the prices of boas online

[slkrik00]

i'm kinda curious on the reason why boas online are so much more expensive than the pet stores i've visited ?it just gets me ,that you have to buy and be stuck with it if there is something wrong with it ,, like i know before you buy a boa you check it out thuroughly the , eyes,ribs and, belly also the breathing just to make sure u have a healthy snake . but maybe that is just me cuz i'm a bit pesimistic :-/ :-*
THANKS!
RICK 8)

[Jonathan_Brady]

i've noticed that the prices of boas online are generally cheaper than in pet stores. for example, i paid $170 each for my colombians when i could have easily found them for $100 online and from someone with a great reputation and who would back them up 100% (like ben siegel, pro exotics, etc...). i've said this a thousand times, if i had it to do over again (and not including the sentiment i've built to the animal i did purchase, just based solely on the money/business side of it) i'd have purchased from someone like ben instead of the pet store down the street.
jb

[Panama_Red]

You get what you pay for.

[drthsideous]

In my opinion, your average boa is a great deal cheeper online, rather thana pet store boa. The only perstore I have been to with cheep good looking redtails is an all reptile perstore by me. I ordered my boa from Glade herp, paid 85 plus shipping. Got a good lookin boa, but I had no clue what it was going to look like before I ordered it. The next boa I get is deffinately coming from Jeff, his boa's are gorgeous and priced awesome too. On the other hand, I also have a Green Tree python that I got from a breeder I found onling, I paid $550 for it. Now I could have gotten anyold baby for about 300 anywhere. But I got it from a reputable breeder, I know it's entire lineage going back I think 5 generations or so, I know what it's goin to look like most likely and I know that it is going to be healthy when I get it, and if I have any problems I have a lot of support.
hope that helps explain.
Jeff

[Ritchie]

I do not know what pet store you go to....
But I have seen boas at pet stores go for 150
a plain jane normal boa on line I have found to be as cheap as 75. or 95 shipped.

I have found ball pythons at pet stores at 69.99 for wild caught non eating very thin stuff. Online they have been as low as 25


or 50 shipped

For 125 plus shipping. I was able to buy a size foot female boa.
And a very pretty and very big ball python female. Each of these snakes could have sold for way more.

I have seen albino boas on line go as low as 700 (I was too slow...it sold within 10 minutes). I have not even seen an albino boa at a pet store.

[beastie]

you probably won't see albino boas at too many pet stores... i work for a major petstore chain (.......i know....) and i'm pretty sure we can't even order them. when we get redtails in they go for about $130, and the ones we've had lately have all been rather drab, but healthy. i lucked into my boa at another local store, got her for $100. as soon as i get a new camera (last one got stolen...) i'll get pics of her up on the pic page.

a place down the street did get a few albino ball pythons in, and were selling them for $179, but they were all gone by the time i heard. not that i need a python.... those are the beginner snakes! :)

[Doug]

HI,
I have a word of advice to any first time reptile keepers, Ball pythons are a lot more work to keep as pets than boa's they are extremly fussy about feeding they can be stressed by handling to much when young,, and if a water spill occurs in the cage the may get belly rot.
The best 1st snake is a boa, or maybe a east king, or corn.
Ball pythons are cheap but can be a pain.. ex-BP keeper,, only boa's for me now..
SO please dont; buy a BP unless you have reptile experience.
and please don't try and keep a BP in a Glass tank..
doug

[Simbo]

Well, I would like to share my boa-buying experience here. I have a male BCI that I bought six years ago at a reptile show. This boa has been nothing but a great snake and 100% healthy his entire life. No problems ever! Actually, he just refused a meal for the first time in his life last month. He was heavily courting my female and was more interested in getting back in the cage with her than eating his rat! Anyway, I paid $35 for him. Thats it, $35!!! He is my favorite snake and probably always will be.
I believe shows/expos to be a great place to buy boas (from reputable breeders, of course). You can inspect the boa first hand and talk to the breeder of the animal and get all of the info you need. Talking to the breeder in person tells you alot more than talking to him/her on the phone!
Anyway, I tried attaching a picture of my boa, but it is too big I guess. Oh well, maybe another time.
Take care,
- Eric

[Atom]

Not a boa owner but soon to be hopefully. For now I thought I would start with a BP which I got for $74 from local store. Then online I seen for $40 and two for $78.

However, I'm finding like Doug said this little guy/gal is very temperamental. Always striking out at us but has been feeding well. Also, glass tanks are very hard to regulate.

I think maybe starting out with a more docile Boa would be better. I think I 'll start that post somewhere here...which type of boa would be best to start with? Want a docile Boa for family.

[Simbo]

Atom,
You really can't go wrong with a captive bred BCI. They make great pets that are about as trustworthy as any snake could ever be.
A Hog Island boa is also a good choice, due to there smaller size and usually gentle behavior. What ever you get, be sure that it is captive bred and try to buy from a reputable breeder.
Good luck,
Eric