Reptile & Amphibian Forums

we all get used to looking at the classifieds on here for the next great deal on adult female balls. one bit of advice is to look in your local newspaper classifieds. You can easily find bp's for sale that are adult's. all you have to do is go probe them and buy the females. The good thing about this is it's usually a snake that has been in thier possession for several years and never been bred. The prices on these are usually tons less than what adult females are being sold by breeders and all work to grow them up has already been done. I've personally found 4 1800 gm plus females in the last 2 months for on average $150. Only once have I paid more and that was because the guy had a male and female and wouldn't seperate so I forked out 200 for a breeding size pair. So just remember don't forget about the good ole newspaper classifieds as well.
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2.0 het pied
1.1 het albino
1.0 het citrus ghost
0.9 normal
1.0 american pit bull terrior
1.1 taco dogs (ankle biters)
1.0 grey cat

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrior as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

Ditto that!!!

I must agree 100% with Josh that local classifieds are an excellent way to acquire animals. For example, I responded to an add where a college student was selling a pair of BP's. He was unsure of the sex and needed to get rid of them before he moved into the dorm. His asking price was $300 ( if my memory serves me right ). I told him without knowing the sex I could not pay him that amount and to check back with me if he was willing to lower the price. To make a long story short, I wound up purchasing both animals for $50.00 back in mid November. One of the snakes was a 1,000g female ball that I gave to a friend in order to settle a debt. This female is now about 1500g and ready to breed. Never hisses, bites and is always ready to eat.

Well, thought I would share that story for those of you on a budget. Do not give up hope! one can acquire nice, healthy animals with patience and persistance. Granted, I have yet to come across a $50 pied, LOL!!! BTW, I sold the male making a $5.00 profit and in essence paid $0.00 for the female.

Check your local papers on occassion!!!

Hope this helps,
Todd

I recently responded to an ad in our local classifeds for a free to good home breedable (Male and Female)pair of balls, the guy hadn't gotten any eggs from them in two years he'd had them and had given up. I thought I'd take a chance, I got them, probed them and found that I'd gotten two females both over 1600 grams in excellent condition for free. Hopefully they'll breed with my pastel male next season. Also there are plenty of adult females in rescues and shelters for about $50. Always pays to look around and not ignore the obvious.
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Tosha

8.8.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
7.9.5 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

I agree. Just Saturday I picked up a 1400 gram female with a 30 gallon long tank for 100. She has a couple of old scars but, so what, isn't going to bother my pastel I hope.

smaller one a male then?
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Jay A. Martin

I didn't check, couldn't afford both, but they thought it was a male and whatever it was wasn't 400 grams- kinda small for over 2 years.

That does seem small. Oh well, post a pic of your new find and congrats!
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Jay A. Martin

Here she is in her new home.

And here is a new picture of "Troy".

.
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Jay A. Martin

I agree that local "pet snakes" are one of the best ways to find cheaper normal females. On one Saturday trek, we got two high yellow females for 150 bucks, and from different people no less. We didn't even know that they were females til we got there and probed them, so we were pretty lucky. One girl was obviosly underfed, at about 2 years old, and just under 500 grams. This was 5 months ago, and she's pushin' 1000 g now, great feeder. Should make some nice lemon pastels next season. I just wish I could find more like her!

Evan
EnD Constrictors

even though I have found a few this way as well (and one in particular has very nice colors).. I have however spent a LOT of time running around to find half-dead males... you can spend and waste a lot of times for animals that were not properly housed for years.. one in particular I remember was probably blind.. I think a heat lamp cooked both of it's eyes.. the whole had was like one big scar... others had mouth rot, others were underfed... buying petshop ball pythons are not always the greatest solution to expand...

Just my opinion...

Bristen.