It's the one you want, but can't afford :)~~~

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Rat Snake Forum ]

Posted by TC on July 05, 2002 at 11:07:27:

In Reply to: Bloody expensive rat snakes!!!? posted by Jerre on July 05, 2002 at 05:53:31:

High-end Elaphe include porphyracea (ssps), conspicillata, prasina, mandarina (varieties), and others. I'm not as familiar with American species, although I know a few can get in the hundreds. The price depends on what the hobby can bare, among other variables. Also, you have the concept of morphs: albinos, hypos, etc, which can cause the price to go up.

You might think mandarins are too expensive until you see an albino going for three times as much, then you think a normal mandarin isn't so out of sight. Prices will change somewhat too, sometimes a lot. A lot of people are breeding mandarins now, so you can't get $750/ea. anymore. I've seen real crummy looking ones for as low as $200/250, maybe some imports tried to get passed off as captive hatched. It even depends on who the buyer is as to what you can get.

Some snakes are only kept by a few people, so they might sell high at first, but there might not be any buyers some years. What's popular today might not be popular tomorrow. There are plenty of reasons investing in a snake can be risky, it's not just easy money. People who have the high-end snakes usually are passionate about keeping them, are very good at what they do, and can afford to absorb the loss if they never produce or the market disappears. If they are really popular, like corns, for example, the price will drop, then level out where demand dictates.

I assume you meant Elaphe, in your question, but if not, pretty much the same applies whichever ratsnake you're talking about: tigers, Asian longnose rats, and others. The price is a ghostly thing, here today, gone tomorrow. It is a specialty hobby, and who knows what will sell until you try it. The newly discovered "frog-faced, burrowing ratsnake" from Indonesia might sell for $3000/ea, but there might only be one buyer in the whole USA. Good luck finding your fortune, lol.

"These are the thoughts of a poor hobbyist/breeder/non-commercialist, and are not necessarily the thoughts of the management." But if you do have thousands of dollars to spend, and are looking for a nice pet, or a beautiful exotic looking ratsnake, please call, haha. Follow the link below to see some of my pets ;~) Terry.

Ratsnake Haven

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: High-end Elaphe include porphyracea (ssps), conspicillata, prasina, mandarina (varieties), and others. I'm not as familiar with American species, although I know a few can get in the hundreds. The price depends on what the hobby can bare, among other variables. Also, you have the concept of morphs: albinos, hypos, etc, which can cause the price to go up. : You might think mandarins are too expensive until you see an albino going for three times as much, then you think a normal mandarin isn't so out of sight. Prices will change somewhat too, sometimes a lot. A lot of people are breeding mandarins now, so you can't get $750/ea. anymore. I've seen real crummy looking ones for as low as $200/250, maybe some imports tried to get passed off as captive hatched. It even depends on who the buyer is as to what you can get. : Some snakes are only kept by a few people, so they might sell high at first, but there might not be any buyers some years. What's popular today might not be popular tomorrow. There are plenty of reasons investing in a snake can be risky, it's not just easy money. People who have the high-end snakes usually are passionate about keeping them, are very good at what they do, and can afford to absorb the loss if they never produce or the market disappears. If they are really popular, like corns, for example, the price will drop, then level out where demand dictates. : I assume you meant Elaphe, in your question, but if not, pretty much the same applies whichever ratsnake you're talking about: tigers, Asian longnose rats, and others. The price is a ghostly thing, here today, gone tomorrow. It is a specialty hobby, and who knows what will sell until you try it. The newly discovered "frog-faced, burrowing ratsnake" from Indonesia might sell for $3000/ea, but there might only be one buyer in the whole USA. Good luck finding your fortune, lol. : "These are the thoughts of a poor hobbyist/breeder/non-commercialist, and are not necessarily the thoughts of the management." But if you do have thousands of dollars to spend, and are looking for a nice pet, or a beautiful exotic looking ratsnake, please call, haha. Follow the link below to see some of my pets ;~) Terry. :

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Rat Snake Forum ]