Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I am just curious when the next batch of baby balls are going to be ready. I'm looking into getting my first ball python this summer, depending on if I get into veterinary school or not. I'm looking to get a CB normal or reduced pattern from a reputable breeder, and I was wondering when I should start looking to get first dibs on something cute.

Smiles,
Alinda

Why wait? Captive bred 2003 are still for sale.
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RicK @ BbI

Ball Boutique,Inc.
The home of the singing snakes!

Well, there's a couple reasons...

1. I'm a college student with no time for a job, so I won't have any money to pay for the snake, let alone the proper setup until summer.

2. I live in a dormitory, and its hard enough to hide one snake in your room, let along two. I currently have a 5 month old Kenyan Sand Boa who is happily residing under my bed. I can't wait until I graduate and can own whatever I want, provided I have space and time to care for them.

3. I've had my eye on the classifieds, and on stock shops since I first discovered the ball morphs. I'm not seeing any idividuals that are to die for, so I'm hoping one of the new hatchlings will catch my eye.

Or maybe I need to wait a year and save the cash for a morph. Thats what I really like. Oh wait, I'm going to grad school... I seriously need to find a less expensive hobby.

Not to come off like a pompous a$$, but what is a "college student with no time for a job"

Especially an undergrad????

I worked two jobs as an undergrad, and everyone I knew worked at least one.
I worked through grad school, and still work now as I am in limbo, still maintaining a full time grad course load while contemplating the doctorial program.

Are you taking like 7 classes a semester or something????

Maybe it’s just me; sorry if what I said is totally offensive to anyone out there.

TomChambers

I'm a sophmore in college and I've got two jobs right now and I'm taking 5 classes...and I still have too much time on my hands.
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Jeff H.
http://www.jandsherps.com

Actually, yes, I am taking 7 classes a semester. I'm taking 4 science classes (physics, genetics, chemistry, and bacteriology), 3 laboratories, and 2 instrumental ensembles. Between the cousre load and my sorority, there aren't any places around town that will hire me for the hours i can commit. I tried. I work a couple hours a week for the college, and scholarships and saving have paid for the majority of my schooling.

What kind of grad program are you in that allows time for a job? Don't you have research to complete?
~brian

I work during the summers. I just finished an interview at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. I would like to go there, and without all the extracurriculars, most students get jobs after their first semester. I would get a snake over the summer when I have the cash to make sure I can get a quality animal and a quality set up for him/her.

What type of research in particular are you referring to??
When I was a grad student in Mathematics our classes were straight abstract theory and proof of said theory.
It wasn’t like say, the history department, where I presume writing research papers is a large component of the courses. As most classes usually had less than ten students we were responsible for researching and presenting material periodically during lectures, sometimes for the entire lecture.
Although in the doctorial program for Mathematics, research and critiqued presentations in front of the professors in your specific area of study is all that you do.
What was your program like????

TomChambers

I'd think it depended on the program, too. I was a grad student in astrophysics and we all had assistantships where we either taught undergrad classes or did research in addition to a full course load. After classes, we were expected to move on to research full time to finish up the doctorate. I wasn't happy there, so now I'm going to try to get into vet med instead. Better late than never, right?

I was a TA "grader" as an undergrad then moved to Teaching as I started grad school and still teach for them now.

You nailed it though the reason I didn't go straight into my doctorial work is I am not sure this is what I want.
So presently I'm still funded, but they are pressuring me to put up or get out.

Best of luck with the vet med I hope it turns out to be what you’re looking for.

And your right it's never too late I'm twice the age of almost all of my peers, and I'm contemplating starting over again with something new as well.

TomChambers

Agreed. Perhaps you need to play checkers. JK
What school are you attending?
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RicK @ BbI

Ball Boutique,Inc.
The home of the singing snakes!

I go to Coe College, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It's one of the better liberal arts schools in the Midwest.

,,im sorry ,but i have seen alot of nice balls on the adds,,like the pied,clowns,albinos.dang i could go on but i shouldn't need to.

LOL. Let me rephrase this. I haven't seen anything I have to have bad enough to find a way to sneak it into my room. One slightly illegal animal is more than enough, thank you. According to college rules, you can't own any pets that you can't hold underwater for 24 hours.

I really like a lot of the animals on the classifieds, but I'm looking for something special. I'm also a fan of watching things grow, so buying a baby appeals to me.

Is anyone going to answer my question???

Oh, and since this will be my first ball python. I just want a nice normal. I really like the morphs, but I'm not going to put that much money into a pet. I'll probably get into morphs someday, but I'm gonna do this one step at a time.

I was speaking to a breeder the other day and he said he should have his first babies around July. Don't know if thats universally true with other breeders tho. Hope that helps.

i would say try to find a breeder and start talking to them now, that way you get a feel for what type of person they are ect. and that way you can start to for a business relationship with them, and some breeders will sort of have an idea of what they will have ready for the next year. some do it differently so deffiently correspond with them and ask them any and all questions you have, all that i have talked with have been really cool.

i would recomend rusty, he has been a wonderful help to me in my first year of owning my two babies. http://www.kingsnake.com/rustysballs/ that is his link, he's a great guy and located in peoria illinois, i don't know how close that is to you.

hope i've been of some help i understand the money thing, as a junior nursing student i'm way straped for cash, but i make it work somehow

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~dana~

1.1 ball pythons (hailex and roxy)
1.0 cat (whiskers)
1.1 russian hamsters (peanut and tj)

...to keep 3 snakes in my dorm room when I was freshman undergrad at the U of New Mexico back in 1975! If you don't ask you don't get.
Scott J. Michaels DVM

...received her as a hatchling in 1969 (I was 11) and she lived until 1994! She produced babies in her 23rd year, in '92! SJM