Summer market gone loco?

Is it just me or has the summer market gone BONKERS?! Maybe it's just in Arizona but $5 - $15 is the average for a single rat. Some are even asking $20 for rex, dumbo or any random colour but agouti and black. I cannot imagine paying that much for a rat that isn't even rare.

How are your local feeder markets doing?

8$ in Petstores.
I produce mine. Screw 8$ for a rat.


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

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Originally Posted by Homegrownscales

8$ in Petstores.
I produce mine. Screw 8$ for a rat.


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

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It seems that reptile shops are keeping prices .50 - $1.50 higher than usual, pet shops are $8 - $15 and private sales are just below pet shop prices if not the same. It seems odd to me because I have always sold my rats for less than these prices and still made profit.

Those are some crazy prices.

I pay .95 for crawler rats, 1.15 for weaned, 1.35 for smalls and 1.65 for mediums from a nearby rattery.

I can't imagine buying from a pet store, sub par rats (most of the time) for a premium price.

I used to pay $1 for mediums, now I'm buying f/t online for $1.40

yeah i buy online just put in an order, here can't even find rat fuzzies and they even sell F/T for like 5$. Its crazy. looks like I will be playing with the vacuum sealer soon!

Rats in our area go for $5 to $8 in pet stores for smalls/mediums :rolleye2:
If one has time and doesn't mind driving around there is almost always rats available on CL for less.
We breed all of our rats and asf's and almost always have an abundance, no snake goes unfed for long here :P

My previous stock was sold off in a package with the equipment. Looking back I regret doing that but I didn't believe in a future breeding opportunity. With my local market as is making a profit will be hands down. I will never steep to those insane prices. The problem is gathering decent stock when evidently there is little none that meets my standards. I have found a handful of OK females yet not a single male that is not infested with mites, sneezing or snapping.

I am considering a trip to California to visit ratterys. It's terribly costly but if I can nab a few burmese or chocolates with decent builds I can begin. *sigh* If I lived close to you Jerry! I would buy 30!

I sell solid colored rats and hoodeds for $1 as small-med. After that their gassed if not sold.

Though i do deal with pet quality rats that i sell for $10 a piece that are going to pet homes

Rodent food is slowly rising each year due to the amount of people breeding them and needing food. So to raise the rodents prices helps in long run. Ive had to raise my Mice prices to accommodate the price rise of food.

Price of fuel and the price of corn/food is raising significantly. It won't be long, and the prices for all animals will be even more ridiculous. I'm paying $750 per ton of rat block, last year at this time, I was paying $650 per ton. That's $100 a month, or $1200 increase for the year just in feed alone.
So, yes, I have to raise my price too.
Please keep that in mind when you buy local!!! We are just trying to get by ourselves.
That being said, support your local shops, not chains. And yes, $8-10 per rat is a bit stupid. But, look at it from their point, they are buying from places like mine for $1-5 depending of size, plus delivery or fuel charge to get the rats to the store. Plus paying employees and all those shiny displays... So, they are not making as much as you may think on your rat...

And, I forgot to mention.... in the past three years, in my area alone, all three other rat breeders have gone under. One of my friends had been breeding rodents for decades, and he finally pulled out as well. You would think my sales have skyrocketed since then... guess again...
A couple more have started and failed in that time as well.
Times are not easy for the animal industry, or any industry for that matter...

Everyone is suffering from this market but it by no means justifies a $20 fawn rat. It's complete crap and more damaging to the market rather than helping. This economy forces us to raise our prices to stay in business, that is common sense. I am not complaining at $5-10 as it needs to happen. Pet quality rats are worth the extra buck too. If they truly are of some quality. Stores like Petsmart cannot thrive without $12-14 per rat. There isn't a way around it. Doing well in the animal industry is a crack and a half. Idiots who raise prices excessively and dupe the uneducated ruin it for all of us. Buyers, sellers, breeders and pet owners alike. I cannot fix it but it does leave a nasty taste in my mouth.

My sympathy is more than enough for whom are struggling but I have none for the individuals who sabotage our market. I have been through shelters, foster care and been homeless several times. Still, I cherish the breeders who can maintain integrity. Or in some cases honesty. Our hopes are high for this project to become public by the end of this year. Even if we fail I will take pride in our attempt to spread healthier rats whether pet or feeder. Sound feeders = sound reptiles/pets.

