Troubles Breeding and Selling?

[bcr229]

It sounds like your husband may know you better than you know yourself. This isn't necessarily a bad thing (at least, that's what I tell myself when my husband makes this kind of comment), and since any breedings are still a few months away, you have time to figure out how to make it easier to let go of any babies.

I have friends who are small/hobby breeders of other animals (poodles and ponies) and I ask them how they manage, because puppies and foals are some of the cutest animals in this world. Here are some ideas based on what they do:

- Don't name the babies. Just... don't. Once you name it, it's yours.

- Keep your quality high and your quantity low. It costs just as much to feed and breed a normal or single-gene morph as a two+ gene morph. Most animals that end up "thrown away", neglected, or needing rescue come from the low end. I have only four normals (3 BP's and one BCI) and every one came from that kind of situation.

- If you limit yourself to local sales, then buyers can put eyes and hands on the baby and parents before they make any decisions. This helps reassure them that you're legit and not a scammer, and lets you screen them as well. Also, you can deliver the animal and see where it will be kept. You can also check that everyone in the house is ok with a snake being there; my normal BCI's former owner was a teenage boy who purchased her from a big box store and hid the snake in his closet for four months. Mommy hit the roof when she found it...

- Advertise by word of mouth, or on Facebook specialty groups for local herpers and enthusiasts, or snake/reptile-specific forums like this one, Fauna, etc. Don't sell on CraigsList, too many scammers and flippers.

- Screen buyers carefully. If something seems off you can always say no.

- This idea came from the horse breeder as she doesn't want any of "her" babies ending up on a slaughter truck: the buyer must sign a contract giving her first right of refusal if the buyer wishes to sell the animal in the future. It doesn't mean she must buy the animal, just that she has the opportunity to pay market price for it first. She understands that horses are expensive to maintain and people's lives can change overnight. So far she's never had to use it, but she only produces 1-2 foals a year.

A larger commercial breeder has to make a profit, and basically the first buyer with the cash gets the snake. If you're in this as a hobby you can be much pickier about your buyers, which should help alleviate any emotional issues you have.