I'd like to start breeding.

At the begining of next year, my dad is getting a bonus and giving me and my sister 1000$ each to do whatever we want with. I would like to use mine on starting breeding snakes as a hobby and to supplement our income. I'm patrolling craigslist for adult and hatchling racks. I am going to be producing blue eyed lucys, black eyed lucys, or ivorys, hets for them, some normals, and eventually all of them. Should I start with a pair of mojaves, yellowbellies, or fires? Also, what is the best thermostat for multiple(2 or3) racks and one heat pad?

I wouldn't get a pair of mojave's for your BEL's. Get a lesser and a mojave, the snake will be much cleaner. I vote for a lesser, mojave, and a pair of fires for your black eyed lucy's.

There are plenty of good thermostats, check out herpstats and the ones at reptilebasics.

I didn't even know a lesser could make a bel, how much would one cost?

To be fair, super mojave BELs are neat in their own right. ;) The purple/gray heads give them character. I actually prefer the the super mojo BELs. If you're after a "clean" BEL, though, use a butter or lesser in the equation.

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Originally Posted by adamsky27

I wouldn't get a pair of mojave's for your BEL's. Get a lesser and a mojave, the snake will be much cleaner. I vote for a lesser, mojave, and a pair of fires for your black eyed lucy's.

There are plenty of good thermostats, check out herpstats and the ones at reptilebasics.

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Agree. Lessers are a pretty morph alone as well. They.range from. $300-400... I would also breed a Mojave to a lesser. Butters can make BEL as well. Don't breed lesser to butters because sometimes its difficult to tell between babies since both morphs look so similar.

Reptile basics have good thermostats

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

I'll start with a female mojave and a male lesser and hopefully get a super in the first clutch, which I'll keep to breed. Then when I can afford to I'll get an opposite pair whose super will breed with the first. Then I'll do the same with the other morphs. I may breed some with my normal to produce base morphs, and keep a few as pets.

Well with a $1000 budget, the mojo & lesser + rack + thermostat will pretty much kill most of that. Female mojos normally go for $250-400, male lessers can go from $200-350, herpstat will be about $100, a basic 28/32qt rack will set you back another $50-400 depending on how many tubs and if you're buying it or building it.

Some of these prices may be a little off, as I haven't shopped for a female mojo in awhile, and bought my male lesser over a year ago. If you want a thermostat that will control multiple racks, you're looking at $300+ just for the thermostat alone (herpstat 4 or pro).

Also remember those snake prices are for BABIES, adult female mojo will cost a good chunk more if/when you find one for sale (think the cheapest I've seen em for was about $600-700).

Don't mean to rain on your parade, but with morphs and complete setup cost, $1000 doesn't go very far, especially if you're trying to get breeding within a year.

I was going to use the 1000 mostly on the snakes, and if I have to I'll borrow money from my sister, pay her back with a guitar or blue tongue skink when I can. I could also go with yellowbellies. As for stuff, it'll be mostly used. I'll be watching for stuff on Craigslist and ebay. I'm also looking on kingsnake and Craigslist for the snakes.
You'd be suprised of the posts from people who don't know what morphs are that come up occasionally.

If you are starting with babies you may as well just buy the 3 females now. You are looking at 2-3 years before you can start breeding so you may as well raise them up and then start buying the males in a year or so. Even if you just buy a Lesser Male you can always pair him with the fire and yellow belly as well.

I'm trying to get ready to breed or proven breeders.

I'd go with a mojave and a lesser to make BELs. Also you should build a snake rack, it is much cheaper. There are instructions and plans/designs on the forum and it will cost you about $100 to build a nice snake rack, not including heat tape which is inexpensive. To buy one would cost much more. Good luck! :)

Good luck with that

Breeding Season is right around the corner so I am not sure if you will find any females available until June/July 2012. Best case scenario you will find a young female yellow belly for less than a grand.

I saw a 2300g Mojave on KS for $2200 a couple of weeks ago.

It will also help spread the costs out, can be customized to fit my room, and can hold more snakes. The only thing I'm worried about with building my own would be installing the heat tape. Could I get a normal bookcase and put tubs with lids on them in it? Seems easiest that way.

