Dart Den
Serving the Dart Frog Community Since 2004...
Dart Den

Serving the Dart Frog Community Since 2004...

Making money in the Dart Frog Hobby ?
Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Making money in the Dart Frog Hobby ?
#61
The 'affordable' frog price is not without its dangers.

Sure, we grow the hobby and get the frogs into more people's houses but then the become like cheap tropical fish -disposable,mis-treatable ect.

If something is real cheap and easy, people tend to treat it like crap.
https://www.facebook.com/dartden/

https://twitter.com/DartDen


"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
Reply
#62
True, I didn't think about that. I guess I try to treat all my frogs as good as I can regardless of their value but I can see how some could get in a position to be neglected. But I think as breeding and husbandry methods keep improving, the overall supply will continue to rise and the value of just about every species will steadily decline over time. I'll invest my $ in firearms over frogs any day. But my office room with the vivs sure is relaxing and growing in nice. I think I'm building my first rack for it tomorrow.
Josh
Reply
#63
I like how the 2000 frogs for sale guy, did not know how to morph out tads less than 2 years ago, but has since produced over 2000 frogs to sell. Guess he should be giving lessons to the rest of us on "how its done."

But I def agree with Phil on if something is cheap it is held in less regard. Case in point $20 histos in the 80's.... Where are they now? If I spend $1500 on a pair as opposed to $40, most likely I will work a lot harder on their care. Now don't get me wrong, I love my azureus as much as I love my Sylvaticus, but if I lost one of them, I'd probably cry a bit more lol
Reply
#64
I don't know about the dart frog warehouse deal... We'll see how that pans out for them. I'm kinda disappointed that they didn't really address my questions very well. So that is a turn off. I believe their 2000'ish number includes tads and maybe even eggs. So between tads that don't morph/die soon after morphing, a few adults dying and possibly eggs going bad if they were counting eggs their number will go down significantly.

Starting a new job soon, and I'm tempted by the price on those super blues but I don't know if these guys are gonna get my business. I'll likely just sit back for awhile and see how it unfolds.

With a 12-14k a year cost of living, I'll likely be putting most of my extra income into frogs and plants. It has become painfully obvious that the 9-5 white picket fence life isn't for me, just doesn't fit. But this hobby engages so many of my interests and no matter what I will feed/care for my frogs so with my low cost of living and this being the only thing I like doing that I can see making a living at or at least a significant part-time income with and not ending up hating it, I'd be silly not to work towards that.

I'm not advanced enough and/or interested in my other hobbies to see doing them for money much and still enjoying them. Like I can draw really well, but sometimes I go years without doing a serious drawing and just trying to get my portfolio together in a couple art classes in college became really tedious. I was drawing 8 hours a day, I rushed, the art suffered... just wasn't fun anymore. Now I may do some frog related art on top of selling frogs/plants and insect cultures maybe even some special FX stuff I've come up with. That is a prime example of how this hobby can engage me where others fail. I can use my art, I can use my techy side, my animal/plant lover sides etc...

I've got 12 vivariums now, 3 of those need remodel, I've got a 13th that needs to be built, and I've got 2 spare bedrooms and the bachlors perogative to fill my bedroom and living room with vivs so If I can just get to where I make 500 a month off frogs/plants etc..etc.. That is half my cost of living per month met, or if I'm working and continue to work that is an extra 500 in my pocket a month, or in a 401k/IRA etc.. So for me with my situation it should be very doable to at least make significant part time income doing what I'd do anyways, possibly get to where I work part time and frog the rest of the time and maybe, but unlikely transition to full time frogging. Not really expecting that but I've built up a pretty good rep over the years, I think people will buy some stuff from me :?

I do think most people under estimate what it takes to make a living at this. I know I got all excited my first few years and seriously considered trying to do it full time but as my collection hit it's peak pre-ice storm disaster it became painfully obvious that without a large loan, a lottery ticket or something maintaining a commercial sized collection and working another job during that transition period where you're getting all your frogs breeding and finally getting offspring to sell was going to be really difficult.

