Intro

[MedusasOwl]

Hi, all! New here but have been lurking for a few days and am lousy at introduction posts. But here we go anyway.

My fiancee and I have just started planning for our first BP, and we plan to get a baby male when we're good and ready. We're nowhere near good and ready yet, things are hectic and our cat is sick, but we're hoping early next year. I'm all for learning as much as I can before hand though, so... here I am. I'm a planner.

Just last October, we got our first herp ever, our little Miami corn snake Falkor. We researched to death before getting him from SMR, and we love the little guy to bits. His first shed just a few weeks ago was perfect, and we saved it in laminate like bronzed baby shoes I've always loved snakes but always thought I couldn't have them because I couldn't kill the mice myself. Viva le frozen mice over the Internet! Just like buying ourselves frozen chicken at the store for ourselves. Once I figured this out and did some research as to good species for us size and temperament wise... Well, that's all there was to it. Snake for us.



My fiancee has always loved the puppy dog faces of BPs, we both do, and between their gorgeous looks and mellow temperaments we're really looking forward to a second serpentine addition to the family (we've already named him Gomez, even.) And probably the last addition for a while. With one elderly cat, 2 mischevious rabbits, 2 diamond doves, a bratty cockatiel and soon two good sized snake tanks instead of one we'll have a pretty full home till we can get a bigger place.

So... yes. Other than that... My icon is my own design that I also have tattooed on my arm. I guess anything else of vital importance is in my profile.

Oh! And if anybody knows how in the world I can find/keep track of reptile expos in Phoenix AZ, please let me know! The only website I could find never updates and is pretty useless When we are finally ready for Gomez we'll probably have to go out of town otherwise, because much as we love Falkor to bits we'd really like the experience of hand picking him for ourselves. Unless there's some fantabulous breeder hiding around here somewhere, we hear there's a great reptile place down in Tempe. But an expo I'd really love to experience, wether we make a purchase or not.

That's enough babbling out of me. I look forward to getting to know you guys and learn all that I can learn for happy healthy snakes.

~SR

[sweety314]

Welcome aboard!!!


Good luck! I think you'll really enjoy it here! Ppl are just awesome and really friendly---willing to answer questions and help out. Balls are great to have, but glad to hear you're a herper already.

From what I understand, < I went the other direction.....BP first, & now a corn for my FD for Christmas > corns & bp's are very similar. Corns a little more forgiving as to temp, but for the most part, they're the same for care.

Have fun at your first expo! FD & I just attended one, and we can't wait to go again!! I hope you get the chance to experience many of them in your area.

It's great that you want to wait and check hands-on before buying your next pet. Great idea!

Again...WELCOME!

RuLyn

[ddbjdealer]

Welcome! It's great to have you here!

I know of a breeder in Tucson (pretty close to you) but he won't have anything ready until about the '08-09 breeding season.

Good luck in finding your new BP!

[rabernet]

Welcome to the forum! It's so nice to meet people who take the time to do the research before obtaining a pet!

You've come to what I believe is one of the best forums out there for BP care and there are also some fabulous breeders on here who share their wisdom with us!

If you go to Kingsnake.com they have a listing of all the shows around the country on their home page. That's how I keep up with what's up-coming.

Also, many breeders will ship and will send you pictures so that you can hand pick your baby that way. Be careful at a show that you aren't picking a baby from a tank of wild caught or captive hatched babies.

Any questions ask away! You'll be sure to get thoughtful informative replies!

[frankykeno]

Welcome to the forum! It's wonderful to read about a person really doing their research and preparing well ahead before buying their first ball python (or any other pet for that matter). There's a great caresheet here you might want to look over and ask any questions that come up. There's also just a vast amount of information on caging, feeding, husbandry, etc. found here. I love the search function on this forum!

Before you spend a ton on housing (pet stores are so way overpriced) have a good look through the threads. My husband and I were amazed when we first got into this hobby at how little we would end up purchasing at our local pet store and how much WalMart, Lowe's, the dollar store, Home Depot became our new best friends LOL.

A lovely captive born male ball python from a top notch breeder is always a good bet. Nothing like a well started baby to make the whole thing so much easier! The breeders often have spare normal "wild type" males for very reasonable prices and you are ahead of the game going that route in my opinion.

Enjoy the forum, ask tons of questions, these folks are wonderful and patient beyond belief (after all they put up with me on a daily basis LOL).


~~Joanna~~

[Shelby]

Welcome! It's so refreshing to have someone who researches FIRST. (strange concept, I know)

Your little corn is such a beaut! And I love your avatar! A fellow artist I presume.

[MedusasOwl]

Thanks for the warm welcome, all! /(^v^)\

I always do my research first, and really wish more people would. It works out best for everyone all around. I've been reading everything I can get my hands on, and am very appreciative of all the information right here already!

From what I understand, < I went the other direction.....BP first, & now a corn for my FD for Christmas > corns & bp's are very similar. Corns a little more forgiving as to temp, but for the most part, they're the same for care.

That's what I hear, that the big differences are in temp and humidity care wise. I read that corns are more forgiving and a great starter snake, so we went there first We're really excited about a BP! We're hoping they're a bit less spazzy than corns too

I know of a breeder in Tucson (pretty close to you) but he won't have anything ready until about the '08-09 breeding season.

Hey neighbor! You live in the same town as my in-laws, lol. That might be a bit too long to wait though... Drat! So close and yet so far.

If you go to Kingsnake.com they have a listing of all the shows around the country on their home page. That's how I keep up with what's up-coming.
Also, many breeders will ship and will send you pictures so that you can hand pick your baby that way. Be careful at a show that you aren't picking a baby from a tank of wild caught or captive hatched babies.

Oooh, Kingsnake! That would be extremely helpful, because it's impossible to keep track of anything in Phoenix. Thank you!
And yes, that's what we did with Falkor and we may do it again with the BP but we'd really like to get to hold them and experience them in person this time. We really do only want a captive bred baby though, so we'll be careful either way!

Before you spend a ton on housing (pet stores are so way overpriced) have a good look through the threads. My husband and I were amazed when we first got into this hobby at how little we would end up purchasing at our local pet store and how much WalMart, Lowe's, the dollar store, Home Depot became our new best friends LOL.

I need to do more browsing in there! I didn't see anything I really liked hide-wise at Lowe's, but haven't been in Home Depo yet. I had a lot of fun decorating Falkor's critter cage, and found e-bay and target helpful too Not that Falkor cares, but we like it. We don't have anything set up yet really, so lots of options!

A lovely captive born male ball python from a top notch breeder is always a good bet. Nothing like a well started baby to make the whole thing so much easier! The breeders often have spare normal "wild type" males for very reasonable prices and you are ahead of the game going that route in my opinion.

That's the plan! /(^v^)\ It's why I really hope we can find a local breeder... but we may go online in if there isn't anywhere really reputable nearby.

Your little corn is such a beaut! And I love your avatar! A fellow artist I presume.

Thank you twice! Yes, I am Complete with a pretty useless degree in animation. Hence, I do a webcomic instead, lol.

[Shelby]

I like your art! I have a link to my gallery in my signature.. there's a couple ball python drawings in there and a bunch of snakie photos.

[MedusasOwl]

Thank you! *Lovely* snakey portraits and photos you have there! /(^v^)\

The BP pencils are gorgeous, and I really need to work on drawing snakes like that myself, especially as Medusa and Naga/Nagini obsessed as I am. Course I don't have the advantage of having as many around to pose for me you do

[Shelby]

Thanks.. I wish I had more time for my art.

Next female anaconda I get is going to be named Nagini.. I was going to name my first one that, but she is 'Rusalka'.