attempt at a poll and question

[mechnut450]

ok I know many people breed on her just starting out and such too. I was thinking I know some people are spending money left andd right getting snakes and such. trying to go big and fast it my personal option. but i was wondering about 2 things when it comes to your reptile hobby/life and funding..
more less I wonder on your reptile funding /supply spending
I will post the question and hopefully i phrase it right so not to offend anyone or make anyone feel liek a fool.( which I am by the way) lol

how does your reptile hobby funding and spend future look?

[mechnut450]

ok I not sure if it came out like I was wanting but it will work. I knowi my hobby will only grow ( snake wise) though trades, a few purchases during the summer(S) when igot a few extra buck possible, and I will do with out some things ot make suer I have what I need for my snakes, they with me until I dye and I have made sure they got homes ready before I do.

I will be limiting myself to a smaller collection and will repalce some animals with others but I plan on making it clear that iwil ltake any snake back sold,adopted out by me if the owner does not wants them any longer. I rather be eating bp and mayo sandwaichs and up to my but cheeks in snake tubs than have an animal neglected that I produced cause they were a fad or a short term ( unwanted pet) purchase.

[wilomn]

I opted for #2 but I have to say that I am not your average keeper. I'm downsizing now, have been for the last 2 years. I'm down to about 90 adults and will hopefully winnow that down to about 45 this year.

I do this as a business but I also do it as a breeder/hobbiest. At one time, when I was more business oriented, I had over 400 breeders. Phew, that was some work.

Now though, I'm fine tuning. As much as I like my corns and kings and milks, I'm going to thin way down. On the business end, I can buy babies cheaper than I can breed them. They may not be as cool as mine or have the genes and surprises mine do, but most folks don't care.

This will allow me to just do what I want, to work towards that next new thing in CalKings or whatever without having to worry about so many others that are just there to produce, much as I do like them, babies.

In part it's the economy and in part, I've grown weary of being responsible for so many.

However, that fine tuning means targeting specific morphs and bloodlines and working with higher end animals because they are the ones I like the most at this time.

Knowing me, I'll reduce by 45, keep 20 hatchlings and pick up a dozen that I "need" and next year will be having this exact conversation.

[Kaorte]

For now I am hoping to make enough money to partially or fully support my hobby.

I don't want to have such a a huge collection that I can't easily maintain by myself though so it will probably stay on the small side.