Fair Value for Pair and Sexed M/F

[BlueBolts]

Planned to update the shrimp pricing guide over the Easter Weekend, and wanted thoughts of a general fair value for a pair, and sexed M/F.

If a unsexed juvi blue velvet is $50.....

Should a pair be x2 ($200), x3 ($300) or x4 ($400) of a unsexed juvi ?

How much more should a sexed male be ?

How much more should a sexed female be ?

Had wanted to conduct a poll, but there's too many variables, but keen to get a discussion going.

Thanks

[JonX]

Juvies are going around for $35. Pairs are $150.

And imo

$50 per male.

$75 -$100 for female.

[Baccus]

Hard choices, is a male more valuable because of his potential to mate with so many females? So in essence all you need is the one male and you have the potential to do what ever crosses you like with as many genetically different females as possible. Whereas with a female is she more valuable due to the fact that she may be the main carrier of certain genes? ( in Gouldian finches it is the female that determines how dark a red face the offspring will have - its a sex related gene). So even though the female maybe "limited" to producing offspring approximatley once a month, because of greater chances of genetic mutation from the sheer numbers of offspring produced does this make her more valuable. And then there is the chance that you pass on an already mated but not yet berried female during a trade/ transation. So it may seem odd but I think because of the benefits available by having either a male or female, then they are of equal value. Lets face it you don't sell a male cherry shrimp for 10 cents and a female for 50 just because of the colour, even though this is often done with guppies. Final pricing I think is determined on the market, how easily are they obtained, how rare, how hard to keep, and just how eager you are to move a line on. I am sure when cherry shrimp first came on the market they where expensive little dears and now you have people passing them off for as little as 20cents (true usually low grade but still cherry). So I say keep the unsexed at a reasonable price that your comfortable with and then make the sexed adults 3-4 times the price of the juvi's, simply because the buyer will end up with offsring sooner than somebody who got juvi's.

[KiwiBigD]

If you're selling unsexed shrimplets for $50 then I'd consider $300 a steal, I've paid far more previously for a sexed pair without any issue. There is a

huge advantage to a sexed pair over shrimplets, you at least then have a guaranteed pair, you can't say that even when you buy say 10 shrimplets.

Having brought a dozen once I ended up with a single female. Unlucky yes but it does happen.

[BlueBolts]

Great valid points ....

Males are generally preferred for selective breeding, due to their transfer of genetic qualities. Scientifically, unsure whether this is proven or a myth ? As Baccus4702 noted, different animals/species differ to this concept, and as mentioned, the males can transfer their genetic qualities to a number of females, compared to a female. Perhaps other members can comment and throw some light onto this subject.

In cherries, each brood can produce 10-30+ shrimplets, say 20 as an avg. reaching maturity. At 3-4 berries, this would equate to approx 100 shrimplets. Taking JohnX scenario .....

Juvies @ $35. Pairs @ $150. Males @ $50. Females @ $75 -$100. It would appear the $ for the pairs are VERY cheap ? KiwiBigD's perspective is similar but at a slightly higher rate.

BUT if we moved out of cherries, and into Tigers, where the blondes are $150 each, that would then make the blonde pair approx. $600, OEBT @ $250 each @ $1,500.

Then moving up a notch, TB's at say $350, pairs are $2,100 ...

I posted a thread abut the supply/demand and economics of shrimp prices previously. Basically this thread is not to argue/discuss how much a shrimp should cost, BUT what is a fair multiplication factor for pairs, male and females......

x 2.5 Pairs (i.e. juvies @ $50, pairs @ $ 250)

x 2 Males (i.e. juvies @ $50, male @ $100)

x 2.5 Females (i.e. juvies @ $50, female @ $125)

Once, we've a achieve a consensus, I will update the shrimp $ pricing to reflect this....

Thanks

[torface]

Don't make 'em too expensive, i want to buy some in a couple of weeks! lol :)

[KiwiBigD]

You raise an interesting point when it comes to the likes of TBs, Tigers etc. But in saying that its not often you see a pair available, very rare indeed. While you may

see more CRS's for sale you don't often see explicit females. I've brought a few in the past (just this last week included) but have paid $90 for a S grade CRS female.

Okay, this is far higher than you would normally pay I agree but its also a case of supply and demand, lots of demand, not so much supply :-(

Maybe we need to break out the guidelines a bit further by type? Personally I'd be happy paying twice the price for a guaranteed female TB, just tempt me, please ;-)

But you do raise a valid point. I'll also admit I probably pay above the average as well, I don't mind doing that if what I'm buying is good quality, its well worth it from

my experience.

[ninja]

Don't forget if they already sexually mature they could be old!!!!

[honcho]

Don't forget if they already sexually mature they could be old!!!!

good point ninja..

as im recently finding out that it takes forever for TB's to become sexable ..

but also a mature pair is usually worth the money.. and much easier that buying at least 5 shrimpies just to get a pair in a few months.

BB id say if juvies blue velvet is $50 id say a guaranteed pair would be good @250-350 depending on quality and size..

[ninja]

Be quiet, Honcho, lol, I'm getting a pair or 2 very soon!!!!!!!! You costing me $'s.

[honcho]

Be quiet' date=' Honcho, lol, I'm getting a pair or 2 very soon!!!!!!!! You costing me $'s.[/quote']

Lol.. uuuuum cough cough... what i meant to say was if a juvie cost $50 a sexed pair should cost $30... cough cough ..

Lol howd i do ninja ;)

[ninja]

Wonderful Mate, lol, can't stop laughing and I am in chemists ATM and everyone looking at me.

Lol lol lol lol

[CNgo2006]

Pricing should also be based on the genetics of the shrimp (that is generation and hardiness/health), I remember buying some rather $$$ shrimp from lets just say not this forum and they ended up dying within days whereas with breeders such as BB, Dean and many others here, I have found the shrimp to be super healthy and hardy, of course still get the odd death here and there but in my opinion has a better survival rate.

[JonX]

I got my pair for $150 a week and a half ago and the juvies for sale were $35 each.

The seller is selling them cheap, or the price is going down.