Reptile & Amphibian Forums

the local shop my buddy works at started selling snakes this year, and actualy takes care of the snakes but sells them for so expensive.

baby boa: $180
baby balls : $75
corns : $50 regardless of morph (even normals) so i snagged a butter,
but it refuses to eat.

kinked albino cal king: $85

also i think imgoing to have to talk with the store about them switching to a better supplier, the one they have now knowingly sells them snakes that refuse to eator have kinks.
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jake barney

my addiction:
1.1 ball pythons
0.2.1 corns
1.0 cal king
0.0.1 wc garter

Those sound about right for prices here in upstate NY. Unfortunately the whole trouble is that to get killer prices you have to buy direct from breeders. And if they are local breeders they are selling to the same market you (the pet store) are and therefore competing. So stores are rather stuck choosing from the best of the wholesalers that they can. As for inferior stock....that is a choice. A BP that is eating is typically double those that aren't . So, if you are confident that you can get them eating before they are sold you can go that route. Or you are stuck again starting someone else's babies. Or you get interesting WC stuff for cheapo. Choices, choices.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

yeah... back when I was first looking into getting a california king I went the two burlington area stores and they ran from $80-90 and I figured that was about normal. Just for kicks I checked out the classifieds here and HOLY COW 30 bucks! What a deal! Shipping hurt but since I got two snakes at no extra shipping it was quite a deal compared to what I thought I had to pay for the animals. Knowing what I know now, I don't think I'll ever spend more than $30 for a cold-blooded animal in a pet store. If it's less than it's worth the saved money on shipping. If it's more it probably isn't. Kinked though? They should have requested a replacement from the breeder.

i dont think the person who sells to the store even cares, she just wants her money (and to move snakes)

she sold the store a butter corn for $25. so when i saw it for sale at $50 i snagged it thinking i got a great deal... nope, refuses to eat. do snakes that start like this make good breeders? because i have a 2.5 month old son, i dont have time to take care of such an unsexed finicky snake especialy if i know it has no breeding potential, i need to call this person and insist on a trade for a hatcthling male.
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jake barney

my addiction:
1.1 ball pythons
0.2.1 corns
1.0 cal king
0.0.1 wc garter

The issue with pet store prices is that the bottom line is they are in business to make money, so they will mark up as much as they can. If they have balls selling for $75 they will keep that price, or raise it to see if they can get $89. Thats their business.

Also you have to realize that most people selling snakes they breed are not making a profit. Big time breeders are, but small guys are most likely losing money if you factor in the amount of time spent caring for their animals. I easily spend 2 - 3 hours, 4 nites a week with my snakes. Add to that the cost of heating them and feeding and I'm probably behind the eightball. But its something I enjoy.

Now, your corn snake. You said you are considering trading it back for a hatchling. If the snake you have is bigger then a hatchling now...it was feeding on something. try different ways of feeding, live, frozen thawed. Hatchling colubrids do well being placed in a separate small dark container when fed.

Once feeding, your snake will be as good of a breeder as any other. Many snakes are tough to start feeding, but once started you'd never know there was a problem.

Good luck!!

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"The band is just fantastic, that is really what I think. Oh by the way, which ones pink?"

the corn is a hatchling, ive tried quite a few things, and so did my friend at the store, the only time its eaten in at least a month was when it was force fed.
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jake barney

my addiction:
1.1 ball pythons
0.2.1 corns
1.0 cal king
0.0.1 wc garter

>>the corn is a hatchling, ive tried quite a few things, and so did my friend at the store, the only time its eaten in at least a month was when it was force fed.

If it was on display I can tell you that that right there is reason for many snakes to go off eating. Pet stores have a very hard time selling/displaying and making for a happy reptile all at once. 50 people a day walking by, let alone tapping on the glass is enough for anyone to go off food.

First I would be sure it has a shoebox sized enclosure with nothing but hides (usually I just fill it with long fiber spagnum) and a water dish. No handling.
Don't know what you have tried but I would go for (in this order) a live pink a brained live pink a f/t pink a beheaded pink.
This is all offered overnight, with no interruption in a secure small box.....offering no closer than every 4 days. I have never had a corn go to force feeding. Though I have two ratsnakes, out of 23 that needed one assist feeding before kicking in on their own.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny