Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Looking at getting this animal and I just want to make sure Im not just getting a really expensive normal.

It doesn't look like a fire to me.

No. Maybe a "Fancy" but definitely not a Fire. Don't buy it as one.

What could it be then?

and what would you be willing to pay for it?

looks pretty normal to most of us here, if male no more than $20. If female no more than $30.

Even with that patterning?

The prices he gave *were* for a Fancy normal like yours. A regular normal would go for about $15 male, $20 female. Actually, it isn't uncommon to get a regular normal free with a sizable purchase from a breeder.
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Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.1 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 Whitesided P. catenifer sayi, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

Really it all depends on what you want to pay for it. Also keep in mind that those prices given of $15-$20 or free is only going to come from a bigger breeder or at an expo. Most regular people sell regulars for any where from $25-$100 because they themselves bought it from a pet store. Even most breeders sell dinkers for about $100, and that is a definite dinker.
Just be aware that it does not look like a Fire. It does look nice and I would personally pick it up for my self to dink with.

to the folks that are saying only big time breeders give away normals or maybe someone will give you a free one with a large purchase, i have to disagree - or maybe i'm just a terrible businessman.

i'm as small time as it gets, and i give away more snakes than i sell and am always throwing freebies into the box. anyone breeding codoms or mixing two recessive genes are constantly creating normals and possible hets, and need to clear them out. i'm sure most dealers sell these to pet shops, etc, as there is real money there - but i choose to give them away to individuals who already have ball pythons. i don't need the extra odd $20.

i know this sounds like self advertising, but i doubt i'm alone on this, and must think all breeders, not just the big boys, are giving away normals left and right.

It's not a fire, but it definitely looks like something I would dinker with! I would put it to a cinny, black pastel, or het red axanthic/red axanthic.

Definately a dinker, the guy is pretty adamant about it being a fire though, its 2 months old if that helps. Pretty clear belly on it too only one or two marks.

I took another look at your pic, and now that I think about it, the color of the dorsal patterning on your snake looks fire'ish- and I have not been able to find a cinnamon/black pastel fire pic in yahoo or google, so you might have a fire cross. Now I am thinking you should put it to a pastel and see if you get any fireflies and/or pewters. Have fun with that one! And if you got lucky and hit a pewter-fly, I would be sooo jealous!

It doesn't appear to be a Fire. I agree with others that it would be a dinker project. If it was my snake, I would breed it to a Yellowbelly.
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Scott Priester
Brookside Reptiles