Is there a such thing as an inexpensive morph of a snake/leo?

I'm going to a reptile show in a week and a half, and I would like to pick out some kind of morph if I can, maybe a BP or RTB. My boyfriend is interested in leopard gecko morphs also. Is there a such thing as an inexpensive morph? I'm in college and don't have a lot of cash. (If not I am still ok with normals :) )

there are plenty you just have to look round

For leos, there are a TON of different colors and types available for under $100.

For ball pythons, you can get a low-grade pastel male for $100 at a show. Expect to pay more for a better looking specimen, though.

I guess it all depends on your definition of "inexpensive"...as well as what kinds of animals you're interested in looking at. There are many, many different corn snake morphs that are very affordable, as well as a variety of other colubrids.

For ball pythons, you can often find pastels for a couple hundred dollars now. A bit more for spiders...but again, it all depends on what you call "inexpensive." Compared to a couple of years ago, pastels and spiders are VERY inexpensive. ;)

I don't know enough about the boa market or leo morphs to comment on those.

By inexpensive I meant $100 or less... preferably less :) I will have to look around when I get there of course, I was just wondering in advance so I won't be disappointed. Most websites I have seen sell color morphs for hundreds or thousands of dollars.

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Originally Posted by icygirl

By inexpensive I meant $100 or less... preferably less :) I will have to look around when I get there of course, I was just wondering in advance so I won't be disappointed. Most websites I have seen sell color morphs for hundreds or thousands of dollars.

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That's about right for most species, although the colubrid morphs tend to be very inexpensive in comparison with other species.

But don't get a morph just so you can say you have a morph. Find an animal that speaks to you, whether it be normal phase or selectively bred. Ultimately, you will be caring for it for its life span, so don't buy just any morph of any species just for the prestige of having something rare...that'll get old really fast especially if you really don't like what you have.

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

That's about right for most species, although the colubrid morphs tend to be very inexpensive in comparison with other species.

But don't get a morph just so you can say you have a morph. Find an animal that speaks to you, whether it be normal phase or selectively bred. Ultimately, you will be caring for it for its life span, so don't buy just any morph of any species just for the prestige of having something rare...that'll get old really fast especially if you really don't like what you have.

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X2.
As for BP's, there's really not much that you'll be able to find under $100 except for some nice reduced/high blushing sub adults normals. Male pastels are generally in the $150 range. As for Leo's, there are several morphs available under your $100 limit. And as mentioned before, there are many many corn snake morphs available for under $100.

You might be able to get a het male, maybe albino or hypo for $75-$100.

I got my Bell Albino Leo female at NARBC in February, and she was only $25 from Letkeys Leos. Such a feisty, cute thing she is! :)

"Morphs" of ball's and boas are still quite expensive compaired to morphs of like corns and kings as others have stated.

Balls I assume it is because of the small clutch size so it takes longer to build up stocks of morphs in the hobbiest trade.

Boas I don't get, they through big clutches and breed really easy. I figure the market has to come down at some point. It happened with burms and retics it will happen with boas and balls too. Both have come down a lot already as Judy stated.

If I were you I would either

1. Stay on budget and look at normals but have fun look at LOTS of them, look for something that you like. Unique shades, patterns etc are on every snake just look for one you like. I have seen some BEAUTIFUL normal balls with cool markings. I don't own any yet but I have almost bought a few and it was always "normals" I have found the most beautiful.

On boas the same is true, there is nothing much more beautiful that a nice normal red tail, they are simply stunning.

2. If you want something unique like others suggested you can look to the colubrids. Amel Kings and Milks are really coo. Lavender corns are beautiful and they were well over 200 bucks a few years back you could now buy a pair under 100.

Just don't over look normals, to me the species and what it offers is always more important then the vanity of a morph. How many people have all types of morph corns and they are just jaw dropped by a "normal" Okeetee or Miami Corn? Both of which you can pick up at shows for say 20-35 bucks.

Same with boas! Look at a 6-7 foot adult Redtail and you just have to pause and think about how amazing nature is.

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Originally Posted by jjspirko

Boas I don't get, they through big clutches and breed really easy. I figure the market has to come down at some point. It happened with burms and retics it will happen with boas and balls too. Both have come down a lot already as Judy stated.

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While the boa and ball market are only recently beginning to mature, I think the size of the market for boas and balls are considerably larger than burms and retics because, let's face it, most people out there, including seasoned keepers, don't have the resources/space/desire to own a 15-20ft, 150lb+ animal. Less demand = lower prices. Balls and boas are much more accessible to 'everyday' type people, and with a greater demand, the downward slope of the market to maturity isn't as steep.

I went into this thinking "Geez! 1100$ for that??! Look how small she is"
Now I'm at "Yea! 1100!$ I can totally afford that, what a great buy!"
It all depends on what you think is expensive compared to the market.

As for normals, I have some really nice reduced patterns that I just go "wow, aren't you just gorgeous!"

I second the whole corns too, I bought my Sunglow male for under 100 from a really great breeder around here, and I havent been disappointed. He just gets oranger and redder every time he sheds.

You can usually find good deals on RTB's at shows, too. I've seen some ghosts priced at $300 (which seems like a lot, but really isn't when you talk about the mix involved). I've also seen some very nice normals posted around $100---pastels and very nice, clean gray babies. I've even seen some Surinames posted right around the $100 mark.

