Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all,

I have been looking for a Male 100% het. for Piebald ball. Anyways, I have noticed very large price differences here on Kingsnake in the Classified. I have seen anywhere from $675 all the way to $1,750. I do not understand why one would be so much higher then the next. None of the snakes I saw advirtised where from breeders I recognized. How much should one pay for a 100% het for piebald male? Should I trust a lower price if it is posted on Kingsnake and can be paid with PAYPAL? Or would you not trust the low prices? Any advice would be great.

HOOPY

Different breeders have different ideas on what they think they can sell the snakes they have for so it's normal that prices vary.

There also could be some older animals involved that you would be paying a premium for (I've not looked at the ads yet but an 02 male could well breed this winter and hence be worth more than an 03 if that is what you are seeing).

Also, with hets there is a significant issue of trust involved. Kingsnake doesn't make it their business to guarantee the advertisers, and there isn't really anyway they could know about hets anyway (I think if they are really bad they can get kicked off because of complaints but it will be years before anyone knows about hets sold today). I would suggest doing a lot of research on any potential seller. First find their name (I frankly worry about sellers that don't post their name) and do a search. There is another site, which specializes in gathering information (good and bad) on sellers but often the business names change so you need a person’s name to search on.

Best of luck!

I have noticed this too and here are my thoughts on the idea. I have gone to VPI.com and seen that Tracy is selling 03' males for $1200 I believe. I think if you were not interested in breeding this winter, this is a VERY good price. This way you know for certain it is a het. If you are looking for an 02 I would go to BallPython.com and buy one of thier males for $1500. This is also what I consider a good price for a het and you do not have to worry about the genetics. I know personally that if I were ready to buy a het male Piebald, I would go to one of these two to buy it. There may be other breeders out there selling them too, these two just stuck out in my head. Just my two cents.
Jason

>>Also, with hets there is a significant issue of trust
involved. Kingsnake doesn't make it their business to guarantee

Yes, and it's a double-edged sword for the "small guy" - no one wants to buy your animals because there's no "history" but you cannot make a "history" unless someone buys your stuff. I'm in that boat. I have an albino project but I'm mostly a collector and not a seller. Who the heck am I!!

In terms of trust, I would ask for a time when the seller can commit an hour or so to you. Then ask for pics of the parents. Ask to take different pics (immediately) and send (real time). It's easy for someone to send one "borrowed" pic. But if you call me, I'll take any pic of my male albino you want - in my hands, on my head, whatever. Point is, you know I have one.

I would also ask for signed pics of the snake. Get a couple.
Get references and a written contract. Get and confirm a mailing address, phone number. Talk to the person and get a "feel" for them.

>>of research on any potential seller. First find their name (I frankly worry about sellers that don't post their name) and do a

That's huge for me. If I see something like "Jack" and nothing else, I don't even consider the ad.

>>search. There is another site, which specializes in gathering information (good and bad) on sellers but often the business names change so you need a person’s name to search on.

The Board of Inquiry will allow this but there are some flaws. For instance, you cannot do a search on PG Reptiles. That's because PG doesn't meet their minimum requirements for a query string. So you can only imagine what a search on Reptiles brings up.
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Jay A. Martin

I like your idea of the pics. Maybe if I ever produce a morph and have hets to sell I'll regularly update a website pic with the animal sitting on a signed cover of a current reptiles magazine Of course by the time I have a breeding morph everyone will have it so it will not be that hard to believe anyway.

I also like to see pics of the babies on a web site or in an ad. Then you can make sure the animal you get looks like the pic that you saved ahead of time in case the seller takes the pic down. I actually have a pic of one of my current breeders with his entire newly hatched clutch from his breeder. I can clearly pic him out by his pattern. Very reassuring. It still isn’t perfect as I guess the breeder could have thrown an extra couple import babies in for a clutch picture but at least he isn’t selling 100 different hets from one “clutch” with one borrowed pic of the original morph he may or may not have once owned.

I probably better not even talk about the 3 letter and multiword search problems on that "other site". But I bet if you get a full first and last name out of a seller you should be able to find something or at least ask. It just makes me suspicious when they don't put their name up in the ad. I guess some might be trying to work their business name first but I swear I saw one recently that didn't even have a business name, just blank, and send me your money and you don’t even need to know where I am much less who I am!

