Buying WTfs?

[rosaphile]

So it's looking like I will have to order online since I can't find any in the pet stores and I can't find any breeders around here. I hate having to order these online and pay $40 for overnight shipping, though! They are supposed to be so popular and common, so (a) why can't I find any locally and (b) why do they cost so dang much? ($20 to $30 most sites I have found, even for babies).

I am really new to the whole frog/herp thing so maybe I am missing something. Is there an easier way to find a local breeder than Googling? Where do most people get theirs? My husband is going to go all purple in the face if I tell him it's going to cost $70-$100 to get a pair of WTFs.

Posting in the Wanted section at the bottom, hopefully that will get me somewhere....

PS. Also recommendations on online dealers would be good, I guess.

[Badger]

Post in all the forums wanted sections, (Dendroboard, kingsnake etc.) And search Faunaclassifieds and other classifieds. Kingsnake has a great classifieds section.

[rosaphile]

Thanks, Dalton. Looks like Dendroboard won't let me post in "Wanted" until I have 25 posts on their boards. No luck with Kingsnake classifieds but I have posted a request so hopefully someone will respond!

More than ever I am wishing my son would have chosen FBT's, sigh. Petco had some really nice-looking ones for like $6 apiece.

[Badger]

It gets frustrating, I know.

[UncleChester]

Given that they can live 15-20 years, $70-$100 seems like a bargain for a pair of them. Not even a penny a day each.

So none of the pet stores near you carry them or are they just out of stock?

You can also try looking for upcoming reptile/amphibian expos near you.

Also check kijiji or craigslist. Even in my rural area I've had a few ads from people looking to get rid of theirs pop up over the past year.

Best of luck!

[rosaphile]

Good point, Brian. I sort of talked myself into that idea, myself, last night. I used to have cockatiels and I know I paid $50 apiece for them (hand fed, from a local breeder). Talked my husband into it, as well. He said wistfully, "You don't think there's any chance he might change his mind to fire bellied toads?" But he's philosophical about it.

I confess I didn't ask the employees at Petsmart and Petco (yes, those are literally the only pet stores around, other than a couple of tropical fish stores). But they didn't have any enclosures labeled for White's or dumpy tree frogs.

Where would I find out about upcoming reptile/amphibian expos? I did check Craigslist but I will look at kijiji as well. Never heard of it before now.

Thanks!