Tarantula prices on the rise, are MMs undervalued?

[Reezelbeezelbug]

I've seen some absurd prices for tarantulas lately *cough* $260 H pulchripes sling *cough* so I was wondering if the MMs prices keep up with the absurdity of sexed females? My C cyaneopubescens just matured out male and someone offered me $75 for it. I've seen adult female GBBs for $350. I paid $75 for the sling, which is a little high, but shouldn't the MM be worth much more? Sure they have a short life span, but you can't make a sac without them. Am I in a position to ask for more?

 

[Edan bandoot]

price your stuff at what people are willing to pay, thats the only thing that decides "price"

generally people price things cheaper so they can sell them quicker and with the low shelf life of MM tarantulas it's important to get them to sell quickly.

 

[emartinm28]

I wouldn’t say *much* more, but definitely I think a MM is worth more than the price of the sling. Especially since this species in such high demand. However, once the male matures out you’re pretty much racing against the clock before he kicks it. Personally I would just sell a MM for the price I bought it for, but I don’t think it’s really unreasonable to ask for more.

 

[Liquifin]

To answer your question, prices are highly fluctuated and it takes a lot of effort to grow a T. whether female or male. I do agree that prices in the US are very high, but males being as high as females is really most likely not going to happen. Prices of mature males will never be as equal as females, but they are indeed valuable for any breeder. I think $75 for a MM is really high to me, because people produce GBB so much that it's really sold by almost everyone. GBB is one of the overpriced T.'s in the entire market. That's because the demand is supposedly high, which I somewhat disagree.

One huge factor that determines a mature male's value is the species, as a more rare species of mature male will be highly sought after. I do hate the tarantula market in the US, but it is what it is sadly.

 

[viper69]

I've seen some absurd prices for tarantulas lately *cough* $260 H pulchripes sling *cough* so I was wondering if the MMs prices keep up with the absurdity of sexed females? My C cyaneopubescens just matured out male and someone offered me $75 for it. I've seen adult female GBBs for $350. I paid $75 for the sling, which is a little high, but shouldn't the MM be worth much more? Sure they have a short life span, but you can't make a sac without them. Am I in a position to ask for more?

260$ that’s a joke- a stupid price

GBB no more than 40$ for me.

 

[l4nsky]

One huge factor that determines a mature male's value is the species, as a more rare species of mature male will be highly sought after. I do hate the tarantula market in the US, but it is what it is sadly.

There's a diminishing rate of return on rare species too, as the demand is highly dependent on number of mature females ready to breed. Can't find a girl for my MM P. sp Akcaya to save my life as the majority of the Akcaya in the states came from 2 eggsacs (including this guy) and MM Akcaya's mature several molts ahead of females. On the other hand, if I had a MM Monocentropus lambertoni, he'd probably be worth his weight in gold in Europe.

 

[Tarantuland]

I think I paid $60 for an H pulchripes and 40 for a GBB. You can find lower prices if you look, certain things like Xenesthis I see MM going for hundreds. I guess someone who really needs one to breed would pay it, but thats nuts to me.

 

[Liquifin]

Can't find a girl for my MM P. sp Akcaya to save my life as the majority of the Akcaya in the states came from 2 eggsacs (including this guy)

2 sacs? That number seems quite specific and also very small. There's actually more than you think out there in terms of numbers of slings. A vast majority of them were imported from EU (slings, sub-adults/adults). Same case for almost everything else. Not many people actually produce those "newer" species into the hobby at the start within the US, as it's usually bought wholesale overseas. P. sp. "solaris", P. sp. Valhalla, B. simoroxigorum, Xenesthis sp. etc. are all mostly imported as slings and sub-adults/adults for breeding, which slings are sold for hundreds to cover costs of importing them through wholesale overseas and to earn profit. While I don't doubt that breeders in the US produce newer species, I've seen a lot of breeders, sellers, etc. that just buy a whole lot of those newer species through imports to get stock in faster, rather than breeding and waiting for a sac. Usually breeders play the game of who gets them first into the market in the US.

On the other hand, if I had a MM Monocentropus lambertoni, he'd probably be worth his weight in gold in Europe.

Well, I wouldn't get any new or rare species in the first place nor do I recommend anyone too, unless someone is importing them if we're talking about breeding. Any newer/rare species in the hobby is usually a bust to the typical hobbyists as males are never around since no one is importing them regularly. Usually breeders would import pen-ultimate males overseas to get a breeding project done in the US when it comes to new/rare species into the hobby. But I'm not surprised and your case is actually very normal. Rarely to no one imports M. lambertoni males nor do they rarely offer those species of males across seas, especially if they're not that easy to come around in the EU. I feel bad that there's no males for your girl, but I've never bought any rare/newer species of T. if I know males are not around or imported in the US.

I hope this helps gives some insight.

 

[aprilmayjunebugs]

I've seen some absurd prices for tarantulas lately *cough* $260 H pulchripes sling *cough*

$75 for a sling where I'm at. I can send you a link if you're looking.

