Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi there i have never posted here bf but have on the turtle forums i own a sulcata, i am looking to buy a ball python but im not sure if i should go for a hachling or adult the petstore sells both, i have had snakes before a cali king snake and a ball python (which ended up biting and we had to get rid of her) so i know the basics of heat tanks etc but i was wondering what i should ask when i go to buy? captive born etc i know that what should i look for as far as health etc? help!! thanks a bunch!! also they feed live mice how hard is it to switch to frozen thawed?

ask if it is wild caught or captive bred or captive born. Check to make sure it doesn't have ticks or mites.
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0.1 Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 ball python (felix)
1.1 feral cats (Fuzzy, and Bear; it used to be fuzzy, wuzzy, bear)

ok will do
I have never seen a snake with mites or ticks before what do I look for? I mean is it obvious if they have fleas/ticks? obviously they arent the same as they would be on say a dog or cat are there sores maybe or?

also are hachlings better or adults?i knoe to ask when it ate last what it eats etc and to look for mites ticks (thanks again) but is size or color a issue?

i would suggest buying a hatchling as they will be easier to raise through the years so you can find out there habits. Not sure about how to describe looking for ticks/mites try starting a new thread about it.
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0.1 Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 ball python (felix)
1.1 feral cats (Fuzzy, and Bear; it used to be fuzzy, wuzzy, bear)

Make sure you buy captive born whether its a baby or adult. You need to decide if you want to breed the snake or not. What I mean is that an adult is closer to breeding age than a baby. If you are just wanting to own a ball python with no intention to breed it then I would say, buy the baby. If they feed live, then an adult will most likely be more difficult to change over to f/t. When you go to buy, ask to hold it, watch it feed, where they purchased the snake, if it's captive born and not wild caught. When holding it, observe it's overall appearance, any bite mark, injuries, tongue flicking, check out it belly for burn marks, check out its vent area. Look at the cage its in, is it clean, is it properly set-up. Do some research on the internet for ball python care sheets. They usually have information on what to look for when purchasing.