Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Good morning all. I am going to go look at a questionable ball on monday. all I know about it is, its a wc that they have had about 2-3 years suposably eating good ( will see) due to a break up in a situation they are letting this ball go for 100.00 including tank uth and heat dome. I havent said I will take it just look at it, sex is uknown at his time. good price or bad price? if it is in BAD shape I will take it anyways at least here I can care for it properly!.
I cant imagin getting rid of my balls. where i go they go!!!! as well as the rest of my reptiles they are what keeps me sain!! lol
have a good day all
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0.0.1 okeetee corn arubiss
2.0.1 ball python het pied Snickers. Sting, ET
0.0.1 lutistic rat snake Tag
1.0.0 Boxer BoBO with the angles
0.1.0 Boxer Jaycie
0.1.0 Pitty Willow
0.0.1 sever macaw Jerry Sparkplug
0.0.1 conure Jewel
1.0.0 cockatile Sam
1.3. skinkids
1.0 hardheaded hubby dosent like the scaled variety

Fresh imports go for $15-$20 ea. If its a female a $100 with set up is not bad. If its a male its really not worth it. Feeding male balls go about $35 for any size or source (c.b w.c, c.h).

JNJ REPTILES
www.jnjreptiles.com
sales@jnjrreptiles.com

if the setup is really nice, big and well built/clean, the price is great just for the setup itself. I wouldn't buy the ball python for any price if it is in poor shape, mite infested, etc, as it may not even survive even with proper medical care and the cost would make it well beyond the cost of a healthy specimen of the same age would be.

However, if you feel the ball is not so far gone to be beyond saving, and you are willing to put the time, effort and money into getting it back up to health, then the price is fine. If the snake is in bad shape, you could negotiate with the current owner. If they see you are interested in buying if they lower the price..they may go for it. Especially if you can see the snake is sick and explaining nobody would be willing to pay that amount for a sick animal.

Of course if the cage it comes with is filthy, poorly made etc, I definitely wouldn't pay much for it either, giving I would have to bring it home, spend a couple hours cleaning, repairing, disinfecting etc. It would be easier and cheaper for me to just buy a new cage at Walmart (ie sweaterbox type cage).

If you just want a normal ball python for a pet, regardless of sex, $100 may still be a fair price, providing the cage is of good display value. If it's a sweaterbox or small a tank that is rather small, or in bad shape but the snake is healthy, probably not worth it at all. An adult healthy female would be worth a bit more, if you are into breeding. If you have absolutely no plans to breed, you will be paying too much for it.

All and all it really depends on the shape of the snake and cage and how much you are willing to pay for a normal ball python. SO if cage and snake are in great shape and the cage is suitable for an adult ball python, $100 may not be too bad. If the cage is too small, something you can buy brand new for much cheaper than $70, is rough shape, filthy etc, not worth getting it with the ball python. If the snake is in bad shape (skinny, mite ridden, covered with unshed skin, mites, sores etc, wheezing and other signs of ill health) it is definitely not worth $100 even if its cage is top dollar. Unless you plan to humanely euthenize the snake and keep the cage for another healthier one (after cage is thoroughly disinfected, cleaned and sterilized).

Treating a snake for internal and external parasites, respiratory infections, starvation, malnutrition, burns etc can cost $500 or more at a vet. Even then if the snake is really far gone, it may not survive after spending alot of money on vet trips, medication, staying up half the night or working to get the snake up to health (ie force feeding, assisting feeding, bathing, giving injections etc). Would be better to just buy a healthy snake.

IN the end, it is up to you to decide what is worth it to you. If you like the snake, feel you are up to the challenge to bring it up to health (if necessary), have the money to do so, etc, then $100 would be worth it to you. I love snakes, spend alot of time caring for the ones I currently own, if they became sick I would spend the money and time needed to get them healthy again. However, I definitely would be very hesitant to purchase a snake that is obviously unhealthy. First reason, the high risk of contaminating my current collection (even with quarantining the snake, my place isn't big enough for me to comfortably feel I can isolate the snake sufficiently to prevent cross contamination, especially with anything that is airborne). Second, I really do not have the extra cash to pay for large vet bills when they can be safely avoided (ie, I don't buy a sick snake, I don't have to worry about vet bills).

However, I would tell the owner his snake is sick, guess on what is wrong (ie covered with mites, dehydrated ,respiratory infection) and suggest he take him to a vet to get treated, then after it is healthy I would be interested in buying it. If he was unwilling to do that, I won't buy it. I would probably tell him he would be irresponsible and cruel not to get the snake treated before selling it to somebody who didn't know how to tell a healthy snake from a sick one. If the person seems uncaring, I probably would report him to the SPCA, hopefully they will catch him with it before they sold the snake.

If the snake wasn't too bad (ie just has mites) I may still get it, but I would do everything I could to talk them down in price. However, if I didn't have a can of Prevent a Mite already I probably wouldn't take it. Too much chance the mites will fall off the snake and migrate before I could get a can (as it isn't sold here in Canada, and the few places that do carry it once in awhile, are nowhere near me, so I would have to order it online and it could take a couple weeks to get to me).
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PHLdyPayne

Ya ! Go for it , like you said get it to home were you know it can be cared for ! good luck . David of DS Reptile Rescue