Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I wanted some opinions...do you think breeding Nics is a solid investment, specifically hypos? I'm planning on dropping around 500 bucks on a male hypo to breed to a female normal, but I don't want to waste the money if the price is going to drastically drop anytime soon. Also, I've got a normal Colombian, and I was wondering what would be produced if I bred it to a hypo Nic. Is this ethical/even possible? Thanks,

-Mack

Good investment? You will get your money back and them some over time...so yes.

The hypo trait came from central american boas originally, so all you would be doing is making 50/50 salmons...If I were going to buy a pure hypo nic, I would pair it with another pure nic if I could...that's just what I would do though...

I am planning on pairing it with another pure nic, I just wondered how the babies would come out if it was paired to a normal colombian. I wasn't sure if half would be nics, and the other half colombians, would they be larger in size, etc.

-Mack

All of the babies would technically be half central half nicaraguan, and appearance, size, as well as temperment would vary between nearly identical to each parent and everything in between for each individual offspring.

Personally, I wouldn't look at it as an investment. All boa prices drop over time. Heck hypo nics used to be $3000 two years ago, and now I've seen them for $400-$500. Next year they may only be worth about $250. If you like the looks of a hypo nic, then by all means, get one. I currently own two because I love the colors on them.

As for crossing it with a colombian, my answer would be a resounding NO! Now, I'm not opposed to mixing some b.c.i but I have noticed that a nic X col is really a mutt that no one seems to want. You can find them for sale, usually really cheap, and the ads will run for a really long time.

Amie

I agree, if you're looking for a "good investment" there lots of other, more sure ways to turn a profit. Breeding animals is not a sure thing, you have to invest a lot of hours of your time, and money for the best food consistently, and the best of caging, and there is no guarantee that you will ever produce any babies, or even that your female will survive breeding, being gravid, and delivery. What is your experience and skill level for producing boa babies, have you produced any so far? If you haven't then I wouldn't count on producing any babies for the first couple of years until you get your husbandry all straightened out and you know what you're doing.

In my opinion you shouldn't be breeding boas if a "good investment" is what you are looking for. Certainly a $500. boa isn't much of an investment at all. In the 4 years it would take you to bring babies to market for any female, they price of the same boas are likely to be the same as a normals. Even if you have the 5K or 10K to buy a more investment-worthy boa you'd still face all the above factors, and the price would still be dropping the whole time your boas are even getting to be old enough to produce.
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Caden Chapman
slithering.serpents@gmail.com

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I don't thnk breeding snakes is a bad investment, as long as you're seeing it as a small one. Usually you will eventually make a little money on it (but maybe it'll take you years). Though, some people do better than others. I consider it a pretty high risk investment, because at any time your investment could just literally die. If you have a lot to invest, I'd look into real estate! But if you're looking for a $500 investment, I don't think boas are a bad one.
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1.1 96, 04 Het Albino - "Suzie" & "Lumpy"
0.1 03 Poss. Het Albino - "Ami"
0.1 05 Super Salmon - "CreamSicle"
0.1 04 Anery Het Snow- "Squelchy"
1.0 04 DH-Sunglow - "Dwayne"
1.0 06 TH-Moonglow - "Gargamel"
1.2 01 BRBs- "Gobball", "Larva" & "Tofu"

Thanks for the replies, however smartassed a few of them may have been. I guess I should have been more clear. I plan on breeding Nicaraguans regardless. I like their colors, their size, and I think that they are just all around neat snakes. My question was, is it worth it to go ahead and buy a hypo nic now to breed in 3-4 years. I don't want to spend $500 now if by the time they breed I'll be selling the babies for 50 bucks each. If that is the case, I'd just as soon buy another normal nic, and breed my female to that. And no, I've never bred boas , only colubrids, but it's been done before, and I'm sure I won't have that much trouble. Thanks again to those who responded, (amiemac9 and Andy G...you have been nice, thanks). For future reference, if you're going to be condescending, don't bother responding to my posts. Thanks again,

-Mack

If you like working with them by all means go ahead. Hypo and Anery Nics could be had for a few dollars more than normal a few years ago. I know one of the two CH Ghosts were sold for less than a lower end Colombian Albino. The interest has been peaked with these guys, and the market will level itself out in the coming seasons. You have to realize though, Hypo nics aren't as rare as you or I would like them to be. A decent number come in each season, and if you look back to 03' ( may have been 02'? ) everybody down in Miami had a few ( If I remember right, I think 30 came in on one shipment of 2500 or 5000(?) and that was just one of the many shipments that came in that year. )

No need to be defensive. I wasn't being condescending or a smartass. You asked for an opinion, and I gave you mine. That's what forums are for, after all. I was trying to help you. You asked about a good investment. I was pretty thorough about why my opinion is what it isn't. Whether or not you have produced babies was only pertinent to how good an investment breeding boas would seem to be for you.
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Caden Chapman
slithering.serpents@gmail.com

how about just enjoyable? personally id worry about investment second and how much I enjoy them first.