If money is an issue.

I am in the same boat as you! I love the axanthic stripes but 10K is out of my price range! I mean really thats a car, right? I have started very slowly. I bought a pastel female on a payment plan from one of the top breeders and then picked up a male spider at a show. Talk about price difference! I paid 3x as much for my pastel! I now go to all repticon shows close to me. I have 8 balls now and we are just now talking about breeding next year for the first time. Also most breeders will give a repeat customer discount if you have bought from them before or if you buy more than one at a time.

Something else I did was make my own racks. There are tons of pictures and plans on the internet. And I made sure I could use different size tubs in it. So my rack will take sm, med, and large tubs all at the same time! I even made my own rat rack and made sure my ASF's can keep me in food if we have two clutches this next year. I even bought our thermostats at the show for $60 instead of the normal $120ish around here.

And I have made alot of friends! Talk to breeders at the shows. I have been welcomed with open arms by everyone at the shows!! They have never tired of my dumb or ignorant questions. Good Luck!

You should also know that making your own morph is more fun than just buying one, and see your collection grows. If this is why you are in it...

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Originally Posted by ace_singapore

You should also know that making your own morph is more fun than just buying one, and see your collection grows. If this is why you are in it...

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I do want to make my collection grow myself. However, I have to start with at least one morph. Again, not looking for any freebies. Just aked about the best way to get the ball rolling as far as the money was concerned.

When I was coming back to owning a snakes I had in mind that 'one day" I'll breed them... I was looking for a while for a snake i really want...

I bought Rack and thermostat first.... bough hides and supplies.. and was looking for a right snake.. Nothing fancy.. just right....

I agree that YB's especially males have great potential and are relatively inexpensive...

I bought mine for 150$ plus shipping and couldn't be more happy with him. In my Opinion he is an exceptional example of the morph... he is proven breeder.. but first off he is really cute animal ;) and I'm happy to have him as a pet not only as a future breeder.

Almost year passed since I bought him... and now I'm in the hunt for female for him...
Because I want try breed this spring.... money is an issue if You not looking for normal.. but with some luck....

I'm targeting now one granite... she is around breeding weight and age but because she is unproven... she have very appealing price...(she is good looking as well)

With right feeding she will be ready for spring... If She take ?? Have no idea... But if not... She will be ready for sure for late fall (begging of the season ) and this give me time to acquire more supplies (maybe fancier/safer incubator, some other stuff).

If She take.. and Prove.. that for sure will give me a boost (granite belly's are awesome and could give me nice trade value to make my collection more rich and variable)... but still if Not..... I'll have nice looking animal and for sure will enjoy it.

But remember that is always better to first make sure that You can carry right of Your animals..... Instead have fancy gem for a while and let it disappear because You dont be able give it right care...

I started the same way, what helped me is:
Take your time. When I started I thought pieds were expensive, but I loved them (still do!!!) so I bought two hets, female never went last year, hoping she will this year (4years and 1800grams now), and hopefully I'll get my beautiful baby pied I've always wanted!!

If you like something a lot, start at the beginning, I also like pied combo's, so I'm lining up the bases and will work toward the combo's.:) They'll probably drop in price by the time I get them, but so what? I want them just because they look amazing!:D

I have a little more cash flow now, and am starting on 4gene animals, but it all started with two hets...And a pewter male and a normal female who did give me a clutch that I sold to get some more morphs. :D

Don't get discouraged though!