Appraising Ball Pythons.

[shhhli]

How do you decide what you want?
In getting Crowley- it was "Hey, we're getting too sentimental about feeding mice, can you take him?" and i said HAWT DAWG YUS
In getting my pastel girl that im halfway on (if that second paypal went through...) As soon as I saw her I had to have her.
In retrospect, I probably could have paid 100$ more and got a sassier looking pastel, but she jumped at me.
Now, eventually, one day.. in the future.. yadda yadda i want a clown. SO. I have been looking at them, different breeders, and what is being offered at what price. Ive settled on what kind of markings I want, I prefer, and have a formed idea of 'the goal'.

My question is, how do you decide which ball you want, how much you're willing to spend, and why? Do you pre-plan what you're looking for, or do you go buy gut reaction mostly? Just curious. I would like to know how/why you chose those that you do..

[frankykeno]

Well Mike and I are still very new to this whole thing but basically we looked more at the end results we both want and then worked backwards in planning what we want to buy as foundation stock. For instance I dream one day of hatching a Caramel Glow....so I'll need to first get het caramels and het orange ghosts and then work forward from that.

For now we are busy growing females and hoping to breed our het albino this season, keep back all his female offspring and breed them back to him hoping to eventually produce our own albino.

In the end it's about what appeals to you, what you get fired up about and to be practical what you can afford. We wanted a pastel male last year but due to circumstances it wasn't possible so Adam from 8Ball helped us choose another male that fit our budget and also worked into what we are hoping to produce down the road.

[shhhli]

I like the planning you've got going on. I'll be planning to buy a 'flashier' male pastel next year and then breed further down the line. I plan on using my pastels as a way to get to clowns. Though, it wont be for a while, because most of what i do produce i will hold back to raise/sell raise/breed. Once i have some handsome pastels, i wouldnt mind selling a few to help fund for either hets or a homo female (to breed back to a male pastel).
exciting.

edit: and by handsome pastels i mean i dont want to produce snakes that you can look at in an instant and go - pastel - im not too fond of the darker babies. If i did get those, i would probably hold them back to breed to the nicer pastels and keep for the sake of petdom. ^.^

[JenHarrison]

I've had a long list of what I want sitting in my head for years...and I keep adding to it as new morphs are produced. But right now, I go by reaction. If I come across an animal that makes me instantly feel "I have to have it" and makes me desperate to find any way to get it...that's how I know I truly want it and it's "The One". I felt that way about all of my snakes and feel that way about a pastel I'm eyeballing right now. I won't spend the money unless I get that feeling and am absolutely sure it has all the qualities I want.

[shhhli]

:3
i saw that pastel you're eyeing on fauna (the only hot pink poster i might add)
he's a keeper and ive got my fingers crossed for ya'

[JenHarrison]

He's definitely a hottie, I just about fell off my chair when I saw him. I'm still trying to figure out how to get him...Josh is being patient with me.

I use pink on every forum except one...and that's only because it's a different kind of board and it only accepts the colors that are in the menu. So I have to use purple.

[kavmon]

like any other investment or something special you want, you save and budget yourself. i work extra and take on "side jobs" to pay for everything. my advice is not to go into debt with your hobby, this way there is no pressure to produce or sell to make that monthly loan payment.


find what you like and set goals, don't settle for less. you will find that perfect one for you. just takes time and $$$.



vaughn

[frankykeno]

like any other investment or something special you want, you save and budget yourself. i work extra and take on "side jobs" to pay for everything. my advice is not to go into debt with your hobby, this way there is no pressure to produce or sell to make that monthly loan payment.


find what you like and set goals, don't settle for less. you will find that perfect one for you. just takes time and $$$.



vaughn

Great advice Vaughn! I know at one time Mike and I spent so many hours talking about breeding and the future and trying to crunch numbers to find funds that just weren't available with one income and kids that for awhile I lost the joy of it. Instead of looking at the snakes we currently own as wonderful snakes today it would have been easy to see them as only wonderful for what tomorrow would bring. The goals will come, some of them might not but I don't want to miss the journey because I'm only looking for the destination.

[sweety314]

I like your last post Jo. I've been adding to our collection w/plans for the future, but it's sort of just materialized. The more I'm here and reading and watching and learning, the more I want to get into the breeding asspects.

I didn't get Pinky T and Petey exclusively for breeding, but they are pets, were a good deal and I like THEM. Apollo was purchased as a future mate for Pinky T but I still liked his color and pattern. They're all 3 yrs. away. Wrigley's going to be mature enough (probably?maybe?) by Christmas, but Hera's only 5-5.5' and 10# right now. So MAYBE I'll be able to try a first litter of boas in Dec.

I'm still in the dream stages for the balls, but with Zeus being of size (plus)...and Freddie having been probed as female, I think I'm going to try some normals first, get the "rhythm" down and then start working towards the albinos, pieds and axanthics that I'd love to have. Maybe eventually the bumblebees some day down the road.

I'm starting the name and biz card of a breeding business, and a 2nd one for rescues. Some means of identification that I can pass around and make it known that I'll take in surrendered snakes. That's how I came to have Freddie, and they're all wonderful pets.

No matter WHAT happens, I've been able to feed and indulge in my long desired love to have and own snakes. That's the best part, and whether or not the breeding is successful, I'm happy with my pets.

RuLyn

[shhhli]

Excellent Advice Guys, I love the personal stories and the advice.
Well Then, I dont think I would ever consider taking out a loan on a snake... O.O wow. But then, im one of those- if you dont have the money then, or cant save for it, probably shouldnt be getting it. (for Wants not Needs) ^.^
Im all excited and etc.