1st time having pet snake not so good :( *Update new snake with pic :)

[kimbalaya]

I had a ball python for about 7 years. She was the best snake ever! Very docile and easy-going. She would wrap around my wrist and just hang out there for hours. "Wore" her to an outdoor market one afternoon, people walking past would assume she was just a hair scrunchy on my wrist until they happened to take a closer look. My DH (then my boyfriend) would even hand feed her - holding out the mouse by the tail, for her to snatch from him. She was great!

Sorry for your son's loss

 

[redhen]

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Ship it to the OP...

 

[gypsy2621]

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So sorry for you and your sons loss.
Sounds like something was going on with its liver, up here in NH there has been a lot of problems with snakes coming in with a liver disease, no one can seem to get a handle on it. The snakes refuse to eat and just fade away, likely it had the issue long before you bought her.
most of the pet stores around here have stopped getting in snakes because of the problem.

So sorry for your loss, I know a lot of other Snake Lovers will recomend this also , try to find a Breeder to get his next snake from, they are 100 times more healthy than pet store snakes.
Mass bred snakes like all other animals suffer chronic health problems.

 

[froggie71]

I want to thank everyone. Gypsy, thanks for that info it's good to know and I will be passing that on. Corn snakes are sounding more and more interesting. I definitely have vetoed the ball python as I told DS no to any snake that can get to be longer than I am tall.
Halo and Redhen you two crack me up. I read what you two wrote to DS and he cracked a smile.

 

[Livinzoo]

Could have been parasites. I had 2 brazillian rainbow boas from a reptile show and they ate the first time and then started regurgitating the food and then refused to eat. Took them to a reptile vet knowing from a previous snake that they probablly had parasites. Since they hadn't eaten in a few weeks the vet said he couldn't get a fecal sample. He said to go home and bring him back a sample after I feed them. I had to remind him that was the reason I was there. Finally he gave me the wormer and within a week they were eating.

Balls aren't bad if you get one that is earring fine for awhile. They only get to about 4-5 feet.

 

[halo]

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Ship it to the OP...

No can do. That would require getting closer than 100 feet to it. Not to mention the fact it has a job of ridding the barn of teensy varmints. But sheeeshhhh....he gives me the creepers....

 

[Kanchii]

Aw I'm sorry that happened.

I'd recommend a corn snake next time, and try to get one that you know eats, the bigger the snake the better. Reptile noobs have this thing where "aww I want the cute baby one!" but whenever possible, reptile veterans will get the biggest animal because of stuff like your experience.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

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How big?
The biggest I've ever seen was a boa in a pet store in Tucson in the early 1980's. 19 1/2 feet long. It was for sale for $2000, & the skin was worth $3000, but it was illegal to own the skin without the live snake in it. Go figure!

 

[dntd]

Ball pytons can be a pain ,mine eats just once a month or so. My corns are great eaters other then when they shed. Corns also come in neat colors and are cheap.

 

[little_grey_bantam]

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I would actually recommend against Ball Pythons. They are usually touted as being great beginner's snakes but they can also be very picky eaters. I had one who only ate for 2-3 months of every year. The first year I had her it was hard offering her food over and over, only to have it refused - for nine whole months! (Not to mention hating the waste of the life of a mouse/rat, since even though I was feeding frozen, they can only be thawed, heated, refrozen, rethawed so many times....) I had her 7 years and she was an easy keeper in terms of not costing much to feed but otherwise, was not that great a pet.

I would really recommend corn snakes, however. I currently have 6 and have had others over the years. I've almost never had one refuse to eat - and when they do it is usually only because they are in shed. They come in a wonderful variety of colors and actually have different personalities. I read this before I ever had a corn snake and thought "a snake with personality? I can't even imagine that". But its true. I have one who loves to curl up in a PVC pipe. Others won't go near the same PVC pipe. I have some who duck their heads out every time you lift the lid of their enclosure to see what's up and others who hide away and could care less about visiting. Some like to be handled - others are more shy. One of mine is such an aggressive eater that he'll strike at anything that moves first and ask questions later. Others are more selective, examining every inch of their food before deciding whether or not it meets their exacting standards. I even had one who would take the food politely every time it was offered, but if he didn't feel like eating that week, he'd bury it under the bedding at the back of the enclosure. Needless to say it was usually several days later before we knew he hadn't eaten, so we learned to check on him an hour after feeding to make sure he actually did eat it.

For a child, a corn snake can't be beat - they are generally non-aggressive, easily handled snakes who eat and shed regularly. They don't require quite as exacting temp/humidity as Ball Pythons and are interesting, lively pets.

Agreed! I would advise AGAINST ball pythons! My first one didn't eat for a year and a half. They are known to be VERY finicky snakes (I know, some aren't, but too many have I seen over the decade) and will cause a lot of heart ache for people.

I would advice a Cornsnake; though I want to say I hate them (I don't like working with "easy" snakes lol) but they are friendly, come in many colors, always seem to eat and are handled and capable of being great beginner snakes for... well beginners.

I'd also say Kingsnakes, but they can be a bit more aggressive as well as aggressive feeders.

Rosy boas are wonderful, but never have they been my cup o' tea

Email or PM me if you need help.