Buying a Pastel SHOW QUESTION <<< Help!!!

Hello I am kinda new her but I know ALOT about ball pythons but not everything! When looking for a new ball I normally check local listings
or visit pet shops. This year I am looking to get a Pastel for a breeding project I want to do. So I was going to try a reptile show/expo. I have one near me in July and I have another closer to me in October I was wondering which of these show I might get the most deals ON pastels an also how much should I expect to spend on a Pastel at a show. I know locally I might pay 150-200 bucks for a pastel but I hear that the shows/expos are cheaper.

Thanks in advanced for any help!

First the show really isn't going to affect the price. Thats going to depend on the breeder. Second 150.00 - 200.00 is about right for a pastel these days even at a show. You can find them cheaper but most of the time you get what you pay for.

ok thx alot

While the price of generic pastels have went down and I have seen males going for as low as $75.00 on line. The one thing to consider when buying a pastel is the quality. If it is a baby you probably want to see pictures of the parents so you have an idea as to how it will fade as it gets older. High quality pastels can still ask good money. As a breeding project you want to find one that has the qualities you are looking for and not worry so much about the price. As said above you will get what you pay for. If I have the option between a male pastel at $75.00 that doesn't look good at all compared to a male at $300 that looks totally awesome and has excellent looking parents, I'll be looking a lot harder at the $300 than the $75. So many people are selling pastels these days and all the quality has been disregarded in a lot of these guys. After lots of poor breedings a line of pastels can become completely worthless. This of coures is just my opinion.

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Originally Posted by Gloryhound

While the price of generic pastels have went down and I have seen males going for as low as $75.00 on line. The one thing to consider when buying a pastel is the quality. If it is a baby you probably want to see pictures of the parents so you have an idea as to how it will fade as it gets older. High quality pastels can still ask good money. As a breeding project you want to find one that has the qualities you are looking for and not worry so much about the price. As said above you will get what you pay for. If I have the option between a male pastel at $75.00 that doesn't look good at all compared to a male at $300 that looks totally awesome and has excellent looking parents, I'll be looking a lot harder at the $300 than the $75. So many people are selling pastels these days and all the quality has been disregarded in a lot of these guys. After lots of poor breedings a line of pastels can become completely worthless. This of coures is just my opinion.

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:bow::bow::bow::bow::bow:

I can't really offer up any advice, but am considering purchasing a snake at a show in July (possibly the same one the OP was thinking about). Are shows good places to buy? It seems like having so many animals in one spot might be risky (e.g., disease) and I'd really rather not buy a sick snake. Any advice on shopping at shows?

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Originally Posted by branson

Any advice on shopping at shows?

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1. know what a healthy ball Python looks like.
2. never buy from anyone that will "send you the genetic papers".
3. Spend time talking to the breeder. You'll get an over all feeling of them and this will help tell you if they are a Breeder or if they just bred ball pythons.
4. Make sure you get contact information for the person you purchase from, in case there a problem you want to be able to get in touch with them.
5. Get there early and shop around.
6. Dropping the price to ensure a sale without negotiating is a sign that they are desperate to sale and will take what ever they can get.. WALK AWAY. Breeders will work with you on the price but they have a lowest price in their mind and will not budge with out you asking.
7. Hand sanitizer is a MUST.. If they don't have it look but don't buy
8. Ask if they produce the animals they are saling, You be surprised how many people get these African shipments and two days later have them on tables at shows.
9. Ask if they have a live guarantee. Like you get the animal home and it dies a week later will they refund the money. (its happened to a friend of mine here )

advice for looking at snakes at shows look around at all the tables first when you get there if you see something that catches your eye ask tons of questions even if you know the answers ask anyways to see if the breeder is a reliable source. also make sure you ask what they have been feeding. live, p/k, or f/t. and just have fun

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

1. Ask if they have a live guarantee. Like you get the animal home and it dies a week later will they refund the money. (its happened to a friend of mine here )

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follow all the things Frog just said

Lots of breeders will ship with a " will arrive live and healthy at your door guarantee" but at shows you take it home with you....

Now you do want to get contact info so if there is anything wrong with the sanke you can call and talk to them about it BUT if something was caused by you then the guarantee is void.

when you get the snake LOOK IT OVER. listen to it breath. look for kinks.

its like picking out a piece of fruit at the market. they throw in CH animals some times so you want to weed through the bad ones ( dont flame me you know what i mean) and find that one thats perfect for you

forgot to add... what shows are you looking at attending? i may be going to these same ones and can meet up with you and help you out on who to buy from and what to buy.

Also something I have done, and really find it helpful. IT does take awhile but is worth it.

REad the list of all the vendors, find there websites and find which garentee, caresheet, snakes, ext are the best. And how well the site is put together. If you like the breeder from that, Go to faunaclassifieds.com register and go onto the BOI, and search there full name, and you can also seperatly try searching there buisness name. From this you get stories and reviews on the breeder and all the info you need.

Make a list of breeders you would buy from, a list of maybes, and a avoid list.

Then follow frogs list.

Though i didnt buy anything at my show, i knew who to get from, who sold CB, versus CH/WC and from that i avoided certain tables if i was going to handle a animal to avoid things like mites ext.

Good luck, and definitally be specific about the pastel, his line, and the female you are breeding him to, to work out the best pairing to have the best babies possible.

Ben

Thanks for the information, everyone. It'll be a big help. I was thinking about going to the All Maryland Reptile Show in Havre de Grace, MD on July 12th and possibly the Northern Virginia Reptile Expo in Manassas, VA on July 26th. I was really hoping to get something by the 12th though. I'll certainly be prepared to buy a neat normal, or hopefully a nice pastel.