Most likely got scammed?

[Unravel]

Well i think i made a noob mistake. I saw a local advertisement for a 100% het albino ball python looking for a new home (with papers) so i jumped on it for an attractive price. Snake looks healthy enough but upon closer inspection of papers and patterns on snake, i do not see a resemblance sadly.

Have a look, snake is about 2.5 years old.

seller says patterns have changed slightly because it has aged, i am not so sure, he told me to contact Paul (the breeder) to double check. I did but i thought i'd also check with you guys first!

Thanks!

 

[Dr Pepper 8D]

I have a Cornsnake, had it for 4 years, but the pattern has never changed on it...i'm no expert to be honest but I hope this information is helpful

 

[Jmugleston]

I can't speak for that snake being a het or not, but your snake and the baby snake in the photo do not appear to be the same. The color changes as a ball python ages. The pattern doesn't change that dramatically. The reason some breeders do papers is so that they can charge more for their hets. They work because the photos can be used later to determine if the snakes are the same based on their patterns.

If you're going for hets, your best bet is to get them from a well known breeder. Buying hets 2nd hand typically doesn't work out well in the end.

 

[Meecht]

I'm by far not an expert on snakes, but just by comparing the pictures, the one on your papers does NOT match the one you received, IMO. Is it possible they used a stock photo?

I've always been under the impression that a snake's pattern doesn't change over time. If what they say is true, then that long splotch on the right side of the inner curve (in the picture) separated itself because I don't see a similar spot on your snake.

Again, I'm not a snake expert (nor an enthusiast). I'm just comparing one photo to another.

 

[Unravel]

thank you guys, i jumped on a good deal too fast and was not careful, this is the result. Obviously the seller is not exactly being cooperative to say the least, just saying that it is the same BP, bla bla. This means i can't trust the sex either since its not the same animal as on the card ><

 

[moose35]

you should contact the original breeder and let them know that this person may be selling animals using their "papers".



moose

 

[Unravel]

yup i did, waiting for a reply. What's the average "value" of a regular adult male or female ball?

---------- Post added at 06:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:44 PM ----------

After talking to the guy some more, who is refusing to give me a refund btw, its clearly a scam. First of all he claimed to know "nothing" about ball pythons and this was a rescue he was looking to rehome. Now hes telling me all this other BP information and making references to fauna classifieds and breeders on there saying that patters do change and baby pictures mean nothing. Sigh, live and learn, at least the animal is better off with me.

 

[Jmugleston]

yup i did, waiting for a reply. What's the average "value" of a regular adult male or female ball?

---------- Post added at 06:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:44 PM ----------

After talking to the guy some more, who is refusing to give me a refund btw, its clearly a scam. First of all he claimed to know "nothing" about ball pythons and this was a rescue he was looking to rehome. Now hes telling me all this other BP information and making references to fauna classifieds and breeders on there saying that patters do change and baby pictures mean nothing. Sigh, live and learn, at least the animal is better off with me.

Breeding size females (over 1500 grams) can go for up to $100.00 online. Large females 2200 grams and up can get up to $150.00. Males go for significantly less.

 

[Boanerges]

Joe is correct in his answers to you. Sorry that happened to you bro It does not look like the same snake to me either but I will take a good look at it Wednesday for you. Hopefully you are still happy with it even though it is not the same snake and probably not het for anything. I am sure it is in better hands with you.

 

[Unravel]

Joe is correct in his answers to you. Sorry that happened to you bro It does not look like the same snake to me either but I will take a good look at it Wednesday for you. Hopefully you are still happy with it even though it is not the same snake and probably not het for anything. I am sure it is in better hands with you.

Thank you yup thats for sure

 

[imatroll]

I'm sure this discussion is probably over by now, but I'd like to add that this was probably a thought-out (if not thought-out well) plan. The snake looks very similar to the one in the photo, although it's clear that they are different snakes.

 

[myrmecophile]

You might want to post this over at Fauna Classifieds Board of inquiry as well They may be able to help.

 

[Unravel]

Thank you, im pretty sure this guy is a nobody, it was a craig's list deal. I might have convinced him to give me a refund actually after much argueing, this is all pending Paul's (breeder's) word on the snake. We'll see what happens, im almost leery of the refund.. i have to travel to his part of town and i think i pissed him off

 

[the toe cutter]

Well sorry to hear about your deal, but I have never paid anything more for hets than normal snakes. With the right coercion you can just about convince any breeder to come down on the price for hets. When breeding for genetic traits, hets are generally unreliable for whatever results you are aiming for depending on the generation of the offspring. You have to learn to haggle your butt off in this hobby!