Buy all your hets from the big guys (NERD, Snake Keeper, VPI, ect...) They are 99.9999999% more likely not to rip you off,and if they do, it is accidental (like snake accidently got put in the wrong tub and was therefore labled differently). Some people sell normals as hets on the classifieds, make sure you know the persons reputation and have a guarentee on your hets! Be careful! I am not trying to offend the little guys, I am gaong to start next season and I know I won't be starting out with NERDs collection or Snake Keepers reputation, but I hope to get trust and work my way up yo that. By being honest and detailed and adding little extras I should gain a good rep. I hope. I am sick of reading all the "new morphs" and "possible genetic" crap out there. SELL it for what it IS not what it MIGHT BE! Sorry for the little vent, LOL, but good luck!
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~~~ Krystal - a teenager who admits she dosen't know everything, or even close! - Future breeder of Pythons, Geckos, we'll see what else later! Specalizing in Ball Pythons and Leopard Geckos ~~~ www.geocities.com/krystal19_85 ~~~

Personally I would never buy anything from some of the "big breeders" (some is the key word here). After being messed over by one of the "biggest"no names named, lol) I'd rather deal with the smaller, quieter hobbiests.

Small hobbiest/breeders usually (not always) have more time to maintain a pristine small collection. I don't think "mistakes" such as "accidently" sending you the wrong animal will happen. : )

When you produce bps, do you want everyone to say "Don't but from them, buy from the BIG BREEDERS!", even when yours are just radiating with health and you honestly represent them?

This is in no way a flame Krystal, I enjoy your entertaining posts both here and on r-d-r. Just try not to base your opinions of the quality of their animals on a big, flashy, colorful website without actually knowing the people (and actual quality of their aniamls) that you admire. : )

Later,
Jen
(One of the little guys with a sterling reputation, lol.....)

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HerpCrazy Reptiles

Jen,

What are the genetics of the snake you pictured? I notice it doesn't have a mark coming down for the eye like most normals seem to. Is it a possible or known het for anything?

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Sean Bradley
Owner : EbN
www.ExoticsByNature.com
www.BallPythonMorphs.com
www.CornSnakeMorphs.com

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HerpCrazy Reptiles

Is it just the pic or does it really not have the black coming down from the eye (either side)? I've never really paid attention to pastel pics for pattern differences before but hadn't noticed anything different in others.

Nope, no black.

Thanks,
Jen
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HerpCrazy Reptiles

I do agree, I am just saying that there is alot of people out there selling junglish half striped pastel wanna-be almost ghostish CB feeding and shedding balls when they are actually a normal import! LOL and alot of "Het. something or anothers" that aren't hets, I have nothing against the lil guys, I am one of the littelest little guys LOL! Thanks for the compliments and sorry for posting without fully explaining myself! I think it is all in trust and how you represent yourself and you animals. If you ask a breeder to see papers or where the snakes are kept and you get an excuse or just a plain "NO!" I say don't go there. With ANY breeder, ASK QUESTIONS! I know anyone who buys one of my animals when I have some available will have all questions answered, and I throw in a little something extra with each animal (you will find out if you buy from me what that is, but don't get all excited, I don't send free pieds with each normal LOL, just something little and cute and helpeful! Keep you all guessing I like my planning Hopefully I can get started soon). I am getting my first ever BP back tonight! But I don't have my racks built so she will have to deal with the aquarium she is in for now. You can read her story in the post "Forget about Nemo, I found Baby! LOL here's a story for all you guys". Thanks!
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~~~ Krystal - a teenager who admits she dosen't know everything, or even close! - Future breeder of Pythons, Geckos, we'll see what else later! Specalizing in Ball Pythons and Leopard Geckos ~~~ www.geocities.com/krystal19_85 ~~~

I agree with you Jen, the little guys have awesome stuff too. I'm just a hobbyist and I know I have some awesome animals. And all the "BIG BREEDERS" weren't always big, they started out just like the rest of us(at the bottom) If people were saying don't buy from them because they aren't "BIG BREEDERS" they wouldn't be were they are today.

You do not have to worry with those three for sure! I have not bought from Nerd as of yet.

Free Nemo - I heard he was arrested

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RicK Denmon

Ball Boutique,Inc.

I've bought from NERD and they are great.