The most valuable snake on the planet

[snakeman55]

Valued between $250,000 and $400,000, it is a blue eyed leucistic Ball Python

http://finksburgvet.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/7karma4.jpg

[nitsch]

Wow! I don't know anything at all about snakes but that is AWESOME!!! There is something hypnotic about that eye!

[Jessica Rabbit]

What a beautiful creature. Where did you come across it?

[arn]

Ok. How long does a pet snake of that price last? :D

[snakeman55]

They live 20 - 25 years, but it's more of an investment than a pet. If you know what you're doing, you could breed that snake to several females and make 5 times your investment. And for those of you saying, "who would spend that much money on a snake?" There are 9 million snake owners in this country, and you'd be shocked at how many of them have deep pockets.

[monkey_wrench]

They live 20 - 25 years, but it's more of an investment than a pet. If you know what you're doing, you could breed that snake to several females and make 5 times your investment. And for those of you saying, "who would spend that much money on a snake?" There are 9 million snake owners in this country, and you'd be shocked at how many of them have deep pockets.

knowing my luck if i bought a male for breeding it would turn out gay haha

[nitsch]

knowing my luck if i bought a male for breeding it would turn out gay haha

LMAO!!! Monkey you crack me up mate. :lol:

[cfcRebel]

Two hundred fif......but where is the snake skin?


Just j/k.:D

[Titus213]

Shocked! Shocked I say. $250,000? Amazing!

Good photo of a very interesting critter. I'll bet she doesn't know what she's worth, otherwise there would be no living with her. Should I assume the term leucistic refers to the color? What was the setup for the picture?

[snakeman55]

Leucistic (in a basic sense) means white with black eyes typically. Basically no melanin present except for in the eyes. The shot was a quick candid with no special lighting in auto mode with my digital rebel.

[AvalonHerp]

Care to elaborate on the Ralph Davis watermark if this is your photo?

[AvalonHerp]

Doublechecked ya, Ralph says your ok.......well he called you a boner but I guess that's just Ralph's way of showing love:

> Thanks man...........that dude is Adam............he works around
> RDR............a true BONER to the max............but we love
> him..........:)
>
>
> Thanks,
> Ralph

[freddycr]

Why the price? Are they sooooooooooo rare?

[snakeman55]

Care to elaborate on the Ralph Davis watermark if this is your photo?


Yeah Ralph Davis' Watermark is there because I put it there! (and yes I took the picture) Just so everyone knows, I photograph snakes for the most successful snake breeder in the world...Ralph Davis. I didn't mention it because I didn't figure anyone in this forum would care, but I did leave the RDR watermark, so if a snake person happened to see it they wouldn't think I was trying to pass the snake off as my own. If you care to see more of my photos of Ralph's amazing collection, check out his snake forums, where I will be posting tons of them.

Not everyone here cares about snakes like me, so I only post the really steller one's here.

Avalonherp.. I appreciate you looking out for Ralphie's interests. It's cool. Ralph and I have been friends for 12 years. Thanks,

[snakeman55]

Why the price? Are they sooooooooooo rare?

Long story short....yes. And because you can breed it to several females and make a profit.

[jfrancho]

Forgive me, but I am not as knowledgeable about snake genetics as I am fish. Won't it take at least two generations for the leucism trait to express? That's not to say that the progeny aren't extremely valuable, but what is the genetic breakdown? What is the normal/leucistic/normal with luecism ratio? Maybe we can make some Punet squares? I am assuming that Ralph would be crossing it with normal females, but perhaps not. He undoubtably has access to albino females too. Please enlighten us.

[snakeman55]

It would take several generations if it were simple recessive, which this is likely not. There are probably multiple genes (some hidden) at work here. Ralph imported what is now know as a platinum ball and bred it to several normal females expecting to get normal appearing heterozygous offspring. What he got was half normal appearing offspring and the other half looked similar to the father, but not quite. They are now known as Lesser Platinum Balls. He was further suprised when he bred a lesser to a platinum and got Leucistics. the story is even more complex than this, and his site explains it better than I can, but the next piece of the puzzle should be revealed when he breeds a Leucistic to a normal. He could get half platinums and half lessers, he could get some leucistics or it could be soething totally different. It's very interesting. But there definitely seems to be some kind of C0-Dominant gene at work.

[stinky6]

As a collector and breeder of reptiles let me say WOW WOW WOW , and for the people who say HOW MUCH FOR THAT SNAKE-- if everything works to Ralph's advantage he'll make millions. Snakes are the #1 selling animal in the world!

[jfrancho]

Very cool. Thanks, snakeman55 for the lowdown. At any rate, any animal husbandry is both challenging and rewarding, even without monetary compensation. I've been lucky to have several species of fish, day gecko, and bearded dragons reproduce under my care, and every time was awesome. If you are lucky enough to be able to work with the truly rare, it is indeed a special event. I give you one year, and you'll be posting baby snake pictures here! Good luck!

[snakeman55]

Thanks JF, but I hope it's less than a year!! Check www.retic.org