Should I?

[Thoth]

My petco near my apartment is having a huge markdown on ball pythons, going for $29 instead of $79 normally. Balls are on my snake want list.

Question is should I get one from Petco? Or should I just wait till the reptile expo and pick one up from a breeder there?

never bought a snake from them so not sure what to expect.

 

[Beardo]

Wait until the reptile show....you'll probably be able to get one cheaper and in much better health.

 

[bugmankeith]

But if money is no object, then go for the one from Petco.

 

[sick4x4]

umm

well to be honest i wouldnt get anything from petco, but for 29.00 bucks you really wont be able to beat that...even at a reptile expo youll be dishing out at least 60 bucks..its kind of a toss up???if you want to gamble because its only 29 then sure, but if you want to be worry free,well as much as you can be.... you'll be paying alittle more for the insurance....look at the markings, see if its moveing alot, ask to hold it..look for bumbs, moving spots..you know the basics...and if it looks healthy and you seem happy with it then go for it...unless you post some pics all we have to go on ,is that it is from petco!!let me tell you that is a red flag in here and just about every other forum you ask this question lol!! hope that helps..and if money is no object i have a few breeder friends that have high end pied ballies...

 

[Beardo]

but for 29.00 bucks you really wont be able to beat that...even at a reptile expo youll be dishing out at least 60 bucks

lol...You haven't been to many reptile shows. I've bought baby Balls for $5-$20 a piece several times in the past.

 

[bugmankeith]

My opinion, if I got the snake from Petco and with good care it would stay healthy and have a happy life, then i would buy that one. You know darn well at reptile shows most of those reptiles will be brought, where petco most will die from nobody buying them. I know most are against purchasing from pet stores like this, but like I said if the snake isnt in too bad of shape and looks like it's eaten something, then all you probably have to do if you buy it is find out if it has parasites or an infection (in other words it needs to see a vet asap just to make sure), which if money is no object, can be cured quickly.

 

[sick4x4]

is that right

well ive been to a few shows i have never seen ballies for that cheap???i have two good friends that ownreptile stores out here in cali and have never seen ballies for like 5 bucks???if you do ill bye a few lol!!!!wc's maybe

 

[Mushroom Spore]

never bought a snake from them so not sure what to expect.

Don't do it! PetCo ball pythons are almost certainly going to be wild-caught, and wild-caught balls are generally a huge bundle of problems. Some of them have never eaten and will never start, or have internal parasites, or are sick, and the fact that they're usually housed in groups in poor conditions in a too-small tank is NOT going to help any.

There are very few species more difficult to nurse back to health and good eating than this one. I've always heard that wild-caughts tend to not have the sweet personalities more common to captive-bred babies, too.

Find a breeder with a good rep. You can usually get a baby for around 40-50 bucks plus shipping if you look, and it will be more than worth it with all the vet bills you'll avoid. (Besides, you should be REALLY suspicious. Why are those PetCo snakes suddenly so much cheaper?)

where petco most will die from nobody buying them...all you probably have to do if you buy it is find out if it has parasites or an infection (in other words it needs to see a vet asap just to make sure), which if money is no object, can be cured quickly.

For every PetCo animal you "rescue", they will see it as a profitable animal and go buy ten more, which will eventually run out of rescuers and die horrible deaths anyway. The only way to *truly* rescue those animals is to stop supporting the wild-caught industry entirely. Either some will die, or a few will be "rescued" and many more will die because continuing to import them remains a profit.

 

[bugmankeith]

Would a zoo take the ball python if they suspected it was taken from the wild, if anything the zoo would be a good place for it, lots of room.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Would a zoo take the ball python if they suspected it was taken from the wild, if anything the zoo would be a good place for it, lots of room.

Uh, no. No they would not. They have more than enough animals, I don't know why the public still thinks zoos would have any interest in abandoned exotic pets.

 

[bugmankeith]

Well thats like keeping a tiger from the wild, authorities would be over right away for that, why not for snakes? Dont people think wild animals are dangerous, if the snake is wild it shouldnt be sold as a pet than, it should be taken to a place to live, a place for illegally captured animals. Illegal or not, captured animals should not be treated badly like some are.

