Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well I considered purchasing a snake a few weeks ago maybe a month and decided to buy a california king being that Im new to all this, and yes I have everything needed and have a few books. Anyway I thought to myself I might as well get a snake that I really want rather than everyone saying to get an easy and likable snake (which I probably will get). So I came upon the ball python which a first timer like me would do good with, but when I researched prices online I came upon a site selling some for 25,000 and 15,000 and the lowest was 3,000....Excuse me for being a noob but im trying to learn why??? They look awesome I really want to get one because I know its the one for me but 15,000 is ludacris being im only 15. Also they had weird names like hypo blah blah and, het x hybrid? Help....

Normal Ball pythons do not cost that much. They can be anywhere from 20-50 dollars or more. You were definitely looking at different morphs, which do cost a great deal more, depending on which kind. For you, I suggest buying a nice book on ball pythons or finding a caresheet, I believe there's one on here.
No offense, but you should definitely read and study this species much much more before you even consider buying one, they have very specific needs.
Hope this helps

Are we talking about the same ball pythons?
You can keep ball pythons the same as a corn snake.
Plastic tub, paper towels, water bowl,a hide if you are feeling nice, and maybe some heat of some sort.
Do they really need a high and low end heat temps?
No. not if you are keeping them as pets.

Anyone with a lid to a container could keep a ball python.

Let the flaming begin.

Cole Maas

You are kinda the reason they cost so much ) Meaning that you really want one because they are a great size and disposition for keeping as a pet and that makes them more in demand. Some of the more rare and harder to produce colors and patterns have even more demand and bring a much higher price. If you just want a normal ball python, you can get one for less then $100 at a pet store (not the best place to buy anything) or from an established breeder online with shipping included. Welcome to ball pythons!

The best ball python for a pet is what most in the ball python world call a normal male. It will be cheap ($15 to $50), and a great pet for many years to come. Really being a male wont matter, its just that males tend to be cheaper. If you have a local petco, they usually sell them for $45. They really are supper pets and live for a long time. One person just said their ball python dies at the age of 20, and someone else said they had some live to 20 and 25. Now thats a long lived pet!

As for the high dollar ones... they are more like stocks in the stock market. People buy them because they look good, and hope they will one day make them some money. There is the rare exception, people that actually have a spare $5000 sitting around to buy a good looking snake and keep it as a pet. And some people buy them for both reasons (I would say most).

These high dollar ones have different genetics to them that will make them look different from a normal one. I dont know if you know about genetics yet, but its the same reason you will be white if your parents are white, and black if you parents are black, and a mix if one was white and the other black, you can interchange white and black with tall and short, large and small, brown eyes and blue eyes, the list goes on to every trait you have or dont have.

Perhaps someone else can point out a good genetics website if you say you dont understand.

I think ball pythons are awsome pet snakes!

Ben

Hmmmm...my local petco sells them for $79 plus tax. Maybe it is a location thing.

lol, and mine is around $99 last time I remember at petco. good old Los Angeles. hell my het albino males barely go for above petco prices around here.
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Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons

Well, yah the sticker price is $75.99 or something but right now (and when dont they) they have them on sale. They do it all the time. Now its really kinda mean because our local petco is one of the very few places you can get mice to feed them, and they are $2 each. Ouch. Not a big deal if you need to feed one, but if I had to buy from them to feed my hungry mouths... thats a big feed bill.

Ben

ya I use to get my feeders there sometimes when I didn't want to drive to the reptile store. but they jacked the prices way way up, a worker said it is cause peta got involved and said they couldn't sell fancy mice, they all just have to be together. and something about keeping males and females away from each other. The funny thing is that the live rat price went sky high, but you can still buy a large frozen rat for about the price of a small live rat, nuts I tell you. Well they lost my business, and I know I spend a good amount of $$'s on rats every year.
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Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons

yah I was told it was peta too. In most large cities, it is prob killing their mouse sales, but here they are just making more money. I have been told thats why petsmart doesnt sell mice and rats at all. I dont think it really matters to them anyhow, they make their money off the supplies anyhow. When someone goes to a reptile show and buys stuff, they go to petsmart or petco for the supplies anyways.

Ben

Thanks very much to everyone that replied, I'll see if there are any pet stores in my area that sell bp's or will order them for me. I didnt want to sound like one of those people that want a cheap animal just because its cheap. I will pay what I have to pay to get a great pet but not 15k. I'll look into the genetics thing but all I want is a common male bp that isnt over 200 bucks. Im kinda upset that I might have to change my kingsnake dessert set up because it looks so cool. But I rather have a pet that I adore and love than one thats a quick buy and is easy to care for not to mention that most snakes go past 10 years. To end my rant thanks to everyone that helped me!

You shouldn't have to pay more than $40-50.

If you dont mind me asking another question, I wanted to know if BP's need a semi arborreal setup such as a sturdy tree branch? And for the subtrate can I use astroturf? or repti bark?

You must look at how they live in nature. They are nocturnal, live in holes and tight spaces, and are often found underground.

if Your planning on getting a pet that could easily live 20-25 years, buy a book and learn what is required to keep your new pal happy and healthy before you jump in!
Sorry it's a Parent thing-But a pet is a big responsibility. You need to be responsible and do your own research about what is involved Before you take on a living breathing animal.

Ball Pythons are Awsome!
Good luck,
A.
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"There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness"
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