Has anyone ever bought from Ralph Davis?

This is to the OP Ralph is one of the ball python pioneers I would purchase a snake from him in a heartbeat.:gj:

Would I like to see some prices on his website yes, but I'm not gonna sit here and critize him. His animals are very important to him he wants to sell them at his price not others nothing wrong with that.

Expect quality bottom line.;)

If he's the kind of person who will save the life of a possible het pied hatchling, which are a dime a dozen, then he obviously isn't hurting for $$. The way I see it is this. He does own a construction company, he's married, he has a family, and he has other hobbys. His website could use an upgrade but I really think it's just a hobby and a love of his. He isn't concerned about whether or not he sells tons of snakes. He does vend at shows and aside from that, anyone who wants to buy will contact him.

He is a very easy going man who will talk to you and negotiate but if you're the type who says oh that's too expensive, then expect the rest of his conversation with you to be very short. Why waste any ones time?

He has amazing animals and it's more a hobby than a business.

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Originally Posted by NewParadigms

Regarding the quality issue with RD, he produces a very large volume of snakes, and has for some time now. Because he has produced this kind of volume over time, that has allowed him to keep the very best specimens from each year to keep as hold backs. Then when those produce he can keep the best of those specimens. This selective breeding means that on average most of his snakes look better than an average example of that morph. Even his het normals seems to look better than a typical normal to me. I'm not saying that small time breeders can't or don't produce excellent examples of certain morphs, but it's harder for them to do so with as much range and consistency because they haven't necessarily had the benefit of generations of selective breeding like he has. Imagine if you got the pick of the litter from from 200 pastels each year, or from his countless lessers or platinums, etc, your stock would be superb.

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That would seem to make sense...but looking through his birthing records...a lot of the "mom on eggs" pics look very average...nice...but not mind blowing...check the birthing records for 2010 and look at the Lessers/Butters/Spiders/Cinnie females...nothing spectacular there...he does produce some crazy crosses, but as far as base morphs go...he must be hiding the amazing ones...

p.s....and by your logic...if he's keeping the best specimens, what is someone paying a premium for? The average looking leftovers? :)

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Originally Posted by Emilio

This is to the OP Ralph is one of the ball python pioneers I would purchase a snake from him in a heartbeat.:gj:

Would I like to see some prices on his website yes, but I'm not gonna sit here and critize him. His animals are very important to him he wants to sell them at his price not others nothing wrong with that.

Expect quality bottom line.;)

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Emilio, how did I criticize him? I asked if anyone ever bought from him and what are his prices like because I like many others have no idea...... And I expect top quality from all of the Breeders who advertise on this website as well as any others who are advertising there Ball Pythons..... dont you?

If he wants to keep his prices to himself and not post them on his website, thats his prerogative. I'm sure he has his reasons.

If he makes tons of money from doing other things and this is more of a hobby then a business well thats cool too. I dont know the guy so I can't really comment on that.

Yeah i wish i could buy from Ralph but he does not make it easy so i rather buy from BHB and other good breeders that are just as good...

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Originally Posted by sho220

p.s....and by your logic...if he's keeping the best specimens, what is someone paying a premium for? The average looking leftovers? :)

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By my logic, the continued selective breeding should have created breeding stock which doesn't usually produce average looking offspring, but rather premium examples with great genetics. Obviously not all great parents will make beautiful offspring, and polymorphism will always be around, but by in large... quality parents make quality offspring.

I was between RDR and BHB, and well.. there were a few snakelets that Ralph had that I reaaaally wanted, but they were gone. So I ended up going with BHB because of the ease of it, and since it was my first time buying balls, it was the easiest way.

But! This year I'm going to snag a few females from Ralph. I kind of love his website, it's quirky! Has some good personality, and while it's not professional, I find I'm drawn to it's eccentricness more and more. :] You get a feel for him through his site and I like that personal touch.

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Originally Posted by sho220

There really isn't much to it...the snakes do most of the work...:D

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essentially your right, but if it was THAT easy I think just about ever person on this site would be a professional breeder! :D

Im with Emilio...he is one of the pioneers out there. Fantastic breeder and has no problem spending time with someone to talk to them in regards to a purchase. I would say call him and let him know this is the type of money I am wanting to spend ....and this is kind of what I am looking for.

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Originally Posted by NewParadigms

By my logic, the continued selective breeding should have created breeding stock which doesn't usually produce average looking offspring, but rather premium examples with great genetics.

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Have you looked through his birthing records pics? His babies look pretty much like everyone elses...again...I'm talking base morphs...not the crazy crosses...sure with the numbers of babies he produces he'll get some really stellar examples, but by and large, they look average....he's done great things for the hobby...I'm not debating that...he's just built up such a name for himself that the hype has gotten out of control...just my opinion...