So there are no distinguishing patterns associated with various lines? Out of curiosity, which names generate the highest premiums?

In regards to falling prices, the ball python market seems to be the definition of a perfectly competitive market -- low barriers for entry and limited differentiation (if your statement is true that the various lines aren't distinguishable). This means that if someone lowers their price, they set the new price level and everyone is forced to follow suit. Eventually price ratchets downwards. I'd would think that if breeders develop a line that can be differentiated visually, then they shouldn't merely sell their snakes for others to replicate but rather patent their creation (if possible...I don't even know if they could legally defend their morphs) and license their animals to limit supply and take a cut of future sales made by others. There's no way Coke would make any profits if it merely sold its recipes to other cola manufacturers; they differentiate their product and then control supply/distribution.

Sorry for that tangent, but you raised an interesting problem with pricing.

Back to my original question: are pastel lines visually distinguishable?

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