Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The vet told me his malpractice insurance company needs at least three estimates of how much my precious little Tazzie was worth. The only estimate I have is from a local breeder that offered me $2000 for Tazzie for a breeding project. Naturally, I refused. We were in the process of working something else out and it looked like he was going to give me a pastel female in exchange for several "picks of the litter." I have no idea what he was worth. I looked all over the Internet for a similar looking adult male beardie, but had no luck. Can any of you guys help me out?

I'm not sure, but was told that Tazzie was a Yellow Pastel. His beard was light orange and so were the sides of his body - by his spikes. The rest of him was a light yellow with lavender markings on his back. He was approximately 5-6 years old, in perfect health and a very, very eager (but relatively gentle) breeder. He never actually made any babies, but it wasn't for a lack of trying! He "mated" with two beardies that turned out to be males, and he tried valiantly to mate with a female that "wasn't in the mood" until I removed him because the female was trying to bite him to stop him. He put on beautiful, brilliant displays every time he saw a female - with the darkest black beard I ever saw. He even got black down his chest and his arms and he bobbed his little head with such intense energy!

His colors didn't photograph well, but here's the most accurate:

Here's another one - the colors aren't quite as accurate, but it's close:

If you have any opinions on his estimated value, please let me know. Also, please let me know if you would allow me to use your name and/or any other information or if you just wanted me to say it was anonymous.

Thanks in advance for your help. I'm still having an incredibly difficult time with all this. I miss my Tazzie so very, very much. Life just isn't the same without him!

Thanks,
Lisa

It must be hard putting a price on something so priceless.
I read your post and they brought tears to my eyes. I didnt want to post since it was a little late and i didnt know if you would get a chance to read it. I just want to say that i am so sorry for your beloved loss, and im hope that you are ok and stay strong. Please do take care of your self because your animals (future or present) will be counting on you.

As far as a price, i would go for the breeders quote because you cant put a price on him good luck!! and stay up!

Tazzie was priceless. I can't believe they are making me do this. How could I possibly give them any kind of objective price for my baby? He was invaluable and irreplaceable. You're also right about using the quote from the breeder. If that is what someone was willing to pay for him, it shouldn't matter what others think. They shouldn't make me go through all this.

Thanks for your kind words. They mean a lot. I'm having such a hard time. The nightmares are the worst... I keep seeing how bad he suffered and I wake up screaming. It's really awful.

Anyways... thanks a lot for your post.

Lisa

I love you Tazzie!!

So sorry about your little Tazzie. I truly have no idea what he is worth, as I haven't ever sold any beardies, and i've only bought babies. It would be nice if you were able to get the $2000 quoted to you by the breeder. Perhaps some of the breeders that post here could help you out and attempt to put a value on him. If not that, maybe you could contact some breeders and let them know the situation and ask if they could help you by telling you what they think he's worth. It's so terrible though that you are being forced to put a dollar value on your little dragon friend.

Sorry for you loss. I realize this was a pet and irreplaceable. I sell dragons like that for $200 as one year old adults and $75 to $125 as juvies. It is nice, but not worth anything close to $2000. If you put that picture on the classified section and asked for $2000 no one would reply. Also, a 5 to 6 year old male is quite old and not really good for a breeding project. In fact, he was nearing the end of his natural life. The vets in NY tell me 6 years old is the average for dragons. A dragon that old would have a very had time surviving most any treatment a vet gave. The stress would deteriorate him and he likely would not recover. While I sympathize with you for your loss, I can not justify the recovery you are seeking.

Again, sorry for you loss.
John

We know females that are laying and producing healthy babies @ 8 years and males that are breeding @ 12 years.

Granted most the dragons seen online are $100-$125 as babies and $250 adults, these are not some of the rarer F1 captive bred that you will NEVER see online offered or ones that regularly produce $300-$500 babies. Many people selling online could not tell you the dragons genetics beyond the last two generations.

Even prime breeders at shows display dragons in the $125-$250 range, but ask to see what they have under the table, thats where the $1000-$4000 ones are, but first they will pull out a box with the $500 ones. Those dragons will never be on the internet and I have more than once had ones I wanted and was turned down for a price that you call unreasonable.

We are trying to buy what we think is one of the best males in the country right now and he's been breeding for several years strongly!

Bearded Dragons normal lifetime is not what the vets have told you, that the lifetime of the ones they are seeing die in their practice.... I know many that are past 10 years and some that are over 15

If you have really seen a 12 year old females that is breeding you have seen the world record dragon! According to Vosjoli and Mailloux, probably the most knowledgeable people on bearded dragons, "although there are a few reports of pet inland bearded dragons exceeding 10 years of age, most live between 5 and 8 years if initially healthy and raised under good conditions. We have an unauthenticated report of a 12 year old specimen."

This is what I have seen in my own dragons...I would say 7-8 is average for ours. We occasionally get a male that will live to 10, but females who have bred never live past 8. Our males WILL sometimes "breed until the end".

In answer to that question. At one year old, it is probable that this dragon could have sold for $250. At 5 years old, and never bred....I would say $150. I have gotten better quality males for $250, and if I needed to sell him I would ask $175 then drop to $150 if he didn't sell......but I totally understand that he was priceless to you. I think that you should add a bit to the quote for that part of you that died with him. If you wanted a different way to get a price you could take what you paid for him initially then add what you have paid for crickets, pellets, greens, substrate, lighting, ect over the last five years. I don't see why that wouldn't be a reasonable amount to ask for your loss. That might get you close to $2000. Good luck!

I have been to most every major (and minor) east coast herp show and know most of the breeders. Rarely do they have $1000 dragons. I have seen a few and own a few, but they totally blow that male away and they are YOUNG, as they age the price drops quickly. Breeders do not "hide" $4000 dragons in boxes behind counters, that's not how you sell the animal nor would it advertise your quality. A good quality animal on the table can realy draw a crowd, That's where top animals are really valueable.

As to 15 year old dragons...I don't believe you period.

John

my female is extremely similar is colour ..not sure how well this picture shows it.

But I sold her (a proven female, 2 years old) for $275 canadian dollars.

That will give you a good idea.

Males are generally not work nearly as much as females, especially proven females.
Your male isn't a proven breeder either, which will decrease his value.
Just a few factors to keep in mind.
But of course, you can't put value on love and companionship an animal has given you.

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Lindsay//
::Beardeddragons.ca::
lindsay@beardeddragons.ca

I thought that $2000 seemed really high, maybe the breeder offered me that much because he knew it would take a lot to get him away from me. Although I wouldn't have sold him for any amount of money... Anyway, thanks for answering such a difficult question. I don't want to let my emotions get in the way and despite what happened, I don't want to look like the settlement is all about money - it's about what happened to Tazzie.

Again, thanks to everyone who responded. I knew it was a difficult question, but I'm glad I got some honest answers. If it were up to me, I'd set his value on several million dollars.

Lisa

I love you Tazzie!

but the funny part is, when it comes down to it, would you actually see the money exchange? Probably not!!
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Lindsay//
::Beardeddragons.ca::
lindsay@beardeddragons.ca

n/p

I love you Tazzie!!

$2000 does seem a high price for your dragon, I think the highest price I have seen for an adult dragon was about $750 when Donald's Dragons (I think it was him) put up a bunch of their adults for auction.

IF this breeder did quote that much, try and contact him and get him to put the offer in writing. Then you will need two more to colaborate the price or quote what they would have felt the price of the dragon was. But they should also keep in mind this dragon isn't just an asset to you, it was a loved pet and part of your family. That would make it's cost alot more.