Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all, I am on the verge of getting into albinos pyros. I was wondering if I could get some insight into what do you think about the trend of this snake. For example where the market will be in 3 yrs when I finally produce some babies. Because as you know these guys are not cheap right now. Also any input about others like the durango(greers. Where will the market be in 3 yrs.

Thanks

I believe that Pyros and Greeri are both sound investments. They are still in their infancy as far as their possibilities are.
My preference is Greeri. Applegate and a few others have produce hypos and light phased animals. Other morphs are definitely soon to come.
You could also make a good investment with the Brooksi or Honduran craze. Sure their value is going to drop in a few years, but not so dramatically as to ruin an investment.
These are just my honest opinion others may have their own preferences.
John Lassiter

Here is one of my Light Phased Durango Mt. Kings from wild caught stock collected by the Houston Zoo in the 80's.

The pyros and other smaller kings are hard to start eating and take more specialized brumation.

The Hondurans are a good investment colubrid as they are large ,hardy and colorful. The Vanishing hypos will always hold a higher price. I beleive the amels will go down after 5 yrs and the hypos will remain higher.

I say breed and work with what you like. I prefer the getula as many on this forum do. But IMO they are not as great investment quality snake as the hondurans.

Now as far as colubrids in general. Whew thats a tough one. There are so many asian ratsnakes (coxi ect) coming into the market its hard to tell. The hognoses kinda crashed this year as the high prices people were wanting did not come through.

Then on the lower end of the scale but definetly easier to sell. Are the cornsnakes and calif kings. Kerby (a forum poster) is working with some new calif kings that have perked my interests and they are alos a hardy species.

WSO you have to weigh what is the most important quality to you. Price? Hardiness? Larger market interest?

Narrow it dawn a bit for a better answer otherwise you will just get everyones opinion on what they want to sell and convince you to work with as an investment colubrid.
For instance Terry Dunham might be inclined to tell you snow or Tangerine hybino hondurans, or Kieth might say locality Easterns (LOL), Brandon Osbourn might say Snow brooksi,Dean Alessandri might say Indigos, David Boyle might suggest Ghost brooksi and Kerby will tell you Calif kings.

Now if you really want to see into the future market BUY Hybrids...LOL!

Seriously if you want to make money and that is your goal and you want to do this as an investment get hets. They are boring but they will produce what others have but at a fraction of the cost.

I agree with Rainer. Hybrids are going to be the thing in the future and will be good investment snakes. Not everyone agrees with hybrids though. I think if they are advertised correctly then there should be no problem with them.

Pyros and Greeri are harder to get feeding and that is why they are harder to sell than the more common kings.(getula) But they will be as popular as Hondurans in the not so far distant future with the new morphs that are being produced in small numbers now.

Rainer is also correct about purchasing hets. You can produce top of the line snakes with little investment and tenfold your capital. And yes breed what you like, that is why I am sticking to the Mexicana complex. It is sure to get popular again, I hope. But I am really not doing it for the money mostly enjoyment. If I wanted to do it for the money I would jump on the Cornsnake wagon like everyone else.LOL!

John Lassiter

Everybody has an excuse. "I'm not doing it for the money." As if they are ashamed. There is NOTHING wrong with trying to make a profit doing what you love. As a matter of fact, that may be the secret to a happy life.
-----
International Snakes Meetup
International Herpetology Meetup

Well then let me restate that. I am not doing it for the money just yet. I believe as long as this hobby pays for itself all is well. And even if I can bank a buck or two all is well. When it starts costing me money to do this hobby, then I will be in it for the money.
I am not making an excuse and definitely not ashamed. It is just that the last three years of breeding I haven't produced enough to "get rich" LOL! I do plan to have larger and larger production of livestock every year. It is just, right now, if I don't sell everything I planned on, it would not hurt my feelings one bit to keep them all for myself!
You are correct in saying that there is nothing wrong with making money while doing something you love.
PEACE,
John Lassiter

>>You are correct in saying that there is nothing wrong with making money while doing something you love.
>>PEACE,
>>John Lassiter

"My object in living
is to unite
my avocation and my vocation
as my two eyes
make one in sight."

--Robert Frost, 'Two Tramps in Mud Time'

>>>>You are correct in saying that there is nothing wrong with making money while doing something you love.
>>>>PEACE,
>>>>John Lassiter
>>
>>"My object in living
>> is to unite
>>my avocation and my vocation
>>as my two eyes
>>make one in sight."
>>
>>--Robert Frost, 'Two Tramps in Mud Time'
-----
International Snakes Meetup
International Herpetology Meetup

>>Everybody has an excuse. "I'm not doing it for the money." As if they are ashamed. There is NOTHING wrong with trying to make a profit doing what you love. As a matter of fact, that may be the secret to a happy life.
>>-----
>> International Snakes Meetup
>> International Herpetology Meetup

Actually, I think bluerosy is right: With the exception of hybrids, which will increase dramatically in value because of their natural, inherent worth and appeal, all other snakes will decrease dramatically in value, offering breeders no investment opportunities whatsoever. It is best, therefore, that no one else breed morphs of pure animals--pyros and hondurans, especially, because their futures are doomed--and just leave it to me to lose a bundle with them, since that is the only likely outcome.

terry

I knew it. Just had to get one sales pitch in. At least it was an unbiased one

snakes and all cultivar is life richening I still think my meanest snake is still nicer than my exwife cause it'll poo on me and only bite me a couple of times. and i can do that and talk on the phone. getulas rule! btw the psycho hondo is the meanest, thats an additude thing, i have some very nice hondos . Chris

if you think you are going to get into investing in snakes, you best buy something you really like, because the market is really fickle and you may not make over three years what you expected. The hobby for the majority of breeders pays for itself,maybe a little more.The most valuable thing I got out of the breeding thing is networking with people at the shows and here at the forum!

Rainer's sense of humor is tops.
dB

If your looking for an investment, try mutual funds. Any snake that is on the open market now will be selling for much less in three years. Snakes as an investment is just a bad idea IMHO.

Todos Santos Island gophersnakes!

Tim

I ment to say Todos Santos Island Mountain Kingsnake, sorry I've had gophersnakes on the brain lately.
Tim