just wondering

[Egyptian_Sphynx]

where do you all get your ball pythons? i see prices from 100 dollars up!!!
i payed $60-$70 for both of mine and right now i could go get babies (not sexed yet) for $30. it just seems odd to me all these high prices for normals when i did not pay like that for mine so i just thought that i would ask

[Adam_Wysocki]

where do you all get your ball pythons? i see prices from 100 dollars up!!!
i payed $60-$70 for both of mine and right now i could go get babies (not sexed yet) for $30. it just seems odd to me all these high prices for normals when i did not pay like that for mine so i just thought that i would ask

Well, my opinion is certainly biased, because I sell babies for a little more than you're going to see at pet stores and reptile "swap meets", so you've been warned ....

Healthy, captive bred, aggressively feeding, baby ball pythons coupled with support from an experienced ball python breeder is worth the extra money to a lot of people. The additional $30-$40 can really be worth it when you have a question about your animals health or husbandry and those pet store employees look at you with a blank stare.

Many of the $60-$70 babies being sold in pet stores are CH imports (often labeled as captive bred) that have been basically imported, hydrated, and shipped out leaving the pet store employees (all with varying levels of experience) to get them established. Some of them work out really well for people, and others have lots of problems ... it's really a gamble.

Like the saying goes .... "you get what you pay for".

-adam

[Egyptian_Sphynx]

i bought mine from a pet store and they are healthy eat well and they handle wonderfully. i was just curious that was all.

[Adam_Wysocki]

i bought mine from a pet store and they are healthy eat well and they handle wonderfully.

Cool .... that's why I was sure to type ... "Some of them work out really well for people ... "

Hope that helped.

-adam

[Smulkin]

Breeders here (our son got his first from a pet store though).

I would almost universally say I'd be willing to shell out more to a reputable breeder just for the assurance you have a CBB specimen who is an established eater (on f/t an option if you want it) and of verified sex - and if there is the slightest question or desire for genetics there is just no other way to go.

[SatanicIntention]

I got my CBB girlie for $35+$30 for shipping from Don Hamper this past December. I know Jonah got his male from Mr. Hamper as well. And we all know how well fatty boombalatty Amani is doing, LoL.

I guess I just got a good deal and have been lucky. Pet stores sell farmed babies, and you never really know what their life has been like before coming to the store. Farmed babies can sell for about $8 a pop(check out Alex Hue's site and look at the Specials on CH babies). You never know how they have been handled, if they are healthy, what sex they are, etc. That pet store can lie through their teeth, making you belief that those babies are eating and healthy, when in reality they have never had a meal in their life, just came off the boat from Africa, and are overloaded with parasites. One could spend that $60-70 on one of those babies, and then spend the next couple of months taking the snake to the vet, trying to get the poor thing to eat, and who knows what else.

I just prefer to get my animals from someone who is pampering those snakes(or whatever animal) beyond all belief, and then I will know what kind of life the animal has had, that it is healthy and eating, and the temperment is good. It's also nice to know how many times in its life that particular animal has eaten/defecated/passed urates/shed/weighed/etc. and what temps it has been kept at from the time it was born until the time I bought it. It's just so much easier on my nerves

Getting an animal from a good breeder just ensures that it was well taken care of and loved until it came into my possession. I at least hope the good breeders out there love each and every one of their snakes, or they wouldn't be in the business.

[Ginevive]

Here's where I got all of mine, and the costs they ran:

Goblin, I got as a near-grown adult at a local reptile show, for $45.

Bela, I got from a great breeder, Alex Hue, for $95 (including shipping)

Ashes, was originally frrom Petco, and yes I contributed to him getting bought by my friend but he is now mine. He was a mere $25 on sale; they were trying to clear them out.

Anthrax and Slayer are my two rescue cases. I got them along with another male that I sold, including a 55g tank with heavy pine stand, for $200 from a complete idiot who was keeping them in horrible conditions!

My best experience has been buying from Alex. Second, is buying from the herp show; the cool thing about that is, you can see and hold the snake before buying. But some sellers are fly-by-night types who you will never be able to contact; I would not get my first BP at a show for this reason; only good if you know what to look for and avoid.

Spend the extra and go with a good breeder! Rescue options are OK if you can find a healthy BP, but sometimes they are so fargone with RIs and dehydration that it is really tough unless you know what yer doing. But then again, I am sure this forum could help ya if you found one that was not in TOO bad of shape!

[daniel1983]

I have had the full range of ball python buying experiences:

Rambo- the poor guy came from a local pet store($30), he was my first bp and died, a few days after I bought him due to intestinal parasite problems.

Thor- I bought Thor for Petco($70) on 11/14/04. Was told that he was CB but later found out that petco sells CH imports. The bps they had were very healthy looking. He is an awesome feeder (never missed a feeding) and has some nice coloration. I was really worried about the shipping and such that goes with getting snakes from a breeder and had not found a breeder close to me yet( but now...that is not a problem)

Sif- I bought Sif from an ad by Loki Herp. on fauna classifieds($155) on 3/25/05. She was almost 500 grams when I got her so that explains the higher price. This was my first experience with a breeder and getting a snake shipped and everything went very well. Sif is a great bp, eats well, and currently weighs around 650 grams.

I am also currently making payments on a het. hypo female that will come from 8 Ball Pythons. Doing business with Adam has been wonderful and I can't wait to get the little girl.


After the first two experiences, I have come to the conclusion that buying from a breeder is the only way to go. If you are worried about getting something online because you dont have a breeder close by, remember to check the BOI(or ask here) to make sure you are doing business with someone that is trustworthy.

Just think....If you buy a CH import for $25, chances are you will have to get the animal sexed(if you can not do it yourself) and a fecal exam to check for parasites. That makes the cost of the CH ball python about the same as a buying a CB ball python from a good breeder (which most likely will tell you the sex and you should not have to worry about parasites).

[tigerlily]

I got my first bp Tigerlily at petco, and have been very fortunate with her. She's been a very good eater and great to handle. (unfortunately at a couple of the other petco's I looked at -their animals had sores or were very aggressive) My second bp came from a family who's son decided he didn't want his birthday present anymore and just wanted to set it free (thank god for the mom). Dandylion is shedding right now so haven't gotten to handle her much, but she has eaten once for me.

[Egyptian_Sphynx]

ok like i said i was just wondering i didnt want to make a big ordeal about it, mine worked out fine from the pet store and i plan on going back there if i get another. my other came from a reptile expo and she is fine. if i do find out the sexes are wrong it is no big deal all i have to worry about is changing their names. im really not worried about the sexes i just adore the snakes. and i like my store because they will let you hold them and look them over before you buy. but like i said i was just curious and i got my answer..........