Hes already a year old!

[LiadanCroft]

I remember the first time I held a ball python in my hands. It was a late night maybe 9 or 10pm on August 2016, me and my boyfriend had arranged to meet up with the breeder to pick him up. I was the one to get out of the car to pick him up and exchange the money. The breeder gave him to me in a 6qt tub into whch I curiously peeked through the side. He asked if I wanted to hold him and if this was my first pet snake, my answer to both was yes. He gently took him out, a tiny normal just about a month old and with just two or three previous feeds, and put him in my outstretched hands. I moved my hands closer to my face as he started explaining the basic care essentials. The breeder was extremely helpful explaining both things I had already researched and some I had not.

As he explained this I felt Chewy move just a little bit and I nearly jumped back out of pure surprise of how it felt and fear he might fall out of my hands. The breeder quickly noticed and reassured me. Chewy was so tiny, easily fit in the palm of my hand, and I instantly fell in love.

Once everything had been cleared up and the exchange was complete he told me to contact him in case of any doubts or if I couldn't keep him anymore later on. I went back in the car where my boyfriend got to hold him a little bit while I relayed the information before we put him into the tub, not to be touched again for a while.


Since then we've had scares from feeding strikes to seeing him struggle to swallow a mouse for over 30 minutes to the one time he had a really dry shed. Weve also had special moments from the first time he let us boop the snoot without fearing for his life to the time I finally saw him shed for the first time. And yes we've gotten a few more snakes from then till today, but he's the most special, the tiny normal with the sweetest temper.

His estimated hatch date is around July 18 which is only about a week away but Im so excited that hes already pretty much a year old! And while he is not full grown or anywhere near it (270 ish grams), he's definitely bigger and very strong and healthy!

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[Craiga 01453]

Great story, thanks for sharing!

[Hypancistrus]

That's a quality breeder! Wait until he's five and so big!! I was just looking at my 2012 normal and s/he is really getting massive in girth.

[tttaylorrr]

holding a snake for the first time is truly a magical thing, especially holding a beep. for most of us here it's literally life changing!
thanks for sharing your story, and tell ur noodle i said happy birthday!!!