Breeding...

[AaronP]

You know I've had numerous conversations with numerous people about breeding, the market, where it is now and where it may be in a couple years and I say more often then I care to admit that too many people are getting into this hobby for the wrong reasons, or aren't responsible about their breeding practices.

It almost upsets me when someone who's had snakes for less than year and has only 1 or two snakes starts talking about their "Breeding plans". Why do you have to breed your animals? Why can't you just be content owning that Spider, or that Pastel? When I started to look into breeding snakes a good friend of mine, who taught me a lot about ball pythons, told me that if you want a particular animal, then save your money and just buy it, in the end you may actually save a few dollars and you won't have to deal with what comes with breeding snakes [Breeding, Incubation, Hatchlings, feeding the hatchlings, etc.]

I guess my point is, don't breed your animals just cause you can. If you really want that Bumble Bee, Albino, or Clown, just buy it. And don't let the excitement of potentially (Yes Potentially!) hatching snakes get to your head, it's a lot of work taking care of more than a few ball pythons, just ask anyone here who has 10+ Snakes...myself included.

[Darkice]

Just going out and buying something doesn't have anywhere near the satisfaction of creating it yourself. Like me for instance. I only have 4 ball pythons. A pair of yellowbellies and a pair of Mojaves. I plan on breeding them when they get up to size. I've only had them a few months but they are not my first snakes. In the past 30 or so years I've had hundreds of reptiles, some I breed and some are just pets.
More then anything I want a leucistic ball python and I want to create one instead of just buying it. There is a difference between just buying something and Earning something.
And then there is breeding them for the extra cash. My pet hobby pays for itself. I don't make any extra money to put in the bank. I make just enough to get different pets and expand my horizons. And with more money comes more expensive pets.
I think differently about they people who just go out and buy things and show them off like they did something special. Like with auto show cars. Let someone else do all the work and you try to reap the credit. Same with expensive morphs. If your not willing to do the real work you should not reap the benefits.