I thought that the reason that mohaves were popular is that when two are bred together, they stand an excellent chance of producing a leucistic (sp) snake. I may not have spelled the word correctly, but these snakes are completely white with blue eyes. That kind of snake would rival your albino and pied morphs.



I can understand wanting to own some of these unusually colored snakes. Like any other kind of collecting, part of the fun is having some of the unusual variants that have been produced. I still like the normals the most. Having a normal is like having a classic car that's been restored to perfect "factory" condition. That look is what's supposed to define the species. On the other hand, exploring the options can be fun as well.



A few months ago, I couldn't understand the appeal of pastels, but I've seen several that I find very attractive. I'm not yet ready to own another snake because I don't want to have to care for another snake. However, if I were going to purchase another ball python, I'd consider a pastel. If I do everything right, my snake will live 20 to 30 years. Spread over that time period and averaged with the cost of bedding, rats, hides, bowls, heat and humidity control, vet visits, and all of the other necessities of snake ownership, the difference between a $40 normal and a $750 pastel is not that great as long as I can really afford to have another snake and spend $750.



If the market is truly inflated as you suggest, I agree that prices will come crashing down someday. On the other hand, if they ever enact a tariff on importing more ball pythons, the prices of normals will rise somewhat. In a country where daily life is getting busier and busier, ball pythons will grow in popularity as a pet. If they become "mainstream," then demand for the morphs may become even greater. When Mr. and Mrs. Next Door are shopping for the suddenly popular ball python, they'll want something a little prettier, a little more unsual, and a little more expensive than what "The Joneses" bought. They'll pay the price to have a pastel or spider or bumblebee or whatever is a little "better" than the snake next door. (This is a truly depressing paragraph.)



The good news for us is that we'll be suddenly popular when Mr. and Mrs. Next Door need help getting $3000 "wrapped in scales" to eat a $2 rat. The owners who become too frustrated will then be willing to give these animals to anyone who can make them eat, and all of us will have morphs. (Okay, this paragraph isn't much better. I'll quit now.)





Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

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