Whats the story on Craig Wyatt?

Here are some examples of what I mean:

cinnamon head ball?
wannabe pastel jungle?
silver spot ghost?
<a href="http://www.kingsnake.com/market/python/messages/1574.html" target="_blank">Jungle?( I am sorry but this is NOT A JUNGLE BALL!!!!!&#33<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''></a>

Is this guy so desperate to have a name that he has to label every normal ball that he has with a weird name? That one he is calling a jungle is NOT a jungle, not like any of the genetic ones that I have seen anyway. Some of the stuff he had labled last month was ludicrous.

WHats next? a 'Doorknob blushing nosepicker ball'?

I just don't understand why there is a need to quacky labels on a obviously plain ball python. Some of the stuff he puts up is different, but most of the time its just rediculous.

So whats his story? anyone here deal with him? How did it go? He has had a couple of snakes that tempt me, but I kind of hesitate to buy from someone who does that silly naming stuff.

I've spoke to Craig numerous times on the phone, and we've done business together, also....I've found him to be nothing but honest, and a nice guy to boot! Just cause he lives in DC, doesn't mean he's totally nuts!! lol

So what's the difference WHAT he names his snakes?? They're HIS snakes??? He puts pictures of every animal in every ad....if you don't like what the picture looks like....don't buy it?? Or call him and discuss it...he's a very amiable guy! I have a friend of mine who names all his FISH!! So what??? That doesn't make him a bad guy at all....
Some of us (including myself) will call a Colombian Red-tail that has a lot of pinks throughout, a "Clown Boa"....A rose is a rose is a rose....
I really think you're making a mountain out of a molehill....Neil

I have to agree with Bill that the labels he puts on his balls are often somewhat rediculous. He's not naming them as in "This is Ralph the ball python", but he's labeling them with morph type labels.
While this annoys me personally, it is his buisness. It's not just with Craig, although he's probably the most prolific, but many dealers, alot of whom want to double or triple the price to boot. Just a side effect of everyone wanting to get a piece of the ball morph market whether legitimate or not.
Even worse though is when the seller adds, "This trait hasn't been proven but I'm SURE it's genetic." spam_In saying so that possibly induces a sale from a hopeful but unknowledgable newcomer to the ball scene. To his credit, Craig has not gone to that level that I have ever seen.

I have heard from several people that Craig is a fine guy to deal with, but I have no personal experience with him, admittedly somewhat due to this issue.
With me it is really just a pet peeve and extends to other species where useless labeling has become commonplace.
Particularly annoying with me is the latest trend of "wannabe" labels, wannabe spider, wannabe pastel, I mean come on they either are or they're not. It's not like the snake tried it's best to be a pastel but just couldn't get it right.
As Neil said though, they're his snakes to sell as he wishes. I can have my opinions about it, but he is providing pics of every snake and not ripping anyone off at all. Everyone who sees the pic can make his own decision whether the snake is worth the price. Just because I'm not buying them doesn't make any difference.

As a side note, just for fun a while back I decided to make a list of all the ball "morphs" I saw advertised, both known genetic and made up. Last time I looked there was 32 not counting the wannabes. Craig gets credit for about half of them. spam_<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

If the day comes in a couple of years when we start seeing "Het for wannabe pastel jungle" that will be the last straw. spam_<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

Bill,

I have been in contact with Craig several times about some of his ball pythons. He has always being courteous and informative with his replies. If I don't agree with the price I just walk away. It is his prerrogative to ask what he feels his animals are worth, and mine to decide if I want to buy them or not.

He has some nice looking animals and I don't mind him calling them weird names. The only instance I might have a problem with is when someone uses the name of a proven morph on a normal ball python. Some examples are what people call pastels, jungles, and striped.

Cinnamon? Craig just said the head is cinnamon-colored and yes, I can see that from the picture. The coffee/cinnamon ball though (as named by Tracey Barker) is a completely different looking animal.

I just translate "wannabes" by "it reminds me of, but it is not". Nothing wrong with that. Silver spotted ghost? Well for once it is a ghost. It has some grayish spots, and that is as far as it goes.

Anyways, his animals are nice and I find the names he uses amusing as long as he doesn't claim he is selling a new morph and he doesn't overprice it because of that.

If he has what you like and it is not overly priced then go for it!

