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Posted by Fred Albury on July 31, 2002 at 18:19:31:
In Reply to: Prices are actually posted by Doug T on July 31, 2002 at 14:41:40:
:You've noticed a rise in price but what you didn't catch, because you aren't a breeder, is the rise in demand. But one more thing comes into play and that's the Endangered Species Act. Because it limits how and where you sell indigos and requires acquisition of permits,it actually decreases the demand and pushes the price of indigos down. If I could sell my animals to anyone, without the hassles of permits, I could double the price and still not produce enough.
:Because indigos aren't a very prolific species, don't expect the prices to come down a lot either. But as a forum regular put it a while back, price is just one more hurdle to jump to get the animals you want.
:Just my thoughts,
:Doug T
:
::I have been researching the purchase of indigos for quite some time, knowing that it is a true commitment, a little different than other snakes. Now as I am prepared to do the paperwork and contact breeders, I see prices have gone from $350-400 ea (very reasonable) to $500-1000 ea(not so reasonable). What has changed in the captive population, the market or the breeders (? I don't know any breeders personally ...)to bring about the price increase? I would love to be caring for indigos in my collection, but it looks like I will have to wait. Anyone that can explain this , please feel to tell me, on or off the forum.
::Thanks,
::Dave B
Dave,
Doug T makes some excellent points in regards to why they command as much in price as they do. Let me add some more to the pot, that being the ever INCREASEING cost of Electricity(Especially in Calif, can someone say Gov.Gray Davis professional thief>?)
And....as a result of this increase in electric costs, the cost to produce themany rats and mice that the adults and baby indigos eat has gone up also dramatically. The cost of the rat suppliers food has gone up, as has the cost of the transportation of that food.
All this correlates to higher rats and mice, which tranalates to increases in prices in Eastern Indigos.
The shipping is another big issue. Since you arent a Drymarchon breeder,I dont expect you to know this, but shipping restrictions on ANY snakes have tightened since 911. And the cost and hassle has gone up markedly.
Dave, it comes down to this: Demand outweighs supply.
I could sell EVERY last one of the Easterns I produce or can put my hands on 7 times over, with not so much as one of the people quibbling over the price, simply because they know that they are going to have to sacrifice to buy something that isnt easily found. When I got my original breeders as babies, many, many years ago..I literally went without food to do so. But,I knew that I didnt want to settle for something else, as people asked me to. Eastern Indigos arent easy to produce, get started and arent common in collections...all these factors and more mean a higher price. You can bargain shop, but often a bargain isnt really a bargain at all. What you are buying isnt just the snake, but the reputation and expereince of the person that is selling it to you and their time and knowledge. Breeders in reality make very, very little money and(I can speak for myself) usually end up in more debt than profit. I think that is because we got into this not to make money but to produce more of what we love. Its just cost more to produce it then it used too.
Sincerely,
Fred Albury
(Aztec Reptiles)
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