We've Come A Long Way Baby!!!

[Crotalus Ruber Keith]

Last night, my daughter and I went to the San Diego Herpetological Society meeting and met some wonderful people. Bob Applegate of Applegate Reptiles gave a slide show presentation that was very interesting. He showed us price lists for snakes from 1973. (He's been breeding for a while now.)

One of the snakes I saw the price for in 1973 were Brazilian Rainbow Boas. They were $15. The other snakes, like "RTB's" were cheaper than dirt. I think Indian Pythons were $9. He said some zoos and reptile farms did a study and found out that it was cheaper to buy the snake, put it on display, let it starve to death, buy a new snake to replace it, and continue doing it that way because it was cheaper than feeding them. I don't know if any did that, and I hope not. However, I wish Rainbow Boas were still $15.

Food for thought.

[Adrya]

Wow, that's amazing and quite interesting.

Yeah I really hope that some zoo's and reptile farms didn't do that, but I guess there's no way of knowing. Would be nice if Rainbow Boas were still $15, too, lol.

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[buck2003]

Out of curiosity how much are brb's now where you guys are?

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[hisba]

Bob did a slide show presentation at a show I went to back in 99 as well, it was really great to learn so much about the history of the hobby (and he's a great guy as well).
Course $15 back in the '70s would be a little more than that today. I'm glad they are not that cheap, then there would be more rescued/neglected... BRBs typically sell for $150-200 each as babies if I remember correclty. I recently sold my adult male for $325 but you see adults in the stores for anywhere from $400-600 usually, of course stores are always more expensive.