Best regards, &nbsp;<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

Hey you guys,
I know Craig personaly... he is kinda funny with all the ball pythons names but then again Craig knows ball pythons.
This board is here for you to know if he is gonna rip you off or not right? (for the most part anyways) LOL
Just check out his ads, if you like the snake buy it, he will send it to you. You can't beat his prices so don't worry about the silly names..lol
I have spent several thousand with Craig ( I swear! and that's just this year) Everything was great.
John Staursky

Well Bill,

what i always have known was if i bred it i name it &nbsp;
and if it looks completely &nbsp;different from any other ball &nbsp; i own or have seen &nbsp;then its a &nbsp;new snake &nbsp;and i have the right to name it &nbsp; as a possible new &nbsp;morph &nbsp; and craig has that right as well
i dont know craig personally &nbsp;but i have had a few emails with him &nbsp;and hes a great guy from what i have been able to tell
now if those names bother you sorry &nbsp; i hate to hear that &nbsp;
but its his right &nbsp; &nbsp;and the term jungle ball &nbsp;means only &nbsp;a &nbsp;jungleish pattern &nbsp; &nbsp; which is &nbsp;if its different from the mormal ALIEN PATTERNS &nbsp; &nbsp;.. now if he said it was a &nbsp;pastel jungle &nbsp;then &nbsp;well i would see your point &nbsp;but jungle &nbsp; is any odd pattern &nbsp; &nbsp;you have the choice to buy them if not &nbsp; &nbsp;again thats your chioce &nbsp; like i said &nbsp;if he bred it &nbsp; he can name it what ever he wants &nbsp;HOW DO YOU THINK THE MORPHS CAME TO BE THAT WE HAVE NOW &nbsp; &nbsp;someone got them looked at them and named them &nbsp;.....
personally &nbsp;i have seen some of craigs ads &nbsp;for his ball pythons &nbsp;and i tell you what &nbsp;they were some &nbsp;georgous &nbsp;ball pythons

you gaotta start somewhere when trying to find a new morph &nbsp; so why cant &nbsp;he do it &nbsp;with out getting &nbsp; dumped on for it &nbsp; ......

just my 2 cents &nbsp;

shawnTheVipersHouseReptiles&Exotics

oh and i pulled this off the site &nbsp;BALLPYTHON.COM &nbsp;from the experts of ball pythons &nbsp; the SUTHERLANDS &nbsp;and this is what they say about a classic JUNGLE BALL PYTHON
QUOTE:
Classic Jungle
All jungle ball pythons share some common characteristics. Light color irises, (at least half of the eye), a reduction in the black pattern and a light, well defined spot on the top of the head. They also must have flecks of black on the upper lip. As juveniles jungle ball pythons have outstanding coloration. As they mature their coloring does darken. As selective breeding continues it may become possible to produce jungle ball pythons that will retain more of their juvenile coloration into adulthood.


NOW READ THIS PART &nbsp; OF THEIR DESCRIPTION OF A JUNGLE BALL

QUOTE:
They also must have flecks of black on the upper lip.



Well &nbsp;Bill if you look at that picture &nbsp;of CRAIGS ball &nbsp;he claims to be jungle &nbsp;you will see that perfectly clear deffinition of black &nbsp;on the upper lip &nbsp;. so in this case &nbsp; i personally think he has a jungle ball &nbsp; &nbsp;i mean they come in many &nbsp;patterns &nbsp;but i see the markings &nbsp; and if the SUTHERLANDS say so i would have to concur &nbsp; with craig on this 1 &nbsp;

just my 2 cents again

shawn

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (King Diamond @ June 09 2002,07:11)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Here are some examples of what I mean:

cinnamon head ball?
wannabe pastel jungle?
silver spot ghost?
<a href="http://www.kingsnake.com/market/python/messages/1574.html" target="_blank">Jungle?( I am sorry but this is NOT A JUNGLE BALL!!!!!&#33<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''></a>

Is this guy so desperate to have a name that he has to label every normal ball that he has with a weird name? That one he is calling a jungle is NOT a jungle, not like any of the genetic ones that I have seen anyway. Some of the stuff he had labled last month was ludicrous.

WHats next? a 'Doorknob blushing nosepicker ball'?

I just don't understand why there is a need to quacky labels on a obviously plain ball python. Some of the stuff he puts up is different, but most of the time its just rediculous.

So whats his story? anyone here deal with him? How did it go? He has had a couple of snakes that tempt me, but I kind of hesitate to buy from someone who does that silly naming stuff.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
OK, Brace yourself. spam_If I come off rude, I don't mean to. spam_I just get really tired of the "He's calling it a morph...he's trying to screw us consumers. spam_Let's kill him!!!!" crap that goes on at the Kingsnake BP forum all the time.

