What's it worth to ya?

Strutter769 · 12-04-11, 03:47 PM

In need of some help please. Can someone explain the proper way to price snakes? For example, I have a pair of 2011 50% Het Toffee BP's I would be looking to sell or trade. I've tried Googling it, but I can't find anything comparable to compare too.

Can someone please help me find a fair price for the pair?

I know it's not a good question to ask a potential buyer, but I'm hoping for some honest answers, not people looking to take advantage of my ignorance.

Thanks in advance!

infernalis · 12-04-11, 04:25 PM

Well 50% het means it a 50/50 chance that it may or may not prove out to be anything at all, so in real honesty, worth the price of a "normal"

And no I'm not in the market, so it's a genuine answer.

**lady_bug87** · 12-04-11, 06:13 PM

^^ this

Unleess they're super pretty

alessia55 · 12-04-11, 06:33 PM

Unless they have some really unique pattern, I'd price them the same as a normal since there is no guarantee of getting the toffee gene.

KORBIN5895 · 12-04-11, 08:51 PM

Sorry but I am going to agree with everyone. You could price a bit higher and tell people that there is a. 50% chance of toffee. Someone may be willing to take that gamble. I always start high when pricing so if I have to back off on price I will still make what I want.

Strutter769 · 12-04-11, 10:17 PM

Thank you everyone. Well, after all's been said and done, we're going to take the gamble and breed the when the time comes. The cost:reward ratio is too great not to try for the prized Toffee. What's a hundred or so rats, and a few eggs in an incubator?

On a side note, I'm a member of a couple other boards, and the helpfulness, camaraderie, and overall atmosphere here is really second-to-none!

Thanks again everyone for your straightforward input.

infernalis · 12-04-11, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strutter769

On a side note, I'm a member of a couple other boards, and the helpfulness, camaraderie, and overall atmosphere here is really second-to-none!.

Means a lot to hear that.

Your words are appreciated so much.

Kayla90 · 12-05-11, 08:22 AM

Yea I've joined a lot of forums, but majority of them I just use for the classifieds. This is the only forum I've ever really liked posting on and have stayed on longer than a couple weeks.

Norm66 · 12-05-11, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kayla90

Yea I've joined a lot of forums, but majority of them I just use for the classifieds. This is the only forum I've ever really liked posting on and have stayed on longer than a couple weeks.

Me too except instead of classifieds I like to look at pictures. LOL

jarich · 12-05-11, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strutter769

Thank you everyone. Well, after all's been said and done, we're going to take the gamble and breed the when the time comes. The cost:reward ratio is too great not to try for the prized Toffee. What's a hundred or so rats, and a few eggs in an incubator?

On a side note, I'm a member of a couple other boards, and the helpfulness, camaraderie, and overall atmosphere here is really second-to-none!

Thanks again everyone for your straightforward input.

Not to start anything, but can I ask why you are choosing to breed them? I feel as if this is something that too many people do without good reason. I know its wonderful to get to a point in our husbandry where this is possible, but is it necessary for you? It can be a pretty stressful thing for your animals and often most of the young will end up with people who dont know how to raise them properly. Unless you are really going all out, the costs involved dont turn much of a profit either. I think its great that you are here and improving the life of your animal, but please consider closely your motivation for breeding.

CK SandBoas · 12-05-11, 08:33 AM

For the short time i've been here, i've definitely felt this forum has the feeling of really being a family, which i've never felt on any of the others i've gone on.

It is really wonderful to see the respect given when a question is asked, and the poster is not vilified or attacked, especially when the poster is new to reptiles. This site encourages people to get involved with reptiles, and truly makes it easy to get involved with the different forums.

Okay, now i got the song "We are family" in my head

Strutter769 · 12-05-11, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarich

Not to start anything, but can I ask why you are choosing to breed them? I feel as if this is something that too many people do without good reason. I know its wonderful to get to a point in our husbandry where this is possible, but is it necessary for you? It can be a pretty stressful thing for your animals and often most of the young will end up with people who dont know how to raise them properly. Unless you are really going all out, the costs involved dont turn much of a profit either. I think its great that you are here and improving the life of your animal, but please consider closely your motivation for breeding.

I definitely understand your concerns about going from wanting to sell them, to talking about value, to breeding. Our intention has always been to breed them. Some things had changed and I personally had second thoughts, but the toffee is a beautiful morphs and just to have a chance to be "responsible" for hatching one or two (ok, so the pair is somewhat responsible too!) when "the odds are against it" so to speak, is really exciting.

I've also loved snakes literally as long as I can remember. I've been in the hobby since 1996, and feel that my wife and I are ready for this undertaking. My primary focus will be on BRB's and Madagascan Ground Boas. These are snakes you don't see very often. I hit Scott Smith's All Animal Expo usually once a month and it is very uncommon to see a BRB, much less an "eye-catcher." And never have I seen a Madagascan there. These just happen to be the two breeds I have fallen in love with.

As far as the BP, there are just SOOOO MANY different morphs! This x This = That, but it could also mean this other morphs. That, to me is very exciting, and honestly, these darned snakes can't grow fast enough to catch up to my enthusiasm! In short, enthusiasm for the animals, not the prices.

**lady_bug87** · 12-06-11, 12:07 PM

^^ that sounds fine and good and all but normals can be hard to get rid of and you have to feed and house all the hatchlings, its quite an undertaking. It IS a gamble you could get all normals and all normals after that which is fine if thats what you want

Its also worth pointing out that normals are not that costly so even if you mark them up you likely wont make much of a profit. In the end its up to you, but make sure you are doing what is ethical by your own standards

CDN_Blood · 12-06-11, 04:13 PM

I have to agree, they can be hard to place. I have a friend who's albino male mated with her regular female and she had the little ones for over a year before she could find homes for them. They can be hard to give away, let alone sell.

**Aaron_S** · 12-06-11, 04:20 PM

Toffee is a NEW albino gene. You shouldn't have too much difficulty selling those "possible hets".

Although a lot of information came to light about that morph recently and it's kind of iffy these days. It is compatible with the normal albinos so I would find one of those and breed it to either the male or the female, depending on what you buy. You'll end up with a "toffino" if your hets are hets. Make sure you got your "50% hets" from a reasonable person as it's just a long shot at producing them and I know 100% hets go for THOUSANDS.