Quote Originally Posted by ConcinnusMan View Post
I totally understand where you're coming from but let me ask you this. If you suddenly decided to spend $200,000 on a car, would you not do any research before you decide what car to purchase in your price range? It really isn't the car dealers business to make sure you know what you're buying, especially when he sells out all of his stock every year, to people who already do know what they are buying.
I spent plenty of timing look up info about garter snake temperament habits, diet, humidity requirements, lighting, etc... The important stuff!

Then the second phase was looking for specific types. I am very fond of the erythristic flames, easy to say, not so easy to find. Sure I have come across a couple of sites that say they have upcoming babies, maybe, but then because I am an unknown pet owner and not a breeder it becomes very vague (i.e. call me in june or so after they are born). Uh huh...we know that means "I don't want to mess with a pet buyer wanting ONE animal so call me in 2 months and I will tell you I have sold out because I am putting all the best animals on hold for the regular breeders/customers". LOL.

Quote Originally Posted by infernalis View Post
Nothing like a boring snake that lives in it's hide. Yep, shell out that cash for a shoe box (hide) that eats, drinks and defecates.
LOL yeah I have a BP. I have always found snakes to be the most beautiful of reptiles and had a garter snake as a kid. I think one reason women like the ball pythons is because they seem well...cuddly and not squirmy. They are quite lovely to hold but they are reclusive picky eaters that often don't like being held even though they tolerate it, they hide in a box 24/7. Mine hides CONSTANTLY and was on F/T but now demands live feeder rats (which I have to house here due to the driving distance).

The live food thing is really very very difficult for me, I have a couple of pet rats and I feel really awful feeding live rat babies; there is no reward for me in this situation. I only see my BP once a week for 1 minute when she comes out to kill a baby rat and I don't want to watch that. It sickens me. Heck it isn't even one minute, I drop the well fed baby rat in the cage and then shut the cage and cover it with a dark sheet so she has her "privacy" then run out onto the porch for a smoke so I don't have to hear the baby rat scream (no risk for the snake, if she doesn't eat in 15 minutes I pull the rat for next time). It is turning into a lose/lose situation and I may rehome her.