Reasons to Avoid Pet Stores
- Pet stores charge way more than breeders. A "normal" ball python at Petsmart runs $80-$100. A ball python hatchling from your local breeder will cost $20-$30. This is quite a difference.
- Pet stores often do not take proper care of the snakes in their stores. They are often malnourished and sometimes ill.
- Pet stores will tell you anything necessary to make a sale. They don't just want you to buy a snake, they want you to buy the snake, a tank, a heat pad, a heat rock, hides, and anything else they can pile in your arms. Snakes are money makers. This is why people often see two or more hatchling ball pythons in the same small enclosure.
Reasons to Support Breeders
- Breeders put the snake's health and well-being before the money they make. This means that, most of the time, your new snake will be healthy and will have eaten 3-4 times successfully.
- Breeders know where their snakes come from. Reputable breeders know the genetic history and family trees of their hatchlings. They know that Clutch A came from Adult Female A and Adult Male B. A pet store won't be able to give you this information. Breeders will also usually provide photographs of the parent snakes.
- Breeders will offer advice and support, including refunding purchase price and even shipping charges sometimes if something goes wrong with the snake that is not the fault of the new owner.
- Breeders will ensure that new owners know everything they need to know about properly caring for their snake, ensuring that the snake lives a long, healthy life.
These are just a few of the reasons why both people with dozens of snakes and the person looking for their first snake should look into finding a reputable breeder rather than buying from a pet store. Please don't hesitate to post your thoughts, either agreeing with or disagreeing with this post, in the comments. Debate is welcome!
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