for the Breeders: Economy and Breeding corns

[tricksterpup]

Ok folks this is a thought that popped in my head. Are all the breeders worried that they may not be able to sell all of the offspring this year? Will we see a year of declined sales in the hobby?
I mean with the growing concerns here in the United States, growing food costs along with that of gas. Heck, I have even noticed many coworkers brown bagging it right now to work to save money. Many companies are starting to lay off workers and some are just closing shop. Is this going to effect sales of pets? That of reptiles? I mean right now I have my removed my breeding pair of bearded dragons because I do not have the extra money and time to devote to young dragons and plan on letting the eggs go.
What is everyone’s opinion on this?
I would love to see Kathy and Rich chime in on this due to their volume of reptiles they sell.

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

I've thought about it. I don't think the lower end corns will be as affected as the higher end ones. Corn's aren't that expensive, so scrapping together $50 for a butter isn't that big of a deal. But shelling out $1000 for a hypo striped lavender might be. But who knows. I'm going ahead full force with my breedings; I don't care so much about the sales, but projects I have going that I really want to get the hets for so I can produce the actual animals.

 

[dionythicus]

It's one of the reasons why I've cut back on my collection and will probably cut back even more this summer. I'm also rethinking my joy of breeding. I'll only have three clutches this year, maybe four. I'm worried that pets will not be a priority in people's lives. I could be wrong, after all, snake aren't that expensive as far as pets (read: luxuries) go. Still, it makes me hesitate.

 

[Nanci]

For the consumer's point of view, even though I got a whoppping 1.7% annual raise, I still managed to spend a substantial tax refund on three high-end corns, plus spent my entire tax rebate, plus, on an enclosure for the boxies. I'm cutting back on food for myself- buying things that stretch further- and cutting WAY back on driving trips- consolidating things as much as possible. And setting my home thermostat on 84-85, and opening windows the second the outdoor temp falls below the house temp.

 

[Susan]

I'm seriously considering selling a few more adults, but not too many as I still have some projects that I would like to work on. I won't have too much in the way of high-end hatchlings and I'm hoping to sell as many as possible in my 50% off right-out-of-egg sale. I've already had to cut back on expenses in the house as hubby just isn't making any money right now and there is only my salary and my savings to pay the bills. Luckily the kids love bologna and cheese sandwiches and I've been "brown bagging" lunch for myself for years anyway. We may even have to stop our health insurance and a few other "luxuries", such as satellite TV, if hubby can't find a second job.

And setting my home thermostat on 84-85, and opening windows the second the outdoor temp falls below the house temp.

Our thermostat has been set on 77 since "winter" ended (the heat was set at 62 all winter), but 84-85 is taking things just a little too far for my tastes! It wouldn't have bothered me a couple of years ago, but I need some sort of A/C to combat my hot flashes! Besides, hubby has a "built-in" heater and is absolutely miserable when he gets too hot. He can literally sweat buckets-full when it gets over 80.

As for the pet industry in general being affected, I wouldn't count too much on that, if the veterinary field is any indication. Business at our clinic hasn't been affected much at all. In fact, this past Friday, we brought in an all-time high in clinic income...$8500 (give or take) for the day. Yes, we are basically the "cheapest" full-service animal hospital in 2 counties, which may explain why we're double-booked for every 10 minute appointment, plus all the sick "got to come in today" pets. Our surgery schedule is filled 2-3 weeks in advance (we do an average of 4 major and 3 minor procedures every day, 5 days a week). Some people are cutting back and getting their heartworm prevention and flea control one month at a time instead of a 6 month supply, but they are still getting it. Breeders are still breeding and selling puppies and kittens, and I'm still exhausted at the end of every day.

 

[ghosthousecorns]

I know I won't be buying any new ones and have been trying to sell a few non corns and did just sell one of my breeders (thanks bekers71)
What's done is done for this year, I have done five pairings. I will take care of any babies until they sell, I always do, I don't know how it will go in the future, I'm hoping the new Pres in November will be able to do something to turn this country around. I might not pair as many next year. It's not just the economy it's the fact I haven't had a steady job since last September. It's hard to face but I might have to downsize more- I'm just not quite ready to do so yet. I love this hobby and I'm attached to my breeders

 

[KJUN]

It is no doubt that disposable income is being spent on fuel and fuel-related income instead of "pets." That isn't new, and it isn't likely to get better as long as China is willing to pay as much - or more - for fuel than we want to pay. The market is already much worse for small breeders than it was 7-8 years ago, so I don't see it as becoming bad enough to make me stop breeding/selling.

As far as shipping charges, I lost more sales in the mid-90's because people didn't want to pay $35 for shipping than I am losing now because of $50 shipping. It is all relative, and we don't complain about $35 today....but we sure complained about it back then. Kinda funny. I avoided small orders then just like I do now....because of shipping charges. It sure seems like that is similar for other - then and now - too. Maybe the market is becoming ripe for "jobbers" to return....as more and more people buy "lower end" corns from pet stores instead of directly from breeders.

To get back on topic, I disagree with some of the other's projections. Sales of low end stuff (at shows where shipping isn't a factor) isn't likely to drop off completely. Really high end stuff isn't likely to sit and not sell, but I suspect prices will begin crashing even faster now (but I suspect that'll happen, anyway, due to the number of similar appearing cornsnake morphs that are flooding the market) since people that have the resources and desire are likely to maintain both. The middle end stuff that is too high to be a "cheap corn" and too low to be "investment quality" is what is likely to take a hit in the market place. Sooooo, my prediction? Amels and Okeetees are still likely to sell at "local" events, high end stuff will consider to thrive on-line, and middle stuff (like striped butters) are going to be the slowest sellers.

