Is purchasing a mature pair, as first snakes a good idea or not?

[evilkineaval]

Hi, I have been looking around on the net for a while now and been asking people (when I get a chance) what they think about me purchasing an almost 3 year pair of Black Headed Pythons for my first snakes. I am looking at older snakes because I am wanting to try and breed them and I feel 3 years is a long time to wait for a young pair (which is what a lot of people are advising me to purchase) to mature before I can even attempt to breed them. The pair I am looking at have been well handled and are being fed a medium to large rat each once a fortnight, is this a good amount of food as I have been told by some people that if they are fed to much they will become over weight and may suffer health problems. I know that every one has their own opinion and I can accept that. I am just new to this and thought, I would put my plans out there and see what others think. THANKS for your time and I look forward to hearing your thoughts before I commit myself too much.

[Rosemary]

I personally think I would go for hatchlings as first snakes, that way you become better at handling them. And they get used to you etc etc. Black heads are beautiful snakes, I had to wait several years before I purchased mine, got them as hatchlings, they wont be ready to breed this year but hopefully next

[Isis]

Id be going for the hatchlings too or maybe yearlings for a start. If you are new to reptile keeping the time it takes for them to get to breeding age/size would be good time for you to learn heaps about keeping and breeding snakes. Also as Rosemary said you will also get to know the snakes better. My opinion is that you need to have lots of knowledge and understanding of snakes before you sucessfully breed them and care for the eggs and hatchlings. In my opinion you need to learn hands on after doing heaps of research to give your snakes the best possible chance at a happy healthy life and breeding.
Just my opinion

[IsK67]

Get the pythons to enjoy them for what they are, not to try and profit from them.

Start with hatchlings and learn about/from them. Then when you have some experience have a look at breeding.

If you're just in it to try and make money then forget it.

IsK

[geckodan]

Personally, If given the choice I will go for the adults every time merely because I don't have the space to be raising babies. However, if you are new to the game then raising babies is the best way to learn the tricks of the trade.

[Camo]

As said i would go for either a hatchie or a yearling. You will need to get use to handling snakes and if you get something too big it might put you off keeping them. Also there is a slight chance that you could ge your first bite from an adult and believe me thats a little off putting.

You should want to have snakes to enjoy them, not to have them just to breed them and be in the reptile game for the money.

Cameron

[slim6y]

I don't always agree with IsK, in fact, this may be the first time... But breeding BHP (or any snake) isn't something you should just do!

Your first snakes may very well be BHPs as they're beautiful, and usually well tempered. Although if they do grab hold, they don't let go - well, not until they realise your arm is attached to the rest of a giant body that can't be consumed.

No one wants advice really, they'll do what ever their mind is made up to do. But most here will say it's a mistake to buy a pair to breed as first snakes! And 3 years is nothing in the scheme of things, considering your snakes will live upward of 30 years in the correct conditions. And you probably still won't breed the same female every year anyhow.

Good luck.

[Earthling]

If you can get someone to hands on teach you about handling them, feeding, cleaning, problems to look for etc and get some good books on the subject and read up, I feel it can be done.

I got a pair of hatchies first off and two months later an adult pair....then......so on.

None of my snakes have had any ailments from my bad husbandry as of yet...(bangs on wood).....bangs again...

This forum will assist you as well.

If your a bit slow on picking things up and tend to make a lot of mistakes when learning something like this, forgetting things and the like ....definetly buy hatchies...however if you feel confident in your abilities and can get assistance from a willing fellow herper then I say go for it.
Common sense is number one!

The big question is Do you think you can?

[nvenm8]

If you want to get them and can afford them it is your choice. But i see you setting yourself up for a big hard fall!

1. why are they selling *potential* breeding age BHP's?
2. Your knowledge base is very limited and so are the skills required to properly care for them.
3. A very expensive lesson when things go wrong. This will probably put you of the joys of Herpetology.
4. Another very important point that will frustrate you! if it occurs?is what (and this is very likely) if they do not breed?

