Really weird question bou emrald prices...

[Gex the Gecko]

why do people ask so much for emerald tree boas even as breeders? I mean im VERY new to emeralds as far as keeping them goes (5 days now and hes pretty good) but i do intend to breed and i am VERY familar with emerald prices and personally, i think there WAY to high from breeders who do it as a side hobby, not the extent of someone like Nicoli. I aquired my emeralds for a good price and despite being imported were kept for months before i saw them anbd became LTCs and beacuse i like to leave you guessing, i wont say how much i got them for. But even if you bought a male and female at the 500 per animal they cost for a decent (not designer) CBs ready to breed youd make all your money back by 4 sales if you just charged 300 for there children and youd probally make back most of what you put into the cage. It seems to me thats what ETBs are about, not about rarity but about what you put into them. an investment is supposed to be like found money, beacuse by the time youve got your snakes children it doesnt seem like making the money back should matter, just making money Period. I dont know but its just how i feel and always felt since i got intrested. IF my snakes ever do produce (fingers crossed) i intend to sell them for 300 a baby, 400 an adult. like i said just my 2 cents, not to step on anyones toes.

 

[reptilebreeder]

Well, it's all about supply and demand. If the breeder's weren't getting what they asked for, the price would go down. As far as saying that a hobbyist should charge less than a "real" breeder, that's ridiculous. The hobbyist invests just as much time and effort (per animal)to breeding as does others who have more animals. In fact it probably costs MORE investment wise for the hobbyist, because he is just buying a few animals at retail, many of the business breeders have connections to wholesale prices, or have been importing and establishing colonies for a long time.
As far as price for imports or initial stock, many of the imports are hard to care for and can be loaded with parasites, can be harder to get feeding, and have a higher mortality rate than captive bred. In fact didn't one of your's DIE (case in point) did you posts about that? I seem to remember a post. That is what happens to imports, the cost you paid is now in the loss column, and you have to recoup that, if the seller had a guarantee and it died in that time, you may get a new animal, but may or may not have to pay for shipping again. At any rate, most times when you use WC imports, or LTC animals there is no guarantee, so you would have to eat the loss.
Of course even if you can finally get a couple raised to adulthood, in spite of the problems, they are then harder to breed than say a pair of kingsnakes. If you, with no previous experience can get some LTC animals to breed, that would be very impressive. No I think after finding out how much money is needed to buy, feed, care for, when (and if) you are able to produce offspring, you will be glad that they still sell for a decent price (which will of course be less than what a well known established breeder can probably sell them for).
Just my 2 cents.

 

[Josephbrugh]

$$$$$$

Emerald Tree Boas are perhaps one of the most difficult boids to breed, and small litter sizes makes them a prime item for most collectors.
Also, there are no ugly tree boas, but some have alot more desireable traits that breeders are out for, this equals higher price.

As for Tony N., He has spent over 10 years hand selecting the best of the best as far as ETBs goes. The reason for this is that all animals that he will produce, will carry the strongest genetics of all animals of that type, because through selective breeding process he rids his stock of fantasitc looking animals that produce non-fantastic looking offspring. So the animals that you obtain are the BEST GENETICLY, that makes for good future producers of fantasic animals.

On the general emerald pricing, you have nothing to complain about, prices have gone down half of what they used to be. As far as i am concerned it is a buyers market today and prices should be alot higher. A once $2000.00 basin now can be purchased for $1000.00. The only people to blame are the half witted importers that group cage animals and pass on terminal illness to unsuspecting buyers, for shame.

The bottom line is that you need to buy off some one respectable, that knows the animals and cares for their well being. That will cost you $$, but in the end you end up with healty stock that will produce healthy off spring.
WC animals properly acclimated and given all the right attention will thrive in captivity, you just need to know what you are doing.
You get what you pay for, that is why many people pay more than 500 dollars for any well taken care of animal, that from a ****ty place will run you 175.00.

Also keep in mind, that this hobby is not for those weak in the wallet, All great animals come with a great price tag.

Lastly, most WC emeralds are killed by there owners knowledge, or lack there of. As long as you stay informed, keep asking questions, and make changes acordingly, you will have the best of luck rasing, breeding, and enjoying these wonderful creatures.

Hope I have been of assistance,
Joe
Http://www.emeraldboas.com

Ps. Here is a WC 11/9/04 animal that is undergoing PROPER acclimation. He is doing better than most animals that have been LTC for a year or more. Feeds on FT and is packing on the weight like george forman.

<img src="http://members.aol.com/chondrosforsale/bb3.jpg">

 

[Karen Clark]

Well, when you consider that it takes an average of 5-6 years for females to become breeding size and males 4-5 years to sexually mature I think you are seeing the extent of work necessary to raise them up on any breeders part wether or not they do it as a side line. Tony also has a full time job like most of the rest of us who breed emeralds. Lol, I'll be happy when I can break even, with the caging, feeding, vet bills etc, not to mention aquiring more emeralds. I just sat back and realized that if I add in my labor to build my adult enclosures they would cost me about $400.00 each and my breeder enclosures about $550.00 each. Seems like I just keep moving further into the RED! LOL
CraigC

 

[Karen Clark]

Well, when you consider that it takes an average of 5-6 years for females to become breeding size and males 4-5 years to sexually mature I think you are seeing the extent of work necessary to raise them up on any breeders part wether or not they do it as a side line. Tony also has a full time job like most of the rest of us who breed emeralds. Lol, I'll be happy when I can break even, with the caging, feeding, vet bills etc, not to mention aquiring more emeralds. I just sat back and realized that if I add in my labor to build my adult enclosures they would cost me about $400.00 each and my breeder enclosures about $550.00 each. Seems like I just keep moving further into the RED! LOL
Craig Clark