Considering a BP

HavocovaH · #1 (**permalink**) 09-03-2007, 05:12 AM

As the title suggests I'm thinking about getting a BP. If I'm going to try to expand my collection I want to start with something that doesn't get too big and is fairly docile, and in another thread I recently started most everyone who commented would agree that BPs are some of the most docile constrictors there are.

As I've already read through most of the caresheets and requirements for owning a BP, one of the biggest questions I have to ask now is how do I know if it's CB? One of the petshops near here carries mostly reptiles, and all the BPs they carry seem to be around the same age. Their setups seem to be appropriate for the creatures they house and the staff seems fairly knowledgeable about herps. The only thing is I know some pet stores will tell their staff to say what's needed to sell an animal. Such as saying their stock is CB regardless of if it really is or not. As I said the BPs seem to come in groups around the same age and size, but this could also simply be a case of wild hatched. Does anyone know how common that is? And how much it can effect the snakes behavior vs. WC or CB?
If it comes down to it I'm willing to order off the net but I can avoid the stress/risk of shipping on the snake and the added costs I'd prefer to.
So what do you think? Is there any tactics for questioning or any signs to look for in the snakes that may hint towards validating what the pet store staff tells me or if they're actually WC?
Thanks in advance for any advice on the matter.

owen.richards · #2 (**permalink**) 09-03-2007, 05:49 AM

first off, there is a differenc ebetween WC and Captive Hatced, wild caught is pretty self explainatory, but CH seems to confuse some people, a CH is basically just hatched in captivity, so litterally the collecter can walk out into the bush pick up some eggs and have them hatch in his hands, and they are not WC but CH, as far as i know, correct me if im wrong, the parasites from a WC mother can not be passed to the baby through development of the eggs, so usually parasites are out of the question, from my expierience too, most of the CH ive dealt with seem to have better feeding responses then the CBB, could just be a coincodence, but even with frozen thawed (the only way i feed things) the CH seemed to take more readily then the CBB, my 2 ball Pythons are CH and they eat F/T rat pups every week and dont miss feeds unless occasionally in shed, another possible coincodence, but from what i have seen the CH seem to have richer color then the CBB, but in the states and canada, there is usually no shortage of CBB, because there are so many people breeding ball pythons most pet stores have ready access to a good BP supply, unfortunatly though, if they lie to you and say it is a CBB and it is a CH then there is no way of telling, so if it really does concerne you then get it from a breeder

HavocovaH · #3 (**permalink**) 09-03-2007, 05:56 AM

Actually I wasn't aware that CH BPs were that healthy.

Thanks for letting me know. Now I'm fine with getting a CH or a CB, but I'd still rather avoid a WC...If it's a hatchling though and in the tank with other hatchlings of the same age/size that's not very likely, right? Also, I'm still curious if a CH would be more likely to have a temper than a CB. How are the personalities of yours?

owen.richards · #4 (**permalink**) 09-03-2007, 06:32 AM

mine are the same as any ball python, they are really mellow, and i dont realize any noticeable difference between CBB and CH

reptilicus81 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-03-2007, 03:12 PM

The big difference between CH and CB is that CB's are usually larger at birth, and better feeders (due to the fact that they were not shipped from Africa). Also CB's have a lower parasite load.

pcncb · #6 (**permalink**) 09-03-2007, 11:50 PM

I have never seen an agressive ball until this past week with the 8 babies I got, One of them will strike 4 or 5 times in a few seconds and fly at you. This past experience changes my whole thought on BPs being calm and docile. In my experience, when you have an agressive snake, balls mainly, a simple tap on the head and they shy down for a few seconds.

slither9192 · #7 (**permalink**) 09-05-2007, 02:37 AM

Just a warning (not to steer you off them because they are great snakes). But alot of BP's (not all). Will have an eratic feeding schedule they will feed for a year great then suddenly stop for a while or on and off and some never stay on a schedule and are very picky. You just can't let it stress you as long as the snake doesn't loose weight it is fine. Now this isn't all BP. If you have the best husbansdry and everything is perfect it should be fine and if the BP doesnt eat under those conditions then s/he is just being picky. Alot of people that are used to boas great feeding response will get frustrated with the BP feeding response and trust me it can be very frustrating. Once I got my BCI I was amazed that she hasn't missed a meal once and feed on schedule all the time.

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