Reptile expo expansion - Page 2

exwizard · 07-07-12, 07:36 AM

Yeah I think its hilarious as well. There were so many points made in this video that hit the nail on the head and thats why I thought it was so funny.

I know there are so many of BPs because people are buying them but I still say the supply far outnumbers the demand as high as it is. Why else can you get one for $20? Yeah Corns go for this price as well but IMO Corns are a much better snake.

There are people who prefer to work with BPs and Im ok with that. Its just not for me.

Jlassiter · 07-12-12, 08:41 PM

There are a ton of people that work with BPs because they think they can make it rich following a recipe set forth by those before them.....

A lot of the newbie BP breeders know nothing about the snakes natural history or habitat, but they surely know exactly how to produce a mutant spinner blast caramel clown ball....lol

And hardly none of those $20k BPs are ever actually sold but they are traded for 200 amels, clowns and spiders that sell to newbs.....

I've been to many shows across the nation and I see tons of BPs......but the BPs on breeders tables are never hatchlings but usually 1 to 3 year old snakes.....to me that means they aren't selling that easily.....

I doubt the novelty will wear off soon....because in this day and age keepers do not want to learn for themselves.....they'd rather follow a cookie cutter recipe and be told exactly how to do things.......thank those pioneers that figured it all out and thank the Internet fir sharing it all.....

My two cents
They are a novelty snake that are great for beginners.......but one cannot get rich off something others have already gotten rich from......

Btw the video was hilarious.....

alessia55 · 07-12-12, 08:45 PM

LMAO Maybe I'm just WAY too tired and in a giggly mood, but I laughed all the way through that

StudentoReptile · 07-13-12, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jlassiter

A lot of the newbie BP breeders know nothing about the snakes natural history or habitat, but they surely know exactly how to produce a mutant spinner blast caramel clown ball....lol

LOL...I remember an interview with Tom Crutchfield, where he said that during a conversation with another "breeder" he asked him if he even knew what countries ball pythons came from. The other fellow replied, "Africa." Tom was stupefied. He said, "Did you say Africa the country?"

Sadly, I have also witnessed this level of understanding regarding other common mainstream herps. Not only do many of these winners know jack squat about the animals they keep and breed, they also know frighteningly little about basic geography.

**Aaron_S** · 07-13-12, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jlassiter

....I doubt the novelty will wear off soon....because in this day and age keepers do not want to learn for themselves.....they'd rather follow a cookie cutter recipe and be told exactly how to do things.......thank those pioneers that figured it all out and thank the Internet fir sharing it all.....

The sad part is that those pioneers are never thanked. They should be. They made fricking rain chambers to first breed ball pythons!

**Aaron_S** · 07-13-12, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exwizard

...I know there are so many of BPs because people are buying them but I still say the supply far outnumbers the demand as high as it is. Why else can you get one for $20? Yeah Corns go for this price as well but IMO Corns are a much better snake....

I can get corns for $3 bucks....

It is just your opinion that a corn is a better snake and that somehow justifies they're oversupply but not the ball python.

Both snakes have their merits and quite honestly, I recommend corns as first time snake owners.

StudentoReptile · 07-13-12, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Both snakes have their merits and quite honestly, I recommend corns as first time snake owners.

Ditto.

Hatchling corns are rather squirmy and young children (and their parents) are often turned off by that. But as far as husbandry, and feeding, they do not present as much difficulty as ball pythons do.

A lot of it goes back to the whole "glass tank" approach. Most of these "first time snake owners" start out going to the pet shop and can get almost the same exact set-up and advice for corns as they would for BPs from the pet shop staff. Everything they're told typically works for the cornsnake. They often run into issues with BPs (heat, humidity, non-feeding, stress, etc.).

THAT's why I always push them towards a colubrid.

**Aaron_S** · 07-13-12, 09:49 AM

I would too. Cornsnakes just are bullet proof to anything really. Ball pythons are really close to it and I know that's part of the appeal but sometimes I wish they were a little more difficult to care/breed.

Kettennatter · 07-13-12, 10:01 AM

Sometimes I also wonder if for the new snake owner it is also about bragging right: "Dude, I have a python at home!" It just doesn't sound the same if you substitute "python" for "corn snake".

There is only drawback to corns: You can never have just one corn. They are so much fun, are inexpensive, and are easy to keep. So, what's another one?

StudentoReptile · 07-13-12, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kettennatter

Sometimes I also wonder if for the new snake owner it is also about bragging right: "Dude, I have a python at home!" It just doesn't sound the same if you substitute "python" for "corn snake".

