Anyone ever go to Africa?

[N4S]

To find bps?

I seen breeder site one day if I'm not mistaken and there were actual pics of them over in Africa searching for bps.

[DownSouthDragons]

yeah, i've never been but i'm thinking about signing up for the "Ball Python Lottery" next april for 10bp's straight from Africa for $150!!! Thats an awesome deal and they said you never know what you're gonna get. . .you could get 10 normals or you could get a combo of anything. . .Anyone ever done this before?

[CntrlF8]

I also was considering doing the lottery...

[lord jackel]

I also was considering doing the lottery...

Do a search on this site...there are several really long, heated threads about the lottery from last year.

The only thing I can say is regardless what marketing the lottery sponsors use you WILL get ALL normals. Sure the expert snake packers in Ghana miss an animal here and there but don't expect that YOU will get it in your 1 or 2 bags of 10 snakes that you buy. If you go in with this mindset you won't be disappointed.

[Brimstone111888]

I have been to much of East Africa for vacation not snake hunting. I did around 26 safaris in that time in many different countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbawe. I visited Victoria Falls and pretty much looked over the waterfall. They don't believe in railings there. The whole trip lasted about a month.

[CntrlF8]

Do a search on this site...there are several really long, heated threads about the lottery from last year.

The only thing I can say is regardless what marketing the lottery sponsors use you WILL get ALL normals. Sure the expert snake packers in Ghana miss an animal here and there but don't expect that YOU will get it in your 1 or 2 bags of 10 snakes that you buy. If you go in with this mindset you won't be disappointed.

That's good to know... What can you do, then, to get something new? I've been trying here and there to find importer information, but have yet to find anything really reliable...

[rockrgrrl]

I myself did the "bp" lottery... All are healthy, thriving and overall doing great. Each one with a personality as unique as their markings.

I do agree with Lord Jackel though, do your research. Read up on the "bp lottery" ..... Don't expect to open that bag and find a goldmine of undiscovered morphs, let alone one. If you can go into this with an open mind, you'll be good to go. All 10 that I received were "normals". Of course, being the optimist that I am, the 6 that I kept could be fun dinking projects. Just because they look normal on the outside, doesn't mean that they may not have something special on the inside....

I would also suggest that you do your research on keeping/caring for hatchlings. I had a few that refused to eat for awhile and that was a bit challenging. On the bright side though, those few are now my strongest feeders.

If you’re prepared for owning multiple snakes (care,food,vet bills), don't mind a good challenge, do your research and keep an open mind then I say "go for it"!

Overall, the "bp lottery" was a good experience for me. Would I do it again???? Probably...

[Petboy15]

I'm also gonna give it a shot! Just for the fun of opening it up, and its a nice way to get a funky looking female to raise up!

[lord jackel]

What can you do, then, to get something new? I've been trying here and there to find importer information, but have yet to find anything really reliable...

It depends on your view of something "new" - if "new" to you is a visual morph not seen before...then get your credit card out, mortgage your home and head to Africa (when the locals find new visual morphs they have the phone numbers of the big breeders (NERD, Ralph, VPI, etc.) and they call them directly to offer up the new snake....for HUGE sums of money.

If on the other hand "new" is just something different that is genetic (slight color differences, unique patterns, etc.) also called dinking projects you can find these more readily. By buying from the big breeders who don't have time to prove them out...also you might get lucky with the lottery in this respect finding something different and taking the time to prove it out. These dinking projects can turn big results but be prepared for a long dedicated process.

If you are just looking to want to import directly don't bother...for them to even talk to you would need to be importing 10s of 1000's of them (and without the right contacts you will more than likely get scammed). My suggestion is to hook up with an already established importer and buy a large QTY from them (unopened crates)...but you need to have a home or plan for all of them.

If you are just looking for a few just do the lottery or buy CH once they arrive (they will be all over the internet come spring)

Hope this helps.

[littleindiangirl]

I agree. Listening to Brain talk about his dealings with the trappers and exporters, it puts a whole new angle to think about. Your dealing with someone half way around the world by phone or email, you send them huge amounts of cash, and sometimes, they dont prove at all.

For people that can throw around that kinda money, it's defininetly worth it. I think Africa still has great animals to give, but just be prepared to be disappointed. (at some point)