Dilemna.....to buy online or buy at the NARBC???....Butter or Lesser???

[rj1204]

Well, I got a bonus at work and have about $500-600 to spend on ball pythons. Right now, I have 5 normal and 2 pastel females (all 08's and should be good to breed this winter). I am breeding the pastels and 1 normal to my male Pin and the other 4 females to my bee this winter.

I was thinking about getting a male and female lesser or male and female butter. Obviously, I was thinking of buying hatchlings and letting them mature, breeding them in a couple years or so. I have two things I am debating:

1. Would you go with a lesser pair or butter pair (I know many people think they are the same)? I like them both and possibly may make the choice on what I see on Kingsnake or at the NARBC.

2. I know buying online from a reputable breeder is perfectly fine, but I was thinking of waiting for the NARBC in Houston (OCT 30th) to make a selection in person. I have only been to the NARBC in Dallas (a couple years ago) and I was not looking to buy anything, just looking because I love herps. I went to the regular Reptile Expo in Dallas a month ago, and their were about 5 BP breeders and I didn't see many lessers/butters there at all. I would think their should be many lesser/butter hatchings at the Houston NARBC.

I know their is probably no "right" answer, as long as I buy from a reputable breeder, buy what I want, and am patient, but I am just looking for opinions from those of you that have bought either online, at the NARBC, or both. Which was the better choice for you and what would you do? Thanks!

[OhhWatALoser]

I would go with one butter and other lesser to outcross the bloodlines

NARBC there will be tons of lessers/butters to see in person, I like this better than buying online personally, since there no good/bad pictures, you can just see it. not that I havn't bought online before, but I do like seeing things in person better.

I think you best option is to go to the show and check things out, if nothing catches your eye then start searching online.

[Freakie_frog]

Pro's of buying at a show.

1. Get to lay hands on the animal before you buy it
2. Can compair in person for many different breeders
3. you get to leave right then with your snake

Cons of buying at a show

1. You have to know a healthy animal when you see one
2. Breeders might already be offering their best prices
3. Goodies; we give goodies to customers reguardless but some breeders only do this for Online purchaes
4. limited to the selection you have righ then right there

Pro's of buying online

1. Shop who you want when you want
2. Nobody trying to sell you (if that bothers you)
3. See pretty much everything a breeder has
4. written record of promises and so forth

Cons of buying online

• Risks of shipping
• Questions can take time to get answered

[Karbon]

I need to see the animal in person and handle it before I consider purchasing it and when I purchase it I want to have it right then and there. I hate waiting! Lol.

I absolutely LOVE Lesser combos, so if it were me i'd get the Lessers.

Another pro for buying in person: No shipping charges and no shipping worries!

From my experience, animals tend to be cheaper at shows. I know i've seen some going for $100 at a show and on the breeders site it's up at $200. But... It could go either way.

[BAMReptiles]

Well, I got a bonus at work and have about $500-600 to spend on ball pythons. Right now, I have 5 normal and 2 pastel females (all 08's and should be good to breed this winter). I am breeding the pastels and 1 normal to my male Pin and the other 4 females to my bee this winter.

I was thinking about getting a male and female lesser or male and female butter. Obviously, I was thinking of buying hatchlings and letting them mature, breeding them in a couple years or so. I have two things I am debating:

1. Would you go with a lesser pair or butter pair (I know many people think they are the same)? I like them both and possibly may make the choice on what I see on Kingsnake or at the NARBC.

2. I know buying online from a reputable breeder is perfectly fine, but I was thinking of waiting for the NARBC in Houston (OCT 30th) to make a selection in person. I have only been to the NARBC in Dallas (a couple years ago) and I was not looking to buy anything, just looking because I love herps. I went to the regular Reptile Expo in Dallas a month ago, and their were about 5 BP breeders and I didn't see many lessers/butters there at all. I would think their should be many lesser/butter hatchings at the Houston NARBC.

I know their is probably no "right" answer, as long as I buy from a reputable breeder, buy what I want, and am patient, but I am just looking for opinions from those of you that have bought either online, at the NARBC, or both. Which was the better choice for you and what would you do? Thanks!

buy at the show

butter/lesser same thing

[rabernet]

I prefer to buy online - I have a better choice of animals and I usually find exactly what I'm looking for online (which isn't easy - as I'm extremely picky).

For example - here's my online lesser purchase:



and my recent online pastel purchase:



I don't think that $500 or $600 is going to get you a pair of either though, but it should get you a nice male OR female with a little extra change left over.

[Wh00h0069]

I personally like buying online, but you should do whatever you feel comfortable with. I would not worry so much about a name, but rather the look of the animal. I would buy the best example of either morph that you can find.

[rj1204]

Actually, most of the lessers I have seen have been around $350 for a male and $400 for a female......many of them including shipping. I have already talked to breeders willing to package a deal for $600 so I am not worried about the price. I know I can probably get them for what I want to pay.......unless I find a really great looking male or female that I am willing to pay more for.

I am probably going to go to the show to get them. Its worth the extra tank or two of gas and my time to be able to actually see and handle them. The good thing about buying online is that once I get to the show, I will be determined to come home with something! I did more research on butters and lessers and I just cannot tell the difference at all.

[Karbon]

I prefer to buy online - I have a better choice of animals and I usually find exactly what I'm looking for online (which isn't easy - as I'm extremely picky).

For example - here's my online lesser purchase:

Wow... I am loving that Lesser. Do you have more pictures of it?

[rabernet]

Actually, most of the lessers I have seen have been around $350 for a male and $400 for a female......many of them including shipping. I have already talked to breeders willing to package a deal for $600 so I am not worried about the price. I know I can probably get them for what I want to pay.......unless I find a really great looking male or female that I am willing to pay more for.

I am probably going to go to the show to get them. Its worth the extra tank or two of gas and my time to be able to actually see and handle them. The good thing about buying online is that once I get to the show, I will be determined to come home with something! I did more research on butters and lessers and I just cannot tell the difference at all.

Ah - ok! The really great looking ones are the only ones I shop for.