Getting Unwanted BP - Some opinons needed

[Pandora]

A few weeks ago my boyfriend found an ad on a local car enthusiast website regarding someone who's selling a 1 1/2 y/o BP. Here's the deal: the person selling the snake is not the initial owner. He's looking after it for someone who went to the states for an extended stay and no longer wishes to keep the snake so gave the thumbs up to sell it. Naturally, my bf told me about the ad and I became very interested but he was asking $300. I said no way and moved along. Recently, he messaged my bf in an attempt to get rid of the snake asap and said $100. I'm hooked...

Here's the info: (quoted from original post)
Its roughly 1 1/2 year old ball python. 2-3 feet. very healthy. eating well. Comes with terrarium(aquarium), cover, wood chips for ground, home, water bowl, heating pad, lamp, bulbs.





He's also throwing in the stand for the tank which works perfectly for me. Unfortunately he's not 100% sure of the gender of the snake (guessing it's a male). Although I'm willing to take it either way, I'm hoping it's a male so I can start breeding with Pandora once she gets bigger. Like I said, the guy doesn't know much about the snake so I'll have to try my best to figure out it's feeding habits, health concerns, as well as how accustomed it is to handling and what not. I will try my best to figure this out once I go to pick it up since I know enough to spot any major health concerns.

My questions for you guys:

Do you think it's worth me taking it in? I would rather it went to a good home with somebody willing to take care of it and knows what they're doing, which by the looks of it, hasn't been the case so far and no interested buyers have approached.

Is there anything in particular I should be aware of when I go to pick it up?

Finally: I need your expertise on learning how to PROPERLY pop a BP so I can do it when I go to pick it up. I've found a few videos, including the one by 8 Ball Pythons. Is there an 'ideal' video somebody can direct me to? What's the WRONG way to do it, what should I avoid when trying this? I'll try it on Pandora first before I go off and do it on the new guy.

Any comments and help is greatly appreciated as always

[hawaiianice99]

>$100 for that snake and tank is a killer deal, especially since it will be going to you and not someone who just wants a snake to watch it kill mice.

>The 8ball vid on youtube is probably your best bet for a good instructional on how to pop, its fairly simple, i got it on the first try.

>Things you want to look for when you pick up is overall state of the living environment and how the snake has been cared for, check for mites if you can so you quarantine efficently also.

Im sure there are others on here who will chime in any minute now to help out also.

[Pandora]

>$100 for that snake and tank is a killer deal, especially since it will be going to you and not someone who just wants a snake to watch it kill mice.

>The 8ball vid on youtube is probably your best bet for a good instructional on how to pop, its fairly simple, i got it on the first try.

>Things you want to look for when you pick up is overall state of the living environment and how the snake has been cared for, check for mites if you can so you quarantine efficently also.

Im sure there are others on here who will chime in any minute now to help out also.

Since I'm getting EVERYTHING I need for it, I agree that I'm getting a deal; pretty much just paying for the snake.

I will check it for mites, an RI and IBD accordingly when I go to pick it up. Once I bring it home I will clean EVERYTHING in the tank and the tank itself for my own hygienic paranoia and for the snake's safety as well just because I have no way of knowing when the last time that was done.

If there's nothing physically off about the snake, I'm bringing it home sometime this week and putting it in quarantine for a week. Unless it needs to be fed first.

[blackcrystal22]

Since I'm getting EVERYTHING I need for it, I agree that I'm getting a deal; pretty much just paying for the snake.

I will check it for mites, an RI and IBD accordingly when I go to pick it up. Once I bring it home I will clean EVERYTHING in the tank and the tank itself for my own hygienic paranoia and for the snake's safety as well just because I have no way of knowing when the last time that was done.

If there's nothing physically off about the snake, I'm bringing it home sometime this week and putting it in quarantine for a week. Unless it needs to be fed first.

Spray the cage with PAM.. spray yourself with PAM.. quarantine for 3+ months.

You probably will not be able to pop an adult that age. It is more difficult the older it is. See if you can find someone in your area that knows how to probe and can do it/ show you how to do it. :]

[MiniJ83]

Yeah, up your quarantine time to at least a couple months. Don't want little pandora getting sick.

[hawaiianice99]

Spray the cage with PAM.. spray yourself with PAM.. quarantine for 3+ months.

while you are at it spray the porch down with PAM too!!

[Pandora]

Spray the cage with PAM.. spray yourself with PAM.. quarantine for 3+ months.

You probably will not be able to pop an adult that age. It is more difficult the older it is. See if you can find someone in your area that knows how to probe and can do it/ show you how to do it. :]

Is 3 months really necessary?
The only place I can keep either snake in my house is in my room.
I know there's nothing wrong with Pandora
If I get new guy checked out by a vet and it's determined there's nothing wrong with him, I should be fine, no?

[Slim]

$100 for that snake and tank is a killer deal

I second that, and it's $100 CDN right?
Plus, I think you get karma points when you give an unwanted BP a good home.

Do you have a Herp Vet for Pandora? Any Vet with herp experience will be able to probe your new guy.

Def quarintine...seperate room if possible.

Any ideas for a name yet?

[Pandora]

I second that, and it's $100 CDN right?
Plus, I think you get karma points when you give an unwanted BP a good home.

Do you have a Herp Vet for Pandora? Any Vet with herp experience will be able to probe your new guy.

Def quarintine...seperate room if possible.

Any ideas for a name yet?

Yes, that's $100 CAD which, at this point, doesn't really matter when compared to USD

Karma points are building up fast over here. lol.

Here's the issue: I can NOT put him in any other room other than the same one Pandora will be in. If I get him looked over by a vet and it's determined there's nothing wrong with him, can I let the 3 month quarantine slip? I know I'm taking a risk but it's either leave the guy to chance (which hasn't been good so far) or take him in.

There is an exotics vet in my area that is readily available should it be needed. I guess I could get him/her to probe the guy unless I can find an experienced herp, which I might not have difficulty doing.

If it's a male, the name will be Prometheus or Osiris. Probably the first because my next two BPs I plan on namking Isis and Osiris. =]

[Slim]

As long as you understand the risk you're taking, I would say the choice is up to you. If it were me, I would prolly be inclined to take the snake...others here will most likely disagree with me on that one. Can you seperate their enclosures with in the same room?

I really dig Prometheus...as you can see, my little guy is named Bacchus, so there could be a theme going here