Finding a two headed snake for sale is a bit like hunting for a winning lottery ticket that someone accidentally dropped on the sidewalk. It's rare. Beyond rare, actually. In the reptile world, this condition is known as polycephaly, and while it looks like something straight out of a Ray Harryhausen film, it's a biological reality that hits the market once in a blue moon. Most of the time, these animals don't even make it past their first shed. When they do, collectors and museums start throwing around numbers that would make a sane person’s head spin.
Polycephaly happens when an embryo starts to split into twins but just... stops. It’s the same process that creates conjoined twins in humans. In snakes, this usually results in two fully formed heads sharing one body, though the internal plumbing is where things get messy. Sometimes they have two hearts. Sometimes they share a single digestive tract, which leads to some pretty awkward dinner dates since both heads usually want to eat the same mouse at the exact same time. If you’ve ever seen a video of a two-headed snake trying to decide which direction to crawl, you know it’s a chaotic struggle for dominance between two brains that don't realize they're stuck together.
The Reality of Buying a Two Headed Snake
If you're seriously looking for a two headed snake for sale, you need to have your finances in order. We aren't talking about "expensive for a pet" prices. We are talking about "used car or a down payment on a house" prices. In 2023, a two-headed Western Hognose made waves in the hobby, and the price tags for healthy, feeding polycephalous snakes typically start at $2,000 and can easily climb north of $50,000 depending on the species and the morph.
A basic two-headed corn snake might be on the "cheaper" end if you can even call it that. But if you find a two-headed California King snake or a rare Ball Python morph with two skulls? Forget about it. The rarity of the genetics combined with the rarity of the mutation creates a perfect storm for high-end investors.
Honestly, most of these animals never hit public classified sites like MorphMarket. They are sold in private groups or through high-end brokers like Underground Reptiles or Prehistoric Pets. Jay Brewer, the founder of Prehistoric Pets, has famously handled several of these over the decades. He’s one of the few people who has seen enough of them to know that keeping them alive is the real challenge, not just finding them.
Why the Price Tag is So High
Survival is the biggest factor. Most polycephalous snakes die within weeks of hatching. Their internal organs are often a jumbled mess of redundant systems or missing pieces. One head might be dominant, while the other is "parasitic," barely moving or reacting. If both heads are fully functional, they often fight. Imagine trying to swallow a meal while someone else is trying to swallow the same meal using your throat. It's a logistical nightmare.
Breeders who successfully raise these snakes to adulthood are doing a massive amount of labor. They often have to use a physical barrier, like a spatula or a piece of cardboard, to separate the heads during feeding so they don't accidentally try to eat each other. One head usually has a stronger feeding response. If you don't manage it perfectly, the snake can choke or suffer internal blockages. You’re paying for the risk the breeder took and the months of "hand-feeding" required to ensure the animal reached a stable size.
Species You’ll Actually Find
You won't find every type of snake with two heads. For some reason, certain species seem more prone to this—or perhaps they are just bred in such high volumes that the statistical anomaly pops up more often.
- Corn Snakes: These are the most common. They are hardy, and because millions are produced for the pet trade annually, the "two-headed" lottery winner appears here more than anywhere else.
- King Snakes: Specifically the California King. These are fascinating because King snakes are ophiophagous—they eat other snakes. A two-headed King snake is literally its own worst enemy.
- Ball Pythons: These are the "holy grail" for many. Because Ball Pythons have so many color morphs (like Piebald or Banana), a two-headed version with a rare color pattern is basically a museum piece.
The Ethics of the Trade
There is a loud corner of the reptile community that thinks selling a two headed snake for sale is wrong. They argue that these animals have a diminished quality of life. They struggle to move, they experience constant neurological confusion, and they often have shortened lifespans.
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On the flip side, proponents argue that in captivity, these animals can live for years. There are documented cases of two-headed snakes living for 15 or 20 years with meticulous care. The famous two-headed rat snake "We" lived at the World Aquarium in St. Louis for nearly a decade and was a massive public draw. If the animal is eating and growing, is it "suffering"? It’s a gray area. But as a buyer, you have to be prepared for the fact that your very expensive investment could pass away suddenly due to a congenital heart defect that no vet could ever diagnose.
Caring for a Polycephalous Snake
If you actually manage to buy one, throw the standard care sheets out the window. This isn't a "set it and forget it" pet.
The enclosure needs to be simplified. No heavy decor they can get wedged under. Two heads mean a wider profile, and they get stuck in tight spaces much easier than a normal snake. You also have to watch the water bowl. If one head decides to drink while the other is resting, there’s a genuine risk of the "resting" head being submerged and drowning. It sounds ridiculous, but it happens.
Feeding is the main event. You’ll need to offer smaller prey items than you would for a single-headed snake of the same weight. Why? Because the esophagus is often constricted where the two necks join. Pushing a large meal through that "Y-junction" can cause a fatal rupture or a regurgitation that the snake might not recover from. You're basically a nurse for the duration of that snake's life.
Finding a Legitimate Seller
Scams are everywhere. If you see an ad for a two headed snake for sale on a random Facebook group for $200, it is a scam. 100%. No exceptions. Scammers love using photos of famous snakes like "The Teratophoneus" or old Google Image results to lure in people looking for a deal.
Real sellers will provide:
- Video Proof: A video of both heads moving and, ideally, both heads drinking or tongue-flicking.
- Feeding Records: Detailed notes on which head eats, how often, and if there are any "kinks" in the spine.
- Vet Records: High-end sellers often have X-rays done to show the buyer exactly what the internal structure looks like. This is vital for knowing if the snake has one heart or two.
Is It Worth the Investment?
From a financial standpoint, a two-headed snake is a "blue chip" reptile. They don't lose value. Unlike a specific color morph that might be worth $5,000 this year and $500 next year because everyone started breeding it, a two-headed snake is a biological fluke. You can't "breed" for it. It's a random developmental error. This means the supply is always near zero while the demand from oddity collectors, museums, and high-net-worth hobbyists remains constant.
However, from a pet-owner standpoint? It’s stressful. You’re constantly checking to see if they’re breathing. You’re worried about every meal. It is a high-stakes hobby that requires a specific set of skills and a very deep pocketbook.
Necessary Steps for Prospective Buyers
If you are determined to find a two headed snake for sale, start by networking at major expos like the Tinley Park NARBC (North American Reptile Breeders Conference). This is where the big players meet. You aren't going to find these animals sitting on a pet store shelf in a mall.
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- Secure a Specialized Vet: Before you buy, find a vet who actually has experience with polycephaly or at least advanced reptile surgery. Most local vets will be out of their depth.
- Prepare a "Hospital" Setup: Use paper towels instead of mulch. Use wide, shallow water dishes. Simplify the environment to reduce stress on the snake's dual nervous systems.
- Verify the Internal Anatomy: Ask the seller for a radiograph (X-ray). If the snake has two hearts and two stomachs, its care will be vastly different than if it shares a single set of organs.
- Join Oddity Communities: Groups dedicated to "Taxidermy and Oddities" often have leads on live specimens before they hit the general reptile market.
Owning one of these animals is a massive responsibility that goes beyond the "cool factor." It’s a commitment to preserving a biological anomaly that, in the wild, wouldn't have lasted 24 hours. You are essentially providing hospice care for a miracle of nature.