Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well I have already made up my mind on getting a snake a few weeks ago. I have read up on many snake, I even have a dessert snakes of north america book. I have everything from the thermoters (2) to the hydrometer to the tank. I wanted a california dessert king at first but then I became interested in ball pythons because of there look and easy to care for. But I saw a site selling some for 25k???? and 15k??? I will under no circumstances pay that much for a common snake. Compared the price to the cali king which is $80 at my pet shop. So to wrap it up which is better for a first starter like me a cali king? or a ball python? (hopefully a much cheaper one?) Also Im 15 so yea.

Id say the california king, but look up the proper information for the care of the snake

I'd also say the Cal. King is your best bet. Very hardy, stay a decent size.
Nothing wrong with a Ball Python either, but if your going to go that route, make sure you buy a Captive Born & Bred Ball Python. Not a wild caught, not a captive hatched, not even a captive bred. Make sure the Ball you buy is a "Captive Bred & Born". They cost a little more, maybe around 40.00 to 75.00 for a nice "Normal Ball",depending on size, sex, but are well worth the extra little price you pay.The price you see at 25,000 dollars are for those very high end morphs. Some can cost 50 and even 100,000. Yikes. Good luck with either one you choose.

Steve

if you want cheap buy a cornsnake, they are very cheap (a wide variety of colors in the $20-65 range) and are easier to care for than ball pythons. cornsnake.net has many cornsnakes for sale and caresheets too
Link

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jake

my addiction:
2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
1 amelenistic corn snake (mazy)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)

i say corns snake or king snakes, also. or if you like the milks go with one of them. they are all rodent eaters and easy to care for.

why do you want to feed any snake you get parakeets? most snakes in captivity will take to a frozen/thawed rodent whether its mice or rats. all mine take f/t.

if at all possible for you go to a reptile show in your area and get a captive bred and born snake (CBB). esp ball pythons. i've read they are notorious for not feeding when they get it into their minds to fast. i don't consider them a beginner snake, IMO.

I have scraped that BP idea when I found out I could get fined for having one in my possesion so I asked a local reptile store to order me a captive bred and born member of the pituophis family, I dont remember the exact one I ordered, I believe it was a mexican pine because they are lovely and the colors are awesome. Either way If you want to know why I want to feed parakeets every now and then to my ADULT snake then check my other topic. I have good reasons and Ive stated thats it wont be a primary food source. Corn snakes are nice but are little, so are milks but a king would probably be nice to.

Fined for owning a Ball Python? Ouch. That's pretty sad when you think of it. Unbelievable. What state? New York?
Mexican Pines are beautiful snakes, but they are not the large brutes like the black or Northern Pines. It's going to be a while before your Mexican Pine is large enough to tackle parakeets. If that's your choice, then so be it, but as some of the others mentioned, going strictly with rodnets is the way to go. IF you want an opinion from an expert on Pits, I suggest you ask this question to John Cherry at Cherryville farms. He may agree 100% with you, he may not, I don't know. But he's been dealing with colubrids for over 30 years. Pits are his speciality. The fact that your getting a deppei jani (Mexican Pine) as opposed to one of the larger pines might make all the difference in the world not to feed Parakeets. Good luck.
Steve

"I have scraped that BP idea when I found out I could get fined for having one in my possesion so I asked a local reptile store to order me a captive bred and born member of the pituophis family, I dont remember the exact one I ordered, I believe it was a mexican pine because they are lovely and the colors are awesome. Either way If you want to know why I want to feed parakeets every now and then to my ADULT snake then check my other topic. I have good reasons and Ive stated thats it wont be a primary food source. Corn snakes are nice but are little, so are milks but a king would probably be nice to."

Yea I currently live in newyork with my mom, they ban all boiade(even rosy boas O_o) and pythonidae (even ball pythons). Maybe when I go back to cal they will allow a BP but I doubt it because I heard they ban boas. Anyway Yea I probably wont feed it parakeets simply because if it does get hooked thats like 8 dollers a bird. The pit family was what I HAD to go with because of the python issue, and it sucks because I really wanted it to. I saw a mexican pine and they look nice so I'll be getting that in a week. Thanks to everyone though for replying.

>>Yea I currently live in newyork with my mom, they ban all boiade(even rosy boas O_o) and pythonidae (even ball pythons). Maybe when I go back to cal they will allow a BP but I doubt it because I heard they ban boas. Anyway Yea I probably wont feed it parakeets simply because if it does get hooked thats like 8 dollers a bird. The pit family was what I HAD to go with because of the python issue, and it sucks because I really wanted it to. I saw a mexican pine and they look nice so I'll be getting that in a week. Thanks to everyone though for replying.

You live in NYC or just the state? The state has banned the giants....not all boidae. So no, you can't get a Burm, Retic, Afrock, but BPs are fine.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron