Normal ball prices?

I'm looking into getting my first normal ball python as a pet. I'm just curious...what should I be expecting to pay for one?

The local chain pet stores (PetCo, PetSmart, etc.) are all selling baby ball pythons for $80. There's another store called Savanna Exotics, an independent store owned by a friend of a friend, selling babies for $40. I was a little suspicious of such a huge drop in price, but the owner said they just "get a better deal" from the breeders. Your thoughts?

If the small store is selling them as retail for $40, and they bought them from a breeder, I'd expect that it's an OK price for hatchlings.

Ask them if they are captive HATCHED or captive bred, or wild caught. That will give some insite on their prices. WC and captive hatched will cost less than captive bred.

Of course, local markets define it as well. Someplace that doesnt have too many pet stores can get away charging more.

All in all, I wouldnt buy from petsmart, and I would rather put my money to small time hobbyists (or even big time like Ralph and NERD). Good breeders with good reputations sell quality stock at very affordable prices. :gj:

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Originally Posted by patattack

I'm looking into getting my first normal ball python as a pet. I'm just curious...what should I be expecting to pay for one?

The local chain pet stores (PetCo, PetSmart, etc.) are all selling baby ball pythons for $80. There's another store called Savanna Exotics, an independent store owned by a friend of a friend, selling babies for $40. I was a little suspicious of such a huge drop in price, but the owner said they just "get a better deal" from the breeders. Your thoughts?

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Breeders here sell them for even less then $40. And you know your getting a healthy animal!

"normal" balls, can range between 30 - 90 bucks.
its a extreem price difference.
if you buy from petsmart, petco, and larger pet stores expect to pay around the upwards of 80-90 dollars.
i belive our first ball we paid... 80 for...
but our 2 new ones, we paid 50 each.
so, just look around, and youll find a deal for a loving lil fella

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

If the small store is selling them as retail for $40, and they bought them from a breeder, I'd expect that it's an OK price for hatchlings.

Ask them if they are captive HATCHED or captive bred, or wild caught. That will give some insite on their prices. WC and captive hatched will cost less than captive bred.

Of course, local markets define it as well. Someplace that doesnt have too many pet stores can get away charging more.

All in all, I wouldnt buy from petsmart, and I would rather put my money to small time hobbyists (or even big time like Ralph and NERD). Good breeders with good reputations sell quality stock at very affordable prices. :gj:

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Every place I asked - the chain stores AND the small one - said their babies were captive bred, so I knew that wasn't accounting for the difference in price.

My initial desire was to support the small store as well - the only problem is that I'll have to borrow a car to get there (rather than take a bus), which means I'll have to wait longer!

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Originally Posted by JASBALLS

Breeders here sell them for even less then $40. And you know your getting a healthy animal!

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"Here" being this website? The only problem with that is I'd have to have the snake shipped, which would add a lot of money to the price, right?

Well, we have many breeders as members of this site I would buy from in a heart beat. Even that loveable cuddle bear Jas! :D

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Well, we have many breeders as members of this site I would buy from in a heart beat. Even that loveable cuddle bear Jas! :D

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Easy now.... I have this rep to uphold!:P

Well, if I DO want to consider a breeder here, how much does shipping cost? I would imagine quite a bit, for a live animal.

You never know, you may have a reptile show local to you. I drive down to the one in Detroit every once in a while. Lots of nice breeders and I know their reputations well through forums like this or just word of mouth.

You may even have a breeder right by you, shipping does cost a little extra, but it's a lot of times worth it to have a healthy and chunky BP.

You may even decide to skip the normal and go for something fancy like a pastel or mojave!

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

You never know, you may have a reptile show local to you. I drive down to the one in Detroit every once in a while. Lots of nice breeders and I know their reputations well through forums like this or just word of mouth.

You may even have a breeder right by you, shipping does cost a little extra, but it's a lot of times worth it to have a healthy and chunky BP.

You may even decide to skip the normal and go for something fancy like a pastel or mojave!

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Fancy morphs? Not on a college student's budget! :D

What's this about a Detroit reptile show? When does it happen? (Of course, I'd still need to borrow a car for that...)

I've seen breeders giving away male normal BPs FREE, just pay the cost of shipping, which I think is around $50. Cheaper than the big chain pet stores, and you know you are getting a healthy animal.

You could also check out a local reptile show. I've seen normal BPs at the ones around here for prices as low as $15. And it seems most (but not all, so still be careful) of the people selling at the shows are good people with healthy animals.

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Originally Posted by patattack

Fancy morphs? Not on a college student's budget! :D

What's this about a Detroit reptile show? When does it happen? (Of course, I'd still need to borrow a car for that...)

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Well if your in Michigan or near the border, the Michigan Reptile show is the second Saturday of the month.

The next one coming up is June 13th. It's actually in Taylor, next to Dearborn, but close enough. :D

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...ady/taylor.jpg

Hmm..I live in Ann Arbor now, and I'll be visiting home (Troy) that weekend, which should take me semi-near that area. The problem is, I'll be staying in Troy (that is, away from the terrarium) until Monday or Tuesday. I imagine there would be some problems having a snake for several days without a proper enclosure.

Welll, yea. I wouldnt buy the snake unless you have something set up for it.

A sterilite tub can work just fine. If you plan on getting a baby, you can spend the $4 bucks for a 6 qt tub. Get a little cup for the water and a small plastic bowl from the dollar store. Cut a hole for the hide, and your set as far as enclosure.

You can buy an accurite and a human heat pad (NO auto-off) for less than $20 from walmart, and you have a makeshift temp home.

I used this set up for a few days while off at a show in Chicago. It worked very well.

I used small blocks of wood to elevate the tub off of the heat pad just enough, put the heat pad on low, and the tub was heated to 80-82. (The accurite probe was in between the newspaper)

Make sure you clip the top on the tub, or bungee cord it on.

I wasn't worried about offering a hot spot in such a small enclosure.

In total, it'll cost you somewhere from 25-30$ for a nice temp set-up.

Good luck with the hunt for your BP:gj:

Here in South Africa I paid $200 for my normal male BP, Samson. That was from a local petstore. I have since acquired a normal female BP, Delilah, for $100 from a local collector.

The cheapest I've found is from a breeder that is selling male hatchlings for $66.

There is another breeder here that sells morphs ranging from $530 for a male Pastel up to $4000 for a Pewter or Piebald.

i got my beautiful baby girl for 20 bucks at a local reptile convention

I can't believe the prices you guys are paying for CF balls.
Here in the UK you would be looking at paying £70-£75. (thats $150 US)
The cheapest Morph I've seen this year from a recognised breeder was a Pastel and that was £225 ($450).
Think I'll move over the water !!

Ken

I paid $40 for my female baby
and $50 for my male - he's a year old approx. And I got both of them at a Reptile Expo/Swap both are normals

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Originally Posted by patattack

Every place I asked - the chain stores AND the small one - said their babies were captive bred, so I knew that wasn't accounting for the difference in price.

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Just FYI - Petsmart and Petco both sell Captive Hatched ball pythons, not Captive Bred. And Petco usually has a sale in June or July for $29 each. However, if you are not comfortable picking a healthy animal - I'd still recommend buying from a breeder rather than a pet store.

I thought the next Taylor show was June 14th, not 13th. We should check on that b/c I am planning on going.

The website says the 14th, and 14th is the Saturday, therefore I believe it is the 14th of June.

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Originally Posted by patattack

Fancy morphs? Not on a college student's budget! :D

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Keep in mind what you pay for a snake is nothing compared to what you'll pay taking care of it over the years.

JonV

I would go for the small store. Or breeders on here. I paid 160 for my normal 3 month old and tank, 2 hides, water dish, substrate and log and heat pad.

I only had to but another heat pad and 2 theremostats.

Ithink you should really look around, the wait might be worthit, esp. for a healthy snake!

~Hollie~:snake:

NO, do not get a human heating pad at all. Go to your petco and get a reptile heating pad. Then buy a thermostat for it.

I paid 175$ shipped for my normal babie female. I could have bought a normal adult that would breed right away, but instead I bought from a very reputable breeder, and got my moneys worth. You are better off talking to a breeder, and paying the 50 for shipping. Be prepared, this isn't a inexpensive investment, you should pay 70-150 dollars for a thermostat, you will have to pay for food, and vet bills. And if you want it to be displayed, you will have to buy different tanks each time it grows. Which may only be2-3 times. Substrate, and cage decorations aswell. Its a blast owning them, good luck!

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Originally Posted by ThyTempest

I thought the next Taylor show was June 14th, not 13th. We should check on that b/c I am planning on going.

The website says the 14th, and 14th is the Saturday, therefore I believe it is the 14th of June.

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Lol, i guess so

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Originally Posted by stangs13

NO, do not get a human heating pad at all. Go to your petco and get a reptile heating pad. Then buy a thermostat for it.

I paid 175$ shipped for my normal babie female. I could have bought a normal adult that would breed right away, but instead I bought from a very reputable breeder, and got my moneys worth. You are better off talking to a breeder, and paying the 50 for shipping. Be prepared, this isn't a inexpensive investment, you should pay 70-150 dollars for a thermostat, you will have to pay for food, and vet bills. And if you want it to be displayed, you will have to buy different tanks each time it grows. Which may only be2-3 times. Substrate, and cage decorations aswell. Its a blast owning them, good luck!

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Justin, he has a different thread on his permanent home for the BP in a 10 gallon. ;) This is a temp set up, and I can vouch that it works as a temporary home for a few nights.

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Originally Posted by patattack

I'm looking into getting my first normal ball python as a pet. I'm just curious...what should I be expecting to pay for one?

The local chain pet stores (PetCo, PetSmart, etc.) are all selling baby ball pythons for $80. There's another store called Savanna Exotics, an independent store owned by a friend of a friend, selling babies for $40. I was a little suspicious of such a huge drop in price, but the owner said they just "get a better deal" from the breeders. Your thoughts?

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I see you live in MI- the best reptile store around is Stingers Exotics on Plymoth Rd. in Livonia. They are great people and take wonderful care of their animals!

And you you think thats a big differnce- I was in a pet store yesterday (Petland) and they had a normal male BP for $180- it was a pretty snake (course I think they all are), but I just laughed and said good luck selling it! But I did almost buy the rose hair... lol

Actually, it looks like I'm not going to have to worry about setting up that temporary home after all! Instead of going to a pet store or the reptile show, I'll be getting a month-old male from your very own JASBALLS. Quite a reasonable price, too! :D Not sure when it'll happen, but I'll make sure that I'm around to put him straight into his permanent (well, for as long as he fits) tank.

And I know it's an investment - I've already set up a tank, and I've accepted the reality that I'll have to replace most (if not all) of its contents as the snake grows. As far as the cost of care...well, I'm perfectly okay with spending a little bit at a time over many years. My bank account and I just can't handle spending hundreds at once, y'know?

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Just FYI - Petsmart and Petco both sell Captive Hatched ball pythons, not Captive Bred. And Petco usually has a sale in June or July for $29 each. However, if you are not comfortable picking a healthy animal - I'd still recommend buying from a breeder rather than a pet store.

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Do they really? I assumed that the big chain stores like that would be selling CB. I bought my normal BP for $50 from a local pet store but I would avoid pet stores in the future and opt to buy from a reputable breeder. I don't think most pet stores really know how to care for most snakes, I saw a red tailed boa in a pet store the other day who looked like he/she had been through hell. It had stuck shed everywhere, retained eye-caps and was kept in an enclosure with no thermometer, no humidity gauge, no hide and a freakin heat rock for warmth. Meanwhile there was a book right next to the cage that detailed exactly how to keep boas. I was so pissed:mad:, I almost bought the snake just to save it from that situation but I wouldn't have anyplace to keep it :(. Anyways sorry to rant lol

Hi,

I spent about 30 minutes today looking at a tank of 10 baby Bp's in my local store.

None of them were eating and at least 4 of them had their baby shed's stuck to them. :(

Some of them had nice patterns too and could be gorgeous with a little tlc. :taz:

But over here CF hatchlings seem to be going for £50 (approx $100 I think) this year.


dr del

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Originally Posted by patattack

Actually, it looks like I'm not going to have to worry about setting up that temporary home after all! Instead of going to a pet store or the reptile show, I'll be getting a month-old male from your very own JASBALLS. Quite a reasonable price, too! :D Not sure when it'll happen, but I'll make sure that I'm around to put him straight into his permanent (well, for as long as he fits) tank.

And I know it's an investment - I've already set up a tank, and I've accepted the reality that I'll have to replace most (if not all) of its contents as the snake grows. As far as the cost of care...well, I'm perfectly okay with spending a little bit at a time over many years. My bank account and I just can't handle spending hundreds at once, y'know?

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Huge congrats!! ;)

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Originally Posted by patattack

I'm looking into getting my first normal ball python as a pet. I'm just curious...what should I be expecting to pay for one?

The local chain pet stores (PetCo, PetSmart, etc.) are all selling baby ball pythons for $80. There's another store called Savanna Exotics, an independent store owned by a friend of a friend, selling babies for $40. I was a little suspicious of such a huge drop in price, but the owner said they just "get a better deal" from the breeders. Your thoughts?

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find a local breeder and pay 20 bucks for a normal baby!

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Originally Posted by patattack

And I know it's an investment - I've already set up a tank, and I've accepted the reality that I'll have to replace most (if not all) of its contents as the snake grows. As far as the cost of care...well, I'm perfectly okay with spending a little bit at a time over many years. My bank account and I just can't handle spending hundreds at once, y'know?

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You are right there... :D I've already got my second BP, which is bigger than Samson and growing. What I'm happy about is that the hides and waterbowls etc that I bought will be used further down the line when I get more ball's. So now I'm spending a little bit at a a time, bit by bit.... and I'll always have the gear for one more BP... oh hell....:banana: