I think $500 is generous for a 2009 pastel. I think they'll be down to $500 by 2006. We're already seeing pre-sales for $750. It's a dominant trait and the market will be easily flooded by 2009. That's 2 full generations away for BPs. Albinos may hold their value better being a recessive trait. Any money to be made in the BP market will be through new combinations and traits. If anyone is getting into the market on the older proven traits they should be doing it for the love of the hobby or the love of the animals. If you have $30,000 or so lying around to drop on a pair of Super Pastels so you can make all Super Pastels, chances are you either don't need the return on investment anyway or you're already a big time breeder. I've been considering getting into breeding for the traits that I think are attractive (pastel and ghost) and I've come to the conclusion that if I were to do it I shouldn't expect any return on investment. I should just do it because I enjoy BPs and believe they make great pets. If I can pay for my own pets in the process that'd be great. If I'm a wise businessman I can probably make some profit too. I'm not saying I don't think there's any money to be made in the older proven traits, but I hear alot of people getting overly excited about profits that aren't likely. I'm still gonna do it, but I'm not gonna bet the farm on it. I'll be prepared for the market to tank just like the stock market. I think you could make your money back and some profit on the animals you listed. I think Albino will still sell at respectable price. I think Pastels maybe down to $250 or so by 2009. If you buy a single male pastel for $1200 today and 4 female normals you could breed them for 2007. With an average clutch of 6 eggs thats 3 Pastels per clutch. That's 12 pastels per year till 2009. When you probably start to produce Super Pastels. So at $250 a piece thats $9000 from 2007 - 2009. That's over $7500 you made in 5 years. You're not making a living at it, but you're enjoying a nice hobby that pays for itself and then some. Those are my feelings on where the market will go. I'm sure there are those that disagree. I probably wrote more than you were asking for, but I too have been thinking about this for a awhile as well.





Rick

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