Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'sd like to get a Ball Python as my next snake.

I went to a petshop recently and they showed me about 20 Ball Pythons. I realised that I had no idea what to look for. Being used to King/corn/milk snake, I couldn't tell which pythons looked healthier.

What are the most important details to look for?

I noticed what looked like a build up near the cloaca of some of the pythons, the person said it was because the snake was about to defecate. Is it true?

Many of the pythons seemed to have left over from their last shedding, does it happen more commonly with such snakes compared to smaller species?

I also saw some wrinkles on the neck of some of them.

These 3 observations made me think that these snakes weren't being properly cared for, but I could be wrong.

my 2 cents
#1 make sure to buy captive bred. I had 2 import babies die because they were just too dehydrated. THat would be the wrinkles you are referring to. Don't get a ball that is thinner and wrinkled, bad news. Make sure it is eating. Have them call you the next time they are feeding and get one that is eating. same as other snakes, get one that is alert, flicking the tongue, holds it's head up with control.
You don't want a overly stressed out ball believe me.

They did look thin to me. I know they have much larger head, but the neck of most of them seemed way too small.

id only buy the best one, the healthiest and fittest, because im spending all that money..look for ticks and mites on its scales..theres also a thing called "blister disease" that usually happens when there inviorment is not right: not enough food,not enough water,heat,blah blah blah,some signs of this disease arepen mouth breathing, clear fluid running out of nose, white cheesey type stuff in mouth, and red blothes on stomach and sides...

open mouth breathing**

breathing with mouth open

thats what i meant

No offense, I don't know what you've been reading, but the symptoms you mention cover three different problems...........open mouth breathing and fluid coming from the mouth or nostrils is from a respiratory infection, the cheesy matter inside the mouth is mouth rot and the red blisters are blister disease. Blister disease generally comes from the enviornment being to wet.

Quig

what the last guy said!

oh...sorry guys,thats just what i read, i must have misunderstood,lol i guess im not the one to be giving advice at all...

erm....

argg...

Make sure that their skin is not all wrinkled and dry, pythons are supposed to be smooth, not dry and dehydrated and rough. If they are having difficulty holding their head or the upper third of their body up, (aka if their muscles are straining to keep them in an upright position) dont buy them. Also , make sure that they were BRED in captivity, dont just settle for born in captivity. There's a difference. Born in captivity means it could have been born as a captive to two wild caught parents. Not good. Get one that was born into captivity by two captive born parents. Thats your best bet. Also, open up the snakes mouth and check for white gunky build up or unnatural looking patches of skin. This is mouth rot if you see any. Dont buy that individual. Also, in the jaw groove on the underside of the snakes head is a favorite hiding place for mites. (little red or black bugs ) check for these little critters before you buy your pet. Also , check to make sure that the snake is responsive ( flicking its tongue, moving around etc.) Thats about all I can tell you. Good luck on finding the best !