Help! First craigslist opportunity

[Ranulf]

So, we have the opportunity to buy an enchi 100% het albino male (juvenile) for $60. Its craigslist though, so how do we verify its an enchi, and is there any way aside from breeding the male to verify if its actually a het albino?

Seems like the going rate for that morph is $150+, so alarm bells are going off in my head

[Roux]

I would say assume it isn't het. If you're really wanting a guarantee het, buy from someone reputable. Unfortunately people can easily lie and get away with it when it's craigslist.

If you have pics, post them here and people can help ID if hes enchi.

If you get him be sure to do strict quarantine if you have other reptiles.

Ultimately its your choice of course, if you wanna roll the dice!

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[Ranulf]

Thanks.

He is selling pied males as well for $400 and het pied females for $125.

Maybe we can talk him down on the enchi het albino. I'll try to post some pictures up.

The enchi male does look pretty enchi and, for $60 is a good deal all by itself, right? If we verify he is enchi, that means if we decide to go into breeding some day, we have a valuable morph, right? Even without the het albino?

[Craiga 01453]

Honestly, for inexperienced keepers, Craigslist is probably not the best place to buy an animal. Sure, there can be some great deals, but in my opinion the risk doesn't outweigh the reward.
Snakes are fantastic at hiding illness, and for a new keeper it would be even harder to identify possible health problems. If the animal does have any illness you'll end up putting your other snake at risk, spending a lot more than $60 on vet bills, etc...

You're better off buying from a reputable breeder. It's just safer and smarter.

The possible het is a crapshoot where you're putting your trust in the seller...I wouldn't trust a stranger. And the het only matters if you're breeding.


If you do go that route, make sure to quarantine very strictly for at least 90 days. You definitely don't want to put your other snake at risk.
If you're not familiar with the quarantine process please study it and follow it to a T. New feeding equipment, changing clothes and washing after doing anything in the QT room (which needs to be a completely separate room from your other snake), etc...etc...


...and there's no need to jump at the first opportunity to pop up either. There will be others...

[Alexiel03]

I would ask to see the pairing, locks and the female on the eggs to verify its het albino.

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[Stewart_Reptiles]

]

The enchi male does look pretty enchi and, for $60 is a good deal all by itself, right? If we verify he is enchi, that means if we decide to go into breeding some day, we have a valuable morph, right? Even without the het albino?

If you want to get into breeding there are things you want to do.

1# Familiarize yourself with basic mutations and until you are able to identify basic mutations do not purchase any animal.

2# If you want to breed by your stock from REPUTABLE breeders not people who are on CL one day gone the next, yes you may pay more but not only do you buy a quality animal when you do so, there will also be 101 customer service before and after your purchase.

3# If you want to breed one of the important keys is SELECTIVE breeding, NEVER buy something because it is cheap, always buy the best example you can afford even if that means paying more, this will pay off in the long run.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I would ask to see the pairing, locks and the female on the eggs to verify its het albino.

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If breeders had to be on stand by with a camera everytime there is a lock so they could provide proofs no one would sell animals anymore. (last lock I photographed was probably two years ago and only 1 out of the entire season )

As for pic of a female on egg well sadly that does not mean that that specific animal comes from those specific eggs.

Again the key is to buy from a REPUTABLE breeder, pictures and paperwork are only as good as the breeder itself.

[Bogertophis]

If breeders had to be on stand by with a camera everytime there is a lock so they could provide proofs no one would sell animals anymore. (last lock I photographed was probably two years ago and only 1 out of the entire season )...

For sure. Never bred BPs but when I bred rosy boas easily for 6 years, I never saw a lock...just 2 snakes that looked contented together & like they wanted a smoke...

[rufretic]

3# If you want to breed one of the important keys is SELECTIVE breeding, NEVER buy something because it is cheap, always buy the best example you can afford even if that means paying more, this will pay off in the long run.

This is the biggest problem with the op.

If you have any intention of breeding, you do not buy animals because they are a good deal, you buy them because they are good quality.

Way to many people get into breeding by trying to buy low quality, cheap animals and then when they breed they make low quality animals with no demand and then wonder why they can't sell them.

If you're serious about breeding, plan to invest in some quality animals or things are not going to work out well for you.

[Ranulf]

Thanks for all the advice guys.

We are trying to grow our collection, but we don't have the budget for the really high quality guys. We have a very reputable breeder nearby that we plan on asking for help if we decide to start breeding, and he would be the guy we would want to buy most of our stock from.

I guess we will just look on craigslist to see if snakes need rescue and go from there, and not go for breeding stock.

Thanks guys