Some of my other critters (reptile related & D/U warning!)

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

Your snakes are BEAUTIFUL! I'm sorry.. I know nothing about them, but that black one is AMAZING.

LOL, we found a 6" garder (garden? garter?) snake in the garage... my neice, nephew, and kids were ecstatic.. my husband (6'2") was terrified and jumped behind a chair..

don't tell him I told you that

Meghan

 

[ChicknThief]

Roux those are beautiful!!!! Hatching eggs???

 

[SeaChick]

Roux, maybe you can clear something up for us re: captive bred vs. captive hatched pythons......

My daughter is SO coveting a ball python, and I have to admit I secretly love them as well. We got her a leopard gecko for Christmas (she'd asked for both a gecko and a python LOL!) because they seemed so much easier to care for. Last fall she had a bany milk snake (wild-caught) that was eating frozen pinkies (I know, we lucked out) but it was really ME who was remembering when to feed it, patiently holding the forceps, etc. We figured that if she can prove 100% responsibility with the gecko, then maybe we'd consider letting her get a python....

Anyway, while we were deliberating on this I looked into local sources for python breeders. I may even have called you, what's your biz name? Of course we would never want to buy a wild-caught snake, so were looking for actual captive-bred babies. I only found people who bought eggs from Africa and hatched them in captivity. I'd assume this is bad for the wild population as well, since the moms are caught pregnant, right? Are they killed?

Well, those captive-hatched babies were around $30 direct from the breeder, which Olivia MIGHT be able to save now that she's started babysitting (of course she has to factor in food costs ongoing, too.)

So, what are the pros and cons of captive bred vs. hatched? Are captive-bred babies going to be affordable? Can you recommend a source if we decide to go ahead with this? She doesn't need a fancy color, good temperament is much much more important!

thanks for any thoughts you might have on this!

Stacey

 

[Roux]

Stacey,

You're right - captive-hatched babies are much different from captive-bred (CBB - captive bred & born, or USCBB - USA captive bred & born).

Gravid (pregnant) female ball pythons are collected in Africa & held until they lay eggs. Many times they're released, as the export of these snakes has become a bit of an industry over there, and they're starting to understand more about sustainable populations, etc. The eggs are then incubated in large pits, and the babies collected as they hatch. Many hatchlings are exported before their first meal, and can arrive dehydrated & stressed, which can lead to additional health problems. These aren't the snakes you want to put into the hands of an inexperienced snake keeper. There are good CH babies that come in every year, but they tend to fare better under the watchful eye of someone who has more experience keeping snakes & knows how to deal with problems when they arise.

CBB or USCBB babies are hatched here in the US from adult snakes that are already established in captivity, and they're becoming quite affordable as more and more are made available (ours usually start around $40). A good breeder will be able to give you the background on the snake & parents, and will have the juvenile python already established & feeding well, to make the transition into your home much easier. Additionally, any breeder worth their salt will be there for you as a source of support afterwards, for husbandry information & to offer advice.

As far as ongoing costs, this is where acquiring a snake that is already established on frozen-thawed rodents is beneficial. Frozen rodents are much cheaper than live, and much easier to keep on hand to thaw & feed off as needed. Ball pythons aren't big snakes & don't require large, elaborate enclosures. The most important aspects are heat & humidity and the regulation thereof. Dry, cold New England winters can make that a challenge, so it's vital to think in terms of an enclosure that will allow for more precise environmental control. You can PM me for more info on this if you'd like...otherwise I'll be typing away all day on the subject.

I see that you're in Southern Maine...if you'd ever like to visit our NH facility (NERD - New England Reptile Dist.), we maintain one of the largest captive collections of ball pythons, and would be happy to show you what works well in terms of economical - yet effective - housing for ball pythons in order to keep them happy & healthy.

Kara

 

[Roux]

Quote:
LOL...not yet, right now most of our females are either being bred or becoming gravid, and we've just started to get our first few clutches of the season. Female pythons only lay once a year, if even that frequently.

Here are some fun pics though...

Twins!

And one of my favorite pics...which came first (well, kinda)?

 

[cockadoodlemom]

That last picture is priceless! Beautiful snakes but I'm gald their yours cause they give me the ibby jibby's(if that's a word)

 

[SloCrevs]

Those are some amazing pictures. I currently have a ball python. He's only about 2 months old. Those prices are so cheap! The cheapest ball python that I found around here was $75 straight from the breeder. The red tailed boas were $130! So yeah, that was my rant. Good luck!

-Sarah

 

[SpottedCrow]

Ok..what type of lizard is giving the hairy eyeball to the lovebird?
I almost thought a Monitor like a Tegu or a skink, but I think the head's too pointed...

 

[Roux]

Quote:
You're right - it's an Argus monitor (Varanus panoptes hornii). They tend to have narrower, more streamlined heads than some of the larger species like waters, crocodile monitors & the infamous Komodos.

 

[theOEGBman]

Quote:
You're right - it's an Argus monitor (Varanus panoptes hornii). They tend to have narrower, more streamlined heads than some of the larger species like waters, crocodile monitors & the infamous Komodos.

We had an Argus at the petstore I used to work at and he was the coolest lizard ever. He was really nice, even though he tried to act tough. They are really beautiful too. Great Pics!