Also petco should be reported for capturing wild animals, if it can be proven. (meaning animals illegal to catch)

 

[Beardo]

Well thats like keeping a tiger from the wild, authorities would be over right away for that, why not for snakes? Dont people think wild animals are dangerous, if the snake is wild it shouldnt be sold as a pet than, it should be taken to a place to live, a place for illegally captured animals. Also petco should be reported for capturing wild animals, if it can be proven.

But, like I said if you have alot of money and are responcible, than you should be able to keep a snake, even if it's wild, but make sure the rest arent left behind, find a place that will take them. People with permits can keep a tiger, a snake I have to say is easier to keep and care for.

I have to say though, I dont agree with capturing animals from the wild and putting them in pet shops or using them for entertainment. I just want to see the animals have a good life, and not die because people took no action, unfortunetly they cant speak for themselves.

What the heck are you talking about lol? Tigers and Ball Pythons are apples and oranges lol.....no comparison. Importing Ball Pythons, while not ideal, is far from illegal. Thousands are imported every year. If you don't agree with capturing animals from the wild...where do you think all of our pets came from? Do you keep exotic pets, such as tarantulas, scorpions or reptiles? Without wild caught livestock, there is no arachnid or reptile hobby. Sounds to me like someone has been spending too much time on PETA's website instead of using their noggin.

 

[bugmankeith]

Listen, my point was i thought it was illegal to capture wild snakes and sell them, what happened to captive bred herps? My point also taking tigers from the wild is illegal, I thought the same went for snakes, sorry my mistake...

For your information the only pet I had besides cats and goldfish (not wild!) was green anoles, mabye they were from the wild, but they were gifts from my uncle, I wasnt going to say no because nobody could keep them for me. If I lived in florida I would have set them free....

Sounds to me you obviously dont know me. You keep wild caught herps, so think of how your supporting petco, you dont need PETA to tell you that one. Your just as bad as the people catching them, if you want to think of it that way....

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Also petco should be reported for capturing wild animals, if it can be proven.

Seriously, what? It's not even remotely illegal, unless it's a specifically banned species. PetCo and other pet shops do not *personally* capture wild animals, but get them from importers and international dealers.

If you think a snake or tarantula that was born in captivity is not a wild animal, you have another think coming.

EDIT:

Sounds to me you obviously dont know me. You keep wild caught herps, so think of how your supporting petco

Not even close to all wild-caught animals are from PetCo. Furthermore, considering you were just wholeheartedly supporting buying from petco a moment ago, you really shouldn't be attacking anyone else.

 

[bugmankeith]

As for the first part Mushroom I already know Petco gets them from importers, I just said petco to make it shorter, sorry if you misunderstood.

"If you think a snake or tarantula that was born in captivity is not a wild animal, you have another think coming."

I know they will always have some sort of wild instinct in them, thats a given.


"Not even close to all wild-caught animals are from PetCo."
ok ok not really important for the conversation.


"Furthermore, considering you were just wholeheartedly supporting buying from petco a moment ago, you really shouldn't be attacking anyone else."

I wasnt really attacking, I was making a point. You said most of the herps and tarantulas are wild caught, and without wild caught creatures petstores wouldnt have buisness, thats that in a nutshell.

Yes I do buy animals at petco, but none of them are species taken from the wild. Yes I think it's wrong to take species from the wild, but my opinion is if you find one at any pet store where it has no chance to be free again and is basically doomed; if you are willing to be responcible,know what the dangers to you and others arefrom the animal, research about the creature, and make sure you have the time and money for it, then there is nothing wrong for feeling bad and buying it, but I understand some have wild instincts and they are not a toy, they must be treated with respect. It's wrong to take them from the wild, but if you cant get it to stop, then dont feel bad if you buy the animal.

Ok now that I said my opinion take it how you like, buy the snake if you want, or dont buy it, thats your choice. Hopefully the litte debate helped others decide if they want to buy animals from pet stores or breeders.

 

[Beardo]

I'm not even going to bother getting into this discussion any further. It is pretty obvious that your knowledge of how the exotic pet trade works is abysmal at best. Theres really no point in wasting my time.

 

[bugmankeith]

How the trade works doesnt help decide with buying a snake, i'm done with this discussion too.