Quote Originally Posted by SiscoReptiles
Cheapest: (Starting cost: $150+)

Buy a male that is 100% het for Piebald.
Buy a normal female ball python.

Raise them both and breed them.

Half the hatchlings will be 100% het for Piebald, but since you can't tell which is het and which is normal, all of them will be concidered 50% het until they are raised and bred. Sell all of the males as 50% het Pied and keep all of the females. Breed your 100% het Piebald to the females when they are large enough and odds are you will get a Piedbald. If you don't, keep all of the females to breed again in the future.
okay so let's say... it takes 3 years to feed and raise that female to breedable size:

1 mouse per week - $1.00 per mouse - $52.00 per year times 3 years = $156.00

you'll need to feed both snakes so: $312.00

add in the cost of the 100% het male approx. $200.00 = total is: $512.00

now, we need to add in another three years of raising up the new females (let's say you have 2) - that would add another $468.00 for feed for these two little females and continueing to feed your 100% het male...

new total - $980.00

IF either of these females turn out to be het... then you are ready to breed some (hopefully) pieds.

so after 6 years and spending a minimum of $980.00 you are hopefully getting some pieds. now onto the other option listed below.

Quote Originally Posted by SiscoReptiles
Cheap, but faster: (Starting cost: $800+)

Buy a male & female 100% het for Piebald

Raise and breed them together. If you don't get a Piebald, try again the following season.

The key is, when you buy a Het is to buy from someone trusted. Too many people buy false hets and don't realize they were rooked for several years. I'd personally by directly from a trusted breeder.

Note that the estimated costs, do not reflect enclosures, food or required items for proper husbandry.

Rick
$800 for snakes
$312 for food for three years
$1112.00 and you are ready to breed some pieds.

the first option cost approx. $980.00
the second option cost approx. $1112.00

difference of 3 years and $132.00

second option definitely sounds better to me