I was in a local Petco the other day and they had one that I swear was a pastel. We went back today just to look while running some errands and it was gone. I shoulda picked it up and took the chance for $40.

I asked one of the employees and she had basically no knowledge of snakes. She told me they don't get any information and any ball python just goes with the rest. According to her, people have come in and found "expensive" snakes. I don't know how true it is but we stop in there every once in a while just in case.

This isn't related to ball pythons but I did pick this up leopard gecko from the same Petco this week for $15. Another member says she looks to be a SHTCT.