Not intent on breeding?

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Originally Posted by WellyBelly

Then what got you from keeper to breeder?

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My love of the animal. I had kept Balls for 4-5 years before ever even thought about breeding. Then when I did I spent 2 more years learning everything I could about the reproduction of Balls. From egg binding to follicular retention. I then just this year started slow with two females. I have 8 ready to go but I am still learning and why would I risk my animals safety for my haste.

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

My love of the animal. I had kept Balls for 4-5 years before ever even thought about breeding. Then when I did I spent 2 more years learning everything I could about the reproduction of Balls. From egg binding to follicular retention. I then just this year started slow with two females. I have 8 ready to go but I am still learning and why would I risk my animals safety for my haste.

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Yeah thats how i feel. I feel like I have A LOT to learn about the reproduction aspects and I spend about 6 hours a day reading as much as I can on the subject.

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Originally Posted by cassandra

My first reaction to your question, why is it that so many new keepers get hot on breeding...well the peer pressure isn't great. =)

I mean, look at this place...no offense, but the vast majority of people who are wonderful and beloved regulars on b-p.net are breeders, from big-time, big name breeders to future and hobbyist breeders and everything in between. We talk about and worship plastic tubs, racking systems, breeding plans, what should morphs I should start my colony with, etc.

I sometimes feel like an outcast since I am resolutely a pet owner who keeps snakes in display vivariums. (no worries - you ain't gettin' rid of me that easily) =D

Anywho, "should I breed?" easily is an early question a new BP or any species snake keeper will ask themselves since most snake forums (I certainly don't want to single out this place =D) since so many people engage in some level of breeding.


So...pet owners unite! Have you hugged your pet snake today?! :D

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There thank you so you feel like for you it's seeing many people on here that cause you to want a little piece of that pie. Ok now we're getting somewhere.

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Originally Posted by WellyBelly

Yeah thats how i feel. I feel like I have A LOT to learn about the reproduction aspects and I spend about 6 hours a day reading as much as I can on the subject.

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Then your the keeper I applaud but its those just getting in to balls and 3 months later declare their intentions to breed. Whats the rush ?

I am/was thinking about breeding, but the only reason would be to get a bumble bee. Right now they are just waaay out of my price range, but I want one more than I can even say. I have a male pastel and I would love a female spider so I can make my own bees, it would be much cheaper and more exciting. But I know that I am not ready to breed, I have only had my snakes about 4 months, and they are too young and too small to breed anyways.


SO....
If someone wants to give me a bee.....
lol just kidding

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Originally Posted by aaramire

I am/was thinking about breeding, but the only reason would be to get a bumble bee. Right now they are just waaay out of my price range, but I want one more than I can even say. I have a male pastel and I would love a female spider so I can make my own bees, it would be much cheaper and more exciting. But I know that I am not ready to breed, I have only had my snakes about 4 months, and they are too young and too small to breed anyways.


SO....
If someone wants to give me a bee.....
lol just kidding

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Breeding to expand your collection is fine its great its what I live for. Breeding because your bored or think its just what you do with ball pythons turns my stomach

This is my frist year breeding but I just want to share a little..

I remember when my step sister bought her first ball python. She lived with my grandma along with me. I didn’t have permission to get a snake and she wouldn’t allow me to “play” with hers. She housed him in a basic 10 gal with only newspaper, no heat element was present.
Every day when I got out of school (5th Grade )I would run into her room and hold Shorty. (She was at work at this time) I would always put him up when her car was pulling in.
One day I was at a friend’s house and was telling her about “the” awesome Shorty. That then sparked an interest in her getting one. I was looking for a care guide for her when I stumbled upon TSK website. That is when I saw the piebald and other morphs. I wanted one. It had to of been the most amazing thing I had witnessed. I rushed over to the for sale page and died when I seen the price.
Ever sense then I always had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to raise/breed these beautiful creatures. But until I was able to get a job the thought stayed locked away. During this waiting period I also was able to learn the proper way to care for Ball Pythons. My sister then had her first child and didn’t care about Shorty any longer and he was given to me when she moved out.
Talk about the proudest day in my life! ! ! ! !
I have Ball Pythons that I have no interest in breeding (Mainly Normal Males / Shorty included) but I could never trade or sell them off. I love them just too much. Even the females and morphs that I have that are or one day will be breeders I consider them my babies. Again I love them so much. I know I could never get rid of them.
Even though I have plans on breeding them I still consider them my pets…I am stunned every time I look at them…Before my day can start I rush into the snake room either to clean or merely stare that them. They are all so gorgeous!

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Originally Posted by Sasquatch Art

This is my frist year breeding but I just want to share a little..

I remember when my step sister bought her first ball python. She lived with my grandma along with me. I didn’t have permission to get a snake and she wouldn’t allow me to “play” with hers. She housed him in a basic 10 gal with only newspaper, no heat element was present.
Every day when I got out of school (5th Grade )I would run into her room and hold Shorty. (She was at work at this time) I would always put him up when her car was pulling in.
One day I was at a friend’s house and was telling her about “the” awesome Shorty. That then sparked an interest in her getting one. I was looking for a care guide for her when I stumbled upon TSK website. That is when I saw the piebald and other morphs. I wanted one. It had to of been the most amazing thing I had witnessed. I rushed over to the for sale page and died when I seen the price.
Ever sense then I always had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to raise/breed these beautiful creatures. But until I was able to get a job the thought stayed locked away. During this waiting period I also was able to learn the proper way to care for Ball Pythons. My sister then had her first child and didn’t care about Shorty any longer and he was given to me when she moved out.
Talk about the proudest day in my life! ! ! ! !
I have Ball Pythons that I have no interest in breeding (Mainly Normal Males / Shorty included) but I could never trade or sell them off. I love them just too much. Even the females and morphs that I have that are or one day will be breeders I consider them my babies. Again I love them so much. I know I could never get rid of them.
Even though I have plans on breeding them I still consider them my pets…I am stunned every time I look at them…Before my day can start I rush into the snake room either to clean or merely stare that them. They are all so gorgeous!

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:bow::bow:

Also what I like to hear. You fell in love not got bored..

10pts

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

No that is keeping them. Breeding is far more than that. Its being able to tell when and if there is medically something wrong that might endanger the animals involved. Its being able to not only provided for the breeders but the baby's which 99.995% of all new keepers have a hard time with to start with. There is far more than most people understand. Or even I understood when I got started I spent 2 years researching with some of the top breeders and still feel unprepared.

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Shouldn't you know that when you're keeping them as well?

I agree, someone shouldn't just jump in and start breeding. But that is any business. I'm not trying to disagree with you, because this thread wasn't even started for this reason, but it had to be expected.

This thought is cut short due to work.

But, like I was saying, a lot of people here probably love their animals and want to do so much more with them. Most people I know that have BPs don't even know what a morph is, much less want to breed them.

I keep a ball python with no intention of breeding him. However, that was not always the case. My perspectives have changed as I gained more reptile keeping experience and understanding of the reptile industry.

I realize that I am a HOBBY reptile keeper....I am not a business/commercial breeder.

Some hobby keepers seem to have a problem understanding the difference between the two and get wrapped up in keeping and breeding their reptiles like a commercial breeder.

The line separating the practices of hobby level reptile keepers and commercial level breeder seems to have faded away in some aspects and in my opinion that the lack of differentiation between the hobby and business is hurting the reptile community.