Prices of reptiles dropping

[Mikoh4792]

Will the normal/wild phases of reptiles drop as drastically as the morphs over the years? For example do you see normal snakes that are generally $150 become $75 in the next few years?

[slowhite03]

Depends on the snake, if people still are paying asking price then I don't see a dramatic price change occuring

[infernalis]

It's all about supply and demand, AND who you know.

You can get a normal BP or Corn snake for $10 - 20 if you look.

Often, the animal itself is the cheapest part of the whole thing, Proper caging, feeders, heat & other care necessities add up.

[smy_749]

In my opinion, there are two major factors.

The supply and demand one that was mentioned. If everyone wants them, supply has to keep up or prices jump, and the opposite is the same as everyone knows.

But one of the MAJOR reasons that prices drop, is when idiots start producing the animals they see as money makers and want to sell them before the big names do so they mark them down to "move them fast". Then the next guy does it even lower, etc. etc.

This is what you see with columbians, bp's, corns, whatever.

A good example of what happens when idiots don't mark down the prices, would be the prices of yellow and red ackies. They've been hovering in the same price range for some time now, because supply and demand is steady and there isn't SO many people producing them that supply sky rockets (my guess is due to space/nesting/feed requirements that aren't nearly as time consuming with snakes)

[franks]

Mikoh,

You should peruse kingsnake classifieds everyday if you are looking to get a handle on the market. In my opinion it is the best indicator of the snake market as you can watch morph and snake prices rise and fall if you pay attention. As you watch adds from reputable breeders and hobbyists alike go up and get taken down, you can see what sells. You will also be able to spot the snakes and the adds that just will not sell. I think this will help you acquire what you are looking for since you have asked questions in the past about the market etc. For instance, I can tell you that in the last two years the price of Irian Jaya Carpet Pythons have gone up a little, while the price of high yellow Jungle Carpet Pythons as a whole average have gone down some.

[formica]

The blame cant be put soley on those who undercut other breeders - if breeders didnt charge insane prices...$10,000+ for a snake? really? is it any wonder that there has been an explosion in new breeders when prices like this are charged? Its irresponsible behaviour from both the breeders of rare morphs and all the new breeders who see it as a way to make $$$. Breeders at both ends of the scale should be more interested in who they are selling to, than what price they can get for it. good old free market capitalism in action, who cares what damage is caused in the process

[smy_749]

Originally Posted by formica

The blame cant be put soley on those who undercut other breeders - if breeders didnt charge insane prices...$10,000+ for a snake? really? is it any wonder that there has been an explosion in new breeders when prices like this are charged? Its irresponsible behaviour from both the breeders of rare morphs and all the new breeders who see it as a way to make $$$. Breeders at both ends of the scale should be more interested in who they are selling to, than what price they can get for it. good old free market capitalism in action, who cares what damage is caused in the process

Hes asking about normal animals. Morph market prices are a whole different story. I havea hard time coming up with a list of normal animals that go for 10k plus each.

[Terranaut]

There is a market suturation level for any product. Once reached the prices fall. There are just way to many people breeding at a small business level now a days. If you want to sell your item you must have a lower price or higher quality and the same price. If you look for a car and autotrader shows 100 of the same in your colour would you want to buy the most expensive one? Well a few species of snake are reaching this point and prices are falling. Unless your the first or second person to breed a new morph the price will fall from purchase to first clutch.

[formica]

Originally Posted by smy_749

Hes asking about normal animals. Morph market prices are a whole different story. I havea hard time coming up with a list of normal animals that go for 10k plus each.

new breeders dont start with expensive animals, thats why there is a massive influx of cheap 'normals' - i know that those prices are not standard, but they do come up, and imo even lower prices are excessive, and is what drives all these people to try and take up breeding as a way to make $$, instead of doing it because they love the animals

[SSSSnakes]

I breed because I enjoy it. I sell cheap because I want people who I feel are going to take care of them to have them. I'm not trying to compete or under cut anyone. Also I don't need to hold onto and feed all the babies to get more money for them.

[Mikoh4792]

I just hope the same thing that happened to ball pythons doesn't happen to all the other species. People start caring about morphs and money instead of the actual animal. Maybe I'm a little late but I can already see this happening to bci, although it's not as bad, for now. It's sad to see people collect a bunch of expensive morphs and keep them in small tubs for breeding purposes to make money, instead of just buying a normal and keeping it in an enclosure that allows for observation of natural behavior and actually learning about the snake.

[formica]

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

I just hope the same thing that happened to ball pythons doesn't happen to all the other species. People start caring about morphs and money instead of the actual animal. Maybe I'm a little late but I can already see this happening to bci, although it's not as bad, for now. It's sad to see people collect a bunch of expensive morphs and keep them in small tubs for breeding purposes to make money, instead of just buying a normal and keeping it in an enclosure that allows for observation of natural behavior and actually learning about the snake.

agreed, any animal in captivity should be offered as much enrichment as possible, anything less is ethically questionable imo, no animal should be confined in that way just so that humans can make money. makes me sad to see it

[shaunyboy]

market saturtation and going through an economic depression = falling prices

imo only the very high quality snakes hold their prices

cheers shaun

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

imo only the very high quality snakes hold their prices

I guess that's the problem then. It's what people define as quality. Looks and money come before health and passion.

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

I guess that's the problem then. It's what people define as quality. Looks and money come before health and passion.

re very high quality Carpets
imo it is looks that defines a very high quality Carpet,i'm talking the very very best Carpets such as the Gamma line,etc

imo there are very few very high quality Carpets produced,so they hold their prices,as they are very sought after, by people who want to produce ONLY the very highest quality hatchlings...

in the carpet world i have found these people do it for the passion and glory/pride of saying...look at this amazing looking Carpet ive produced,they do it out of their passion to create a great looking snake,not the money as they usually keep most of the best lookers for their own collections


re cheap Carpets
its more a case of there are hundreds if not thousands of average and below average looking Carpets here in the uk,due to their ease of breeding and clutch sizes

no one wants to pay silly money for average or below average Carpets, also theres plenty to choose from,that many that some folk even give them away

with HIGH QUALITY CARPETS i see NO reason to say quality and money,is put before the health of the snake or passion for breeding

and imo PASSION is the reason most high quality Carpet breeders strive/seek to produce only the best

i can only comment on Carpet Python breeders and keepers...

i have no idea of things like the ball/royal python markets,etc..

as its only Carpets i keep mate

cheers shaun