How much would you pay for a ball python morph?

Statis symbol is the sence of the guy that dreams of a Clown and he works and save and somewhere down the road he pulls out his check book and writes that check for the clown, or pied or even lesser (ever thought a resent turn of events has put them with inreach of most folks) and then its a personal statis symbol. They are goals. Thats all I ment.

I own some $30 dollar King snakes because I like the black and white and the snake in general. Speaking of how many people are still buying and breeding corn snakes?

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Originally Posted by Otter_23

I own some $30 dollar King snakes because I like the black and white and the snake in general. Speaking of how many people are still buying and breeding corn snakes?

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I don't think my king is even worth $30, but I have them and some corns, nothing fancy.... but I like em! :)

Not that I really want to chime in on this topic, but I think a hand full of you are missing the point. Only so many folks are going to pay thousands of dollars or tens of thousands of dollars for a snake. Once this market has been filled, breeders need to find NEW customers. The easiest way is to change your price into another market, aka, lower your prices. Simple laws of supply and demand. If anyone here is in this hobby to make money I suggest you start reading or learning simple retail/wholesale business. What do the car manufactures do when they have too many cars............. (example: we bought a NEW 2004 F150 in January of 2005, sticker price $37,000, after all the Ford rebates and stuff we paid $22,000 without a trade-in. They had too many old models....)

I would rather see this hobby survive than be choked out due to high prices that the common hobbiest can't afford.

Myself, having a young family cannot justify putting $10,000 into a snake and hoping to make 4 fold that in a few years. But $500, I can justify as a hobbiest. $10,000 pays for a lot of college.........

As for corn snakes, I do fine with them, I make fair money off them and I can always sell my extras to the pet trade for a fair price. I know of 3 different breeders that make a living at just selling corns. The corns have settled in and prices are fairly stable.

In reality, my budget, income and bills play the biggest part in how much I would spend on a snake. Right now, I can't go beyond 500.00; I won't let myself put any reptiles on credit (thouhg it is VERY tempting.)
I see no problem with people spending massive amounts on herps; look at the wasteful, and unproductive ways people waste money (drugs, etc.) As long as you're responsible with your budget, income and expenses and don't abuse credit, spend away people!! You only live once.

If I had the money and I really really really wanted one then I'd pay whatever that snake was going for from a good and well known breeder.

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Originally Posted by ssscales

Personally it would drive me nuts inside (a feeling as if I got taken) if I paid $3000 for a snake or TV or anything and found that same snake or item a week later at 1/2 price.

I know most would probably feel the same way. I would feel pretty bad if I sold someone a Spider BP or Salmon Boa for example at $3000 and then a week later announced a 1/2 price sale. How would that customer who paid $3000 feel when he/she checked KS and saw me selling the same snake he/she bought from me a week ago for 50% off?

Maybe it's just me, but doesn't that seem wrong?

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If and when I decide to buy a top dollar morph (heeeello pied!), I will only buy from a reputable breeder who consequently probably doesn't advertise on KS or slash prices from week to week.

Animals are different than factory made, non-living things. True you can get a "lemon" DVD player, but the same model DVD player is still same whether you buy it from BestBuy, Walmart or unused off of eBay.

A captive bred animal is completely different. I want to know I'm buying a quality "model" from a good source that has been raised well and taken care of and that I'll have "good customer service" with the seller after the sale. That is worth a bit extra to me than buying from the cheapest seller on the block.

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That being said, I didn't answer the survey. We paid $80 for Cleo from a big chain pet store and $200 for Carmen from LLL Reptile. I could have gotten a good ball python for less money even from a good breeder (I didn't know any better then) and could have spent more getting a Suri from a good breeder (Gus at Rio Bravo has his 2006 Suri's up for sale - OH MY *drool*).

But Cleo and Carmen are pets. I really don't have any intention to breed snakes - just not something I'm into right now nor do I think I will be.

Everyone knows I *LUB* me a piebald but I'm really not into the idea of breeding and I just don't think I can bring myself to spend $5-6000 on what would be strictly a "pet".

I firmly believe that a piebald from a reputable breeder is worth that much, but I can't spend that much on a pet in the same way I don't think I could spend $1-2000 on a pure bred puppy*.

*Well, you know I would if that's what Rick really wanted, but I'm a softie. =D

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Hi and welcome to the panties for pythons program. LOL

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LOL so much here at work I got in trouble, but dang that was one great comment!

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Originally Posted by cueball

I think Wysocki says it best when he talks about not getting in over your head and not being financially ruined if something goes wrong. I have taken this advice and feel more comfortable spending money on ball python morphs. For me personally this is a professional hobby. Professional in the literal sense that I need/want for it to have a return. If it where not for the return aspect of the hobby I would probably keep "normal" wild type ball pythons as I think they are just as beautiful. However I am in 10k+ per animal category because I'm interested in both facets of the hobby. I have a small collection though that does not put me out of control physically or financially. This is a dangerous line that is drawn though and I can see where that line can/could be easily crossed. I wish everybody the best of luck and truly enjoy being part of this group :grouphug:

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That was an awesome statement Cue, one I agree with very much (except I am in the $1000 range currently)

well i think i'll stay within the $500-$1000 range. im not the kind of person that would spend thousands of dollars on one snake.plus i have college tuition to pay for.