So I think it really depends on who you are and what your circumstances are. A 12-14k a year cost of living gives me an advantage over a lot of people. Nearly 10 years in the hobby and a good reputation gives me a bit of an edge compared to joe blow from no where. Hell maybe I'll just build up the collection get myself fired once and for all and finally bite the bullet and go on social security for my ADD and then sell my frogs/plants too so I can live above the poverty line :twisted:
Everything I've ever wrote is/was just my opinion Tongue
Reply
#65
What do you mean when you say you have a '12-14K' cost of living. Are you figuring that 12-14k per year is what you need to live -rent, food, utilities ?
https://www.facebook.com/dartden/

https://twitter.com/DartDen


"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
Reply
#66
Philsuma Wrote:What do you mean when you say you have a '12-14K' cost of living. Are you figuring that 12-14k per year is what you need to live -rent, food, utilities ?
Ya 1000 a month pays all my bills food utilities etc etc... car is paid for, only pay 220 lot fee for trailer, student loans paid... have a lil credit card debt but manageable. After taxes my new job should be around 1500 a month so 500 to spend a month give or take a little. I will drive current car till it explodes or disintegrates before i get saddled with a car payment Wink family owns trailer so I just pay the lot fee. So not as many bills as many people and not very large bills. Electric is a lil rough in summer at $140'ish but can manage it.
Everything I've ever wrote is/was just my opinion Tongue
Reply
#67
I just wrote 3 paragraphs for this thread and then deleted them because I simply don't have the time to argue with dumb asses on the internet. (I actually wrote it for 'another' forum with a much higher concentration of dumb ass)

It's also a shame that this is the only frog forum I can give an honest opinion and that this site doesn't get as much traffic it deserves.
Reply
#68
ahh..making FAT STAX via CB dart frogs !!!!

Folks, it ain't gonna happen. There is no bridge able to 'hold that weight'. There is no surplus of customers or money unless you dip into the Asia markets.

Black Jungle had to diversify -birds, plants, salt water

I hear Josh is having a hard time with their business.

I actually feel sorry for that kid, if his dad truly spent his college tuition on a dart frog business.
https://www.facebook.com/dartden/

https://twitter.com/DartDen


"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
Reply
#69
i have spent a bunch of cash on the hobby since starting out around 2002. I never wanted to make money with the hobby. I sold 4 imitators for $90 so far. I have 3 isla popa pumilio, 2 almirante pumilio, and another C.V. imitator in grow out tanks. I also have ten benedicta and 5 imitator tads in water along with another 6 benny eggs and another 4 imi eggs. It sure seems like there is money to be made. I want to keep them all, but tank space is limited. So, any sold frogs, froglets, tads, or eggs, goes right back into more tanks. The problem is, now i have a froggy condo, so poker night is cancelled due to a lack of space, and an annoying fruit fly infestation.
I think the right type of person could make a successful business out of just selling dart frogs. Organization skills are a must. Impeccible record keeping a must. Green Thumb a must. Most of all, experience is the most important thing I can think of.
I remember in 08 or 09 i lost my whole collection. It consisted of 5 azureus , 3 terribilis, and 4 vittatus. It happened over 3-4 days but they all died. Necropsy was inconclusive. They were all on the fat side and ate well up to the die off. Now imagine that your business is frogs and your inventory of 10,000 frogs all die off.
You have to find the cause which cost money, you have to replace the inventory, but first you have to do a breakdown of your tanks, and this will bankrupt most businesses. I suppose you could have everything insured, but the down time may be enough to kill a business, and chances are, you will only be compensated a percentage of what you are owed.
imho it can be done , but plenty of risks.
Reply
#70
My guess is it would end pretty rapidly in a deadlock where most people were trying to sell only extremely prolific common frogs, and buy only expensive obligates, with the rest being sold under a different name in the open market.
Reply



User Panel Messages

Announcements
Announcement #1 8/1/2020
Announcement #2 8/2/2020
Announcement #3 8/6/2020