What is going on with prices?

[Wally]

Unless you're cheaper i will . You made it personal, didn't have anything to do with what you sell your reptiles for... Was never about attacking higher priced sellers (not saying this is you). Simply arguing that selling a snake cheaper doesn't mean selling at a loss.

Have you ever bred a reptile?

 

[Wally]

Whats going on with python prices? BHP's $300, Coastals $50, Stripped Coastals $80! Not even 12 months ago these prices were unheard of. Are we really getting to the stage of over breeding, as much as this industry is growing the supply and demand must be getting out of hand. This is great for the buyers, but a nightmare for those who spent there hard earned cash on expensive breeders only to have the prices drop and now worth less than the average power bill. I love the fact thre's so much on the market, but only hope it dosn't get to the stage of dogs and cats where shelters would be needed to look after the unsaleable and unwanted of spring. Do we all need to take a few steps back?

I think to get back to the original question what we are seeing is people clearing their racks for this years stock. Be happy, clearance sale now on.

 

[Teamsherman]

For the people stuck on the business side of it all, why are you starting your calculations at the hatchies..... the model you are using is hyper simplified.....

I think everyone is missing the point.... its not so much about the values, more-so about the need for a sustainable herp economy.

Sustainable herp economy or sustainable herp population?

Dollar signs much?

I thought all herp breeders were always in it to sustain the herp populations before our cars, cats, infrastructure and so on make them rarer in the wild than hens teeth. But in saying that, it wouldnt matter if we bred millions in captivity, they would never be allowed to be released into the wild anyway.

This next statement is not aimed at you Ihaveherps, just my feeling towards the current trends.

"If you are breeding reptiles, you are doing it at first for the joy of helping to produce life and the test upon ones ability to keep a species well enough that it feels comfortable to breed, after that, its for the money." Teamsherman 17 Oct 10!! LOL

 

[Waterrat]

Waterrats hypothetical argument. Which I assumed was an adaption of URS vs everybody. URS puts out hundreds of reptiles.

WRONG! Don't assume! You are well off the track mate and I (The Green Effect) nor Tim (URS) appreciate your assumption. Read my posts again and it may become clear that I was aiming my hypothetical situation at my mate who undercuts me by $500.- every year.
This makes me really angry. Your assumption contributes nothing to this thread but may cause rifts between people who respect each other.
Go away!

 

[Slateman]

Guys if you don't calm down and if you continue to be personal in your posts. I will close this topic.
You can talk about this topic with out insults and pointing fingers at other members here.

I am angry old man and if I can control my self, so can you.

 

[Waterrat]

Slatey, I take your point but who is here to control the people who (as in this instance) through their "assumptions" stir up trouble between two people and cause embarrassment? Should I just take it on the chin?

cheers
calm and well-controlled Michael

 

[cactus2u]

Guys if you don't calm down and if you continue to be personal in your posts. I will close this topic.
You can talk about this topic with out insults and pointing fingers at other members here.

I am angry old man and if I can control my self, so can you.

Had to laugh..... yeah we are all meant to be grown up & be able to handle debates/conflicts without resorting to some youthful behaviour even if the subject is close to our heart
I myself have not long ago bought a adult Olive pair with hope of experiencing the expected joy of hatching a clutch so I can keep one myself.Will most probably be a one off effort maybe biannually if I shout myself one of those beautiful albino olives.
But by the time I can convince wifey to allow that sort of outlay the price issue will most likely be a figuring factor

 

[Laghairt]

Threads about price never end well, too many opinions and vested interest.

 

[Wookie]

Waterrat, I formally apologise for my assumption. I assure you, and all other included parties, that no malicious intent was involved in that post.

 

[Waterrat]

Waterrat, I formally apologise for my assumption. I assure you, and all other included parties, that no malicious intent was involved in that post.

Thank you and I believe you. I am sure we sort it out with Tim.

cheers

 

[Jonno from ERD]

This type of discussion will go round and round in circles. I have copped a bit of a ribbing for selling "expensive" elapids over the last few years. I sold a bucket load of Eastern Brown hatchlings for $150 each, Tiger Snake neonates for $200 each, and the year before I sold juvenile Red Bellies for $300 each. I had no trouble moving them. I sold Death Adders to a wildlife park in Sydney for significantly more than what they would sell for in the open market, and I sold Speckled Browns to a private keeper for $2000 for a 30cm pair. Why? Because I can. If people are willing to pay it, I am willing to accept it. On the f.l.i.p.side, I am more than happy to pay above the market rate for animals that I desire. I paid over $2000 for a pair of Inland Taipans recently...but when a friend offered me three yearling Carpets for a carton of rum last week, I declined...he ended up giving them to me for free, but that's not the point.

