Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I don't yet own a Ball Python, but have been looking into getting one for months now. I've always been pretty firm in my ways that I would only go with a captive bred specimine. Everyone tells me that I'm less likely to have hunger strikes that way (allthough of course, it's still always a possibility).

Yesterday I was visiting a friend who recently picked up two beautiful pairs of Captive Hatched Ball Pythons. One of the males stole my heart. He was extremely docile (allthough a tad shy) and after exploring me for awhile, made itself at home in my hair and went to sleep. My friend said he's been eating readily and has been problem free in the few weeks that he has had him...and offered me the snake.

What are some problems you see with Captive Hatched. Should I avoid the snake and hold out for a Captive Bred specimine? I'm not looking to breed, it will simply be a pet...so the most important thing to me is temperment, with feeding being a close second (I would prefer to feed frozen thawed if at all possible). Is Captive Hatched really no better than Wild Caught?

Thanks in advance. I love the snake, but am being pretty indecisive due to this one fact. It is a long term pet, so I don't want to be impulsive and rush into anything. I'd love to hear everyone's take on things.

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- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"

i would go with it. it seems that you have a nice rapport with this bp and that is a lot. especially since the snake is new to you and it is already good with you holding it.

mine is a CB, and is a bit more standoffish than the average bp {has a personality almost like a cat, if that makes sense}. i think individual personality goes a long way, and since it is not wc, i think it would be great for you.
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1.0 ball python "wolfgang"

I would say go for it! If you are just going for a pet, then personality of the snake means more than anything else and it seems like you like this little guy.

As for at C.H. goes, you can get some that are no better than wild caughts and you can get some that are just as good as any captive hatched ball python. It all depends on what their lives were like during the first few weeks of their lives (where they hatched, where they shed for the first time, where/what they ate the first time, living conditions, etc).

But since it sounds like this C.H. ball python is healthy, friendly, and eating well so you don't need to worry about the fact that he is captive hatched. Like I said before, if cared for properly after hatching and during the first few weeks of their lives, C.H. are really no different than captive bred in terms of disposition and eating habits.

Hope this helps...
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John Scully
Delphi Pythons
www.delphipythons.com (website coming soon)

It certainly helps. Of course, it doesn't help my boyfriend one bit...since I'll be driving him crazy the next few days talking him into me bringing home a new pet!
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- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"

let us know when you decide to keep him...(the snake, i mean)
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1.0 ball python "wolfgang"

BWAH HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!

Oh trust me, if(when?) I'm victorious, you'll all be hearing about it.
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- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"

maybe you could put makeup on him to make him look like a rubber snake, and no one will know...
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1.0 ball python "wolfgang"

LOL. Cute.

I did contemplate saying "Wow! I was working in the yard, and look what I found in the bushes!!" HAHAHAHAAHAHA.

Of course, that day he tied himself up in my hair, we couldn't get him out for awhile...I was tempted to just drive home with him on my head and say "Well, traffic was getting worse and worse, so I didn't want to just sit around and wait for him to come down!"

Hahahahaha. Such scheming....
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- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"

oh, the things we do to get what we want.
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1.0 ball python "wolfgang"

(I would prefer to feed frozen thawed if at all possible)

Can you ask the folks who have him now to try him on a f/t rat pup?
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

Actually, that's the plan. My friend is planning on keeping the snake himself if I don't decide to take it...so, I can rest assured that either way he has a good home. But yeah, the snake readily ate live last week...this week he's going to try prekilled...and then graduate to trying frozen thawed. That will really be the deciding factor...if it willingly accepts the frozen thawed a few times with no problem, I'm grabbing it. I loved the snake and it was really sweet...but I'm sure there are other balls out there that are captive bred and established feeders on frozen thawed that are just as sweet...but, we'll see. Time will tell.
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- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"