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I have seen this pair from Ben Siegels place for sale for a while. They are interesting looking ATB's, but my question is, are they that rare that they should command such a high price? They look a lot like the ATB's I used to get back in the early 80's for a fraction of the cost. Thanks for any info.
JFM
1.1 Papuans
1.2 GTP's
1.1 leopard geckos and some hatlings from this summer
1 crested gecko

they're C. rushenbergii, not C. hortulanus. Much more rare in captivity, and not exactly the same

These are probably very much like the ones you used to get in the 80's. Back then, Colombia used to export alot of "Cook's Tree Boas" which were often a form of ruschenbergerii. If you caught the article on Amazons in the last issue of Reptiles magazine I think Dick Bartlett mentions this as well.

It's simply supply and demand. Right now C ruschenbergerii is much less common than C hortulanus, legal exports of the species have been sparse over the last few years at best. Those animals from Ben are probably one of the very few legal animals around in recent times and are also of Costa Rican origin which is not currently well represented in collections.

They are very cool snakes although albeit a bit too pricey for me.

>>I have seen this pair from Ben Siegels place for sale for a while. They are interesting looking ATB's, but my question is, are they that rare that they should command such a high price? They look a lot like the ATB's I used to get back in the early 80's for a fraction of the cost. Thanks for any info.
>> JFM
>> 1.1 Papuans
>> 1.2 GTP's
>> 1.1 leopard geckos and some hatlings from this summer
>> 1 crested gecko
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Urban Jungles.com

Danny, if that's pricey, can you explain to me why annulated are not considered pricey. In other words, what do annulates have that Ruschis don't to demand such a high price and nobody is complaining...

>>These are probably very much like the ones you used to get in the 80's. Back then, Colombia used to export alot of "Cook's Tree Boas" which were often a form of ruschenbergerii. If you caught the article on Amazons in the last issue of Reptiles magazine I think Dick Bartlett mentions this as well.
>>
>>It's simply supply and demand. Right now C ruschenbergerii is much less common than C hortulanus, legal exports of the species have been sparse over the last few years at best. Those animals from Ben are probably one of the very few legal animals around in recent times and are also of Costa Rican origin which is not currently well represented in collections.
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>>They are very cool snakes although albeit a bit too pricey for me.
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>>>>I have seen this pair from Ben Siegels place for sale for a while. They are interesting looking ATB's, but my question is, are they that rare that they should command such a high price? They look a lot like the ATB's I used to get back in the early 80's for a fraction of the cost. Thanks for any info.
>>>> JFM
>>>> 1.1 Papuans
>>>> 1.2 GTP's
>>>> 1.1 leopard geckos and some hatlings from this summer
>>>> 1 crested gecko
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>>Urban Jungles.com

>>Danny, if that's pricey, can you explain to me why annulated are not considered pricey. In other words, what do annulates have that Ruschis don't to demand such a high price and nobody is complaining...

I couldn't tell you. Up until a couple of years ago, annulated boas were rarely exported and uncommonly bred. I personally paid 2500.00 for a male a few years ago (males were very uncommon). So I guess once again we are seeing the effects of supply and demand.

I guess people paid the money because they were so uncommon.
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Urban Jungles.com