Watch "Why I don't breed ball pythons" on YouTube

[SadieJ]

Yes!! This guy, right here!

https://youtu.be/wzc2PBsY7v0

[Lizardlicks]

Yup. tl;dw you aren't going to make a fortune on ball python breeding, either over night or possibly at all. Why I still want to breed is because there are snakes that I want to have, but would never be able to out right purchase (dreamsicle anyone?), or that haven't been produced yet. Breaking even or making money would a nice side benefit, but my focus is on what I want, not what the market is doing.

[jclaiborne]

Breeding for the money is never the right reason. I want to breed my IJ blueys because there aren't many CBB IJ blueys in the US market right now. Most are imported or "farm raised", and I think it would be awesome to be able to contribute to the CBB gene pool, that being said I have been trying to breed mine for 2 years now with no luck... I also agree with his statement about racks...I know a lot of people utilize racks and their snakes are surviving, but most people on here know my stance on them. I don't like them and never will, to each their own.

[BrianDallek]

This guy spends 10 minutes giving a 30 second message that is basically common sense. Talking slow and repeating yourself doesn't make your message anymore important and it doesn't make you sound intelligent either.

Everyone has their own reason to get a ball python. Some want one for a pet. Some want to go through the excitement of breeding, which it is VERY exciting. Some want to make money and these people will learn there is no money in it. I knew baseball cards were just different colored ink on the same cardboard, but I wouldn't take back the excitement I had as a kid collecting them. This guy hasn't taken into consideration the value of enjoyment and happiness, which is priceless. The old adage that money doesn't make you happy is very true. If you don't believe that statement then you haven't lived enough yet.

[Eric Alan]

The root of this video is based on the fact that he didn't get any enjoyment out of this hobby. If you don't love what you do, then there's no reason in the world to be in it in the first place - it comes from within.

[SadieJ]

So th over-inflated bubble of the BP market doesn't concern anybody here besides me? Where are all these unsold snakes going? Let's not forget some breeders lately have had a 'my 2014 season was extremely productive, so here's a 50% off sale I'm doing to get rid of them'- with hardly any buyers. Or people getting rid of their entire collections on kingsnake.com at a fraction of the cost they spent to obtain/feed/breed/house them. Really? & he's not intelligent?

Are all the breeders here willing to house/feed all of their unsold snakes for the rest of their lives? If not, where are they going? Just wondering if the hobby is really about the animals or is it about the hobby itself?

As far as money & happiness goes, I've lived long enough to know that the 2 can be mutually exclusive. I've worked 60+ hrs a wk, several wks/mth. Was I tired? Yes. Did I have to worry about food being on the table or bills getting paid? No. Was I happy every single second I worked all that OT? No, BUT not having to worry about certain aspects of my family's life & comfort DOES make me happy

[stickyalvinroll]

Umm... This is just a hobby? Ain't nobody trying to get rich of this, I'm already rich. Talking about college degrees lol get outta here I make 6 figures with no degree

[Dave Green]

I get what he is saying but he didn't enjoy breeding ball pythons so of course he was going to lose interest. Why would anyone do this if they didn't enjoy it? I would guess most of the collection sales are people who were in it for the money. I'm generalizing but of all the breeders I communicate with only one has gotten out and he told me that once the big money was gone he lost interest. I respect his decision and would suggest the same to anyone who was no longer into it for whatever reason.

Why I breed ball pythons:

I love it!
I still get a thrill out of every clutch that hatches.
I turned a life long hobby into a business.
I get out of bed every day excited to see who's breeding, who laid eggs, what's hatching, etc.
I used to hate getting out of bed for my corporate job and now I don't even need to set an alarm because I enjoy what I do.
I can make much less than I did at my corporate job and I'm still much happier.
I get to be my own boss and make all the decisions.
Etc.....

[SadieJ]

Umm... This is just a hobby? Ain't nobody trying to get rich of this, I'm already rich. Talking about college degrees lol get outta here I make 6 figures with no degree

You're one of the lucky ones then, or you're lying

[ajmreptiles]

The root of this video is based on the fact that he didn't get any enjoyment out of this hobby. If you don't love what you do, then there's no reason in the world to be in it in the first place - it comes from within.

That is that main thing I got out of this video. You can't get into this thinking it is a get rich quick deal, those days of where you put a mortgage on your house to buy a $25,000 pinstripe and breed it to 5-10 normals are long over.
Can you make money breeding ball pythons? Sure, but its a saturated market and you won't be making money over night. You have to love these animals and expect to care for them as you build a reputation and relationship with people and market yourself. You have to be passionate about these animals. The money isn't the important thing here, that will come when it comes, otherwise you'll just end up being another breeder who invests all this money in animals thinking of getting rich, failing after 2 years and selling everything off at a fraction of what you paid.