How do breeders price their ball python morphs?

[pkore1015]

How do breeders determine what a morph should cost? Like what would a pastel, spider, or bumblebee should cost? Or what if it was het something, like het axanthic? What about age, weight, or if it's been bred yet?

[Joshua Jasper]

How do breeders determine what a morph should cost? Like what would a pastel, spider, or bumblebee should cost? Or what if it was het something, like het axanthic? What about age, weight, or if it's been bred yet?

There are wide variations based on pattern (clean or busy depending on preference and morph), color, genetic line (i.e. citrus paste), and overall quality (no arguments on that word again though!)

There are a couple general rules though:

• Morphs are less expensive when young. The bigger they get, the more they cost.
• Females are more than males. The exception to this is brand new codom or dom morphs. Champagnes are a good example where the males were expensive in an attempt to limit how many got out in the market. Since females are the key to breeding (size and time investment) then those are more valuable.
• Proven breeders are typically worth more in both sexes.
• A good metric for a good quality adult female wild type "normal" is 0.10 cent/gram or so, putting a 3000 gram female at about $300.
• Pastels, Spiders, etc are purely dependent on quality of the animal and of the line. A clean bright pastel or reduced pattern spider should always be more.

Hope that helps! In general, buy what you like and it's always a good value!

[TheSnakeGuy]

I saw a great example of something bran new at the last Lone Star Reptile Expo down in Texas. I was talking with Chris Hall (Python Paint Jobs) who had for sale 2 Spider Mystic Potions. They were 4-6 months old. The male costs 4500$ and the female was 3500$. The price was that high because this was a worlds first ever produced. Also that is a powerhouse of a 3 gene male. Anyone who bought him could've put him with 3 females and had some great odds at some great snakes.

[Joshua Jasper]

I saw a great example of something bran new at the last Lone Star Reptile Expo down in Texas. I was talking with Chris Hall (Python Paint Jobs) who had for sale 2 Spider Mystic Potions. They were 4-6 months old. The male costs 4500$ and the female was 3500$. The price was that high because this was a worlds first ever produced. Also that is a powerhouse of a 3 gene male. Anyone who bought him could've put him with 3 females and had some great odds at some great snakes.

3+ gene male powerhouses are invaluable in a collection. My philosophy is females should all be 1-2 gene males and then use your powerful 3-5 gene males to spread the genetic love around!

PS. That sounds like an insane combo! Worth every penny!

[TheSnakeGuy]

I know, they were insane looking too. Totally worth the price. The same day I bought a Spider Mojave male from him that is eating like a champ! And I have on the way(2 more payments) a Mystic Pastel female. I'm so excited. It's a 1/16 shot but I could be the first to produce a Bumblebee Mystic Potion. No idea what it would look like but it would be awesome. The tough part would be deciding to sell or keep it as a breeder. Anything from that pairing is gonna be sick.

[Joshua Jasper]

I know, they were insane looking too. Totally worth the price. The same day I bought a Spider Mojave male from him that is eating like a champ! And I have on the way(2 more payments) a Mystic Pastel female. I'm so excited. It's a 1/16 shot but I could be the first to produce a Bumblebee Mystic Potion. No idea what it would look like but it would be awesome. The tough part would be deciding to sell or keep it as a breeder. Anything from that pairing is gonna be sick.

That will be an incredible pairing. I haven't added mystic yet (focused on adding leopard, OD, champagne, and a few others) but so want to! My 0.02 cents, I would keep it and once big enough to breed sell the mystic potion as a proven breeder and breed back to try and hit a killer bee mystic potion!!!! Just a thought lol I expect a lot of pics of that pairing!

[TheSnakeGuy]

WOW I hadn't considered that! Thems some long odds but if I bred a "Killer Potion" male I would probably put a price tag of about 10,000$ and then take reasonable offers. That would certainly fund a much bigger operation. I'd buy a few racks and some quality 2-3 gene female breeders. Oh wishful thinking