Random things I've always wanted to ask snake breeders

[Luvyna]

There are some random things I've always been curious about!

1. How do you transport animals to shows?
I just have this mental image of someone checking into a hotel and bringing in a few trunks full of snakes LOL
But in all seriousness, how do you get so many snakes to expos, especially if it's a long journey that might include hours of driving, overnight stays, or a flight? Where do the snakes stay during the transportation? Do they still have heat and all that?

2. What happens to snakes that don't sell?
I've always wondered if breeders just have ever-expanding collections since I'm sure not all snakes that are bred will be sold.

3. How do you avoid having your snakes pick up mites/other infections from reptile expos?

[JodanOrNoDan]

What you are asking about is actually a retailer. Some breeders retail, some do not. Some retailers do not breed. I am mostly in the not category primarily because of time and when I asked myself the same exact questions you asked I did not like the answers. I leave the retail sales to other people. Once a snake leaves my place it does not return.

[pretends2bnormal]

What you are asking about is actually a retailer. Some breeders retail, some do not. Some retailers do not breed. I am mostly in the not category primarily because of time and when I asked myself the same exact questions you asked I did not like the answers. I leave the retail sales to other people. Once a snake leaves my place it does not return.

I think the questions apply to at least some breeders that are not retailers. Unless you mean that anyone who sells their own snakes is a retailer?

Plenty of breeders nearby me at least seem to go to expos, but not sell to retail stores or have a storefront so outside the expo, it is purely online sales with pickup for locals or shipping.

I'm actually curious about much of the same questions for that group of breeders.

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[67temp]

There are some random things I've always been curious about!

1. How do you transport animals to shows?

I only do local shows so no overnight stays are needed. If a venue does not have heat/ac I also wont do the show. Most venders will transport them in their displays to save on space whether they are using deli cups or a 3 tier system.

2. What happens to snakes that don't sell?

Babies that aren't sold, become juveniles that are for sale. Juveniles become sub-adults and the price gets raised. If still unsold they become unproven adults and the price gets raised again. If it still doesn't sell it might get bred and now sold as a proven breeder and again higher price. Animals can also be used to barter or trade for other projects. Sometimes a breeder that doesn't want to take the animal home will wholesale it to a retailer/flipper.

3. How do you avoid having your snakes pick up mites/other infections from reptile expos?

You do have to be a little selective on who gets to handle an animal. An easy way to decline someone is to just say "not right now, the animal has been handled a lot and I don't want to stress it out". I typically take an adult snake that is not for sale with me for people to handle. Before returning the animal to it's enclosure at home it gets wiped down with reptile spray. Some local shows I wont do because they are known for not being clean.

[JodanOrNoDan]

I think the questions apply to at least some breeders that are not retailers. Unless you mean that anyone who sells their own snakes is a retailer?

Plenty of breeders nearby me at least seem to go to expos, but not sell to retail stores or have a storefront so outside the expo, it is purely online sales with pickup for locals or shipping.

I'm actually curious about much of the same questions for that group of breeders.

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Anyone selling a product to the end consumer is a retailer. I am primarily a wholesaler. I sell to reptile shops and other online re-sellers. I will occasionally sell specific animals to specific people. This methodology works for me right now. I can move large amounts animals quickly but at a reduced price. I choose not to do reptile shows. If I even go to one for entertainment, I have a whole decontamination routine I make myself do when I get home. Having to deal with the necessary quarantine and mite prevention for my animals would just be too time consuming. My worst nightmare is for a customer to say I gave their collection mites or some disease I wasn't even aware that my animals had.

[pretends2bnormal]

Anyone selling a product to the end consumer is a retailer. I am primarily a wholesaler. I sell to reptile shops and other online re-sellers. I will occasionally sell specific animals to specific people. This methodology works for me right now. I can move large amounts animals quickly but at a reduced price. I choose not to do reptile shows. If I even go to one for entertainment, I have a whole decontamination routine I make myself do when I get home. Having to deal with the necessary quarantine and mite prevention for my animals would just be too time consuming. My worst nightmare if for a customer to say I gave their collection mites or some disease I wasn't even aware that my animals had.

Ah. See, I would have called that a breeder doing retail originally. Indirect retail, but in my mind, I had it as selling to store = retail (or being a store), to me vending expo is just something some breeders do in addition to online sales. I guess I had "private seller" as not being included under retailer, which to me meant that it is involving some sort of store. I see what you're saying now!

I 100% get not wanting to bring anything back; it would be devastating, especially thing beyond mites.

It is still really interesting to hear the methods people who do vend expos use to protect themselves or their animals.

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