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.

Sent from my A521L using Tapatalk

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.


Sent from my SM-T320 using Tapatalk

When shopping for normals be sure to take your time and look at a lot of them. Reason being , some normals not only have hidden genes but the patterns on some of them can be spectacular and either busy or reduced. A lot of them are looked at as "dinkers"and can add some fun to a breeding project down the road. But yeah, I would concentrate on the expos as the place to get a good deal on normals but again, take your time and look around. I just attended the All New England show in New Hampshire and there were normals going for 10.00 I was actually eyeing one in particular. Good luck! :)

We have a reptile rescue that usually has a table at local shows. Can't remember the name but they always have ball pythons that need a home.

You can also sometimes find non-breedable animals for very little. I just got the desert-spider female at the daytona show for $50 because she's not breedable so just a pet.

My first BP was a $15 normal. I love her! She's 2 yrs old now. My next BP was a $300 albino pastel male. He's about 6 months old. Buy what you like! Mine are pets. I have no plans to breed. They are beautiful creatures.

http://www.vareptilerescue.org/ - Virginia Reptile Rescue - has some normal BP's available for adoption.

I really like the look of the normals too. I have no intention of breeding either :) I'd seen so many clutch posts here where a single clutch would have two or three really cool morphs, then some normal siblings, so I figured that big breeders weren't having 100% 'morphage' all the time, and was stumped as to where the normals went. I'd LOVE to find a piebald hatchling for less than $200, but as that is not likely to happen, I'll most likely get a normal. The appearance isn't as important to me as the health, but I do want a young one so that I can learn all his likes and dislikes as he grows; like raising a puppy...a long, sleepy puppy that only eats once a week :P and doesn't bark, chew, or need constant exhausting playtime.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Crowfingers

I figured that big breeders weren't having 100% 'morphage' all the time, and was stumped as to where the normals went.

---

Many are wholesaled off to big box stores. Some end up sold as feeders to people who keep snake-eating snakes, such as eastern indigoes or king cobras.