Best Ball Python For The Money

What ( in your opinion ) is the best Ball Python Breed for the most reasonable money, im going to the White Plains Reptile Expo on Sunday and i want to know what to look for. ( not looking for just looks, personality wise too ). This is going to be my first ball. im so excited.




:snake::snake::snake::snake::cool::D:D:D




Thank You in advance. :)



I REALLY love Piebald's by the way,any idea of their price range?

It's really all about what you like in a snake. I don't really like Browns so Axanthics are my things. There is no "bang for your buck" with ball pythons, it's simply preference. Have you looked at what morphs you like yet?

You can probably find a pied for a little over 500 depending on the breeder

A bit of a derail but... are there any recognised consistent behaviour/temperament differences between morphs (other than spider wobble)?

The one worth the most is the one that your eye keeps going back to at the table. The one that makes you pause.

That at animal is different for everyone. I'm lucky in that my husbands taste is similar to mine. Don't just get what the majority thinks is the best. Get what you think is the best. It's not our snake- you're the one who's gonna be with it for the snakes lifetime.

Have fun!!! Don't let the crowds bother you!!

thank you ! :D

Completely based on what you think is cool. You picked a great time to pick up your first ball, there are a TON of great paint jobs that are very affordable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Meech

What ( in your opinion ) is the best Ball Python Breed for the most reasonable money, im going to the White Plains Reptile Expo on Sunday and i want to know what to look for.

---

EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. OF. THEM. Seriously. I thought I wanted a Banana more than anything. I knew they were a popular snake and I loved the coloring on them. The second expo I went to, I saw a Mojave and just had to take her home. I can't tell you what it was... but she was the one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Meech

I REALLY love Piebald's by the way,any idea of their price range?

---

Me too. If I can ever convince my wife to let another snake in our house, it will be a Pied or Spied. They're gorgeously amazing. I have seen them for as low as $300 for a male and $350 for a female, plus shipping. Those were mid-high whites and what I'd consider a very good deal. You can find low whites for that price or maybe even cheaper sometimes. It really just depends on being at the right place at the right time.

I agree with what everyone else is saying, the best is what your preference is. Just remember to ask a lot of questions such as weight /age/what does it eat, last time it ate. In my opinion you can't go wrong with a banana/CG, I seen them at White Plains/Oaks/Hamburg sell for anywhere from 150-250 for a single or two gene male.

Buy the snake you like. There's nothing wrong with normals for that matter, BTW! Especially if you want a pet and don't have breeding plans, who cares what other people think your pet's genes are worth? And ten years from now, who's going to care if you paid $40 or even $100 more than what someone thinks is today's market rate for that gene? If you like the snake and it's in your price range, everybody's happy.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Meech

What ( in your opinion ) is the best Ball Python Breed for the most reasonable money

---

This, of course, is going to depend on your definition of "best" and "reasonable money". As others have said, first and foremost, start with an animal that you love. There are enough paint jobs out there for everyone, so make sure that you pick one you love. Then, make sure you still have that love when it's left you a nice, stinky mess in the corner and painted both itself and the walls of its enclosure with said mess. That's when you know you're hooked! :gj:

Best regards,
Eric

Pieds and bananas/coral glows are priced extremely reasonable considering they are amazing looking and were once super expensive.

Its what catches your eye.
For me its Snows.

You'll know "your snake" when you see him/her :D. Keep in mind that males are a lot cheaper than females so if there's a color/pattern you like and you don't care about breeding, you can get a male and save a few bucks. Have fun! And don't buy too much! ;)

Like everyone else who posted said, it's all based on what you like. I would recommend setting a budget though, so you dont get carried away. Personally I want a blue eyed luecistic...the eyes are beautiful.

Everyone is right, its what U like, what stands out to you.

A snakes "personality" is what it is.. Morph nor color has anything to do w personality.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jeanne

A snakes "personality" is what it is.. Morph nor color has anything to do w personality.

---

That's debatable.

Normal gets you the most bang for your buck. 25 dollar snake

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rob

That's debatable.

---

How so? Morph and color are gene related to how the animal looks, not personality. These arent dog breeds where breed can dictate personality.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jeanne

How so? Morph and color are gene related to how the animal looks, not personality. These arent dog breeds where breed can dictate personality.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

---

It doesn't matter that these are not dogs the genetics are quite similar. Genetic traits effect much more than physical appearance. Certain factors that effect temperament are definitely heritable for example hormone production among others. The reason certain dog breeds have certain characteristics is that they were selective bred for them and there is no reason this same process can not be applied to ball pythons. I think what the other person was trying to say is that no morph can really be shown to be more gentle than another. I would probably agree as no certain personality has been bred for except maybe docility secondarily across all ball pythons.

There is still no scientific proof that morph/color goes hand in hand w a snakes "personality".

Comparing them to the personality of diff breeds of dogs whose personality is also determined some by its gene type, is apples to oranges.

