So I have decieded not to breed. Food for thought.

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Originally Posted by Skyrivers

All very good points. I wonder if there are some snakes that can have issues if they don't breed?

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None that I know of specifically, but certainly some individuals can.

See my post: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ion-about-eggs
(regarding my late rosy boa)

I am a breeder. I can relate to all of the pros and cons of both decisions. There is no right or wrong in any case as its up to the individual to make the decision that's right for him or her. It's important to educate yourself in the aspects of keeping and breeding snakes, geckos, leechies, mice, rats and or whatever animal/s you are considering. It helps to study the market as well so you are breeding a species, morph, animal that has a demand. Most of all, there should be a passion to do it and or some aspect that is heart driven and interesting about the breeding. For me, it's the unparalleled sense of accomplishment in being sucessful with the eggs, babies of the species. It's a attitude also though, that is also needed to be sucessful that must accompany the passion. You can't be concerned too much about the cons of breeding but focus instead on the pros. Reptile reproduction truly never gets old especially on the "conservation" level. Good luck on whatever decision you stay with.

I am considering breeding my tortoises and possibly my Bp once each. I'm only considering doing so because I'm defaulting to assuming that I wont be able to rehome any offspring. If I cant rehome or sell any of them then I will just have larger collections of those species. Planning for the worst case scenario and using that as a basis seems reasonable.

I should mention that my tortoises are covered by CITES so anyone who legally wants to purchase one has to get paperwork showing they were bred in the country. If I do breed them then I'm providing a legal source of pets for other people and hopefully can reduce the number of animals being removed from the wild. This is an aspect about breeding that hasn't been mentioned yet.

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Originally Posted by Vipera Berus

I should mention that my tortoises are covered by CITES so anyone who legally wants to purchase one has to get paperwork showing they were bred in the country. If I do breed them then I'm providing a legal source of pets for other people and hopefully can reduce the number of animals being removed from the wild. This is an aspect about breeding that hasn't been mentioned yet.

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Correct and it's why I want to breed my savu pythons and dumerils boas. Unfortunately the populations of both species are taking a beating in the wild, and one day the captive specimens may be all that are left.

I don't breed my lizards simply because I feel that too much of the reptile hobby has become obsessed with breeding. I am not against selective breeding, like in order to preserve a species that is critically endangered in the wild. No, what I am talking about is EVERYONE jumping on the "breeding bandwagon" and muddling the gene pool just because the hobby is dictating breed breed breed!!! There's a favorite meme of mine that says: Little Known Fact: It is Possible To Enjoy Keeping Reptiles Without Breeding Them.

Reptiles are still seen in such a negative light by people that I think education needs to be emphasized even more so than breeding. But to each their own.

Just my .02
Rant over
Thanks guys

I think is wonderful that people breed for the right reasons. I am grateful for the people who breed the snakes I currently have and made them accessible and cheaper to own. I also love that people breed for repopulation of endangered species. It was a personal choice for me not to. I think for me it would limit the amount of different species I could own. I would be so picky with the offspring and who received them that I would just wind up keeping them. I have to admit that having the experience just once would be both educational and rewarding.

Thanks for everyone for taking part in this discussion.

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Originally Posted by monty_python9

I don't breed my lizards simply because I feel that too much of the reptile hobby has become obsessed with breeding. I am not against selective breeding, like in order to preserve a species that is critically endangered in the wild. No, what I am talking about is EVERYONE jumping on the "breeding bandwagon" and muddling the gene pool just because the hobby is dictating breed breed breed!!! There's a favorite meme of mine that says: Little Known Fact: It is Possible To Enjoy Keeping Reptiles Without Breeding Them.

Reptiles are still seen in such a negative light by people that I think education needs to be emphasized even more so than breeding. But to each their own.

Just my .02
Rant over
Thanks guys

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Well said