I suppose a little bit of background on me. I always loved reptiles as a kid. I grew up in FL and would always catch and play with anoles or watch the indigo snakes when they'd come into my yard or try to sneak around a racer that didn't notice me so I could watch it bask. Always wanted a pet snake, though the parents would never have even considered it and, for the brief time I worked at a cruddy(out of business now!) pet store would always wait until the boss was gone and pick up a snake or a skink to hold for a while in between cleaning cages. That place was really also the reason I nearly lost total interest in snakes. He advocated strongly that they HAD TO BE FED live, unstunned rodents, which, considering how much I grew to adore rats while working there really bothered me. So as a result I got pet rats and joined a forum(really good one other than with snakes) which is almost 100% anti-snake. After a while I grew to really take in their point about not having them, or feeding them those disgusting snake sausages instead of rats or mice. Lately, though, I became interested in snakes again after seeing a few really lovely baby corns at my local deathco.
Anywho, I was really thinking about a ball python as a starter. I love their personalities. The cruddy store in FL had a(likely wild caught) small-ish one in one time that I gave nearly every dumb opportunity to bite the heck out of me. She was terrified of people, but instead of acting agressive she'd ball up and hiss at me instead of chomping down. Which I find cool, though the petco(won't get anything live there) gets "bitey" ones in from what I've seen(at least two in the last year that had a reputation for biting the cage cleaners) Just had a few questions about them, and care in general.
If one is already eating f/t food, will it likely stay on that with no problems if it has been eating it since it was a baby? Unless I can find a local breeder who feeds frozen I'd be getting one from the petsmart, where corporate policy refuses sales of live feeder rodents(though nasty goldfish for bigger fish are find. Psht.) and where they can say which are/aren't eating frozen already(though I do worry since they can't feed live what would happen if one refused completely to eat frozen, since they are so young 
) the ones they have are around a foot long, if that matters at all.
Also, the chains around here(suprise suprise) are kinda. . . Dumb? with their information. Today between two people I heard that balls: frequently grow to 8', grow at least 2' per year, eat rabbits and chickens, need a 75 gallon tank for one of them. From what I had seen online, though, they rarely get past 5', 6' max, usually aren't big enough to eat more than a rat and need a 20 gallon long tank(or larger if possible). So what really is the case? Well, mostly for habbitat size, since I'm one of those sorts who likes to get the size home an animal would need so if I for some reason was poorer later I wouldn't need to go without food to house a pet, or to give the pet up over it. Could I get a tupperware sort of container and turn that into a house, as long as it was big enough, or would the heater melt it?
Also, what would I need for equipment? I know the tank and a secure lid, and an UNDER TANK heater, since heat rocks are dangerous. Then a bowl to bask in and a couple of caves of some sort to hide in. One for each side. And something on the bottom to make cleaning easier. Anything else?
Also, how often would I need to feed my snake? I've heard at least once a week with 2x preferred as a younger one, but what about adults(won't be used for breeding, so no need for conditioning at the least)? I know to feed rats, but is it a good idea to feed something different, like a small-ish bird, once in a while(one every 4-6 months) instead of only rats, since I think I've read that they will eat them if they are come across in the wild or should it be rats only?
Also, do they really get "bitey" when fed in their house? The petsmart girl told me that you'd need a separate cage to feed one in because if not they'll always associate you putting your hands near them with food and bite. With proper handling would that even be an issue?
Lastly, I think, I live in Grand Junction and due to a car not really liking to go over mountains can't drive too far to get anything. Does anyone know of a good breeder in the general area? I've looked through the listings on this page and haven't really seen anything, though I could have missed something too.
Thanks in advance 