At the end of the day, the buyers dictate the price. If something is too expensive, they won't buy it, and if it's the right price or less, they will. This will continue on regardless of what an individuals personal opinion is, and regardless of what the actual costs of producing reptiles are. Anybody who has bred and sold a reptile is guilty of this, not that there is anything to be "guilty" about.

 

[cement]

Yes there seems to be a real stigma with selling herps. If you breed and sell your a dollar grabber, but if your a well respected breeder and seller its ok:shock:. Its funny and makes me laugh when i read things about who is "in it for the money" as if thats a bad thing.
What WILL happen, without a doubt, with this hobby/industry, (and listen carefully because i have this straight from the "in the know" guy who never gets a prediction wrong) will simply happen...:lol:

Hey, do the dudes who call others money hungry do any work with wild reptiles, voluntarily?
Because if we all love our reptiles so much why isn't there more people from this site getting involved with wild herp care and rehab?

Bummer my albinos didn't go this year... especially after I named the female " money maker"!!!

 

[kkjkdt1]

Why? Because I can. If people are willing to pay it, I am willing to accept it.
Anybody who has bred and sold a reptile is guilty of this, not that there is anything to be "guilty" about.[/QUOTE]

Best post yet on this topic

 

[gsnake]

what's it realy worth

Hi Guys First Time in. The joy of breeding snakes is one of the best feelings iv ever had, apart from the birth of my children. Then to sell a Juvi to a girl who is Handicapped & a young feller Who Was suicidal & to see their faces Was priceless. At a cheaper price their parents can afford. Who cares about money . Its a hobby for me. The look on their faces, well it still brings a tear to my eye. Thank you. Regards gsnake

 

[FAY]

Its funny and makes me laugh when i read things about who is "in it for the money" as if thats a bad thing.

I just love those people who make a point of saying " I am in it for the hobby, not the money' and continually say it.
Always trying to convince everyone

 

[cactus2u]

Y
What WILL happen, without a doubt, with this hobby/industry, (and listen carefully because i have this straight from the "in the know" guy who never gets a prediction wrong) will simply happen...:lol::

So what was the prediction?? you seamed to have left it out of your comment

 

[shellfisch]

So what was the prediction?? you seamed to have left it out of your comment

What WILL happen, will simply happen...:lol:

That is the prediction....:lol:

 

[zuesowns]

I just love those people who make a point of saying " I am in it for the hobby, not the money' and continually say it.
Always trying to convince everyone

Can you be in it for the hobby and the money?

What about people that don't mass breed and have 1 or 2 pairs of snakes to breed and sell hatchies?

Obviously they are in it for the hobby as they have only 1 or 2 pairs of snakes to breed and sell offspring, that said - they won't sell it under market price

What does that make them?

 

[PilbaraPythons]

For those who think that making a sole living from breeding reptiles alone is easy, in my experience it is far from it. My initial involvement with reptiles many years ago was always a labor of passion and the monetary element hardly entered my head and indeed I spent ridiculous amounts of money traveling long and far many times doing what at sometimes wasn't legal but never for money and always giving away additional reptiles to friends who enjoyed them.
Six years ago I decided it would be a great if I could turn my hobby into an income to survive on and can honestly say that I have since struggled to do so with only one year making what would be considered a handy profit but which I now owe a crazy tax bill for. Every year since, I am lucky if I break even.
Having said this, my own circumstances are a little different than most i.e the Pilbara area is an extremely expensive place to live and additionally to say I am an ordinary businessman is an understatement.
These days reality has forced me back into manual labor to make ends meet and I no longer view my reptile indulgence as being much more than a large scale hobby that struggles to break even.
The ironic thing about this view is I am once again starting to enjoy it.

 

[Kristy_07]

It's a lesson that, for whatever reason, I learned when I was young, and feel lucky to have done so. When you have a passion for something (for me, reptiles, dogs, horses, photography, development work), you have a choice to make. Do you choose to keep your passion as a hobby, enjoy it to the max, but don't expect to make any money or change the world - just be happy with your own efforts and the self-satisfaction of what you can achieve on your own.

Or, you can choose to make your passion a career. There is often hard work and many years of little to no money, frustrations, pressure on other areas of your life, and more than likely, the thing that you originally had a passion for will become as much as chore as anything else, even if it's a chore you still enjoy.

Neither option is right or wrong - there's just the decision you make. I made the choice to keep photography purely as a hobby, as well as the dogs and horses. Having gone and come back to Vietnam, I will probably make the same decision about development work, keeping my efforts to short-term, highly focused projects rather than working within the bureaucracy of the larger organisations. The reptiles, I'd like to try simply to break even, if possible, but I'm going to damn well enjoy myself in the meantime

So, what will I do for real work? Ummmmm......