Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi. I'm a colubrid keeper that has recently become interested/curious about ball pythons. I haven't bought any yet but I was looking at them pretty closely at the Daytona show and will probably buy my first pair soon. Over the years, in Daytona, I've noticed that there are quite a few vendors selling them every year and some of the morphs seem to maintain very high price points. So my question is, and not wanting to offend any breeders, that's not my intetion, I'm just curious: how is it that some of these morphs are maintaining some very high price points with so many breeders out there (because it does seem like both online and at shows, there is a lot of ball python vendor competition)? For those who are breeding and selling them, are you selling them all or do you find you are holding a lot back that won't sell? It just seems like it would be impossible for all the ones I see at the Daytona show to sell and to sell at the prices that are being asked. Again, I'm new to all of this and I realize some of the morphs are very recently created and of course, would command a high price. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot, Mike

If your interested in these snakes as a investment I wouldn't suggest it.. You will be lucky to break even with them... There is a big supply of ball pythons but also a bigger demand. Very few people actually make good money off of these animals. Stocks would be a more sound investment..

As a rule, recessive mutations tend to hold their value longer than dominant or codominant mutations. As you mentioned, newr morphs also tend to have a higher value than established morphs. also, the number of people actually working with a particular morph dictates the price. just because there are x number of ball python breeders doesn't mean that that particular number are working with certian morphs, as only y number can afford some of those morphs. no matter how much i want a coral glow, I can't afford to drop 20k on one, nor can many other people, only a select few can, so those animals will hold their value longer. As they gradually drop in price, they will eventually hit a point where a larger segment of the population can afford them. usually, a few years after that, there is a major drop in price. Pieds are a good example of this. A few years ago, nice pieds were still several thousand dollars. Today, it is not uncommon to see them for under 1000.00. I hope all this rambling was of some use.

Out of curiosity, what type of colubrids do you breed?
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www.jasonrbartolettreptiles.webs.com

It was useful thanks. I know that's basically how it works for all snake morphs, regardless of type. But the sort of "joke" (again, not meaning to sound offensive) is that the only people buying ball pythons are other ball pythons breeders. I've heard that from a lot people at the Daytona show over the years. Now, obviously that's not true or the market would have tanked by now.

Personally, I think they are incredible animals. I am only really interested in maybe one or two pairs (although i can see easily becoming addicted to them as they are so unbelievably variable) to keep as pets mostly and as fun side project.

I most have Trans-Pecos ratsnakes. It's the species I've decided to put my energy into with limited space, resources, etc. And there are enough pattern and color variations to keep me busy (nothing like the balls though. Wow!).

Thanks again for the replies.

It's true up to a certian point. When you're selling a $5,000.00 snake, most people aren't buying that just as a pet. When the price drops down to a certian level, you begin to see people who like them and have no interest in buying them willing to drop the cash on the snake. The general rule with the higher end stuff is that your customer today is your competition tomorrow. It's just the nature of the beast.
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www.jasonrbartolettreptiles.webs.com

"only people buying ball pythons are other ball pythons breeders."

Actually that pretty much sums it up! LoL Don't get me wrong other people do buy them too, but the higher end morphs are bought to add to a breeders stock more often then not. Or so I would assume. Most of the ones I see selling are going to other breeders anyways.