Best time to buy

[Strutter769]

Is it during the Summer months when most litters are dropped (Repticon coming to IL for the first time in July!) or Spring (N.A.R.B.C. next weekend!)?

Obvious answer is Summer, right? If so, why have these huge shows in the Fall? Won't these be "leftover" or less quality snakes (even less-known breeders perhaps?) than you would find in July? Or would a smart breeder have holdbacks to present, when maybe everyone else is just offering what didn't sell in July?

Thanks for reading!

[Kayla90]

Wouldn't it be because the breeders have to hold on to them for a couple weeks to ensure they are healthy, eating and shed at least once.. I know that's only an extra month .. but I guess it also depends on when everyone's clutches actually hatch..

[Terranaut]

Wouldn't it be in the breeders best interest to have it a little later for the same reason? Sell what you can on your website first, then dump the rest at an expo. They are breeders expos and not buyers expos. If you want the best stuff get it from the breeder as a hatchling and spend the extra dough. If you want cheaper stuff then buy the leftovers at the expos.

[Strutter769]

Originally Posted by Terranaut

Wouldn't it be in the breeders best interest to have it a little later for the same reason? Sell what you can on your website first, then dump the rest at an expo. They are breeders expos and not buyers expos. If you want the best stuff get it from the breeder as a hatchling and spend the extra dough. If you want cheaper stuff then buy the leftovers at the expos.

Awesome points, it's a seller's market right now, as opposed to a buyer's.

I wouldn't (again) buy an animal without seeing the parents, so that alone rules out most of the bigger sellers.

[KORBIN5895]

Honestly Roy seeing the "parents" doesn't really mean much.

[lady_bug87]

Almost every herp I've picked up I've done so in the late fall or early spring... Haha

[Strutter769]

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

Honestly Roy seeing the "parents" doesn't really mean much.

Whaaaaat? Upon what else is there to base your decision get what you want as an adult? BRB's specifically.

[KORBIN5895]

I would buy based mainly on a breeders reputation. Just because some one shows you two adults and claims them to be the parents doesn't mean they are. So if you are really worried or they are claiming the to be hets it would be better to purchase from a large well known breeder who is worried about getting a bad name. Look at the snake Alessia's cousin bought. If that was a large breeder I think a little more would've been done to rectify the problem. As with any purchase it come down to trust.

[Terranaut]

Buy based on reputation not on word of the breeder. Look at how many people will sell a 10yr old kid a retic or burm " oh they are easy to care for". Please. Snake mills are the same as pupply mills but nobody cares about it......yet!!!

[Strutter769]

All great advice. I'll have to check again, but I don't think I saw a list of attendees at either show.

[KORBIN5895]

Haven't you hit your limit yet Roy? What are you after this time?

[Pals_id]

Hey, I am new here, so I don't know when this will actually post to the thread, but it depends on what you are looking for too. Being primarily a boa guy, the Bcc localities are born later than most other snakes. They typically become available between August and October.

[Strutter769]

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

Haven't you hit your limit yet Roy? What are you after this time?

Sadly, I lost my oldest female either during the transition to or trying to fix my "rack" (FAIL!). We found her downstairs after the fowl had gotten to her.

No, the rack still isn't perfect, but some/most of my tubs are too tight, not too big so I know she didn't get out that way. I completely blame myself for whichever mistake I made.

This rack project has turned just short of a nightmare.

[KORBIN5895]

Ouch! Was it a brb?

[Strutter769]

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

Ouch! Was it a brb?

Yeah. My High Red female.