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Snake prices

Arcrist

Arcrist

New member
Hey guys,

A local pet store is selling some hatchling albino corns for 40 something bucks and some ball python hatchlings for 129, does this seem high for the balls? I paid 64 for my snow corn, so 40 seems reasonable.

Also, do ball pythons require a tank larger than 20 gal. since they do get fatter than corns?

Thanks in advance for any info!
 
$130 for a ball python that chances are is an import is high. A 20 long would be good for a ball python for a good while.
 
Arcrist said:
Hey guys,

A local pet store is selling some hatchling albino corns for 40 something bucks and some ball python hatchlings for 129, does this seem high for the balls? I paid 64 for my snow corn, so 40 seems reasonable.

Also, do ball pythons require a tank larger than 20 gal. since they do get fatter than corns?

Thanks in advance for any info!
Click to expand...

Arcrist, where are you located??
We will have to help you find a better place local to you.
$40 for an amel seems a little high to me...you could get one at a show, or a reptile store for less than that...although if you had one shipped it would be that much for the shipping alone.

$129 is very high for a normal ball python hatchling. I have seen them at my local PetCo for $89.00 These animals are most likely imports.
You can get captive born and bred (CBB) Ball Pythons for $50-$100 from a breeder...if there are any available this time of year...
I just order a pair of Captive Farmed (CF) Ball Pythons for $31...for both of them...Males were only $13...even with shipping you could get one of these imports for half the price.
 
Hmmmm . . .

Monty (a normal) was $39.99. I saw some other normals at other pet shops locally for $90 and $100 so I thought $40 was a steal, especially since he was the best looking/friendliest/best cared for corn I found anywhere. Of course, I live in NM so frequently prices for things are high just cause of lack of competition . . . If I were going to try to go to a bigger city to look for a snake I'd have at least a 7 hour drive in any direction. Do any shows ever come to NM? I've never heard of any, but until now I wasn't paying attention.
 
at my local pet store ball pythons are usually 79 to 89 but im into corns although i havent got my corn yet lol im still searching. But ive seen corns on websites from breeders for very cheap. I dont see why a plain amel is so much. But it just might be your area. :0)
 
Pricing would definitely depend on the size and age of the snake...
An adult normal could get $90-100...especially if it was a proven breeder or had heterozygous genetic traits.

I was just looking for a great quote from a breeder I know...couldn't find it...regarding VALUE and PRICE.

It had something to do with someone paying some amount for a snake...and someone else questioning it...if you feel it is a good deal...and it is a VALUE to you...then you got a good deal...regardless of what the prices may be like in Chicago...the prices in NM are what they are...now to find a local breeder to help you out...LOL
 
Well, I feel that Monty was worth every cent we paid for him, I do not feel ripped off at all. He was just peeping out of his hide at me!! He is so durn cute.

The corns at the other pet stores were smaller than Monty. Very tiny snakes!! I felt better about getting the biggest/friendliest corn I could find since I have kids. I have no idea how long he is, but he is 5 to 6 months old, and the guy at the store stressed to me that Monty was a good eater. The funny thing is that I had NO idea how important that was until I started reading up on corns here. LOL

How do I go about finding a local breeder? Uh-oh, I can't BELIEVE I just asked that . . . am I headed for a corn habit? LOL
 
peep_827 said:
How do I go about finding a local breeder? Uh-oh, I can't BELIEVE I just asked that . . . am I headed for a corn habit? LOL
Click to expand...

You have already taken the first step towards the dark side young Jedi...

Snakes are a complete and total addiction...people who only own one are few and far between...
I haven't owned any for quite a number of years...finally got one again at the end of July 2004...my wife was willing to allow me one...
I now have 13 with 9 more on order...not ALL corns...about half.
My wife still doesn't like them...MUCH...but she has learned to be very tolerant...LOL..as I slowly take over the entire basement.
 
Alias I so agree. I got my first snake at the end of December...I am currently awaiting the arrival of my second. I also have a third on mind as well. I didn't think they were this addicting! But I'm glad I'm addicted (so says the heroin addict).

Anyways, I paid $79.99 for my BP. I don't really think he was WC or imported just because his temperment is so great. If I were him, I would have bit me countless times for some of the things I had to do to him. But who knows. Maybe he is just a nice snake. I keep him in a 30 gallon tank, but 20 gallon will do for now.

I paid $20 for my Amel plus $40 for shipping. Not bad at all I think.
 
Amels usualy go for about $20 at shows or direct from the breeder. $40 sounds about right in a pet store they do have overhead and are there to make a living.
The mark up on Ball pythons is often very high. If you can get to a show there shoud be plenty of BPs at more resonable prices . I have seen them as low as $35 for captive bred (probably males) and as low as two for $16 for wild caught. Also normal BPs are often offered in local classifieds cheap and even availiable at county animal shelters for some basic adminastrative costs. They are often "throw away pets" now with the number imported. Its a shame ,but it's the truth.
If you are getting a hatchling then I agree that a 20 gallon should be a good size for a long while, but may eventually grow out of it.
 
A good BP male would go for about 75 and female would go for about 100 as a neonate. A 20 gallon would last a BP for about a year, maybe two. I have a breeder female that is pushing 5 1/2 ft, so an adult would need a much larger enclosure than a corn.

As for prices, it can vary highly. Alot of the difference depends on bloodlines, whether they're established or not, quality of the animal, ect. So any quote should only be taken with a grain of salt. To quote Serp "a breeder just might have a good reason for pricing a little higher than is expected"
 
As for prices, it can vary highly. Alot of the difference depends on bloodlines, whether they're established or not, quality of the animal, ect. So any quote should only be taken with a grain of salt. To quote Serp "a breeder just might have a good reason for pricing a little higher than is expected"[/QUOTE]

Thats true ,but keep in mind that just because an animal is being sold for more dosn't meen its beter then the lower priced one. I know personaly I have sold snakes cheep just because I had many of that paticular morph and wanted to move several out quik. There was nothing wrong with them . I would bet other breeders do the same.
 
I paid $24 for my amel at a reptile show, and my local petshop sells them for $59. Crazy!!
 
MegF. said:
I paid $24 for my amel at a reptile show, and my local petshop sells them for $59. Crazy!!
Click to expand...


Same here Meg, only mine was $15. It's ridiculous the prices that pet shops charge!!
 
You're absolutley right Jason. Thats also another thing to factor in when determining the price of some snakes. More often than not, if you find a breeder with a good reputation, and an established bloodline, chances are that he/she didn't get that reputaion by over charging less than high quality. All of us have gotten at least one great deal on a snake. Mine was an amel for $10.
 
I got silas(including viv and hides and substrate and mice and tongs and a branch) for 60. He is around 3 years old and three foot long
He is a v. v. aggressive eater. But such a docile handler. He has never struck at anyone or rattled his tail etc.

I think he was a pretty good deal as in my local pet shops, vivs alone cost 80.
 
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