I have a really complicated question?

First I want to say I'm really glad the Fauna Classifieds are back. I also think you're doing a great job and I'm sure everyone appreciates your hard work. Now I have a really complicate question and I hope there's someone out there that can help me.
I don't really know quite how to ask this question, but I'll try. So I was wondering what everyone's feelings are about buying snakes from unknown or hobby breeders. I'm asking, because there's a good chance my boas may be gravid. The problem is that I have some really nice adult snakes. I got them from well known breeders when they were babies. Now I'm not trying to become a "well known" breeder, but I do enjoy breeding boas. This year I may have some high end hets. That's the good news, for me anyway. The bad news is I'm basically a "nobody" in the reptile world. Now I can't possibly keep all the the babies that may be born. That means I have to sell some of them. The problem is that hets look like normal snakes. Yeah, you all knew that. LOL. Anyway I was wonder how a hobby breeder can possibly sell their babies? I really can't charge what a known breeder would charge, because I'm not a "known breeder". I guess I could charge a ridiculously low price and sell them that way. I mean everyone like a "good deal." The problem with selling hets at a very low price would cause controversy. If someone made an inquiry they might get a response like, "If it sounds to good to be true it probably is!". I guess I could take pictures of breedings and of my adult snakes. I could also tell them where I got my snakes from. The problem there is that anyone can buy snakes from a known breeder and claim their snakes had babies. They can get pictures of snakes breeding and giving birth from the internet. Anyone can make it "look" like they have actual hets and they could just be some regular boas they bought from someone else and now they're selling them at inflated prices. spam_Anway if anyone has any advise, such as if I should even try to sell the babies, the price they should go for, how to figure out how to give references(I've never sold a snake before, so I don't have any references), and how to provide paper work when there's no paperwork to give. Basically if I sell my babies they would only have my word and proof that at some point in time I purchased some nice snakes. The babies that may be born would be het for albino, double het for snow, and albino. Yeah, being an unknown I probably couldn't even get the going rate on the albinos, if I get any. You know I was really excited when they started breeding, but now I almost wish I hadn't bred them. I did contact a person that was advertising to buy whole clutches. He was very nice and told me what the "wholesale" prices would be. I may go that way if I don't figure out another way to sell the excess babies, if I acutally get babies. I do know you can't count your baby boas before they're born. LOL. So if you can help me any advise would be greatly appreciated.
spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_Thanks,
spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ spam_ Linda Demadura <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

First, if you do produce albinos, you will get the going rate on them no problem. There are not alot of albinos available on the market, and I believe the price this year will be as good as last years for a couple of reasons. One alot of the bigger breeders are produceing double hets rather then albinos. If you think about it it makes economical sence to do so. I also think a large part of the priceing of albinos this year will have to do with the quality of the animals you produce (amount of color or lack of).

As for the hets, there are a couple of ways to look at them. Last season I purchased a group of 100% het for anerys from a freind in florida. I basically sold them as &quot;common&quot; boas but informed people they were also 100% het for anery. 90% of the people buying them did not care about the het status, just wanted a healthy boa. This season I would imagine 100% het for albinos will be selling for 150.00-200$ ea. You could easily charge 100-150$ for common babies that are pretty. So if it were me I would sell them individually as commons. It may even serve you and other breeders better for people not to know the snakes &quot;het&quot; status. Sell them as commmons, people will buy them as pets, and the genetics will never be an issue. You could inform people that they are &quot;true hets&quot; but dont force the issue. Explain their genetic background (and show pics of the albino siblings) and you should have no problem. Another way to look at it would be to sell the male hets as &quot;commons&quot; and the female hets as &quot;hets&quot;. At this point in the game few people are looking for male &quot;hets&quot; so you wouldnt be looseing much. You should be able to sell the males as commons quickly for 75-125$ depending on your market and how patient you are. Then sell the females for 200$ as the hets they are to make a little extra money.

I would also suggest getting a good digital camera. This will help in provideing proof that you have the snakes, and if you catch the birth that you bred the snakes.

Or you could cut out all the work and sell them to wholesalers, again not even bothering to mention the &quot;het&quot; status of the snakes. This route you should get about 40-60$ per snake.

Mickey Hinkle
The Lizard King Reptiles
Omaha NE

Thanks for the reply. I sent you an email. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

Just testing this out guys spam_<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> spam_<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

Linda you might want to include your last name on your profile.
That way it can be included in your posts

I've tired to change it so my last name will show, but I can't figure out how to do it. Until I get it changed I can just put my last name on my posts.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Thanks,
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Linda Demadura <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

I got the name thing fixed. I had the Webslave delete my old registration, he's a very nice person, and I made a new one. All the info is the same. I just added my last name.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Linda <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

This is a test! &nbsp;I just returned from Personnel and Administration workshop today and was thrilled to see we have commo!! &nbsp;Looks like I also will have to re-register. &nbsp;I don't think my name will automatically be added...We will see.

Mike Blackston

I sympathize with you Linda, I myself am not very well known by a lot of people because as of last year I decided to turn a 27 year hobby into a business and I have some marvelous projects working right now and will producing a number of low to high range hets but I will have a great deal of problems selling them ( except to people I have known personally ) and getting the fair market value. &nbsp;I have had friends in the business say that they would try and help me out by selling the animals themselves and telling people that these are animals produced by my lines and thus giving me and my animals credence, it will also make them some cash so it works out well for both parties. &nbsp;When you are new in this business you find people like to buy from established names for obvious reasons. &nbsp;Would you feel more comfortable buying a het for albino colombian boa from Peter Kahl or Gary Walsch ? &nbsp;You might take a few losses at first but if you are patient and smart about it then you will do fine. &nbsp;I can sell common stuff a day long ( with the exception of my cb amazon tree boa babies ..... sheeesh ) but any high dollar item requires some confidence from the buyer in the breeder and that takes time to build.


Gary Walsch
Sunshine State Reptiles