In September of 2018, we were browsing at a local reptile shop. One of the staff asked if there were any snakes we’d be interested in, and on a whim, I asked if they had a black pastel albino ball python. Once upon a time I’d wanted a “cow spot” python, but the ones I’d seen were all burmese pythons and I didn’t want to maintain such a large snake. But the black pastel albinos looked just like the “cow spot” animal I wanted. I didn’t expect this store to randomly have one…but they did.
The shop assured us that they had quarantined the animals for over a month and not had any problems. We had just come from a series of back-to-back health issues with our previous pet store, and been lied to multiple times. We were nervous about bringing any animal home again. But the staff seemed genuine and knowledgeable, and they told us that all the incoming snakes had been quarantined from their other animals since coming in.
I was suspicious, but we decided to give her a chance.
It turns out the store was as good as their word. Dotti (I wanted a cow name) was healthy and grew quickly, and she has seldom missed a meal since the day we got her. She is quiet and reserved, and she will sometimes find herself a spot under my pillow on the couch and sit while I watch TV. Sometimes she hisses grumpily when I pull her out—but she seems to enjoy spending time with us, and she also grouches about going back to her enclosure!
Dotti is the mother of a clutch with dad Donut, from June 2023. They were a very cute couple and spent lots of time cuddling in addition to mating. We think Dotti’s gentle nature and excellent appetite will be great assets to her babies.
