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
