Will the economic downturn affect reptile purchases?

With banks and morgage companies going to the wall over the world and capitalism biting itself on the behind,do you think this will affect people spending money on reptiles (ie- expensive morphs and the like.)

I know over here in the UK we are about to go into recession. Jobs are going in all areas(we have enjoyed the boom, and now heading for the bust!) and people are becoming more cautious on spending money on luxuries, which I'm guessing will include expensive pets/animals. Just wondering if any breeders have noticed a decline in interest/sales, or a hint that this could happen in the near future

I'm fairly new to this herp scene, but the passion, just from this forum for their animals is very strong. Thinking about this today, so thought i would post it for any opinions?

Regards Scott

The economy has forced me to slow down quite a bit on my purchases.

I think many adults will slow down on their snake collection purchases. If your 16, living at home and have a pocket full of birthday or holiday money it probably won't matter.

The other side of this story is if people slow down on purchasing expensive snakes, will breeders have to lower prices?

im in the real estate buisiness.. i think everyone will be re-evaluating their expenses and not purchasing things that are not a needed at the moment.. and by the way things are going looks like its yet to be over.. its going to take a while to recover but something needs to be done soon :tears:

yes ! Im done nothing new for me for AWHILE!!!

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Originally Posted by Bart

The other side of this story is if people slow down on purchasing expensive snakes, will breeders have to lower prices?

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Now that is the real question right there.

If you have $ to spend now is the time to get in, espically in a few months when the breeders who really need the $ will sell for what they can just to pay their bills. I am also optimistic that WHEN the economy turns up the reptile market will be bigger than before.

I live in north central Texas. Our economy is better than most of the nation. I have a great job. The business that I am in is effected by the economy but it is a resilient business economy here right now.

Long story short I am not hurting for anything right now, but that being said I am done spending money on snakes until at least April, I am making good money I need to keep my good money safe and easy to liquidate in case our economy fails. Which it might but I doubt, I know that in parts of the country our economy has basically failed and folded. I am grateful for what I have. If things start to look up I would have no prob spending thousands on snakes, the missus might divorce me but I would have my snakes right?

Interesting views guys n' gals. I have one BP ( a yearling) but like many i have the bug and am looking to getting another. My knowledge of Bp's has grown thanks to Ballpythons.net ands other resources such as the NERD book (complete ball python)


I would like a morph or two, but with recession looming was wondering whether to wait to see what happens in the reptile market with prices. I would like to try breeding on a very small scale at some stage,

Option 1 - may be this time next year (after more research) buying 2 male morphs and 2 norm females that would be the right age for breeding late next year or

option 2- With times being hard nationally now, i was thinking of getting a 3 or 4 08 hatchlings and growing them up with an eye to breeding in a few years when the recession may be past it's worst.

Over here in UK (smaller country, not as many breeders) we are behind the U.S where the pioneering breeding started in regards to BP's and prices for morph snakes are more expensive here in UK. (ie- 07 femole orange ghost £1800 { $3000}

I have some money to buy either 2 breeding age morphs that would be ready late next year, or 4 08 hatchlings?

I'm not thinking of it as a business, and will only buy snakes i like and not just morphs that fetch the most money , but would obviously like a return on any offspring if the breeding is a success down the line

any advice? ...sorry for steering the topic away slightly

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Originally Posted by FIREball

If you have $ to spend now is the time to get in, espically in a few months when the breeders who really need the $ will sell for what they can just to pay their bills. I am also optimistic that WHEN the economy turns up the reptile market will be bigger than before.

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Seems like a bit of a contradiction there. If you believe the big breeders are going to be hurting for money and selling snakes for less in a few months...then "now" is not the time to get into anything. Save your money and wait for that supposed point when the "big guys" can't pay their bills.

Personally...I'm not so sure that scenario is all that likely. While it is true that people are going to be more careful about buying extra luxuries....people are ALSO on the look out for possible ways to make a little extra income....so the sale of breedable animals as investment opportunities may continue without too much of a hiccup.

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Originally Posted by JLC

Seems like a bit of a contradiction there. If you believe the big breeders are going to be hurting for money and selling snakes for less in a few months...then "now" is not the time to get into anything. Save your money and wait for that supposed point when the "big guys" can't pay their bills.

Personally...I'm not so sure that scenario is all that likely. While it is true that people are going to be more careful about buying extra luxuries....people are ALSO on the look out for possible ways to make a little extra income....so the sale of breedable animals as investment opportunities may continue without too much of a hiccup.

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I said nothing about big breeders, look at the prices out there already. I saw an ad where a guy was trying to unload cinnamons just to pay his water bill. Prices are only going to go down from here and a lot of the small people will get out all together opening the doors for people who have the luxury of spending cash right now to get ahead in the hobby.

I take too much pride in the animals I produce to just dump them, but then again I don't have much overhead. What little overhead I do have is starting to hurt a little because 90% of my ball pythons feed on live prey which is 70% more expensive locally than if I ordered frozen.

I have decided since cash is low that I will do trades for non-ball python species. This will allow me to diversify my collection and have more snakes that will feed on frozen thawed.

I saw the hottest trio of '07 IJ Carpets and even if I sold some YBs today I couldn't buy them 'cause that money has to go to bills. Bottom line for me is I will not be buying for awhile. However, I am also not going to be giving away animals that I spent a great deal of dedication and effort to produce. My snakes will always have value to me. I dropped the price of my Yellowbelly hatchlings to be more in line with what others are selling them for, but that is about as far as I will go. If they don't sell, then I will keep them and breed less next year, in fact I produced the YB females I want to raise up so I don't think I will even breed my male YB breeder next year.

In reality they are just snakes and not a neccessity. Have fun with them, realize people don't have as much disposable income right now, and don't turn your nose up to trading as it is a good way to diversify your collection and to continue expanding for what we all hope will be the next upturn in the economy.

I do have one suggestion to those that are fortunate enough to be in a position to continue to buy and that is to purchase "Breeder Direct". Whether a big breeder like BHB or a true craftsman like BT, breeders are the back bone of the hobby.:salute:

Well that is my 2 cents on the state of the reptile trade and how the economy has affected it.

I have noticed a trend in many of the ads on fauna and KS lately. An increasing amount of them saying "Need money soon", "Quick cash sale", "Need to pay the bills", etc. Definitely could be a sign of the economy having an impact.

Might as well put "I'm so desperate for cash I'll take anything, please lowball me" in the ad. Why would you ever let the buyer know you are desperate for money?

The worrysome thing is that when times get hard people do things they might not usually do. I would be on the lookout for an increased amount of scammers, and "too good to be true" deals that are just that.