Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have noticed recently that some folks are selling Womas for well below the market value. Its too bad, their short term gain is causing long term damage as I now have many people inquire about my animals stating that, "come on dude, everyone is breeding them and they are going to be the next cornsnake phenomena". They are NEVER going to be the next cornsnake and I seriously doubt they will be available for $20 or less. And not everybody is breeding them successfully!
Cheers
Lat

I agree. I think people are just trying to move their animals so fast that they lose sight of what they're worth. Though the lesser quality animals may see low prices, the highest quality animals will still remain relatively expensive. For anyone has seen the differences in quality, well...Let's just I'd rather pay $1,000 for an amazing male than $400 for a somewhat "dumpy" male with weak contrast and drab coloration.

Exactly. Though, people can sell them for whatever they want, Im not the pricing police, and besides someone else will gain by their whimsical approach to this hobby! So we all gain in the end!

There are actually quite a few folks producing them nowadays.
The prices you see are typically extra males that most folks don't need as part of their projects. It's the females that still command decent prices. It was rare to find more than a few clutches available on the net just a few seasons ago but now, there are quite a few folks working with them, from the newbies to the longterm Aspidites aficionados.
The supply is now slightly exceeding the demand and therefore prices are coming down. From what I have heard firsthand from breeders of Womas, they consider them to breed and reproduce relatively easily....one of these people, a longtime "big name" breeder of Womas said they were akin to breeding kingsnakes or carpet pythons.
Take that for what it's worth.

-Yasser
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you know in a show I went to last year in Anaheim CA, I noticed alot of underpriced woma's. I saw adult males for $500!

This disturbs me as well.
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0.1 Rubber Boa
1.1 Womas
1.0 African Hedgehog
1.0 Sulcata
1.1 Leopard tortoises
2 Silver Dollars
3 Bosemian Rainbows
1 Cory Cat
1 Upside Down Catfish
1 silver arrowana
1 sentenal bichir

but I don't get it. Is this "disturbing" because you have invested in breeding Womas? Because other than that, I don't see how this could could cause any "long-term damage" to anyone. Seems like a good thing to me, since more people will be able to afford them now. Am I missing something?

-Imp

No worries, its normal that prices drop somewhat, but what I have seen lately defies good sense. Originally, I didnt invest in them to make money, I bought my first pair because they were the coolest thing since sliced bread, still are IMO.
What is disturbing is that some people are dumping their animals in light of the new craze with BP's, selling low to quickly get rid of animals creates an "illusion" that prices are coming down. Quality Womas will always command higher prices, there are some successful folks who still work with Womas regardless of what the price is because they love the sp. but insult them with a low price for a nice animal and you will lose a good source for these snakes.
I guess it comes down to what an individual thinks his animals are worth, if they take pride in producing nice animals they will not lower their prices. If they dont take pride in producing nice animals they will sell them for whatever they can, "to focus on a new project".
Ciao
B

Well that still doesn't seem to make sense. The price is determined primarily by the rarity of the species or morph, and to a lesser extent by the reputation of the breeder. No matter how nice you think your womas are, those factors will determine the price. The real illusion could be the higher price, which had been commanded by the scarcity of womas in the past. I know it's a truism, but your snakes are only worth what someone else is willing to pay for them.

-Imp

The truth doesnt have to make sense to be true...
Breeders dont get a good rep by selling dumpy snakes, they get a good rep by producing the best available. Those that produce nice snakes will command high prices, doesnt matter who the breeder is. Those that have a bad reputation from poor business practice can produce albinos for all I care, I still wont buy from them.
If the snake is dumpy then yes its worth less, obviously, as far as rarity goes...well Womas are not exactly common last time I checked (nice ones anyways), and not everyone who is trying to breed them is having success, but they are certainly available to those who want to work with them.
In the end those that produce quality will be rewarded with good prices and a good reputation. The rest will move on to "fund new projects", hoping to gain what they failed to achieve...
Cheers
Lat

Sorry if I upset some of you but since when did "we" as humans, lose site of whats important? Money is NOT everything!! Yes I breed snakes, yes I like money, yes seeing prices drop when you are hoping for more for your time is disappointing but is that really what it is about? I do it(breed reptiles) because I love the challenge, love the sight of walking into a room and seeing my animals popping!!! Come on people!!! Selling them for max $$ is the least of my worries, I worry more what I am going to make for dinner than I do how much my snakes are going to be worth in the future!! Have fun, and be happy. Anyways, thats just the way I try to live life...everyone has different ideas!
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Chris
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Captive Bred Herps

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Womas are dropping in price because they are becoming quite common now. With a little more time even the highest quality womas will start to drop in price. It's the law of capitalism.

This is a disease that's very common in the reptile trade. Breeders want to move their inventory quick so instead of being smart business people they cut themselves off at the knees.

An intelligent business person would move VOLUMES of animals at a reduced price to a reseller and sell individuals to private parties for RETAIL price. If a retail reptile store buys half a dozen womas from you at $500.00 each and you sell the remaining animals to the public at $1000.00 each then you and the retailer both win. The problem comes when breeders want to get the premium price from both a private party and a reseller. Why should someone who's looking to re-sell the animals pay $900.00 when you’re selling them to the public for $1000.00? It's not worth the time, food, and expense to do so. Contrary to what most people in this industry believe wholesale is HALF! Not 10%, not 25%, HALF! If you retail it for $900.00 you should wholesale it for $450.00. I've done it for YEARS! If I was selling baby boas to the public for $75.00 I would sell a 20 lot to a retail store for $32.50. Same with kings, corns, beardeds, and yes higher end animals as well.

That's just my personal view on it though.

That is an amazing looking snake lat

I still think it's insanity that people are selling these morphs for $30-$40K(its still just a BP). If your not part of the Klan good luck getting into these animals before the price drops. I'll stick with my knobtails. They always have been and always will be tough to hatch and there price stays rock solid. Lat, I like the name since blatta lateralis is going to be the biggest selling roach for me in the the US, ans two that is a kick-butt woma. Let me know when you have some babies ready.
James
www.blaberus.com