There are many enjoyable and many frustrating things with reptile ownership and honestly you are better starting of with a pair of Murray Darlings or Bredli raising them to breeding age and cutting your teeth so to speak.
The successful mating is only the very beginning of a very long and sometimes tedious and frustrating process. please learn to crawl before you walk, then get up and run like crazy! but do yourself a favour and start with something that will lead to an addiction

[sxc_celly]

Honestly id get a hatchling, or even a yearling pair, not an adult pair. BHPs have a rumor of being alot harder to breed than most other pythons like childrens, spotteds, alot of carpets etc. Of you dont have the knowledge behind you it will be a waste of time getting an adult pair of bhps! Its one thing saying you want a large adult pair, but its another to actually handle it and feed it etc. What if this huge 6ft bhp hisses or strikes at you, can you cope with it alright? I think start of with yearlings, theyve gotten over the snappy stage as hatchys and are a year ahead. Also the colour they are when yearlings is more acturate on what they will stay like. Im looking at an adult bhp tonight and it apparently hisses etc. I would NEVER have looked at it for my first snake. Ive had hatchys, then a yearling, now im looking at adults. Thought once youve made up your mind its hard for someone to change it. Just remember these guys have experience and alot have words of wisdom Hope this helps!

[Isis]

Ive had my BHP for 18mths now and would not think of breeding with her yet. ( yes I know shes too young as well.) I dont think that I know enough yet to breed BHPs succesfully. I am going to spend heaps of time with a friend that has been breeding BHPs for years now to learn and assist him with his breeding so that I can learn hands on what to do and what to expect. Im not getting into breding her for the money but to keep the purity in the line. From the research I have done there is lots of little things that can go wrong that will waste you time and endanger both your snake and the eggs.
As a first snake too BHPS can be very daunting and when you get a cranky one they are really cranky and not for the faint hearted. Its a very scary sight having a 7ft BHP launch itself at you wanting to eat your arm..... I too would be questioning why someone is selling a pair of BHPs that are breeding age...

[junglemad]

get what you like. a mature pair of blackheads if they are around the same price as hatchies would be excellent in the lounge room if you are only going to have 2 snakes. don't think about making money. learn as much as you can from people on here and books and the 'net. if you look after them properly they may breed. the hobby is full of people who have blazed across the sky outlaying heaps of dollars to breed this and that then crashed and burned.

on the opposite argument herping is a patient enthusiast's hobby. getting quality hatchies and raising them until they are breeding size and then breeding them is a rewarding experience but it is going to take you two to three years. they will be years of enjoyment on a steep learning curve.

[cris]

I generally wouldnt buy an adult BHP if i didnt know exaclty how it has been fed etc. as they are very prone to problems from a fatty diet(that and i cant afford them lol).

IMO if you want BHPs get some young ones and raise them yourself.

They arnt a good species to start breeding with, not only is it harder to breed them but being reptiles eaters they can be hard to get feeding on rodents if you do manage to get any hatchlings.

In the end though, if you want them, get them.

[junglepython2]

If they are good handlers I think getting an older pair is a good idea as first snakes. However don't expect to breed them straight away BHP's aren't the easiest snake to breed. Also as Nvenm8 said you have to ask why they are selling a potential breeding pair in the first place.

[shelby]

i bought a juvie/ adult BHP male last year, he's between 6-7 feet now, he has his good days and bad days, lets just say i trusted a 14 foot scrubbie i was playing with at a mates place for the first time, more than i trust my BHP boy, he can lanch himself out of his cage and really will have a go at you, will have a go at you after feeding, cleaning, any time really, if his in a bad mood,
where as the BHP female hatchie i bought the same day from another breeder is the most beautiful python you could wish for, she is well over 4 foot now and is always calm and polite, a real joy to handle, safe with kids and other snakes, not that we EVER leave either unattended,

go the hatchie, they are a joy to watch grow, and you dont have any bad habits to break that might come with the adults,