Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey I'm new to all this but I am in college at the moment and am studying for a national diploma in animal care, I would like to know if anybody could help me with one of my assignments for exotics. I am trying to find out how much it would cost to breed an Eastern Indigo snake as I am writing about their husbandry and how to breed them. I have got all the information about how to breed them...all I need to find out now is how much it will cost to breed them. So if anybody knows then could you contact me at lpangel460@hotmail.com thank you very much

p.s. I would need to know the pricing for the vivarium, the actual snake, and everything else you need to breed an Eastern Indigo snake

Thanks again

Kimmy

thanks for your help but I need to find out how much it would cost to actually breed an Indigo snake. thanks for trying anyway! much appreciated!

Kimmy

erm to be honest I think that I need to find out the cost of the snake, the vivarium, the incubator, the lights, the substrate, etc....everything that is needed to breed an indigo!

Placing a price on the captive husbandry of any species, is no simple or easy task.
Several factors regarding some of the issues you have mentioned can have a direct impact on cost and regardless of the amount of money spent, there is never any real guarantee that you will be successful.
With that said, plan of spending anywhere from 500.00 to 800.00 for your stock as babies, this will be the price for each specimen. Ocassionally, adult specimens are available, but for much more, plan on 700.00 - 1000.00 If you do acquire babies, plan of feeding them for at least 5 years 2 - 3 times per week, you shoudl get a quote somewhere on kingsnake, regarding th eprice of feeders. You may, or may not, encounter health issues, but I would plan on putting away at least 500.00 per year and per specimen to cover such costs, perhaps more, pending you have a qualified veterinarian in your area.
Enclosures can vary, as you can build your own for as little as you care to spend and depending upon your mechanical abilities, or you can purchase a manufactured enclosure, or have one custom built. Again, you should research the classifieds and get prices.
Incubators are much the same as enclosures. Again, you can build your own for very little, or you can purchase one for as little as 40.00 on up to 3000.00. Again, you should research the classifieds, or look on eBay, as there are a great number of incubators normally offered there.
Heat and lighting, well you can go with anything from heating pads to heating the room! Again, you should research the prices easily found on the web. You should look at heat panels, heat tape, timers and rheostats.
You again have a broad choice in lighting. Some people who have
bred couperi use specific lighting techniques and some don't. YO ucan use both UV and incandescent, or one without the other. The price of bulbs and fixtures vary, so again, you should look at classifieds and dealers offerings to get prices.
If you are conducting research, I suggecst you do just that "research" It's too easy to ask for all of the answers. Hopefully, this will give you a start. Now, just hit the classifieds and dealers lists and do some window shopping. You can also add some change to your electric bill and cleaning supplies.

Good luck,
Jeff

Thanks Jeff...that has helped alot now I can finally finish my assignment ready for monday
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Kimmy -> Princess of LP:Fuse
http://www.lpfuse.co.uk

First off, it's going to depend on which state you live in as to whether you can even do this legally. Eastern Indigo Drymarchon corais couperi is listed as Threatened on Appendix II of the Federal Endangered Species Act, and is protected by state law in every state where it occurs or has been known to occur. In general, the states that specifically protect the Eastern Indigo very rarely issue permits to individuals even to possess the snake, much less breed it. Those states are Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi to my knowledge (I'm not absolutely certain about S.C. and MS). Other states may have specific regulations regarding keeping and breeding Indigos as well.

If you live in a state that does not specifically protect them, then no permit should be needed as long as you are obtaining them within your own state. If you cross state lines to purchase them, then a Federal Permit will be needed.

As far as cost, I've seen baby Easterns sell for anywhere from $600.00 each to $800.00 each. They are definitely subject to availability and not a lot of them were produced last year.

They are not particularly difficult or expensive to keep, but they do eat more than your average Colubrid and they need big enclosures. An adult Indigo needs a cage approximately 6 feet long x 2 feet deep x 18" high minimum as a rule of thumb.

It's difficult to give you how much it will cost you because it's dependent on a lot of factors. If you build your own cage, plan on spending $150.00 to $200.00 for materials, not including heating. You can buy a comparable commercially made cage for $300.00 to $400.00 not including heating and lighting.

Of course, OldHerper is correct, once again! You may have to acquire permits, from both the USF&W (25.00) and your state, if required, pending your location.
In some areas, you will not be allowed to keep couperi, or Drymarchon, for that matter, whatsoever.
Of course, there is the cost of shipping involved as well. 40.00 - 100.00 dependiong upon the carrier and location.

Jeff

which from what I've heard can amount to a LOT for an indigo.
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sue

Thanks for your help everyone. Now I can finally finish my assignment! When I get the results I will post it up! Thanks again

Kimmy
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Kimmy -> Princess of LP:Fuse
http://www.lpfuse.co.uk

hey everyone....Kimmy here again
Just to let you know what grade I got with all your wonderful help.

I got a distinction (the highest grade for assignments!)

Thank you all so much. I wouldn't have completed it without you!
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Kimmy -> Princess of LP:Fuse
http://www.lpfuse.co.uk

KUDOS! To you Kimmy!

Keep up the great work. I am certain everyone on the forum is happy to know there is an interest in this species on the High School level.
Hopefully, we will be reading some of your work in the journals within a few years.

Best of luck,
Jeff

PS: If you could post your paper here; I am certain all would like to see the fruits of your labor, for which you earned such a high grading.