Good Thread.
A few things to consider.
The colors one sees in a photo are sometimes different from how they look in the 3-D world. Because the color our eyes perceive is based on the wavelengths of Light reflected off of anything. So if the lighting is blue-or pink-or yellow spectrum,
or,
if the walls in the room are painted pale mauve, then the light reflects off the walls in the room,
all of these things can change the color as we see it on anything, especially glossy things, like snakes for instance.
Shipping vs spending hours at emails, studying pictures, making the drive to go see them in person, feeling like we should buy something once we get there so "it's not a wasted trip", making purchases while emotionally compromised (something everyone has done at one time or another)...the costs of shipping vs going shopping may well, in the end, zero each other out.
Get the snake you want, but make sure its the specific individual you like the most. I like reptile show/sales because there's often the same genetic combos on a few different tables, but some might be lighter/darker/variation-on-pattern, Labeled Hets, etc. Some of these things may be more important to persons who are contemplating breeding vs persons looking for a pet. Make sure it compliments your complexion. I like dark ones.
FOR ME, It's not about whether it's a $65 or $200 RO. It's about whether or not I want the specific individual snake. There's a lot of variety within even single-gene snakes. Lavenders can be gray or dusty purple or pinkish, so there's always a variety of pricing going on there. You're not buying a gene, you're seeking the individual which is going to be with you a long time. It's a lot of work, but it's something you want, so it doesn't seem like work, and yet it can be emotionally draining. Don't fret, when you find the one which is right for you, you will know it.
Different persons sell on craigslist. Often asking some basic questions will give you a better idea of the current keeper's situation & stuff.
How often does it feed?, do I need a heat lamp? , Can I feed it crickets? Will it be okay to keep it in my son's old hamster cage, we have some leftover cedar chips... I'd like to get the yellow one and the black one my friend told me I can have up to 4 in the same ten-gallon.....Ask some MISleading questions as well as real questions before making a decision to drive there. Think of the savings... consider the risks. That will give you a better idea if this is really the snake for you.
In the end it's all about the choices we make and have to live with. There is much to consider. Thanks for this rather good thread.
