Sometimes I think....

Ball python breeding is nothing but a contest to see who can stack the most genes :(:tears:

From what I've read on this website……yes. but i know extremely little about breeding.

No. Not necessarily. To me, it's making the best combos of those genes. You could have a six gene snake that just isn't stunning to look at. But a nice two gene combo could be really amazing. For me it's just making the best looking animals.

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Originally Posted by Marrissa

No. Not necessarily. To me, it's making the best combos of those genes. You could have a six gene snake that just isn't stunning to look at. But a nice two gene combo could be really amazing. For me it's just making the best looking animals.

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X2 and also making what you really like.

But the "best looking animals" mean different things to different people, and even though most breeders say it isn't about the money I know better. No breeder wants a normal that they can only sell for MAYBE $50. They wanna hit the jackpot with a multi-gene snake that will sell for several thousand dollars.

normals have their place even for breeders, often a normal is their first ball python, and is also how some breeders who just getting off the ground get started. have 3 single or 2 gene males and and 10-15 normal females makes for a decent start if they are looking at it from a business aspect. Either way even normals vary in pattern from light to dark and even reduced. you could line breed for really nice looking normals if you wanted to. That being said there are breeders who are looking to combine a lot of genes and in doing that normals are not what they are hoping to see, but unless a super was in one of the parents its always a possibility. Its all in the eye of the beholder if you want to breed, I say breed the genes that make you happy for combos you hope to make.

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Originally Posted by albinos_rule

But the "best looking animals" mean different things to different people, and even though most breeders say it isn't about the money I know better. No breeder wants a normal that they can only sell for MAYBE $50. They wanna hit the jackpot with a multi-gene snake that will sell for several thousand dollars.

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Well of course. That multi gene snake could be the long odds they hit on and boost their program to the next level several years ahead of time. It's not all about the money. You stock your own shelves before you stock the shelves of other breeders. ;) With my first season I should be hitting on a 5k snake. Will I be selling that snake? Nope. You improve your own stock then sell extras. But yes no one wants to add more cheap normals and single genes to further saturate the market. And big breeders have invested a lot of time and money, they've gotta get something back so they have more money to put into the hobby.

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Originally Posted by albinos_rule

But the "best looking animals" mean different things to different people, and even though most breeders say it isn't about the money I know better

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Of course its about the money. You are talking about PROFESSIONAL breeders who do this for a JOB. Is your job about the money? Unless you are extremely lucky in your situation in life it probably is. I dont see any sane reason why it should be any different. Is my job only about the money? Absolutely not. If I didnt need the money would I still do what I do 40-60 hours a week? Absolutely not.


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Originally Posted by CryHavoc17

Of course its about the money. You are talking about PROFESSIONAL breeders who do this for a JOB.

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Most of them aren't spending a bunch of time on forums, unless it's advertising or blogging to promote their business.

We hobbyists who are on the forums every day helping people figure out where to stick the t-stat probe for the UTH they just bought aren't in it for the money, but because we don't want to see a burned snake.

As for producing 3-4 gene animals, there are many I like but can't afford to purchase... but I can afford to purchase the "ingredients". So, I'll make my own, and enjoy the journey along the way.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

We hobbyists who are on the forums every day helping people figure out where to stick the t-stat probe for the UTH they just bought aren't in it for the money, but because we don't want to see a burned snake.

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QFT! Although, if someone comes up with a way to profit from this, I would be right up near the front of the line. :D