- Joined
- Apr 21, 2007
- Messages
- 311
I want to get a snake but can't decide what to get. The pet store i go to has ball pythons and red-tail boas.
well, if you want my opinion, unless you have room for a large cage. (normally you would either build one yourself or pay a good amount for a custom cage) go with the ball python. i've been looking into red tails, and they are a little harder to keep because of there cage size (about 10 ft snake full grown).I want to get a snake but can't decide what to get. The pet store i go to has ball pythons and red-tail boas.
Actually the pet store i go to is one of the few good ones. They get all their animals from a breeder, and are well fed.Do NOT get a ball python from a pet store. Doubly don't get one from a pet store if it's a big chain like PetCo or Petsmart. They're going to be wild-caught, sickly, half-starved, and like as not they'll NEVER eat well, if they ever eat at all.
Order from an online breeder/dealer with a good rep, ask around on the dealer reviews forum here or on faunaclassifieds. You'll get a healthy snake, and odds are good even with overnight shipping you'll still pay less than a pet shop will charge you.
if you mean ball pythons, there pretty easy. if you get a small one, like 1 1/2 fthow hard or easy are they to care for
I'll be sure to let my pet store CB ball python of 3+ years know that...thanks.Do NOT get a ball python from a pet store. Doubly don't get one from a pet store if it's a big chain like PetCo or Petsmart. They're going to be wild-caught, sickly, half-starved, and like as not they'll NEVER eat well, if they ever eat at all.
If you are absolutely positive about this (because there have been stores that lied about where they got their animals, so they could make a sale), then go ahead. The signs of a healthy ball python are clear eyes (they might fog over when approaching a shed, but if it looks like they have old 'eyecaps' stuck on there, you'll have a problem), and the eyes should be smooth, round, and without wrinkles. There should be no pieces of old skin stuck to them, and they should be round-bodied; if you can clearly see the spine sticking up, they're underweight. Then there's the obvious stuff, check for mites, fluid in the nostrils/mouth, skin problems, hissing/wheezing. Wrinkly, saggy skin can be a sign of dehydration.Actually the pet store i go to is one of the few good ones. They get all their animals from a breeder, and are well fed.
Sadly, happy stories from ball pythons purchased in pet shops are the exception, not the rule, and I don't consider it worth the risk for a snake newbie in particular to try their luck. I'm very happy yours is fine. But the fact remains, I and countless others have seen and reported the condition of balls at chain pet stores time and again.I'll be sure to let my pet store CB ball python of 3+ years know that...thanks.
I was just busting your balls.Sadly, happy stories from ball pythons purchased in pet shops are the exception, not the rule, and I don't consider it worth the risk for a snake newbie in particular to try their luck. I'm very happy yours is fine. But the fact remains, I and countless others have seen and reported the condition of balls at chain pet stores time and again.
There are bad breeders out there too, but at least you can look up reviews and see who's got a record for shipping out poor-quality animals.
Actually, if it's not too expensive, I'd just go ahead and get that adult. It's already going to be an established feeder with a good weight, and you'll save on the cost of buying a baby-sized setup and THEN buying a new setup when it's bigger.Where online would be a good place to buy one. I checked on here and all i saw was one that was already a few feet long, and i want a baby.
If this is going to be your first snake, I'd say scrap the whole Ball Python idea and look for a corn snake. They are so easy to care for that its pretty difficult to get it wrong, plus they are generally less expensive, easily available and come in loads of cool colour morphs. Once you've gotten some experience with owning a corn snake you'll be better prepared to deal with any feeding problems a ball python may throw at you.
That's not true, i scored a captive bred hatchling (c-bred, not c-hatched) She handles very well, eats, and is very healthy. Also, she rarely balls up.Do NOT get a ball python from a pet store. Doubly don't get one from a pet store if it's a big chain like PetCo or Petsmart. They're going to be wild-caught, sickly, half-starved, and like as not they'll NEVER eat well, if they ever eat at all.
Order from an online breeder/dealer with a good rep, ask around on the dealer reviews forum here or on faunaclassifieds. You'll get a healthy snake, and odds are good even with overnight shipping you'll still pay less than a pet shop will charge you.