Very good post John!!!!!

I agree with about what everybody is saying. There are so many factors that can play in this whole thing, the snake hobby itself with what sells faster, etc. The economy can play a big part as well.



From what I have seen, the less common the morph, the more it may cost or the higher the price it can command. The more common the morph, the cheaper it will become.



Here are some examples:



Albino corns fetched for $300 a piece back years and years ago when they first were out. Now they are appr. $25-$30.



Apricot pueblans were selling at appr. $250-$275 a piece when they were new to the market. $40 - $50 now.



Candy Cane corns were anywhere from $75-$150. Now they are a lot cheaper.



Albino Nelsons ran for $2000 when they were first out. I waited until 1999 and got mine for $200.



My personal favorite kings that I used to breed, chocolate banded/abberant cal kings, commanded a price of $50 each when I first got into them. By the time I had raised mine up to breed, they were at about $20-$25 each.



So now, it should be of no surprise that the prices of some of these Honduran morphs has dropped big time. I myself, like Tom, was surprised at how quick it did happen though. The speed of the price drop was pretty quick.



Thing is...this is exacty what I thought would happen.



Supply and Demand.



Think about it. Is it possible that the high end Honduran market is run mostly by just the breeders themselves? The average Joe off of the street may not have the money to buy the high end snakes. I know that I wouldn't.



The dissapointment is of course the expectations that were not met. The money spent was not seen in a return.



My personal opinion on it all: Buy and breed snakes that you love. Don't go by what is popular or what is the new trend, because there is always that chance that you could wind up dissapointed. Go with what grabs you and what you are passionate about. If you do love what you breed and still are dissapointed with the financial return, which is completely understandable, then just sell the snakes for whatever you can, cause it is money in the bank either way. You still had the fun of watching the eggs hatch and the surprises of what you saw hatch that breeding season....didn't you? If not, then examine your reasons for breeding or keeping snakes, cause it is a hobby, and a fun and rewarding one at that. If any money is made from it, then that is, of course, a big added bonus which anyone would certainly welcome!



If you are not having fun at it, then what is the point?



Take care! Pits rule!

Of course I had to show off a pit!!!!

Billy

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Genesis 1:1

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