[Rumor time] BP Economy taking a dive soon??

[TriniBP]

I've seen many similar threads about the market crashing or what not over the years. I personally don't think this market is going anywhere anytime soon. I know so many breeders that sell out of animals yearly despite the " market is crashing " speculation that arises ever so often.

[MrLang]

I agree with Coleslaw. The only real way it could ever 'take a dive' is if legislation starts running wild.

[carlisleishere]

I don't think the demand for ball pythons is dropping, but the price of the morphs are for sure. I've seen this especially with pieds, it's ridiculous!

[Royal Hijinx]

I don't think the demand for ball pythons is dropping, but the price of the morphs are for sure. I've seen this especially with pieds, it's ridiculous!

How is it ridiculous? It is supply and demand. More people are producing Pieds, so there is more supply for the level of demand. This happens to all morphs at some point; some sooner than others.

[carlisleishere]

How is it ridiculous? It is supply and demand. More people are producing Pieds, so there is more supply for the level of demand. This happens to all morphs at some point; some sooner than others.

Maybe it's a local thing, but I've seen proven het pied females go for the same price as proven normal females, and just 2 months ago they were 600-700 dollars. That's what is ridiculous to me. Sorry, I should have been more specific in my statement.

[Highline Reptiles South]

when you used to get $20,000 for a pinstripe and you now get $150...its taken a dive It is all relative. New morphs and new combos will generate new demand to backfill what is dropping off.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

Well, if it does I'll finally be able to afford some of the snakes I've wanted for so long!!!

I sell snakes - but keeping snakes I love is my hobby

[Reakt20]

I don't think the demand for ball pythons is dropping, but the price of the morphs are for sure. I've seen this especially with pieds, it's ridiculous!

Really? I think pieds is one of the few morphs out there that has held some longevity in its pricing to an extent.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Yes and no. Yes breeders buy, but so do pet owners.

The percentage of people who buy ball pythons morphs for pets only is vanishingly small. The vast majority of people buying morphs, buy them because they intend to breed them, or think they may one day try breeding them.

This is why you see so few ball python morphs in pet stores. Pet buyers AREN'T that interested in them. Their price tags are simply too high. I think I've sold a grand total of two morphs to pet keepers since I started breeding (2007), not including low-end het males, which sell for very little more than normals, and look normal.

What folks who are in this for the long haul really need to do is start encouraging newcomers---instead of discouraging them! They need to help newbies make a plan that WILL work, help them understand what is involved in being successful and getting started properly. In other words, we need to market our industry, not just our animals, because those newcomers ARE OUR CUSTOMERS. Without them, there will be few morph sales.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Maybe it's a local thing, but I've seen proven het pied females go for the same price as proven normal females, and just 2 months ago they were 600-700 dollars. That's what is ridiculous to me.

Exactly WHERE did you see that? Did they have paperwork? I would certainly be suspicious of a het pied female being sold for the price of a normal...why would anyone do that, if it was legitimate? If they had an emergency, and couldn't sell her quick, then perhaps...but that's a one-off situation, not a trend.

If they have legit paperwork and there are more of them, I'll take them. lol