Hi Tosha,
I'd say $150 is a fair price for that snake. Although I'm not sure why you priced him high because you didn't want to sell him (not because you wanted the money), then sold him low, but that's entirely up to you. The appearance to the outsider would be that you could not sell him for the $600 you were asking for and so you drastically dropped the price. Still, that's entirely up to you.
I think it's completely fine if people don't look at balls as an investment. Although, I'd say most people (not you perhaps, but most people) who are keeping twenty, thirty, or 100 females, and selling off normal males, are absolutely are gearing up to try to make money.
There is nothing inherently honorable about keeping balls as pets, investments, or a little of both (my situation). There is no moral high ground here. Losing money on your collection is not more noble than making a little bit (or alot for that matter).
I did find your "get a real job" comment harsh - which I suppose is why I posted my question to you. First, the vast majority of us have other jobs already. In my case, I have a low paying "real job" which is my real passion - I work with teens at Youth for Christ. I am hoping income from these animals will provide a little wiggle room for us financially. So yes, in my case I absolutely intend to try to make money
, but it's not a matter of greed.
Second, any job where someone is working hard, taking good care of their animals and their responsibilities, and dealing ethically IS a real job in my book. I don't care if that person is a farmer raising hogs, or a breeder raising ball pythons.
This is all just my opinion of course.
My best,
Christy