Holy crap! Now I think I'll get subadults(if possible) or babies. I'm patient.

You also wanna think about food. Thats my biggest expense i spend roughly $320 a year on food for 9 snakes. And I'm getting cheap feeders (.95 per small rat) just something to remember and budget for

My dad pays for food ( ; Plus, they more than make up for that. 300 a year isn't really that bad, that's around 25$ a month. Way cheaper than dog food. I'm pretty sure there's a rodent breeder near us(Cary, NC) and if I'm getting a really large amount, I'll order them online. He doesn't mind them in the freezer(already have some for Lily and the geckos), so no problem with that.

I would suggest If you get babies get all female and then wait a year and pick your male that way they will be ready at about the same time plus it will spread your cost out. So you could get a mojave and a fire female for 500 to 700 and spend the rest on a nice thermostat and building a rack, then save up for a year and get a two gene male or somthing along those lines

~ Karl

Sounds good. I may just do that. It will be fun building a rack.

Have you thought of purchasing one or two double gene males and breeding them to a few or more adult normal females? You can still hatch out many different morphs and you can test the waters of breeding without having to spend thousands on proven breeder female morphs.

If you hatch out any females, just raise them up to adulthood, then sell the males you don't require. I think it's a good idea to start slow with this hobby. It's a lot of fun and will be around for years, there's no point in rushing. Have fun with it.

Some people rush into this hobby and spend a lot at the start, get overwhelmed and either sell everything off or overlook the well being of there animals.

I'd buy 1-2 females at first, lesser and either yellowbelly or fire. Build a 4-5 rack setup. Test the waters for a year then look for a male or 2. In 2-3 years you'll have 2 pairs to breed and 2 clutches, which is enough for a first timer.

I have always enjoyed building them, not so much moving them though

~ Karl

I was only going to start with two or three snakes, getting more when I'm more experienced and when I can afford them. Actually, I already have a baby normal female. She has a very nice reduced pattern and a splotchy belly, I think she might be het for something. Anyway, I don't think I'll ever be overwhelmed by any amount of snakes. Even 20 snakes don't equal one puppy.

I have 11 snakes right now and I always think it will take no time at all to feed and clean cages.... 3 hours later.... it adds up. fast.

That being said, I wouldnt trade the day of the week that I take care of feeding the snakes, cleaning and washing tubs, cleaning and washing rat tanks, and cleaning and washing the hedgehog tower. (yes it takes a DAY) But I LOVE it :)

I had another point to say but i forgot :/

Pick what morphs you want to look at. I wanted a pinstripe three years ago but couldnt afford what a female cost, so i waited. and got one this year :)

My first morph was a hatching mojave girl. She is two now, and I have such pride in showing her off becauszem y husband and I raised her. If she for somereason never gives me eggs I wouldnt trade her for the WORLD. Luci is our baby doll.

Welcome to the world, and I hope you enjoy it very much :)

Cleaning is easy, that's what the second shower/bath is for, and I kinda like it. As for morphs, I really like the BELs, but they are WAY too expensive, so I'm going to breed them myself from mojaves and lessers, which are pretty awesome too.

Would 1 male lesser, 1 female mojave, and 1 female fire make both blue eyed and black eyed lucys?

Sorry but I was looking at the animals you have and you have a cat named hitler

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Proud owner of 12 pets and counting:
0.1.0 ball python, Lily
1.2.0 leopard geckos, El Scorcho, Rainne, Quin
0.2.0 mice, Tegan, Sara
1.1.0 mutts, Hoobie, Zoey
2.2.0 cats, Neko, Garbadge, Spooky, Hitler
Future pets:
0.2.0 crested geckos, unnamed
0.0.1 fire or blue tongued skink, Hai
0.1.0 rosy boa, Lasagna

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Yes SHE is a long haired black and white kitten with a Hitler 'stache. Her brother is Neko whose short haired and has a little beard. There both around 4 months old.

