Everyone is a breeder.

I just wanted to pose a question for conversation, (maybe should have been put in the 'breeding' section), but why do SO many people breed BP's? I understand the love of snakes, I understand the creativity in breeding different colors, but I still can't comprehend why 1/4 BP owners seems to be a breeder. Can you imagine if 1 in every 4 cat owners were a breeder? Is it the money they're after? The respect? I guess I don't get it. I mean no confrontation by this question, so please no-one get offended or butthurt. I just want educated on why so many BP owners want to be breeders. Very few Colubrid or Boa owners seem to want to become breeders. Reptile shows are now nothing but Ball Python shows because of this. Isn't this kind of self-destructive, to flood the market?

I'm sure I'll get crucified for this question by some, so bring it on I guess. Just keep it a mature discussion, because I really am curious.

I can not speak for everyone but I can say I love ball pythons. They are not too big and not too small. Some snakes are long and slender but some like the balls are just right. Most are docile and the number of combinations is incredible. Since their are show many different combinations and people have so many different styles they do seem very popular these days; so the market is just filling the demand. Buy one and see what happens! :) I bought one and now own six. Kinda addictive.

I already own one, so I understand how they are. I'm asking why the obsession to breed them?

Hatch out a clutch of eggs, that feeling is why. Creating new things and hatching out baby snakes is one of the few things I live for. Reptiles truly are a passion, and breeding is part of it. I compare it to riding motorcycles: why do so many riders become racers? Because the feeling of winning a race (or waking up to a tub of baby snakes) cannot be replicated. Sorry I didn't really answer your question :oops:

I'm not a breeder, at least not yet ;), but we just got our first ball last weekend. And I love her so much that I have looked into breeding. Not necessarily to become a breeder, but I just think being able to witness the whole process would be incredible. But away from the snake world, my job deals with human birth so maybe I'm just a little too obsessed with new babies :P

I lean towards your insight being skewed because you're on THE website for BP husbandry. I'd be shocked to find that even remotely close to 1/4 people who walk away from the pet store with a BP have any intention of ever breeding their new pet.

My insight on excessive breeding is not skewed. The 1/4 statement was in sarcasm, not scientific facts. Out of all the snake breeders that I have liked on my snake lovers Facebook page (400+), all the breeders at reptile shows, all the breeders promoting online (Facebook, Craigslist, forums, and all the people promoting on Youtube), all the new owners talking about how they are going to breed, and 90% of it is for Ball Pythons; it has nothing to do with how many people on this site do it. We can include all the breeders on here too, if you would like. That's why I'm asking on here, BECAUSE it's the biggest forum for BP owners that I know of, therefor, it's a better chance to get some good answers, from a few different points of view.

The money................................. that I don't have;)

I started by buying what I need to make what I want because I have other responsibilities for my funds.
There are a couple multigenes I want so I have to make them AND then there is a super long term project that I got an idea for because I have never seen one.

I have loved snakes since I was 4. Anything to do with them is just exciting to me. The fact that I can now breed them, see the whole process that normally we would never be privilege too, short of field work, is awesome. The myriad of combinations is just an added bonus.

I am breeding to make snakes I want. There are multi gene animals I love, but are out of my budget right now. And, I prefer to make my own. That way I pick the quality stock that produces them. And, it's super exciting, and those dang babies are cute as heck!


I think people don't breed say boas as much, because you wind up with 40 something babies, and larger snakes are probably harder to find homes for. You could have 120 boas babies in a season from 3 females, or 18 ball pythons from 3 females.