skinny Ball Python". I personally want to put my hands on pet before I buy, a reptile expo would be ideal but the one closest to me was in 4 hours away when we were ready to buy so it's not always practical. we have two outstanding pet stores locallyl, Denny's pet world and Bridges pets. Bridges does an amazing job with their reptiles and their prices are quite reasonable. I got my Fire Spider there for $150. as for a place like petco it's very hit or miss depending a lot on management, so it's definitely "buyer be where". I try to avoid petco but have to admit that their 50% off reptile sale and $1 a gallon fish tank sale have drawn us in more than once. Our BRB was purchased there for $75 two and a half years ago and has been in perfect health and our Bumblebee was purchased there for $100 and I'm not too ashamed to admit it. One or both my BP's came with mites, not sure which and dealing with that sucked but otherwise all our snakes are shedding and eating readily.

Yes there are good pet stores. Most of my single and double gene animals are sold at a guess what? Pet store. They take good care of my babies while they are there. I have also purchased animals from that store and never had a problem. I do know however if you buy from them instead of me you will pay anywhere from 25 to 50% more than if I would have sold them direct. That said for every good store I have been in there are three bad ones. There are of course some really shady breeders and show retailers. I give the advice I give because I myself have made mistakes. I have had to pay vet bills because I took a chance I should not have. I have received animals that were not what they were supposed to be. There is no reason for a new owner to take a chance they do not have to take and I would not advise them to. After you have some experience then maybe you want to take a chance here and there, but not when you are first starting out. No reason for anyone to make any of the mistakes I made when there is a place like this that can guide you to the right people and animals.