Reptile & Amphibian Forums

At my local pet store they have a baby Ball Python for $59.99 and I think that almost seems a little too cheap, they said their next batch will be $89.99 but they got this one cheaper from a breeder in florida. Do you think there may be something wrong with this Python because its labeled so cheap?

We bought two for $29.99 each from a pet store and they are just fine.

Most everything in pet stores is imported, especially this early in the year. As long as they are hydrated and eating it should be fine, just be skeptical as they will generally claim these are captive bred and they almost never are.

>>At my local pet store they have a baby Ball Python for $59.99 and I think that almost seems a little too cheap, they said their next batch will be $89.99 but they got this one cheaper from a breeder in florida. Do you think there may be something wrong with this Python because its labeled so cheap?

They had baby BPs for $10.
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JMHO, FWIW, YMMV.

My ball python was only 69.99 and it is in perfect shape. It looks good, has no infections, has no problem eating, is very calm and easy to hold. I guess it depends on the store. I got mine from a store i know and trust. Just because its cheap doesnt mean there is something wrong with it.

Rob Woods

Export price on farmed ones in Africa is $4-6 depending on the season, so actually 59.99 is a bit profit margin. I've seen them in the classifieds for $10, and those were captive bred. The fact still remains that no matter what their value to US is normal balls are common and cheap. It's the morphs that are crazy prices, but god wouldn't be all love to have a few? *sticks tongue out at the ones who actually DO have the nice morphs...jokingly*

I have worked at a small pet store in the past and we often times sold Ball Pythons cheaper in the early summer becuase obviously we could get them cheaper. This being said normally the "cheaper" Balls were some of the healthiest we got all year due to being recently imported as hatchlings and still being nicely hydrated and usually took thier first meals within a week of coming in. But due to our store only buying about 10 at a time, we usually paid no less then $15 each and the cheapest we ever sold them for was double that at $29.99. Our usual Ball Python price is $59.99 year round. During the winter months we bought "guarenteed feeding" Ball Pythons and usually pay close to $35. So with all that said, I would not be concerned with buying a nice baby for $59.99, although you may be able to get one cheaper. Hope that helps.
Jason