The current feeder market ranges widely in price — from $3.99 for a single adult mouse at Petco/PetSmart to roughly $0.40 each for newborn pinkies bought in bulk from the largest online suppliers. We’ll be able to undercut the lowest-price offering for each equivalent size.
This is not exactly like the shrimp-stunner situation. Snake keepers and breeders have to feed their animals, and if our product becomes viewed as a viable, reputable alternative, being cost-competitive and more convenient gives us a real chance to become the new default; they don’t need to pay a premium for this option. Philanthropic funding can help early on by providing subsidized or free product to induce trial and accelerate conversion; the marginal cost for that purpose is around $0.16–0.80 per mouse-equivalent unit depending on size.
Once enough keepers view this as a normal, credible option, the transition can become self-reinforcing. If enough snakes transition, we can achieve healthy margins and have a self-sustaining, profitable business.
At this early stage, we believe expert validation from respected animal nutritionists and veterinarians is central. That’s been a major focus, and it’s also why one of the concrete marginal funding uses is a university-run feeding study that will result in a published paper by an academic veterinarian.
The current feeder market ranges widely in price — from $3.99 for a single adult mouse at Petco/PetSmart to roughly $0.40 each for newborn pinkies bought in bulk from the largest online suppliers. We’ll be able to undercut the lowest-price offering for each equivalent size.
This is not exactly like the shrimp-stunner situation. Snake keepers and breeders have to feed their animals, and if our product becomes viewed as a viable, reputable alternative, being cost-competitive and more convenient gives us a real chance to become the new default; they don’t need to pay a premium for this option. Philanthropic funding can help early on by providing subsidized or free product to induce trial and accelerate conversion; the marginal cost for that purpose is around $0.16–0.80 per mouse-equivalent unit depending on size.
Once enough keepers view this as a normal, credible option, the transition can become self-reinforcing. If enough snakes transition, we can achieve healthy margins and have a self-sustaining, profitable business.
At this early stage, we believe expert validation from respected animal nutritionists and veterinarians is central. That’s been a major focus, and it’s also why one of the concrete marginal funding uses is a university-run feeding study that will result in a published paper by an academic veterinarian.