Several years ago when I was a "re-newbie" and just getting back into the hobby, I leapt into a purchase of a "male" Ball python to breed with a female I already had. "He" probed deep (by the person selling "him" ) but never showed interest in any females "he" was put with.
This particular snake has a permanent place in my collection as a reminder of lessons learned as it turned out to be likely wild caught, is blind in one eye, would not eat for eight months, and was parasite laden when purchased. Of course these problems were remedied as best they could be. It eats well now, has been treated and had follow-up fecals.
Pretty extensive care required for a snake that was sold as captive bred and hatched, in good health and feeding well. There are definitely some shameless individuals in the hobby and I got a great lesson on how not to treat customers. The worst part is this joker still sells at a large, popular swap in Streamwood, Illinois.
It recently occurred to me that perhaps he was a she with perforated diverticula from improper probing or some other unknown reason. I put him/her in with a het clown male of mine and lo and behold they were locked up this morning.
Does anyone here have any experience with the viability of females with this condition? Is it a lost cause?
Any comments are appreciated.
-Jason
