Highest cost

[Lyndsey]

I'm taking the other part out since I can already tell people are going to get snarky...


So...

How much is the most you have paid for a leo?

 

[Sunshine State Exotics]

I just paid $1500 for my Enigma. I also paid around a grand each for my RAPTOR pair.

Don't ask what I've paid for snakes

 

[eyelids]

It's all about supply and demand... When a new morph comes out there isn't many and lots of people want them so the price is high. The trend seems to be around $2000 for any new morph way back to when RT first released his Tremper Albinos. There's also a control market where the breeder only lets out so many which in turn keeps the price high. You also have quality... The prettier the Leo the more it's worth...

Like Larry mentioned, Leopard Gecko morph prices come nowhere near Ball Python morphs. That market is a mix of supply and demand and control. Furthermore, the turn around time for them is 2-3 times longer than Leos so morphs hold their value longer.

 

[marula]

some people live with geckos business and put passion and life in this work...if they work well and with ethic i don't have problem to give them thousand $$$ for their geckos because with my money thei can continued to do what they do with respect for animals..
i don't accept when people do this only for money...
in a dream world animals don't be "for sell" and people take the correct care of them...

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I think sometimes that people forget just what is involved in producing a new or rare morph. It can take literally hundreds of offspring, and thousands of hours work... even years. It is a huge investment of time and money to keep them warm, house them, feed them, keep accurate records, incubate them, advertise them, and keep their enclosures clean.

How much is your time worth?

 

[eyelids]

How much is your time worth?

Mine is priceless!

Out of curiosity, why do new morphs usually start around 2k? I mean, is there a theory behind it? Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's too much... I'm wondering why it's not higher.

 

[Lyndsey]

How much is your time worth?

Not enough to justify charging someone $2,000 for a gecko lol

 

[PaulSage]

Not enough to justify charging someone $2,000 for a gecko lol

You might feel differently if you slaved late into the night taking care of hundreds of geckos and paying their bills.

 

[TheHiddenGecko]

Mine is priceless!

Out of curiosity, why do new morphs usually start around 2k? I mean, is there a theory behind it? Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's too much... I'm wondering why it's not higher.

Maybe it's because that's what Ron charged for his albinos and everyone else followed that trend? I'm not exactly sure but it makes you wonder how much people would pay for a new morph.

 

[Lyndsey]

You might feel differently if you slaved late into the night taking care of hundreds of geckos and paying their bills.

That's why I would never do that

 

[eyelids]

Maybe it's because that's what Ron charged for his albinos and everyone else followed that trend?

That's what I'm thinking... I have a printout somewhere of his page with the first ones available. I'll see if I can find it to get a pic (no scanner).

 

[TheHiddenGecko]

I think raising the price might be a good thing because fewer people would be able to afford it and the price would hopefully stay higher a little longer. That's just my opinion though.

 

[GeckoMandi]

The most I've paid is no more than $150 but I don't get really into a lot of higher end morphs, I'd love to one day though.

 

[brandy101010]

When there is a new morph and only a limited amount, everyone wants to get their hands on it. People are willing to pay large amounts of money for something they really want if they can aford to. This is a passion for most of us. We love geckos. when we see one we want, we want it and we want it now! like a little kid...lol something is only worth what someone will pay for it. So to answer your question... Because they can. Alot of work goes into making a new morph, proving it out. there are alot of mouths to feed, alot of tubs to heat, alot of poo to clean, a lot of vet bills to test that poo. If you added it all up I bet most of the time, alot more went into makeing that morph then what they are getting for it.

 

[yellermelon]

I deffinatly understand the price. I only have 15 leos currently and have spent 2000 bucks since January, on them (most expencive being 125) and everything to go along with keeping them. My thoughts on the 2000 introductory price was the return vs time. If you buy 2 for 2000 each The next year you can sell the offspring for 1500-1000. Therefore returning your purchase price and cost to keep the leo. Then As the price falls, you are more than likely just "supporting" the leo...food, vitamins,paper towels,etc etc. So its seems less to keep them. Then again I dont look at makeing money on my leos, If I break even Ill be exctatic. As most smaller breeder think this way also i believe.

 

[Lyndsey]

You have a good outlook on it, Chris