Has anyone ever bought from Ralph Davis?

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Originally Posted by sho220

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...

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I have to disagree.. Most of his hatchlings are fantastic. I've stalked his birthing records page, I used to check it everyday to see if he had any new clutches updated. His pastels are fantastic, his spiders are reduced pattern, his lessers are bright and beautiful... these are things that I look for, I think most others do as well.

When I look through the classifieds I may see some average pastels, and then some stunning pastels that don't show signs of browning out. I'm going to pay that extra dime to have the higher quality animal. I would hope that most breeders do that same, but some may just pay the lower price. Maybe his price reflects that he payed top dollar for a top dollar snake, to produce top quality offspring, whether it be a bright pastel, or a triple gene snake.

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Originally Posted by Carlene16

I have to disagree.. Most of his hatchlings are fantastic. I've stalked his birthing records page, I used to check it everyday to see if he had any new clutches updated. His pastels are fantastic, his spiders are reduced pattern, his lessers are bright and beautiful... these are things that I look for, I think most others do as well.

When I look through the classifieds I may see some average pastels, and then some stunning pastels that don't show signs of browning out. I'm going to pay that extra dime to have the higher quality animal. I would hope that most breeders do that same, but some may just pay the lower price. Maybe his price reflects that he payed top dollar for a top dollar snake, to produce top quality offspring, whether it be a bright pastel, or a triple gene snake.

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All his baby pics posted on the birthing records are fresh out of the eggs...all babies look like that. Babies advertised on classifieds are older, have shed, fed, etc...not all his spiders are reduced (reduced spiders are fairly common anyway)...all baby lessers fresh out of the egg are bright and beautiful...my last post on this subject as the RDR kool-aid is very strong...:rolleye2:

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Originally Posted by sho220

All his baby pics posted on the birthing records are fresh out of the eggs...all babies look like that. Babies advertised on classifieds are older, have shed, fed, etc...not all his spiders are reduced (reduced spiders are fairly common anyway)...all baby lessers fresh out of the egg are bright and beautiful...my last post on this subject as the RDR kool-aid is very strong...:rolleye2:

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I agree on this. Not that I'm putting down any of the big name breeders I have never had a problem with any of them but to say that because you got a BP from a big name that its higher quality than one purchased from a no name breeder is complete BS. What matters is the health and appearance of the animal NOT WHO PRODUCED IT.

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Originally Posted by jason79

What matters is the health and appearance of the animal NOT WHO PRODUCED IT.

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I agree with this! Just because Ralph hatches a clutch doesn't mean they are going to come out sparkling like Edward from twilight :P BUT if he has chosen better animals for breeding, they will come out nicer than most.

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Originally Posted by Carlene16

I agree with this! Just because Ralph hatches a clutch doesn't mean they are going to come out sparkling like Edward from twilight :P BUT if he has chosen better animals for breeding, they will come out nicer than most.

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That's part of the point I was trying to make...if you look through all 19 pages of 2010 births (I have) and click on the "mom on eggs" pics...they all look very average...except the Platty females...not the Lesser Platinums but the Platty's...Spiders/Lesser Platinums/Cinnies/Butters/Het Reds/Pins all look average...

The specific animal should determine the price, not who produced it... <<<worded badly but you get my point... :)

oops...I wasn't supposed to post again...:D

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Originally Posted by sho220

That's part of the point I was trying to make...if you look through all 19 pages of 2010 births (I have) and click on the "mom on eggs" pics...they all look very average...except the Platty females...not the Lesser Platinums but the Platty's...Spiders/Lesser Platinums/Cinnies/Butters/Het Reds/Pins all look average...

The specific animal should determine the price, not who produced it... <<<worded badly but you get my point... :)

oops...I wasn't supposed to post again...:D

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We'll let your extra post slide this time. In disagreeance (is that a word?) I think paying more (for two similar animals) from a larger breeder is more than just "quality" you also (more than likely) have a better chance of a refund or reimbursement is something goes wrong that a smaller breeder might not be financially able to do.

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Originally Posted by Monster Dodge

I mean come on... were talking Ball Pythons here. This isn't the NASDAQ where the prices are fluxuating every day.

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Actually, I'd be willing to say that ball python prices fluctuate much more than american stocks.

I've never heard anything bad about him as a person or a breeder. His website is atrocious to navigate (for me) and I really prefer buying from smaller breeders simply because I like to support those guys and gals who aren't able to house many snake, but they often buy from guys like ralph because his nicer snakes ARE pretty top notch. So in a way i suppose I'm supporting him through funding other people's snake slush funds, ha ha...

I really am bad at talking on the phone for personal things so if i can email it is much batter that way. I also only buy from sellers with great reputations. I know not everyone can take 40 pics of a snake and even smaller breeders don't have the time for that kind of thing :D