PS: I apologize if I offend anyone. That is not my intention, this is just my spiel.

You don't offend me. I aplaud you...

The problem is, and will continue to be, 75% of the people out there go to the chain stores. They complain about the prices, but continue to shop Petco. There is nothing wrong with people shopping at chain stores, but, more people need to stand up/out like yourself. I started a pet store for the soul purpose of what you are talking about... Now, I'm wishing I hadn't.:tears:
It really is a tough market, and in this economy, it's next to impossible to compete with Petsmart or Petco. Forget the high prices, people shop for convenience.
And, it's just easier to go to Walmart and shop for everything under one roof. If I counted the number of customers who come in to my store for the hamster or the bird, but they just bought everything else at Walmart... Or, even had the nerve to ask me to put together a cage they just bought at Walmart... Even that $2 bottle of fish food, would help the local guy...
Standing down off the soapbox now.

I've been thinking a lot about this, and considering I only have 2 snakes, possibly 4 in a couple months if I get the ok to buy a couple more snakes (gotta ask the landlord, he's usually really cool about it but I don't count my chickens before they hatch, haha). I've been doing bulk F/T online for a while, but there's a local reptile shop that I really like and though the feeders are more expensive, I -really- want to support them. Especially since they're the only reptile (and fish) specialty shop within 80 miles I feel like I want to do what I can to help them from going under

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Originally Posted by jasbus

You don't offend me. I aplaud you...

The problem is, and will continue to be, 75% of the people out there go to the chain stores. They complain about the prices, but continue to shop Petco. There is nothing wrong with people shopping at chain stores, but, more people need to stand up/out like yourself. I started a pet store for the soul purpose of what you are talking about... Now, I'm wishing I hadn't.:tears:
It really is a tough market, and in this economy, it's next to impossible to compete with Petsmart or Petco. Forget the high prices, people shop for convenience.
And, it's just easier to go to Walmart and shop for everything under one roof. If I counted the number of customers who come in to my store for the hamster or the bird, but they just bought everything else at Walmart... Or, even had the nerve to ask me to put together a cage they just bought at Walmart... Even that $2 bottle of fish food, would help the local guy...
Standing down off the soapbox now.

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You speak the truth...sadly. I go out of my way to visit stores I like and also go out of my way to avoid stores I don't. Locals should work together to build up this market and garner more support but I doubt it will happen. Until then we'll have failing store after failing store. Most of the reptile stores that are still open ended up selling high priced puppies or sugar gliders.

I don't know if your shop is still going but hell if it is I wish you luck. :oops:

@Valentine Pirate
DO IT! Seriously, it's amazing to have return customers and to know that they appreciate your store and what you do to keep it going. It's the best compliment you can give. :banana:

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Originally Posted by bokuza

You speak the truth...sadly. I go out of my way to visit stores I like and also go out of my way to avoid stores I don't. Locals should work together to build up this market and garner more support but I doubt it will happen. Until then we'll have failing store after failing store. Most of the reptile stores that are still open ended up selling high priced puppies or sugar gliders.

I don't know if your shop is still going but hell if it is I wish you luck. :oops:

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Oh yeah, we're still going. But, it gets tougher each year.
We don't "blame" people for going to chain stores. Like I said, most people shop for convenience, and there is nothing wrong with that. But, the ones that "know" what they are doing, and will complain about how expensive our prices are, etc... When in all actuality, we're the same or, in Petco/Petsmart case, we're usually cheaper, and come in just to try to get us to go as cheap as possible over a $1. UGHH.

Support your local stores! They are your neighbors! And they are fighting giants!
thanks for listening to my rants.

Try going to a rat show where the asking price for hairless/dumbo/double red can be $60 or worse. :D

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Originally Posted by Rhasputin

Try going to a rat show where the asking price for hairless/dumbo/double red can be $60 or worse. :D

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Yea but thats on a different level to feeders. your getting quality rats with full genetic disclosure.

Sometimes. :rofl:
You'd be surprised what people would pay, for a feeder in show quality clothing.

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Originally Posted by rhasputin

sometimes. :rofl:
You'd be surprised what people would pay, for a feeder in show quality clothing.

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amen!