Re: On the Economic Viability of Ball Python Breeding
My rule for purchsing new snakes or anything for that matter is something that has helped me not lose to much money so far and after this year I will actually be up a little. My rule is, from start to finish, purchase enough enclosures to house what you want to have multiplied by 4. So in my situation that was 8 snakes way back when. Those snakes were placed in the baby tubs, this was after I got out of tanks and actually had those snakes already. Then I purchase the sub adult tubs and adult tubs in advance again multiplied by 4 so I had a lot of extra tubs. I then raised them up and bred them. When I got eggs I purchased one tub per an egg. So again lots of extras. At this point I had a lot of extra tubs and way to many for the hatchlings to fill considering I was selling almost all of them so now is when I will purchase a new snake or 2 and raise them up and breed them and then after that I will sell the babies and again purchase another snake or 2... This rule is great when it is followed but as everyone knows this will not ever happen but I follow it pretty well. As for the feeders I have 2 females per a snake so I will always have extras and they more than supply themselves in food, bedding and everything else needed for them. I think it is something good to follow for the most part.
Re: On the Economic Viability of Ball Python Breeding
I found a huge Vision rack to be the most economical commercial hatchling rack I could locate. I also picked up a couple of used Boaphile hatchling racks locally, and that has me set for a couple of years.
The big Vision racks beat out the others in terms of cost per slot, although you have to buy the tubs from them. The tubs aren't very expensive, and are pretty sturdy.
Re: On the Economic Viability of Ball Python Breeding
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FIREball
Great article Colin, the numbers may work out better if the price of the recessive morph didn't drop so fast. I could understand a co-dom but I think the recessive should hold its value a little longer.
Good catch. I'll add that in.
Re: On the Economic Viability of Ball Python Breeding
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ColinWeaver
Your point is a good one. I gave that some thought, too. In many ways the price drops of the dominant/co-dominant morphs has been easier to predict. No two morphs enter the market at same value and they don't drop on a defined scale so my example was only meant to be general in nature.
Very true but i would go even further and say that even doms and co-doms have artificially dropped in price. First you have to think what the initial cost of the morph was when it was first introduced and how long its been since the first of its kind was sold. I have not been in the (for me at this point just a hobby) ball python game for very long, 16 months and its crazy how much everything has declined in that short period of time! Market crashers are undoubtedly the reason for this. Maybe easier to predict than drops on reccessives but im my opinion both have been dropping unrealistically fast based on how many get produced and how much they were such a short time ago. Great article though, I think I would even have to go as far as to say I think its the best article on anything BP related I have ever read! Very real, very well thought out and very well backed up. I loved it!!! :bow::bow::gj:
Re: On the Economic Viability of Ball Python Breeding
Fantastic article! reality usually does dissapoint people when they simply try to make a buck off of breeding animals, whatever species they may be.
Re: On the Economic Viability of Ball Python Breeding
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ColinWeaver
In general, I agree.
In the world of risk management we avoid spending more protecting an asset than the asset is worth (which is frequently more than just its acquisition/replacement cost). Sometimes there are intangibles that justify additional expense (customer confidence, public perception, etc.), though. I can translate that to also say that a snake is a living thing worthy of vet care regardless of its financial value (e.g. an intangible value). From a purely business perspective it's an easy equation. From a human perspective ...not so much.
I agree! These are living animals that make you the money you spend in vet bills! After all, you should be it for the love of these animals and secondly for the money! I would never buy from a breeder that only cares about money! If you don't have the money to pay a vet then thats different but to not to want to hurt profits is just wrong!!