Just look around, talk to some people. You never know ;)

Ball python morphs are not very cheap. Even the most common of morphs will run you at the very least 200.

As for leopard geckos, I purchased a hypo tangerine female for $80. Very pretty with a great personality.

Great stuff from everyone!

elevatethis, Good point on the differential from the burm and retic market. Makes a lot of sense, I just remember when an albino burm (not a special one just a plain old Amel) was 2500 dollars or more. Now you can get a Bob Clark line one for 150, and Bob of course is one of the best there for quality Pythons.

On boas I do have one other suggestion. You could consider some of the sub species like Hogg's etc, perhaps a Nicaraguan, etc. Now that will push you into the 200-300 dollar range but it is a lot lower then a Hypo, Amel, Ghost, etc and to me Hoggs are just about one of the most beautiful Boas out there.

Or to be novel and have a boa, take a leap across the globe and think Dumerils Boa. They are just such great animals, calm once they grow a bit, the never get too big 6-7 feet max and very easy to care for. They are also something not everyone has, here is my little dumerils,

http://www.jackspirko.com/images/sna...dumerils-2.JPG

Just remember you can always get more snakes in the future, :)

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Originally Posted by jjspirko

Or to be novel and have a boa, take a leap across the globe and think Dumerils Boa. They are just such great animals, calm once they grow a bit, the never get too big 6-7 feet max and very easy to care for. They are also something not everyone has, here is my little dumerils,

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What a good looking guy! Um... your dumerils, I mean. Are they as docile as a BP?

Edit=fix quote.

Thanks everyone for the great replies!

Lately I have really begun to fall in love with RTB's and other similar boas; that one (Dumerils) is gorgeous! I guess I hadn't really thought of going to unique species rather than unique colors. I suppose I'm a little nervous about buying something that's uncommon because what if it has very specific requirements or just has no available info about how to take care of it? (I'd obviously talk to the breeder about it but there's only so much info you can gather orally.)

You are all being very helpful, I really appreciate it!! :hug:

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Originally Posted by jjspirko

Just remember you can always get more snakes in the future, :)

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Oh trust me, when I have my own house and a steady job I'm designating a herp/invert room, no questions asked ;) .

I always thought it would be neat to have a tegu instead of a dog, too. I know they're hard to keep but they're just amazing animals... :sunny: Ok well that's just me dreaming!

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

While the boa and ball market are only recently beginning to mature, I think the size of the market for boas and balls are considerably larger than burms and retics because, let's face it, most people out there, including seasoned keepers, don't have the resources/space/desire to own a 15-20ft, 150lb+ animal. Less demand = lower prices. Balls and boas are much more accessible to 'everyday' type people, and with a greater demand, the downward slope of the market to maturity isn't as steep.

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Brad, excellent point!

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Originally Posted by icygirl

I guess I hadn't really thought of going to unique species rather than unique colors. I suppose I'm a little nervous about buying something that's uncommon because what if it has very specific requirements or just has no available info about how to take care of it? (I'd obviously talk to the breeder about it but there's only so much info you can gather orally.)

You are all being very helpful, I really appreciate it!! :hug:

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One thing I would say about a Dumerils is if you can care for a RTB then caring or a Dum ain't much different. Temps are about the same, they get about the same size (Dumerils are slightly smaller on average), they do well about the same humidity, etc. They both can be fed rats even as adults specificly the males that don't get as big as the gals do.

I can tell you about all you need to know as to the "additional needs" of a Dumerils right here.

1. They have no desire to climb on anything. So no branches etc are needed nor would they be used.

2. They like to bury in substrate. Make sure their is an aspen or similar layer large enough for them to cover up.

3. When they are burried and only have their head poking up DO NOT reach around their head, they may indeed take a bite out of you. This is just how they hunt.

4. Some can be a bit of a pain to get on FT but I have not had problems. My Dumerils I do have to use tongs and move the mouse/rat around his head a bit then he explodes on it (really, really cool). Once in a while I have to pick up the mouse (with tongs) and do it again. Sometimes he grabs it but does not start to feed. If I don't make sure he ate I have twice found a stinking mouse the next morning. When he does not eat I move the mouse around and get him to grab it again, then I pull a bit on it and that gets him riled up and he eats every time. If I feed him live it is a non issue.

5. Since they like to burry they may not be as great a display animal as a RTB but as my little guy has grown he stays exposed a lot more.

6. If he is good an burried I advise using a hook to dig him out. They are one of the most laid back snakes I have ever worked with once tamed down. They move slow, don't mind being handled, seldom if ever bite, etc. But I can not over state the way they attack when in ambush mode. I know my guy would not bite me now if he realized it was my hand but when he is ready to feed he is all business.

Basicly like any snake they have rules, if you follow them all goes well and they are an easy snake to keep. No real special requirements really just respect their ambush mode, because when you don't follow the rules the snake still does. This is the same with my spotted pythons, they don't like my hand jacking around the opening of their hides. I can hold them for hours with no bites, no threats. But if I break their rules and start doing cage maintence wile they are in their hides, I am going to bleed, :D. They are not mean snakes they just have a rule, if it bobs around the hide opening they bite it, even when I don't follow that rule they still do, LOL who can blame them, :snake:

Leos in a bouquet of color morphs are available for very little more than the price of a normal now. Same with corn snakes.
It will take BPs substantially longer to get there, but pastels are already down in the affordable range.

You can find Pastels around the $100 mark.. I know lots of places..