 

[Smotzer]

I think I got my C. cyaneopubescens for $35-40 as a sling, 75 is outrageous they are so common. If you don’t like the prices don’t pay them, and wait for a fair price to come around. But On the MM side take what you can get they have a degrading shelf life and breeding is what is important, you over paid for your sling so I don’t think it’s fair to compare those two prices.

 

[RoachCoach]

I think I got my C. cyaneopubescens for $35-40 as a sling, 75 is outrageous they are so common. If you don’t like the prices don’t pay them, and wait for a fair price to come around. But On the MM side take what you can get they have a degrading shelf life and breeding is what is important, you over paid for your sling so I don’t think it’s fair to compare those two prices.

As much as I agree with this sentiment, Americans are some of the least patient, impulsive 2 leggers on this earth. You can wait out the prices but they may just keep going up for 10 years. Don't take this as me complaining either, there is money to be made. But If I could buy a C. Cyaneopubescens sling for $10, I wouldn't have a single square mm of wall or floor space to keep all of them.

 

[Arachnanoob95]

Wow those prices are insane ... I have seen posts like this before but it allways baffles me. In my country GBB slings as well as H. pulchripes slings cost 15 euros, that's about $18. Most slings cost at most around €25 ($30) like G. pulchra slings. Most expensive sling I saw recently was a T. apophysis for €75 ($90). Some slightly more expensive at €40 ($48) were X. immanis and Pamphobeteus antinous. And MM are usually way cheaper than any mature female of the same species. I guess prices are mostly decided by availability. The rarer, the more expensive. And availability also differs from country to country. I can imagine that aphonopelma species are pretty cheap in America, whilst these can be a bit more expensive here due to lower availability. I saw a SA/A A. chalcodes for €80 ($95) the other day, which is slightly higher priced than a lot of other adult females.

 

[8 legged]

I can't say how it is outside of Europe, but I only buy from private breeders. There are many platforms on the net where good offers can be found.
I usually pay between 5 and 15 euros for a sling, although there are of course types that are a bit more expensive (Theraphosa, G. pulchra, etc.). Except here, too, I would pay a maximum of 30 euros for a sling. The only exception so far was a Birupes sling for 80 euros.
However, these prices always have two sides:
- on the one hand, it's good that you don't have to be "rich" to have fun in your hobby
- on the other hand, people buy without thinking twice (and without looking for information). What do you have to lose at 5 euros?
If you pay a high price, you can probably assume that you are adequately informed and do not save on the enclosure!
Personally, I think it's better if you support each other in your hobby instead of ripping off each other. As long as people are willing to pay high prices in the store, they will be offered accordingly expensive there!
If people work together in the hobby, however, you no longer have to rely on stupid animal shops!

 

[Edan bandoot]

I can't say how it is outside of Europe, but I only buy from private breeders. There are many platforms on the net where good offers can be found.
I usually pay between 5 and 15 euros for a sling, although there are of course types that are a bit more expensive (Theraphosa, G. pulchra, etc.). Except here, too, I would pay a maximum of 30 euros for a sling. The only exception so far was a Birupes sling for 80 euros.
However, these prices always have two sides:
- on the one hand, it's good that you don't have to be "rich" to have fun in your hobby
- on the other hand, people buy without thinking twice (and without looking for information). What do you have to lose at 5 euros?
If you pay a high price, you can probably assume that you are adequately informed and do not save on the enclosure!
Personally, I think it's better if you support each other in your hobby instead of ripping off each other. As long as people are willing to pay high prices in the store, they will be offered accordingly expensive there!
If people work together in the hobby, however, you no longer have to rely on stupid animal shops!

Our birupes here in canada are $300 I thibk

 

[8 legged]

Our birupes here in canada are $300 I thibk

I am fortunate to know a Polish breeder who is 100% reliable and knows exactly what he is doing. His prices are unbelievably cheap and yet he packs the animals better than any "professional" supplier!
I have to say that the Birupes Sling was in the first instar when I bought it. There is of course a risk... but it grows and thrives excellently!

 

[ccTroi]

i traded two of my MM P. murinus Botswana/Zimbabwe in exchange for a female specimen and a female Tete, Mozambique locality. what i got in return was super valuable, and i think my situation was few and far between. the person i was trading with was the person i have bought from countless times, i got the MMs as slings from him for a crazy amount, and the males had just matured a week prior to informing him. find a reputable and dedicated breeder/vendor and create a loyal relationship. i’m sure they will “pay you” in one way or another.. hopefully

 

[Reezelbeezelbug]

Appreciate all the feedback, sounds like the best plan is to grab what I can get and let him do his thing.

$75 for a sling where I'm at. I can send you a link if you're looking.

That was at a local reptile shop, I'd definitely never pay that lol. I got some a little bit ago that have turned out 1.1.1 so far, but thanks!

... you over paid for your sling so I don’t think it’s fair to compare those two prices.

This post made it click for me, thanks. He was my very first tarantula and I admittedly didn't know what were good or bad prices. So ya, poor comparison indeed!