Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I am not a breeder, just an average joe who loves these reptiles. I have seen such huge prices for these reptiles, I want to know if this industry is for the wealthy that can throw down the amount of money for these snakes? I wish I was wealthy like a lot of you guys who can afford these prices for a snake with a fire engine tail or a purple snake with a silver back, but like a lot of my friends and people I know we question on who are paying these high prices. All I can think is people that want to breed, but for the little dogs like me that just want to give a happy and loving home we can't touch them. What comes to mind is there are a lot of nanny's that are actually cleaning and caring for these beautiful looking creatures. I apologize to all but I am just venting my frustration and maybe someday a guy like me can afford something that you (the industry) consider beautiful. I just want you to know that I have the utmost love and respect for all you guys who take the time out to produce these beautiful creatures. (Now if I can just get in one and drive) LOL!!!

Your friendly neighborhood
Clownloach

It can get a little pricey, especially for newbies. However, there are lots of bargains to be found...just be patient. I bought 4 boas & 2 sinaloan milksnakes of KS for $250. That might seem a little steep but I thankfully have a "day job" that helps pay the bills while I moonlight as a breeder/collector. Just keep your eyes open!

with a pair or two of something within on your the price range (i.e., normal Columbian, C.A., or Dumerils). You can find all kinds of very beautiful animals that are worthy of your affection within your price range, whatever that may be. Then you care for, nuture, and breed your beloved animals, sell or trade your animals and get yourself whatever else strikes your fancy with that. It's a slow, but very rewarding hobby, for those of us that can't just go out and buy a pair of double carmel ghost albino clown snowflake jungle whatever. Anyhow, don't be disappointed or discouraged just because you are at a certain level seemingly below others here. We are all at different levels and we all started with that first snake or pair. For the vast majority of us, it was a very low end animal. Mine was a $3 California Kingsnake, which I kept and loved for 25 years.

Regards,

SSSammy

I agree totally with you on this.. I started out small, (still small.lol) and worked to get the animals I really wanted, and I am still working toward the high end morphs to add to my collection and future hopeful breeding stock. (I just added an albino and an ivory anery this past Nov/Dec.)

Later
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Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com

You never experience life until you have kids..then you realize what you should have done rather then what you did do

this whole slow process brings you a wealth of knowledge on how to take care of this boa's.
So by the time you have the money for these high-end morphs you are (better) prepared for it.
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Eric Tersteeg
http://www.boaconstrictor.nl

This hobby is for everybody! There are reptiles in EVERY price range, and having a desire for the ones you can't afford just seems to be human nature. Most the keepers I know are not terribly wealthy. A lot of us start off very small and "breed" are way up the ladder. You would be surprised what a pair of leopard geckos could earn you over time. You find yourself wanting a 1000 dollar albino boa. Start with a pair of Normal boas. For under 200 dollars you can get a pair, raise them and breed them. By the time you produce a litter, the price on albinos will be lower, and you can sell your offspring to cover the cost of the ONE albino. I've traded 15 babies from a litter for one albino. It is rare that someone buys there way to the top. Please stop looking for prices to bottom out. Once your in the hobby a little deeper you will start to see why things are the way they are. If prices started off low, there'd be no room to move. After just a few litters the price would be nothing. If you start high enough, the price can last over several years as more and more people start producing the animals. Most breeders don't turn around and live fancy lifestyles either. Ask around and you'll probably find most, if not all, money goes back into the animals. Well, I could ramble on for days about this.....best of luck to you and your friends. If your close enough friends, you could go into a project together and help offset the costs. If you could afford every snake, you'd have nothing left to dream about. Enjoy that feeling of desire!!! Take care!

Paul

thanky you Paul honesty is so loved (Bro)

one thing you have to understand is supply and demand..breeders charge so much for their rare color morphs because they are the only ones with that morph..its up to the public to deside how much they are willing to pay..i admit ive spent some large dollars on animals, only to breed them and make my investment back..everyone starts small, but one thing that we will always be able to count on is time..its taken me over 8 years to get my collection built..i do know a lot of millionairs also that invest in large dollar projects..if you have that kind of money to throw around, thats great, but for the rest of us out there, our collections start with an inexpensive pair of possible hets, and built up from there.

Just like the others that have responded to your post, I started off at the bottom and worked my way up. I was willing to put the $$$ from sales back into the hobby and work my way up. Do your shopping, do your homework, and when a deal comes up, jump on it. Also, in my opinion, it's a better way to go then just buying some high dollar snake. There's lots to learn and there are casualties.

i like to test drive mine first. To bad they only sit in a room where no one can see them.

Like everyone else has said. Breed some low end animals, and use the profit to move to higher end ones. I've been breeding boas, balls, corns, kings and now blood pythons. Most of that money goes back to supplies, but also funding my main breeding goal-gila monsters. I've only got one yet, but another every year will get me going. There are some other nice animals I'd love to work with, but they will come in due time. Just enjoy all your animals as much as you can though. Thats what makes haing them, really worth the investment.

Josh