Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK here the deal. I LOVE ball pythons, i have a friend who has a very gentle big-bodied male whom i have watched countless times over the past few years. I think he breeds leos or pictus geckoes, i dont remember too well, b/c i moved. So of course i would help him. Well i have been researching balls for a while now and plan to get one. Now in a few years i plan to breed, so right now i want to prepare. Now on a limited budget (for now) would it be best to get a baby female (normal) so in a few years she would be established to breed? or should i get a male to establish? should i invest a little more in a 100% het of one of the more common morphs?

Also:
Do you breeders also breed your own prey? or do you still go with live or F/T from the store?

Also any tips to start out with?

Thanks
-Nic
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Nic
if you want to contact me: noseguardnoms@hotmail.com
Email me if you want to give me any more info

If getting just one, I'd go with a female. They take longer to get to breeding size. However, once she is ready a breedable male will be easy to find. Finding a breedable female will not.

Sure, you could get a het. But keep in mind, the female will still be more expensive than the male. However, with a het male, you can start breeding sooner. But if you don't have a breedable female, it won't matter.

I breed my own rats. It costs too much to purchase from a pet store. But if you only have a few snakes, it may not be worth the hassle. Unless you just enjoy it.

More advice? Just start reading posts.
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Jay A. Martin

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You may need to breed them in a garage or place far from your house! LOL
I was friends with a pet store owner who tried breeding them and had to give it up because of the smell in his shop.

o odor isnt a problem, ive kept rats as pets ( yes and my brother has 5 of em right now) so odor isnt a big deal with me...
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Nic
if you want to contact me: noseguardnoms@hotmail.com
Email me if you want to give me any more info

I would pick out females to cut back on odor.
I guess when he had several groups breeding the odor multiplied or did he just not clean his cages well?

off the males first. All you need are breeder males anyway.
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Jay A. Martin

Rats and mice are pretty clean animals who will usually use the same spot in their cage/enclosure for relieving themselves.

If you scoop out their 'toilet' on a daily basis the smell is all but undetectable.

I've raised my own rodents for years, and between daily scoops and using pine shavings half of my chums have no idea there is 12 cages of rodents in my spare bedroom.

BB

I hate paying pet shop mice prices.
I would prefer feeding FT but only one of my Pythons will eat them but all my other snakes take them no problem. Corn snakes will eat a mouse no matter how you serve it!