"Value" of a snake....

So I have a boa that I acquired for a really good deal, and I am trying to trade her for another snake. She's a real beauty, but boas aren't my thing, and none of my friends are into them either. People keep asking me "what's her 'value'?", so I was wondering, just how does one put a price tag on a snake?

I tried looking for various ads for boas with her same specs (she is starting to sound like a car), but... well... I haven't been able to find any! She comes from a big breeder, and while she's a bit small for her age (her previous owners openly admitted that they didn't want her to 'get big') she's 100% healthy and has been checked out by my herp vet.

So how can I put a number value on her?

I guess I'd compare her size/weight, age, morph, and "quality" vs other examples you see for sale. If she's the anery het albino in your sig, she should at least be worth more than a normal, but her low size/weight for her age will decrease her value, at least as perceived by those looking to breed. It'll take longer than other '08s for her to reach breeding size and/or she may have smaller litters.

Sorry I can't be more than generically helpful, but hopefully that at least gives you somewhere to start. I guess another idea would be to consult with a breeder - there might be one out there who would be willing to help you out if you provided them with some photos and other info on the snake in question.

I'd reach out to other boa breeders and ask them what they would price her at.

yeah id ask other breeders if you join and post a pic over on redtailboa.net there are alot.. and i mean alot of boa lovers lol they really know there stuff. but i agree her smaller size would decrease her value to a breeder because of the smaller litters. but that doesnt mean she isnt a knock out and wouldent make a great pet!

A snake is only worth as much as you're able to sucker someone else into paying for it.

Or 5-10% above cost to produce.

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

A snake is only worth as much as you're able to sucker someone else into paying for it.

Or 5-10% above cost to produce.

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Can't say i agree with this post, but i can understand the thought process behind it.

I would talk to some boa breeders and see what they feel shes worth.

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Originally Posted by steveboos

Can't say i agree with this post, but i can understand the thought process behind it.

I would talk to some boa breeders and see what they feel shes worth.

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I was hoping someone would reply that, to them, their snake was priceless :P

Snakes can be considered pets, products, family, art, or one of many other things to different people. Because of this, price is extremely subjective, and NEVER a constant. Unless you get a quote in the form of an offer from a possible buyer, you'll never know for sure what someone will pay for an animal you intend to sell.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

I was hoping someone would reply that, to them, their snake was priceless :P

Snakes can be considered pets, products, family, art, or one of many other things to different people. Because of this, price is extremely subjective, and NEVER a constant. Unless you get a quote in the form of an offer from a possible buyer, you'll never know for sure what someone will pay for an animal you intend to sell.

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haha the only priceless snake i have is alvin my tic because he was my first giant and ill keep him all the way through till he passes

haha my snakes are friends pets art all kindsa good stufff, just wait till i start buyin up aps there gonna be shhhhhmexy!!!

but i agree there really are no set prices, take for example a lesser ball python.. the lighter it is the more its worth its not xxx.xx for any lesser u see i think there are far to any things that affect the price o be able to honestly even give u an idea with out a picture and more about the snake

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

I was hoping someone would reply that, to them, their snake was priceless :P

Snakes can be considered pets, products, family, art, or one of many other things to different people. Because of this, price is extremely subjective, and NEVER a constant. Unless you get a quote in the form of an offer from a possible buyer, you'll never know for sure what someone will pay for an animal you intend to sell.

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Umm, I don't know where your getting this from, but no prices on anything in the world are ever going to be "constant" in the way your putting it. With snakes there is consistent pricing, for instance if your looking to buy a certain morph of BP, it is most likely going to cost about the same if not close to all the others that are for sale and are the same morph. This would be "consistent". Another point is if you put a price on a animal it automatically turns into a product, and I don't know where your from, but we don't sell "family" where im from :). Good argument though I like seeing other peoples point of view.

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Originally Posted by BbyBoa

With snakes there is consistent pricing, for instance if your looking to buy a certain morph of BP, it is most likely going to cost about the same if not close to all the others that are for sale and are the same morph.

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I've never seen a market as volatile as the reptile market.

You're more likely to find consistent prices trading commodities.

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

I've never seen a market as volatile as the reptile market.

You're more likely to find consistent prices trading commodities.

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What I mean is, your not gonna see a normal BP on the market for 40$, then when you look at another normal BP its 10,000. Even though with time the price overall will change, a normal BP is still gonna cost what all the other normal BP's at the time cost. Thats why you can't say its subjective, anything "can" be subjective, but if your selling a snake for a price, it should match up with similar products on the market or your not gonna sell anything.

Thanks for all the input everyone. Its given me a lot to think about.

I do know she's small for her age, so what I might do is just hold on to her for a bit to bulk her up. I admit I do not know much about rtb's, so I can't really gauge what her size should be.

I think I will contact some knowledgeable boa 'people' and see what they think.

Thanks again everyone!

be careful when "bulking" her up as if you do it to fast it will also be bad for her because it will be fat shes putting on and it can build up around her overies and cause her worse problems then size.

as for the price, there is no set price.. its all about the specimen and what someones willing to pay which is why u can haggle and no set in stone. prices in the reptile market corespond to the avaliablity of said reptile and what the buyer needs.. like attitude/size/temperment/color.. ect. for the most part

a breeder will look for a bigger more colorful species without worrying so much about the temperment since they will be a breeder and not a pet however a pet owner might look for a completly diffrent combination. the value of an object is a based on a combination of what the buyer wishes to spend and a seller wishes to make which is why anyone who says this albino is worth xxxxx.xx is a turd and when u rebuttle with well id rather pay xxxx.xx and the sale is made. if its worth xxxx.xx and you buy it for less why would the seller make less? because price is negotiable so cruise fauna and kingsnake and talk to some breeders to get a starting point and go from there

I've contacted a few breeders, and we'll see what they say. As for now, I think its best for her if I just keep her around, and get her on a normal feeding schedule. I won't try to bulk her up too fast either, so I guess she and I are in it for the long haul :D

Who knows, maybe I'll change my mind, and find her a mate eventually. We'll see.