That could be part of it. Pythons are definitely more "exotic" both in appearance and by name.

But in my experience, that mentality is only a fraction of the new snake owners. Many are just looking for something easy and inexpensive. Then its just a matter of what feels right in their hands and what visually appeals to them. Some go for a CA kingsnake as opposed to a cornsnake. Some people like the squirmy active colubrid compared to the laidback boa or python.

Quote:

There is only drawback to corns: You can never have just one corn. They are so much fun, are inexpensive, and are easy to keep. So, what's another one?

I think that can be said for a lot of species! Definitely ball pythons, leopard geckos, ratsnakes, etc. Its soooo not just a cornsnake thing!

Kettennatter · 07-13-12, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

That could be part of it. Pythons are definitely more "exotic" both in appearance and by name.

But in my experience, that mentality is only a fraction of the new snake owners. Many are just looking for something easy and inexpensive. Then its just a matter of what feels right in their hands and what visually appeals to them. Some go for a CA kingsnake as opposed to a cornsnake. Some people like the squirmy active colubrid compared to the laidback boa or python.

A CA kings can be tricky because of their quirks or antics. Beautiful snakes, for sure. I don't think anybody recommended one when I was looking for my first snake.

Quote:

I think that can be said for a lot of species! Definitely ball pythons, leopard geckos, ratsnakes, etc. Its soooo not just a cornsnake thing!

I'm not saying that other snakes are not addictive. But they are not as inexpensive and trouble-free as the corn (or rat snake, I give you that).

StudentoReptile · 07-13-12, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kettennatter

A CA kings can be tricky because of their quirks or antics. Beautiful snakes, for sure. I don't think anybody recommended one when I was looking for my first snake.

Other than their reputation for being aggressive feeders, what quirks or antics are you referring to? How is caring for a CA king (or desert, speckled, mexican black) any more difficult than corns?

I'll concur that prices may vary, but really in most situations, we're talking about differences of $10 or less.

[mind you, I'm not talking about greybands or anything that has issues converting to a rodent diet]

Quote:

I'm not saying that other snakes are not addictive. But they are not as inexpensive and trouble-free as the corn (or rat snake, I give you that).

Those two factors together (inexpensive and trouble-free), its hard to beat a corn. But again, most kingsnakes are a close second.

mykee · 07-13-12, 10:46 AM

I'm here, just saw the video, almost peed my pants, that was hy-larious!

Quote:

".......but one cannot get rich off something others have already gotten rich from......"

That comment couldn't be farther from the truth.

Awesome thread, fun read.

Kettennatter · 07-13-12, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

Other than their reputation for being aggressive feeders, what quirks or antics are you referring to? How is caring for a CA king (or desert, speckled, mexican black) any more difficult than corns?

I'll concur that prices may vary, but really in most situations, we're talking about differences of $10 or less.

[mind you, I'm not talking about greybands or anything that has issues converting to a rodent diet]

It starts with them being agressive feeders. On one hand it makes them very easy to feed, but you never know when (or what) they are trying to feed on next. The startle response of the kings I've held was also rather well developed. Chances of getting musked while holding them should be considered. Then there is just odd behavior. Mine absolutely loves to crap on me, even when roaming free. This is pretty hilarious on one hand, but the snake scares my wife to no end.

Quote:

Those two factors together (inexpensive and trouble-free), its hard to beat a corn. But again, most kingsnakes are a close second.

From what I've seen, and my experience is limited, some kings may just be too much to handle for a beginner. (I personally love the entertainment factor.) They are easy to keep and very robust, I give you that.

StudentoReptile · 07-13-12, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kettennatter

It starts with them being agressive feeders. On one hand it makes them very easy to feed, but you never know when (or what) they are trying to feed on next. The startle response of the kings I've held was also rather well developed. Chances of getting musked while holding them should be considered. Then there is just odd behavior. Mine absolutely loves to crap on me, even when roaming free. This is pretty hilarious on one hand, but the snake scares my wife to no end.

From what I've seen, and my experience is limited, some kings may just be too much to handle for a beginner. (I personally love the entertainment factor.) They are easy to keep and very robust, I give you that.

I dunno...the crapping thing, I can pretty much attribute to almost any colubrid: western hogs, corns, kings, milks, garters, etc. Although in my experience, its mostly been with hatchlings or WC specimens. Subadult and adult kings that have been handled a little seem to grow out of it. But thats just me, I suppose.

I don't know about the "startled thing" but the strong feeding/aggression is really something I've only seen with CA kings. All the desert kings, speckled and easterns I've had were some of the calmest colubrids I've owned, although ironically, they get larger than the CA kings.