Really, is the market getting that bad?

[joebad976]

Prices are not dropping in half for most morphs every year and even if they did, there is still money to be made. Suppose you buy a female morph for $2000. The next year, prices drop to 50% and you pick up a male for $1000. The third year, you breed and produce six babies that you sell for $500 each (notice the drop of 50% each year). You have recouped your initial investment and next year if you get a clutch of six babies and the price drops to $250, then you profit $1,500. The upkeep is not that expensive. I breed my own rodents, so that helps keep cost down. Even if you figure in the cost of upkeep of the three breeders, you will still make a profit after the third year.

Now, if you keep investing in your collection you can do exactly what Deborah did. Get to a point where you are making a good profit and re-investing in your collection. You do have to be smart about it and pick some good genes and quality snakes. You also have to provide great customer service, work at establishing a solid reputation and making good business decisions.

I agree with Don and Deborah 100%.

In 2009 I purchased a male albino for $275. Last year I produced male albinos and sold them for $250 - $300 and pretty much the same this year. Prices will drop and that is expected as the supply becomes greater than the demand but I would also expect that prices come to a plateau. Use the example of the albino, I don't think they will come down much more from where they are today.

They key is to produce quality animals, provide excellent customer service and produce animals that others will desire to add to their collection.
Just my 2 cents.