Stores selling morphs by mistake at reg price

I'd personally like to know where stores and larger breeders buy CH balls in bulk... not that I'm going to be doing that any time soon, but I'd still like to know...

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Originally Posted by CntrlF8

I'd personally like to know where stores and larger breeders buy CH balls in bulk... not that I'm going to be doing that any time soon, but I'd still like to know...

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Just a general outline...

The African dealers get them from 'farms'.....Importers get them from dealers in Africa......then they are distributed and sold.....pretty simple.

During import season, all you have to do is call around or even check classified ads and you will see all the bulk sales.

So for CH, is the process that they go out and capture gravid females, or they wait until the eggs are laid and take them?

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Originally Posted by CntrlF8

So for CH, is the process that they go out and capture gravid females, or they wait until the eggs are laid and take them?

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A little bit of both.

I wonder how that impacts the BP natural environment where this is being done?

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Originally Posted by darkdreamer

I wonder how that impacts the BP natural environment where this is being done?

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Well, I just did a little bit of research on the subject...

One of the primary locations for "farming" BP's is Ghana. In Ghana farmers are charged a tariff of $1 for each egg gathered or laid by wild-caught gravid females. They are also charged a tariff of $1 for each baby they export. The estimated wild population of BP's in Ghana is 8-13 million, with an annual hatch rate of 9-14 million. According to the information I read the gravid females are released after laying, and some of the babies are also released to maintain a healthy natural population. Due to the Tariff's BP's purchased from Ghana have an average price increase of $4-5 at the pet store, or the pet store eats the profit margin and sells at their regular price (or $50 off in the case of PetCo, currently...)

Now don't get me wrong, I firmly believe that CB is the way to go, but Ghana at least seems to be regulating the industry of CH and WC BP's somewhat.

I remember a study done that said the wild population of ball pythons is actually UP, not down too.
This was attributed to more farming making it more rodent friendly, and less larger predetors, making a larger food supply. Whatever the reason it was good to read that the ball python in the wild is still doing well.
Wolfy

Here is a link to the study wolfy-hound is referring to...it's rather long and full of data but is a great read (especially the Appendixs)

http://www.stevegorzulapresents.com/...thon_ghana.pdf