Craigslist BP's

[mrshawt]

I see them quite often on SF craigslist, and they are usually between 1-3 years old and normals. Like the others have said, I believe it's a combination of two things - getting over the novelty of snake ownership, and uncontrollable changes in one's situation. For example, one guy trying to sell his right now is being deployed... not much he can do about that, although I guess you could say "why did he get a snake knowing he's in the military?" But for all we know he just joined up, so I try not to judge!

Unfortunately that's a rare example, however, and most simply don't want to bother anymore. I love the ones who say "I'm moving" or "I don't have the space and/or time for them." Puuuuulease. BPs are very easy to care for (if you just have them as a pet), take up little space, and unless you're moving overseas it's unlikely he/she couldn't come along. I used to volunteer at a cat rescue, and it was the same old story... I wish those people would at least be honest, and admit they don't want the responsibility anymore. I think we've all had to re-home a pet at one time or another, but treating them like disposable possessions is NOT cool.

If someone was moving to an apartment that didn't allow pets, then they could be telling the truth.

I'm just appalled by the prices some people are asking as a "rehoming fee."

[bella]

Yea, I was just looking on my local Craigslist and found a total of I think 6 Balls up for 'rehoming'.

Some wanted as much as $300, some as little as $20. But at least some people were honest. "My kid doesn't want it anymore."

[mechnut450]

yeahI see a lot of them fro mtime to tiem and they want like stupid amounst for them. I point out iwll gladdy adopt the snakes but being on disablity I don't have more than 40 bucks( if lucky ) to spend on an animal and that before I get th tub and water bowls and such. I sorry a normal bp is not worth 300 bucks just casue you had it x amount of years. I got a pair of bps that are about 3 years old and they not worth that much. PLus I love how the craigslist states it and people still don't listen that a max rehoming fee of 100 bucks is allowed. If I adopt out any of the bps I rescue I as 20 bucks to help cover a fraction of the cost I racked up taking it in, and such as vet care and we all know the vets are not cheap. I alway point out that if they decide they can no longer care for any snake they adopt from me I will gladdy take it back. I rather end up with 40 snakes and no real room than the snake suffer do to someone lost interest or another person unwilling to learn befoer hand.

[HerpKeeperVA]

I see a lot of BPs on my local Craigslist. Like some have mentioned, the price varies a LOT. I spoke to a real jerk over the weekend who posted a picture of his on a bedding of cedar shavings. I emailed him to let him know about the dangers of this, and found out he wanted $150 for a hatchling male. I also had someone offer me a "pastel" that was really a normal and the only pics they had were of it in their car with a shoebox taped shut with electrical tape. =/

I did get a good deal on CL, however. I picked up a yearling pastel male and a 700+ g female for $100. The female is a stunning high yellow girl, very nice for a normal! I think the couple I bought them from had just fallen on hard times and needed the money. Great snakes though, they are both fat, healthy and eat like pigs.

Pastel


Female

I love her belly.

[Emmastaff]

Wow, those pastels are very nice!
Thanks for the input everyone. I just wondered if reptiles (especially BP's) were like dogs and cats in that people just got tired of them? I was kind of surprised because I always viewed BP's as being more rare of a pet. And most people I know who have snakes tend to get the smaller corn, milk, etc...snakes for their kids rather than a BP. I am not sure why I even check the craigslist pet section every day? LOL

[b8g8]

I use yotify.com to aggregate searches in my area for balls and corns--I'm not even sure why, since I don't have any more space, but there are at least 5 balls every week. Corns maybe half that. All seem to be full grown. I feel really bad for the poor things.

Then again, it's better than these people tossing them out in their backyards.

[HerpKeeperVA]

Then again, it's better than these people tossing them out in their backyards.

Agreed. A few years ago they found an adult BP in a storm drain in a neighboring town. That same year someone dumped a large burm in a tank in front of a hardware store. Why they chose a hardware store I'll never understand. The owner of the store turned it over to the science department at the local high school, and as far as I know he's still there.

[CTReptileRescue]

It is amazing what I have seen on CL. I guess it depends on the area. I have had some comtacts for the rescue via CL. But all in all it seems "shady" to me. But then again, I rescue, I think everything is shady..lol
Rusty

[Simpson Balls]

Well my cousin got into it for the wrong reasons, just for popularity. He bought a female normal ball that had scale rot, did not eat, and was 6 months old weighing only 67g! After he had it for a month I decided to pop over and see it for my self. When I got there his father said he was giving it away because it did not eat. When I saw it I quickly got my cell and called my local vet to see when I could get him in. He looked terrible. My cousin promised me to never buy any animal without reasearch.

To conclusion I think personally people go and get Bp's because you get attention at school, home etc... People should know these animals are not goldfish, they require tonnes of love and care.

Thanks for reading and sorry for telling my long boring story (to most) about my cousins Bp.

Daniel!

[axeman569]

I see them a lot. I have had some good luck on CL too. I got a 100% het pied male with genetics card etc for the steep price of $30.00. Sometimes you just have to look. Most of the time people are dumping them, but think they can get a fortune for them.