We are talking about the ball python species whom has many different genes that change how they appear physically, not different species of snake. Physical Charicteristics and personality is not the same. Dont confuse the 2.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

It also depends on your budget. If you like pieds get a pied. If that is what you keep going back to look at, then I think you know your answer. Don't get something that you yourself can't just enjoy. I love banana morphs so I waited to get one when I could afford it. Just make sure to buy something that you will love to look forward to everyday.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In all honesty with how saturated the market is right now, if you're patient...you can get anything you want for 50 maybe 100 bucks at the most.

Just wait for a small time pretender breeder which there are lots of to need money for rent, food for themselves, their pitbull and their reptile mill.

That's what I did...

The only way you're going to overpay these days are if you have no patience, or you like overpaying for things that crash in value after you bought them.

I'm going to what I'm sure will be my first and last reptile expo tomorrow. I kind of already know what to expect.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hammertime1977

In all honesty with how saturated the market is right now, if you're patient...you can get anything you want for 50 maybe 100 bucks at the most.

Just wait for a small time pretender breeder which there are lots of to need money for rent, food for themselves, their pitbull and their reptile mill.

That's what I did...

The only way you're going to overpay these days are if you have no patience, or you like overpaying for things that crash in value after you bought them.

I'm going to what I'm sure will be my first and last reptile expo tomorrow. I kind of already know what to expect.

---

I find all of this entertaining... :rofl::rofl::rofl:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hammertime1977

In all honesty with how saturated the market is right now, if you're patient...you can get anything you want for 50 maybe 100 bucks at the most.

Just wait for a small time pretender breeder which there are lots of to need money for rent, food for themselves, their pitbull and their reptile mill.

That's what I did...

The only way you're going to overpay these days are if you have no patience, or you like overpaying for things that crash in value after you bought them.

I'm going to what I'm sure will be my first and last reptile expo tomorrow. I kind of already know what to expect.

---

I've been to an expo twice. . .um no. Yes, you can get a normal male for $15, and some of the more common morphs for $50-ish. But really small-time breeders don't rent a booth at an expo, it's the larger breeders who are trying to breed for some fancy new morph and end up with a lot of non-target morphs. But hey, if you find a nice medium-white pied for $50- $100, send it to me!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Willowy

I've been to an expo twice. . .um no. Yes, you can get a normal male for $15, and some of the more common morphs for $50-ish. But really small-time breeders don't rent a booth at an expo, it's the larger breeders who are trying to breed for some fancy new morph and end up with a lot of non-target morphs. But hey, if you find a nice medium-white pied for $50- $100, send it to me!

---

I'll keep my eye open. A lot comes up for sale here in the week prior to "monthly check time", it's quite the cycle to observe.

As it's been said, it's what you like. I'll add this... I've seen expo's and in the popular classified ads, people selling "high quality" animals or particular morphs for hundreds or thousands of dollars. I personally wouldn't pay $100 for it. Not because I think it's a rip off or not worth it, I'm sure they probably are, to someone, but they just didn't do it for me.

If you can stand the wait, don't buy at your first expo. Look, ask, talk, ask.... look and ask some more. You'll go home with a few snakes on your brain. then you can research them and find the best price.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jeanne

There is still no scientific proof that morph/color goes hand in hand w a snakes "personality".

Comparing them to the personality of diff breeds of dogs whose personality is also determined some by its gene type, is apples to oranges.

We are talking about the ball python species whom has many different genes that change how they appear physically, not different species of snake. Physical Charicteristics and personality is not the same. Dont confuse the 2.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

---

They are certainly not apples and oranges. In both situations people have taken a wild animal and bred it for desirable traits with little to no understanding of the genes that cause these traits. I don't not think anyone here is going to argue that characteristics dealing with entirely different organs in the body are carried by different genes. This is true for pythons, dogs and pretty much every other organism on earth. The point is that people don't solely breed for the single or even multiple genes that cause a morph but secondarily for more tame snakes.

Umm no.. People def know plenty about the genes they are working with. Esp when they are able to guestimate closely what the results of said breeding will be if they are knowledgeable in the subject manner.. One wouldnt be able to many times produce more of the morphs needed to sell. To do so, takes knowledge U say they dont have.

Charicterisics dealing w entirely different organs isnt what the discussion was about.. It was about morph and personality. And still to this date, there is no actual evidence that what one labels "personality" or even "tameness" goes hand in hand w certain genes.

Where do you get the idea that ppl actually breed for more tame snakes rather than morph type. If that was the case, we wouldnt have so many different morphs.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

I have had both morph and normal ball pythons.. Their dispositions were equal across the board..both docile and easy going.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

Couldn't agree more that it is completely what you like and no one ells. . I would Have a good look online to know what you want to look for.
I know not everyone is going to agree with this but regarding price in my opinion. If let's just say for arguments sake that a piebalds average cost is 500 in an expo and you find one for 200. There is a reason that that snake is 200 and not 500 and I bet anything it's not the fact that the breeder is a nice guy !
Remember the questions to ask. Write them down and have them check it to make sure it's correct. Hold the snake and visually check it aswell.
Don't just get a snake because it's cheaper than you expected. Get the one you really want and a few extra bucks for a good snake from a good breeder will more than likely save you money in the long run
Also a good breeder will be there every time you need a question answered and not just to make the sale and never hear from them again. Just my opinion.
Good luck.

A healthy snake is the best snake for the money. That and what you like. The end :)