Breeding while in the Military?

[Yellow_Belly]

Ok so I have been reading into breeding for a while now. The only thing holding me back is that I am Active Duty Air Force. I currently have one bp, if i decide to breed i will get another snake to start out small and breed next winter and possibly expand from there. I just wanted to get everyone's opinion on the issue and really would like to talk to someone that breeds while being active(if there is someone out there). Constructive criticism is welcomed and feelings wont be hurt.

Cheers

[DavidMundy]

My brother is active duty army, he will be breeding this year. He doesn't have a bp.net account though. I believe other people here are active duty and do breed. Hopefully they will chime in.

[Royal Hijinx]

I am a active duty Navy officer. I have 16 Balls and plan to breed this coming season... but I may well be heading to Afghanistan later this year, so it will put me back several months on my breeding plans. I am not too concerned, as it will allow my girls to get that much bigger and allow my "challenging" feeders to catch up.

The hardest part for me will be finding another breeder that I trust and will agree to an arrangement to watch my kiddos while I am gone. I have put out feelers, but have yet to secure a deal, so that is a little stressful. I love my GF to death, but it is a bit much for her to handle without my expertise (what little I have) while I am away. She will have fun looking after the dog, gecko and the hognose.

So, just make sure you have contingency plans. As AF, if you deploy it generally is not as long as the rest of us, so you have that going for you.

[Yellow_Belly]

Thank you for the help. How do you deal with PCSing and another thing that i would hate is if I get stationed in a state that does not allow snakes at all.

[eatgoodfood]

I am active duty Army and will hopefully be breeding this season. I have 14 snakes. I had thought I would have to go to Afghanistan next year, and my wife did not fare so well the last time, which would likely mean getting rid of the collection. Luckily that wont be happening, and I am getting out at the end of 2013. I would say you have a few concerns, one, I dont know how it is in the Air Force, but your cannot have snakes in Army housing, so only off post. Second, PCSing, again cannot speak for the Air Force, but moving over seas, to a state where its not legal, transporting your collection could become an issue. Last that I can think of at the moment would be deployments, without someone competent or who you trust as a previous poster states, you have a huge issue with keeping the collection.

[Yellow_Belly]

I am active duty Army and will hopefully be breeding this season. I have 14 snakes. I had thought I would have to go to Afghanistan next year, and my wife did not fare so well the last time, which would likely mean getting rid of the collection. Luckily that wont be happening, and I am getting out at the end of 2013. I would say you have a few concerns, one, I dont know how it is in the Air Force, but your cannot have snakes in Army housing, so only off post. Second, PCSing, again cannot speak for the Air Force, but moving over seas, to a state where its not legal, transporting your collection could become an issue. Last that I can think of at the moment would be deployments, without someone competent or who you trust as a previous poster states, you have a huge issue with keeping the collection.

Yea we arent allowed to have snakes in the housing on base...good thing i already had my snake before that rule took effect and I can have him in the house until i move. Yes PCSing does worry me the most because i would hate to get rid of everything I would be working towards. Deployments arent really an issue because ours are generally 6 months and my wife is able to take care of everything while i would be gone.

[gsarchie]

Active duty Army here and while I would like to breed this year it will likely not happen until 2013. Either way, I am up to 7 snakes and my wife cares for them while I'm gone (I am currently in Afghanistan). As long as you have someone that can care for them while you're gone you should be fine. I will say that I would never ask the wife to breed, simply sustain/grow them while I'm away.

[angeluscorpion]

I'm an active Marine Corps grunt. I had 5 snakes and a clutch of eggs when I was told I was deploying in two weeks. My wife has a messed up shoulder so dealing with our daughter and the dog and just daily wife was gonna be hard enough. So my friend with a reptile store is taking care of them for me until I get back in December. The bad part, one of my snakes died due to getting into a heat lamp cage and cooking himself, and two babies died in the egg due to them being cooked at the wrong temp. The plus side everyone else is being taken care of, I have been able to add two more females to my collection, three of the babies hatched and my wife doesn't have to take it on alone. I will return in December and have orders to ride out the rest of my contract at Division Schools so I will be able to breed and grow my collection from then forward. Pretty much you have you see what your future holds, also if you wind up getting orders to a place that bans snakes you will be committing a felony if you take them over state lines. But I don't think any state bans Ball Pythons, check to be on the safe side. If going overseas you are pretty much screwed, even if they let you take them they will be in QT for quite a while, which you have to pay for and the same thing when you try to bring them back. What base are at now?

[Yellow_Belly]

Well thank you all for your words of wisdom...I think i will proceed with breeding on a small scale next winter after i acquire some breedable females. Just have to find a good pair to my YellowBelly male. I think i want to try to make an ivory...we shall see.


Thank you all once again!