Ball pythons can be a good first snake for people who want to get into owning snakes. They are generally fairly docile, as well as easy to care for. You don't have to start out with an elaborate habitat for a ball python, but you can always make everything more elaborate as you own the snake. Having a ball python may be exactly what you want, but first, you have to buy the snake. That can be difficult if you haven't ever bought a snake before because you might not know what to look for. So, what are some things you should do before you buy your first snake?

Find a Vet

Before you buy a python and bring it home, you want to ensure that you can make sure that they are healthy. That means that you need to find a vet who can take care of them. Not every vet works with reptiles and exotic animals. You can find out if the vet treats reptiles just by calling their office and asking. You can also check out social media sites for the vet's office because that will generally give you an idea as to what kind of animals the vet will treat. 

Find a Source of Food

You should also make sure that you have a reliable source of food for the snake. Most people suggest that you feed your snake frozen/thawed mice or rats. You can likely find snake food at a pet store. If you are using frozen/thaw rats and mice, you can stock up so that you have some in your freezer for the future. However, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't have a backup source in case the first one falls through.

Check the Snake's Health

Before you finalize any purchase, ask the pet store owner or the breeder if you can handle the snake. You are looking to see if they are missing any scales and that they have nice shiny skin. While you are handling them, check to see if they are a nice healthy weight. A snake that is underweight will have a ridged back and their body shape will be triangular. A snake that is overweight will feel slightly squishy, and there will be evidence that their scales are spreading apart. 

If you want to start owning snakes, a ball python can be a good choice for a first-timer. You just want to make sure that you do everything you can to get the right snake before you finalize your purchase. Visit a local pet store to find ball pythons for sale today.