to sell or not to sell, and what are they worth?!

[snakecharmer]

Hello all,
I would like to share a dillemma.
About march 2007 I purchased 3 thamnophis from Hamm show. One was a female albino chequered garter, the animal i had originally gone there to purchase. I saw 2 stands with san fransisco garters on and couldn't resist purchasing one as had always loved them and hadnt seen one for a very long time. I bought a male, with the intentions of later on buying a female to breed. I have no idea why i didn't just buy an unrelated pair there and then, I guess it didn't occur to me that later on, a female (or indeed any other san fran) would be so hard to track down, a grown on one, no less. I also purchased a female red sided ribbon snake (Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus).
In the years since aquiring these animals I have found my collection has evolved with far more emphasis on large snakes (boas, burms and carpet pythons) and a recent house move has resulted in a down size and thinning out, primarily shifting my smaller tanks. All this time i have been casually seeking a mate for my san fran but with no luck. And i am left now considering whether to sell my garters or not? or whether to just sell the ribbon and continue to search for a mate for the san fran? At this time i am unsure of the worth of both the ribbon snake and the san fran also, and as i love them dearly I wouldn't want to part with them for less than they are worth.
I was wondering, what are peoples thoughts on the matter?
Thanks!
G

[guidofatherof5]

Nice to have you on the forum.
That quite the predicament. I only wish I had a problem like that, refering to the S.F. garter.I don't know how easy it would be to replace both snakes but keeping that in mind might help.
If you've got the room, why not just keep them. You know if you sell them a week or so later you'll come across the female you're looking for.

[gregmonsta]

I would keep them , sell the ribbon if you must but if you speak to the right people on here I'm sure you'll have a good chance of securing a female for your male. good luck for the hunt. You might want to get in touch with Alan Francis as he does shift surplus adults from time to time.

[snakecharmer]

Thanks guys! You both voiced exactly whats been happening in my head. My guts are telling me to lose the ribbon snake and keep searching for a girlfreind for the san fran. I've been on Alans website before (impressive stuff, his collection!), isn't he based in the states though?

[gregmonsta]

Nope north-east England, on the wind-swept North Sea coast