Soooooo, kinda like it has always been....but more so with a WIDER "slot" of slow moving price ranges. If mice prices start to skyrocket, then expect sells of all corns to begin plummeting. If they remain rather constant, then corns are still going to be viable pets for people that don't want (can't have) just another dog.

KJ

 

[SnakeCreations]

As a single Mom, I've been very frustrated with the economy!! Just in the past 6 or 7 months I've had to re-evaluate everything. From housing to schooling and so on.

I've seen costs for mice/rats/supplies go up, the shipping go up and sales of snakes go down. I decided to cut back on projects and sell off a few project snakes that don't make my heart skip a beat. UGH It's driving me crazy as I'd love to do it all.... but resources are precious!

Good Thread!

-Tonya

 

[dionythicus]

My other big concern in keeping/breeding reptiles is the direction animal control "exotics" laws seem to be going. There are plenty of cities where you can't own any snake over 6', although corns aren't in that bracket, but I am seeing more and more of a crack down on reptiles. I don't like it and I'll fight it, but I'm hedging my bets on reptiles getting the short end of that particular stick.

I didn't originally get into snakes to breed them, so it doesn't bother me to not produce any or very few in any given year. I just want to produce certain things anyway.

 

[wade]

I don't think I'm going to worry a lot. I don't worry much any way but I don't think I'll put this on my list of things to worry about.

People are not rational when it comes to pets. People will starve themselves so they can feed their dog. When times get tough, they'll drive their cars less, brown bag lunch, turn down the thermostat. But then they will treat themselves with a new pet.

Life is good and getting better. I believe that so don't confuse me with facts.

 

[Nanci]

Our thermostat has been set on 77 since "winter" ended (the heat was set at 62 all winter), but 84-85 is taking things just a little too far for my tastes! It wouldn't have bothered me a couple of years ago, but I need some sort of A/C to combat my hot flashes! Besides, hubby has a "built-in" heater and is absolutely miserable when he gets too hot. He can literally sweat buckets-full when it gets over 80.

I doubt my AC could take me down to 77 even if I wanted it to! I installed outdoor shades on my three south-facing windows, and they seem to help, but it's already near 90 in the afternoon!

I'm lucky I'm single- I don't have to fight over the thermostat...

 

[tricksterpup]

Just giving this a bump, I want to see more breeder views here.
I want to thank everyone who has posted so far.

 

[Cam5]

I am not a breeder, never will be.
I was just curious.

Along the lines of having a variable "product" for sale and variable customer base...
Is there a certain percent margin that breeders have annually?Do you always end up with 'extras'?

For example,
10 corns hatch.
Do they all always sell? (is it just a matter of time before everything sells in some fashion?)
Are the breeders seeing the sold percents decline over the last couple years at all?

It sure seems like there are a lot of babies out there hatching.

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

I'm not too worried about sales this year because I have a guy that wants me to export bunches of Cornsnakes for him. So if those interested in purchases don't jump on it immediately upon becoming available, they'll all be going out of the country.

 

[kathylove]

The pet trade in general has usually been "relatively" recession proof, and may even do better when times are bad, in some cases. That is because people may opt to spend a small amount of money on pets instead of larger amounts on vacations and other expensive "treats". It just depends on just how bad it gets, I guess.

I agree that the lower end corns may be in demand as parents look for something inexpensive for their kids, in place of the much more expensive items they might otherwise buy. And many people consider their pets part of the family, although they may not be able to afford the more expensive pets they really want, or as many of them as desired.

So if things don't get TOO bad, I think sales will be ok, but not great. I cut way back the last couple of years, so I don't have nearly as many to sell as previously. And I have put some on breeding loans with friends who breed later than I do, so that my half will come after I have a couple of months to sell some of the babies I produce here.

I do hope the change in administration will help in some way. But one thing we can always count on is change - for better or worse. We all have to find some way to deal with whatever comes. I think in the LONG RUN, the energy crisis we face will finally put us on the road to doing what we should have done A LONG TIME AGO - develop home grown energy of one type or another (or many types) instead of relying so heavily on imports. But I think in the SHORT RUN, it will be pretty painful to get from here to there.

We just have to look at this as one of the "bad times" that make us appreciate the good times even more!

 

[bitsy]

I've certainly had two seasons in my "career" when the shop that normally takes all my hatchlings, have decided they couldn't take them (unfortunately after the eggs had hatched).

On the first occasion, this seemed to folow a salmonella scare that was hyped in the press and people just stopped buying reptiles for a few months - the bottom dropped out of the market. At the time, I couldn't afford to keep feeding the hatchlings while business picked up, so I gave them up to a reptile rescue (with a hefty donation) and didn't breed for a few years afterwards.

On the second occasion, the shop found that one of their main customers had started breeding their own Corns without telling anyone, and this affected the demand for the lower-end morphs (Normals, Amels, Snows, Anerys). Through sheer dumb luck I was able to send those to a different shop further away, but my usual buyer still took the higher-end morphs (Caramel Mots & Butter Mots).

Last year was fine - the shop took everything I could produce and asked for more, but I have to acknowledge that I could be affected by sudden - and even local - changes in the market.