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Originally Posted by Kittycatpenut

Yes SHE is a long haired black and white kitten with a Hitler 'stache. Her brother is Neko whose short haired and has a little beard. There both around 4 months old.

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I think the point was why would you name a pet after one of the most vile human beings to ever walk the planet...

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Originally Posted by sho220

I think the point was why would you name a pet after one of the most vile human beings to ever walk the planet...

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Im thinking the OP is too young to understand what I was pointing out as I see innocence of not knowing really who hitler was

I know who Hitler was. Killed millions of jew just cause they were jews. Used gas chambers and concentration camps. Anyway, her cuteness is killer.

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Originally Posted by Kittycatpenut

I know who Hitler was. Killed millions of jew just cause they were jews. Used gas chambers and concentration camps. Anyway, her cuteness is killer.

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:confused:Shakes head

The little sis named her:P

I googled lesser+fire and apparently it doesnt make black or blue eyed lucys, it makes lesser fires. Does anyone even have a lesser fire?

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Originally Posted by Kittycatpenut

I know who Hitler was. Killed millions of jew just cause they were jews. Used gas chambers and concentration camps. Anyway, her cuteness is killer.

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touche! :gj:
spooky

Me around 8 years ago + black cat with yellow eyes = Spooky.

What would one price a fire-lesser? I cant even find one for sale.

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Originally Posted by Raverthug

:confused:Shakes head

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x2...some fine parenting going on in that household...

I think she saw the stache and Hitler was the first thing that came to mind.
Im also looking into getting a couple of cinnamons to make the super of it. Very cool patternless almost black snake.

Mabey in a few years I can make some panda pieds and super cinny+lessers
http://www.worldofballpythons.com/mo...uper-cinnamon/http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...Panda_Pied.jpg

Oops super cinny lesser didnt show up
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...ture_114-2.jpg

Heres an adult
http://www.worldofballpythons.com/fi...nnamon/001.jpg
Not may of these guys exist, and probably wont for quite a while. Ooo I came up with a name for my eventual company.... Ginryu(japanese for silver dragon) Herps

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Originally Posted by Kittycatpenut

I think she saw the stache and Hitler was the first thing that came to mind.
Im also looking into getting a couple of cinnamons to make the super of it. Very cool patternless almost black snake.

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I have to ask. How old are you? Also good luck with the panda pied. Many have and are trying but I only know of 1

14, I have plenty of time on my hands. I know these things wont be happening for quite a while, but there is always a market for pure white/black/grey bps. I heard panda pieds were super cinny+pied.

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Originally Posted by Kittycatpenut

14, I have plenty of time on my hands. I know these things wont be happening for quite a while, but there is always a market for pure white/black/grey bps. I heard panda pieds were super cinny+pied.

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That explains alot. Im not sure if its super cinny or super black pastel and pied. But it can be made either way

Yeah, not many super cinnys. Super cinnys need a new name, super cinny is just too long and that is already shortened. Ill be going the cinny way, cause ill already have them.

Is this thermostat good for racks? I think I saw that it could control 2 different "zones", but I dont know what that means.
Vivarium Electronics VE-300X2
Its from reptile basics.

Lesser X Fire is called Nuclear. I've only seen one for sale and it was around 1600$, I'm going for BELs (lesser X butter)this year and backing up my lesser male with a Fire. Maybe I'll get lucky with a BEL and a Nuclear. Fireflies (Fire X Pastel) are awesome too and shooting for 3 clutches of those. I would get a juvie female lesser and Fire and add males when they get to size. I agree take your time, at 14 you have more then enough time.

I did some math and figured it would be around 4000 for twelve snakes, 3 homemade racks, a nice thermostat, an incubator, paper towels, and many many rats and mice. Im splitting the bps themselves into two years, females in one and males the next. Now to figure out the prices for the males and females seperately.

Here's the list of morphs I plan on getting:
1.1 cinnamon
1.0 lesser
1.1 fire
1.1 yellow belly
1.1 mojave
1.1 pastel
1.1 vanilla
And for later(not included in 4000)
1.1 pied
Any changes I should make?

Oops vanilla is supposed to be 1.0, but I might get another. Super vanillas are cool.