I don't want to get dragged into an ugly debate, but I need to say one thing.
I am a very new breeder. Only one clutch of my own to my name, three normals and two vanillas.
I took my babies to a local show. I had $25 on my normals, even though many other people had them for $15. I sold all three in 2 hours. Most of the people with $15 babies, were packing them up at the end of the show.
I had $250 on my vanilla males. Someone I know from 3 tables away had two of his own at $300. Even though he is a much bigger and better known breeder compared to unknown me, I sold both of those males. It was to friends of mine. One is my rat supplier, and the other a breeder I've purchased from. Both of these people were very impressed by the quality of my babies, and both agreed they would have paid more if I had asked it.
Want to know the kicker ? The other guy came over, looked at my vanillas, and said "Dang those are nice, I wish I'd produced them." He said nothing about the lower price, nor did he lower his price. I saw him at Tinley this past weekend, and he had sold his snakes for what he was asking for them.
Bottom line for the OP, don't underestimate what people will be willing to pay for your animals. I would rather people think I had quality animals by pricing them at or above market value, than to wonder what is wrong with my animals that I have to sell them so cheaply. That is not the image I want as a new breeder.
Gale
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