New to BPs..Story and question

[MikeC1212]

I've decided to get a Ball Python. My problem is this.. I don't know where

When I went to a local store, they had 1, kept it housed only with a log and bowl of water.. and some kind of green sand. Didn't like that but I asked to take a look at it anyway. The girl says she "doesn't do snakes" and handed me the key! She told me to keep it away from where she was in the store. HA! So like an idiot, not knowing how long its been there or anything else about it, I reach in and grab it. Pretty tame (or didn't bite me!) but I didn't like the way it didn't complete a shed in 1 piece and didn't like their lack of information on it. They want $90. I left it. There's another store with 2 BPs, they also have employees that shouldn't even be in a pet store. They can never tell me anything I want to know. They want $60.

I want a female, how can I determine the sex at the store? Since they obviously have no idea. They don't even know if they're CB or WC.

That brings me to my final question. Does anyone know where I can find a normal female BP at a decent price, a price one would pay for a normal? ..with some pictures and information.

I've been looking at a lot of sites/forums/classifieds(KS).. and I can find a lot of morphs with pictures and info, however most normals don't have pics/info and sell in lots of 10+. Am I supposed to just e-mail them and have them ship me a random snake?

Thanks,
Mike

[sweety314]

Welcome to the hobby!!!!

You've come to the RIGHT place with your questions!!


Right now, since this is hatching season, you can probably get a normal baby for $45-60. If you're new to balls, I'd suggest researching some of the breeders from here on site......that way you'll be sure to get a baby that's eating, you KNOW is CB, is in good health and has properly been sexed. They're hatching new clutches, and can probably make a good deal for one of last year's if they're trying to make room for the new arrivals.

At the pet store, you can pop a baby, but it takes practice, and if you're too firm or overzealous, you can actually hurt Baby Ball. Or, see if you can make arrangements to bring the baby back, if after taking it to the vet w/in the first days, it's not the right sex.

A pet store SHOULD know if they're WC, CBB or CH. They have to know who the supplier is. (Giving you the key was irresponsible of the employee!)

Whatever U decide, just be sure to get your tub/tank set up and stabilized BEFORE you get and put the baby in it. Check out the care sheet,

(http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=59

and do a search of threads about housing for babies.


Glad to have you!

RuLyn

[MikeC1212]

Thanks for the kind words!

My buddy has 5 snakes(0.0.1 normal, 0.1 spider, 1.1 pastel, 0.0.1 RTB) and i'm jealous. And he knows it, so that sucks. But he hooked me up with a lot of info on set up/care and I've spent countless hours researching (while at work, of course) what it takes to own a BP. I'm just skeptical of a lot of breeders and classifieds.
Right now I have a 60qt tub, 2-1 Acurite, Zoo-Med UTH, 2 identical hides, newspaper ..thermostat will be here in here in a day or 2.. then I can set the temp/humidity. Something to climb.. then I'm just waiting for the right one.

If anyone needs to sell baby girl, I'll take great care of her.. hook me up!

Mike

[sweety314]

GREAT!! Listing your supplies, sounds like you're off to an AWESOME start! Goooood JOB! You're way ahead of the game as compared to some.


I'm not breeding balls (yet) but there are some fantastic members here who are.....(user names are: ) jglass, muddoc, cue, spj are just the first ones that come to mind. Check the breeding and ads forum.

[MikeC1212]

Will be looking them up as soon as I get some work done! Fired = no snakes. Not to mention my wife and daughter wouldn't be too happy to find out that they might go hungry for a while, lol. Thanks a lot for your help

Mike

[sweety314]

Yeah, I hear that. I'm at work right now, too!


Lucky for ME, my FD loooooves the snakes as much as I do. That's how we managed to go from one to 23 in less than two years! She's happy to sacrifice for the FT order.


Just be careful, Mike! We're horrible at being snake addiction enablers around here!!!!!!!!

[MikeC1212]

..already addicted, just don't have the funds for more than 1 normal right now However, my wife knows I'm alredy planning on an albino, then cinnys/lessers/mojaves.. or something! Soon as my friend produces Bees, I'll get one of them too (this carrot cracks me up, lol)

[rabernet]

I purchased several of my females from http://www.ectotherms.net


Figure in $50 for shipping. They are CH (born in Africa), but are well started. Mine eat well, are parasite free and great animals. I've purchased 10 females from him over the past few years, three are now in another member's collection and thriving for her as well.

[SarahMB]

Hi Mike,

Depending on your location, there might be a reptile expo in your area. It's worth checking out, I saw several baby balls for $25 at the Arlington expo yesterday.

[Kyle6203]

LOL she doesn't do snakes and handed you the key? That has to be the most rediculous thing i've ever heard of. Why on earth would you be working in a pet store when you fear and won't be able to give any information whatsoever on the snakes to the customer. These pet store stories never cease to amaze me.

As for your setup it sounds great, and if I were you I would follow the previous posters suggestion and find a good breeder (their are tons on this site), and buy your ball off them. This ensures the snake is disease/parasite free and is eating well. Even better is that most of the proffessional breeders have ball's way cheaper than ones in pet stores, excluding the shipping of course. Good luck and im sure you'll love your snake.