Too many snakes?

Right now we have 22 snakes, 1 lizard, 2 cats and 2 dogs. I know I'm at my limit mammal-wise, but snakes...yeah I just dunno. There are always new morphs that I see that I want so I've had to teach myself to focus on the projects I currently have on the table...

I feel that when it turns into a chore, you don't enjoy it, or can't properly care for all of them, it's time to consider downsizing your collection.

I, personally, feel comfortable where I'm at, but I do have the time and space for more. I think if your collection grows slowly it doesn't seem as overwhelming as if you added 6 snakes to your smallish collection in 1 day.

Like you, I prefer display enclosures--just a personal preference for me. I think they're beautiful, and I like to watch them (although there's usually not much activity to watch!). My husband is NOT a snake person, and I had to do some serious bugging just to get him to agree to one. I think he'll get more comfortable with them as time goes on, but I know he'll never be good with 20+ snakes. Although I would like a larger collection, considering the husband and enclosure types that are "purdy" I would probably put my limit at 10 max. If I was single... ;-P But as much as I love snakes, I love my hubby more and he comes first.

Personally I'm at my max at the moment. But thats because I don't have the space to put them anywhere else not because I think I have to many. I can think of at least 4 more snakes I'd like to add to my collection 2 beardies, and 1 spider (maybee) But can't in till I get more room.
Like said before as long as you can provide for them and enjoy doing it you don't have to many. :3

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Originally Posted by AnOceanSpirit

Like you, I prefer display enclosures--just a personal preference for me. I think they're beautiful, and I like to watch them (although there's usually not much activity to watch!). My husband is NOT a snake person, and I had to do some serious bugging just to get him to agree to one. I think he'll get more comfortable with them as time goes on, but I know he'll never be good with 20+ snakes. Although I would like a larger collection, considering the husband and enclosure types that are "purdy" I would probably put my limit at 10 max. If I was single... ;-P But as much as I love snakes, I love my hubby more and he comes first.

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This is well said. You must consider your family. If hubby or wife says enough is enough, you should give him/her the respect of honoring their feelings. As much as you might want that outstanding morph you spotted at the last reptile expo, you can say no.

Having said that though, I do think that a person's limit is individual and mainly dependant on whether or not you can comfortably and properly care for each one you have (this means physically, emotionally, and financially). If you feel you can manage 30+ animals, go for it. If not though, you should be responsible enough to admit that and stick to what you can handle. Remember, ultimately, it is for the good of the animal.

For me right now, I'm capped out at 2 snakes (plus 1 foster and 2 that I'm pet-sitting for a couple weeks over the holiday, lol). Eventually once I have more space and a larger income I plan on expanding the collection - I want to do a little hobby breeding with some specific morphs, and there are a few species of snakes I definitely want in my collection. I don't think I'll ever go over 30 though. I also like display cages, but I think I'd only ever have a few in a nice combo display stand for my really outstanding specimens, or for personal favorites. Especially my baby coral albino red tail, she'll definitely deserve to be shown off as her colors come in!

So far the only things that feel like a chore are dealing with my friend's garter snake that I'm pet-sitting (I have never before dealt with a snake that so gleefully enjoys making me clean their cage every day), and the rats that I'm breeding for food can get frustrating, but once I get a rack system they'll be much, much more manageable.

We have well over a 100 snakes, and I'm always looking to add more to my collection. It's easier for me since I have mainly bps and a but harder for Chad since he deals mainly with burms, retics, etc., so they require more room. I don't feel we have too many, though most of our time goes to the snakes and feeders. But since this is something we've started together, I feel we get to spends time together doing something we both love. I, for one, couldn't tell him he has enough snakes or doesn't need anymore. Besides, I have more snakes than he does! Lol

Once Christmas is over I'm maxed out until we buy a house. If all goes as I think it will, I'll have 14 ball pythons, along with my 8 tarantulas, 1 boa, 1 tortoise, 1 beardie, 2 leopard geckos, and 1 crestie. I live in an apartment, my boyfriend and I both work full time jobs (with mandatory overtime) and I have a son, so to get more snakes than what I'll have would just be tough I think. When we buy a house and have a reptile room though, watch out ;) I'm lucky my boyfriend doesn't really have a limit, he said as long as there's no pets in the bathroom or bedroom he doesn't care :rolleyes:

Presently I have 6 ball pythons. Until I buy another rack, that is how many I can take care of comfortably.

I have no desire to keep 30+ ball pythons. Well, OK, I'd love 30+ ball pythons but I don't care to clean up that much snake doo doo. Nor do I care to breed that many rodents, and I've ended up doing so because the rodent supply in these parts is pretty unreliable. Some of mine won't eat ratsicles, I really hate cleaning up after rodents so that is another limiting factor.

Ideally, if I didn't have to raise rodents for them, I could see myself keeping 20-25 adult ball pythons without it becoming a chore. I'm 56 years old and a lot lazier than I used to be so I can't see myself keeping any more unless I hit the lottery big time and can hire servants to clean the tubs out. :D

IT all about personal ablity to care and feed your snakes. I had to stop takingin rescued snakes until I can make/find a local rodent supplier.

right now I am at a limit ( actually over some ) cause I not been able to aquire enough rats too feed everyone on a weekely bases since my rats are not keeping up wiht the needs.( this is cause I have been caring for my girlfriend's 11 snakes too) and as a result I went way over and it way too much money for a rat in de ( from closest source ) as a small going for about 4-6 bucks each ( so figure I gor 33 snakes right now so 5 bucks each for the small rats times 25 ( since some are small enough to take only pinkies ) I am looking at 125 bucks minium for ratsa week. and that way out of my budget ( since I spent most my snake money $##%^@*$^ around in New Jeseryand I not have it any other way ) I have gone ot a rotating feeding right now until my rat pups grow up enough to feed snakes. lucky I had some good sized forzen rats in freezer lol..

I say my max number of snakes with out a sde income would be personally about 25 snakes.

I kinda have an idea of where I want to stay size wise in my reptile adventures......I know that I dont want more than 60 female balls..... that would mean breeding half of those every year I would need to keep around 10 males ( there will always be growth when I hit my limit start keeping more powerful animals to replace the ones that are here)

I dont think I want more than 6 female boas... I love boas but dont want to do to many just based on the messes they make, and quarantine issues when we bring a new boa in..2-3 males

SD retics I wanna stay within a dozen females.....

Beardies I dont want to mess with anymore, my wife limits herself to around 6 4 females 2 males

Crested geckos I dont know if we will ever breed them..... Right now just enjoying them But i dont wanna go large with them either...

I beleive I dont have to be uber big, but selecting projects instead of trying to do everything lets me produce more awesome animals in the projects I enjoy.... i guess the idea is quality over quantity.... and keeping it fun and enjoyable......

If it becomes my full time job I could always do more