I agree with the other guys and here's why: True market value is determined by what someone is willing to pay for something. I'm new to Burmese Pythons, but I breed corn snakes and bearded dragons. I'm not a big breeder, I just have one female of each and have a nice popular line going. My science students like to hear about my breeding projects and they often buy our babies. Anyway, corn snakes are funny because there are so many morphs. Yesterday I was doing a reptile show and one child told me he had a "hybino" corn snake (a cross between a normal and an amel). Never heard of that one! I breed Sunglows because I happen to like the color. Sunglows used to be worth $70 as hatchlings and some still sell them for $50. I think most people sell them for about $30-$40. Determining the value of a pattern of an individual snake goes by what people like. The striped corns are more valuable to others, but I don't care for them, so they're not valuable to me. I have a huge amel corn snake that is priceless to me. He is part of my wildlife presentation and is great with kids. Priceless.



As for Burms, I just received a free one. The lady couldn't give him away to anyone else...zoos, our Serpentarium. To tell you the truth, I wasn't quite sure I wanted him, but we made a family decision to accept him. I do understand wanting a hatchling of your own. I think the concern of others on the board is that instead of thinking of value, think long-term commitment to a really big animal that is dependent on you for 20 or so years of care. So pick something *you* like so that you will fall in love with it, care for it and keep it 'til death do you part. I hate to sound like a sicko, but I'm glad I got an old snake. Mine is about 10 and I'm OK with that. That was what my level of commitment was at this point. I can commit to a decade or so of a really big snake and then see what I want to do. I had to be honest with myself and see if I could do 20. I have a young boa and I can commit 20 years to him if I need to-he's only 6 1/2 ft. When I'm 60 years old, I can drive a Cadillac with him in the passenger seat like little old ladies drive around their Pug dogs with an I heart my boa bumper sticker! Just kidding!

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