Albino BPs?

[slaponte]

Small question : why are albino BPs sooo expensive? (Of course, because there aren't many available, so the question is really how come they aren't available?).

With such a load of BPs out there reproducing, I would have thought albino BPs might be as available as albino Burmese. Is there a specific reason why albino BPs are not more prevalent, or just they are hard to come by, or what?
[addsig]

	Ball Python The Ball Python (Python regius), also known as the Royal Python, is a ground dwelling snake native to the savannahs and rain forests in western Africa, predominatly the countries of Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

[eddie]

Usually the BP has clutches of 5 to 7 eggs, vs. the higher number from other pythons.

Easy to see how the others are more widely available than the BP morphs.

As for the $$, supply and demand.
[addsig]

	Morph A morph is a color or pattern variation that is proven to be genetic. Common morphs include albino, anerythristic, gentically striped, Hypomelanistic, and many others. Morphs also include combinations of simple traits such as "Sunglow" which is Albino and Hypomelanistic. These traits may be recessive traits, co-dominant traits, dominant traits, or created through selective breeding (ie Pastel).

[najaboy]

Yep, Eddie got the nail right on the head. Balls are sllwer to reproduce than burms, and the clutches are much, much, smaller.
[addsig]

[slaponte]

I was reading around (the web). I can see where 1 clutch a year, around 7 eggs is not a lot.

In the other hand, there are WAY more BPs out there breeding than burmese, no? With soo many people breeding, it would seems hets would be everywhere, unless albino is an extremely rare line on BPs...

I was just surprised. Even albino Boas sell for under $1K (at least at last year's Daytona show). I'll be looking around this year, checking out prices.

The most I ever paid for one of my babies is under $500. I saw asking prices of $3,500 for albino BPs... ugh!

[addsig]

	Heterozygous Heterozygous - the animal carries the gene for a genetic trait but does not outwardly demonstrate the trait. Example: A boa that is het for albino looks normal but carries the albino gene. When it is bred to another het for albino boa or an albino boa, a percentage of the offspring will be albino.

Hah! you ought to see the prices on piebald (or whatever they call the ones that are mostly white with little bits of normal patterns), they are all almost over $10,000 a snake. IMO there isn't a snake on earth worth $10,000 - that's a sub compact car. But then I'm not a morph guy anyway, I think mother nature had it right the first time.
[addsig]

	Morph A morph is a color or pattern variation that is proven to be genetic. Common morphs include albino, anerythristic, gentically striped, Hypomelanistic, and many others. Morphs also include combinations of simple traits such as "Sunglow" which is Albino and Hypomelanistic. These traits may be recessive traits, co-dominant traits, dominant traits, or created through selective breeding (ie Pastel).

	In My Opinon IMO = In My Opinion and IMHO = In My Honest Opinion

[motorherp]

Wow I just had at those available over here, I thought they might be pricy but not THAT much, there is only one site who puts prices up and that was £3500 for an albino ($2000). I'd been looking at some piebalds on a site a couple of days ago which may be available 2003, I was going to enquire after their cost but I don't think i'll bother now.
[addsig]

[DogVsRaptor]

get on www.ralphdavisreptiles.com, he has lots of morphs, expensive,
but if thats your thing, then go for it.
[addsig]

	Morph A morph is a color or pattern variation that is proven to be genetic. Common morphs include albino, anerythristic, gentically striped, Hypomelanistic, and many others. Morphs also include combinations of simple traits such as "Sunglow" which is Albino and Hypomelanistic. These traits may be recessive traits, co-dominant traits, dominant traits, or created through selective breeding (ie Pastel).

[dragracingstud69]

I would love to have a piebald! but #$%^&#$%^&#$%^&#$%^&! I'd go buy me a new car if I had that much money just lying around! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
[addsig]

[StaticKaos]

No doubt.. The piebalds are more expensive than the albino's I believe.. I remember seeing a BP morph the other day for 15 grand.. thats insane
[addsig]

	Morph A morph is a color or pattern variation that is proven to be genetic. Common morphs include albino, anerythristic, gentically striped, Hypomelanistic, and many others. Morphs also include combinations of simple traits such as "Sunglow" which is Albino and Hypomelanistic. These traits may be recessive traits, co-dominant traits, dominant traits, or created through selective breeding (ie Pastel).

[slaponte]

Which goes to : who has that kind of money to spend on a reptile???

I mean, I love my babies. So far the most I have paid is below $500, and that was already pushing the envelope quite far. For what I have seen at shows, etc, I have considered going as far as $700, or $800, but that is it.

I had a chance to see Piebalds at last years Daytona show. They are impresive, and beautifull, but forget it on $$$. No way. Like Ldydrgn said (in another thread), at that point you aren't buying the snake but the "prestige", the "I wear Nikes" thing. I don't care for that crap.

All of mine are pets. They all get attention, from the $30 BP to the $75 BCI to the $480... I aim to compensate the seller. Once the snake is here, it just another baby to me.

I am off today to Daytona. Don't plan to buy anything (maybe cages), but you know how that goes. If I run into an albino (Boa or BP), I'll be tempted. The other thing in my mind are Surinams. Besides that, I am going to meet the people and enjoy the show.

If I get the digital camera, expect a LOAD of pictures... [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
[addsig]

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[wsacbass]

Check out these piebalds, very cool, very pricey. piebalds
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