Why no normals?

So I have been looking at various breeding sites and companies just to get a feel for the costs of some of these snakes. While I think all the morphs are amazing, I'm not really willing to spend $300+ on my first snake. I'll be going to the Richmond Va expo at the end of October, and maybe find something there, but here's my question:

All these morphs are fairly price - the cheapest are usually in the $75 -100 range, but very few of the breeders online have normal ball pythons listed. Is it that this is such a common color that they just don't advertise it, and if they have them, but no one advertises, then are they less expensive than the morphs?

I'm truly curious about the lack of the 'seemingly' most common pattern type on these site, and potential cost. All I really want is a healthy young snake that at least eats well most of the time ;)

They don't advertise them because it costs more to feed, care for and advertise them than the actual snake is worth. I, for the most part, try and sell my normals individually on local for sale sites. But 99% of the larger guys either wholesale to a pet store or someone who will then sell them retail, cull them (I know it sounds terrible, but it's the sad truth), or feed them off to other animals that will eat snake.

That's harsh, but I can understand why a big company couldn't spend the time trying to find homes for snakes that won't pay the bills. I was just curious...maybe I can pick one up for practically nothing in October...I was preparing to take out $100, because that was what the lowest price seemed to be.

You will find normals at the expo for sure.. hatchlings shouldn't be more than 20$. I still have my first normal ball python...unfortunately its a male so it has zero value breeding wise and will always be a pet.

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At shows you will see normals for around $15-30. Some venders even give them for free with a purchase of one of their other snakes

If you want a normal look locally on Facebook such as in the Virginia Reptile Classifieds group. Put up a WTB ad and you will likely be inundated with offers.

You can also try Off the Ark in Chester but since that's a retailer the price may be higher. Their animals are a lot better than what you'd find at a big box store though.

Wow! That's good to know. As this will be my first snake, I'm not looking for any top quality breeding lines. And if I can give one a good home at the same time, that's even better. :gj:

Wait for the show and you'll have plenty of choices. If you do want to spend 50ish you'll likely find some single genes in that range if you ask or a het. If your dead set on a normal get a female, likely won't be your last BP.

If you join the Ball Pythons Classified group on Facebook, it's very possible to find some pastels and spiders (and other common single gene morphs) for under $70 shipped. I've seen a large adult yellowbelly female being offered for $70 shipped.

If you're not on facebook, I'm sure that you can find low-cost morphs from hobby breeders on faunaclassified too.

If you have a site you are gonna show case and take pictures or animals you know will sell online. Normal rarely sell online simply because it is hard to sell a $20/$25 animal when shipping will run $55 / $75.

I produce normals also the end goal is to one day no longer produce. In many cases they end up being sold wholesale to dealers that have more exposure (pet stores and people doing shows), it's very rare to see an individual request a normal, it happens but not often.


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