For one, Craig is THE MAN when it comes to cool looking Ball Pythons that haven't been proven yet...and occassionally, he'll come up with stuff that has been proven....and, he breeds some stuff too.


Here's my take on those ads...

1. Cinnamon Head Ball - The head is the color of cinnamon. spam_"Cinnamon Head Ball" fits pretty well in my opinion. spam_He never said it's genetic and he's asking $100. spam_It's $100!! Not $1,000.

2. Wannabe Pastel Jungle - What are you complaining about? spam_For one, he said wannabe, meaning it's not...it just reminds him of one. spam_For two, It's only $50. &nbsp;I spend that on dinner and a movie. spam_C'mon guys...do you honestly think there's a conspiracy to take people's $50 and make them think they're getting the next big thing in Ball Pythons?

3. Silver Spot Ghost - This ball is a bona fide Butterscotch Ghost BP with silver spots on it. spam_What the heck would you call it? lol

4. Jungle - That animal has an aberrant, high contrast pattern and black mustache on light colored lips, etc. spam_Jungle is very fitting, IMHO. spam_It's $150...not huge money by anyone's standards.
------------------------------------------------------------

Personally, I scan the classifieds for Craig's ads. spam_I look forward to seeing them. spam_I figure, if anyone's going to post an ad for a BP that I might want, there's a 95% chance that it's gonna be Craig Wyatt.

If someone's gullible enough to believe that they're getting a really cool, proven genetic Ball Python for $150, they are the problem, not the guy selling the snake. spam_


And for these guys that breed albinos, pieds, and axanthics that are so against name calling...It's not like the guy asking $150 for an unproven morph is taking any business away from them. &nbsp;Every time these guys spam_see an ad for a "different looking" or "odd" Ball Python, they think someone's claiming to have a new morph...and they say that it offends them. &nbsp;

It's like they want the guys like Craig Wyatt to say "Oh my. &nbsp;Well, since you spent more for yours than I did, you must be right...let me correct that immediately. &nbsp;I would NEVER mean to offend you, Oh holy one." &nbsp;Yeah right you guys...bite me. spam_These breeders need to grow up, wake up, chill out, and find something better to do with their time than pick on guys selling $150 Ball Pythons.

I don't care if the seller calls it a piebald...if he gives you a very clear picture of the animal he's selling and only charges you $150 for the snake, what else do you want? spam_It's nobody's fault but your own if you are crazy enough to assume that you're getting the next $10,000 Ball Python for $150.

Craig will NEVER claim something to be genetic unless it is. PERIOD. spam_

OK...I warned y'all I could get a little feisty. &nbsp;Seriously though...If I did, I didn't mean to offend anyone. I just get a little hacked about that stuff and have to vent a little when it comes up. &nbsp;Now I'm taking a deeeeep breath. &nbsp;I feel better. lol


Here's a snake I got from him for like $75 or something (don't even remember because I had him send me several) a few weeks ago...If it's genetic, I'll have won the Ball Python Lottery...but you know what? If it's not, I won't feel cheated in any way, shape, or form. spam_It's an above average looking animal for a very, very reasonable price.

Craig just posted this:

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">My first pastel clutch of the season just hatched and WOW am I happy!!! This litter was from my Graziani pastel male to plain jane female. I have males and females available and they are all as nice as the one in the pic or even better</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

This is the link:

http://www.kingsnake.com/market/pyth...ages/2103.html

This just demonstrates he calls a morph when it is really a morph.

The rest are just "odd names" used to describe what he sees in otherwise normal ball pythons. I don't see nothing wrong with that as he is not claiming anything about them.

Regards, &nbsp;<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (alvaro @ June 10 2002,18:20)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Craig just posted this:

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">My first pastel clutch of the season just hatched and WOW am I happy!!! This litter was from my Graziani pastel male to plain jane female. I have males and females available and they are all as nice as the one in the pic or even better</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

This is the link:

http://www.kingsnake.com/market/pyth...ages/2103.html

This just demonstrates he calls a morph when it is really a morph.

The rest are just "odd names" used to describe what he sees in otherwise normal ball pythons. I don't see nothing wrong with that as he is not claiming anything about them.

Regards, spam_<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I'm working out a deal for a pair of those Graziani pastels (or at least one) as we speak.