Business Ideas

Lately, I have really been wanting to start a reptile business, but I can't decide what I want to do. I thought about breeding ball pythons (I have a pastel male), but future circumstances (college) may keep from being able to care for more animals. Now, I want to make some sort of reptile product. Something I can make on my own. Any ideas? Thanks for your time!

What are you going to school for?

In reality you would be wasting your time and money if you are going into college. Unless you are a PE major with a minor in volleyball. Your schedules will conflict at some point in time. I would major in business or a herp related field and in a couple years set yourself up for success. Now that doesnt mean you cant have a couple small racks and breed to start getting your multi genes up there but business wise, its gonna be tough with school.

Good luck in whatever you choose to do..

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

What are you going to school for?

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I'm planning on pursuing veterinary medicine. I would like to become a wildlife veterinarian.

Pet sitting for reptiles...seriously, I know quite a few pet sitters and they all hate getting a call from someone with reptiles, espically snakes as they either hate snakes or get grossed out by the idea of feeding them. A few of them will do it but hate it.

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Originally Posted by ElliotNess

In reality you would be wasting your time and money if you are going into college. Unless you are a PE major with a minor in volleyball. Your schedules will conflict at some point in time. I would major in business or a herp related field and in a couple years set yourself up for success. Now that doesnt mean you cant have a couple small racks and breed to start getting your multi genes up there but business wise, its gonna be tough with school.

Good luck in whatever you choose to do..

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Thanks for the advice! Once I get a degree in biology and go to vet school, I'll be able to spend as much with reptiles I want (ok maybe a little too much). I was thinking about getting a couple new female BPs and use them for breeding when I have my own place later on.

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Originally Posted by Charlottesmom1966

Pet sitting for reptiles...seriously, I know quite a few pet sitters and they all hate getting a call from someone with reptiles, espically snakes as they either hate snakes or get grossed out by the idea of feeding them. A few of them will do it but hate it.

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Good idea! I'll definitely consider it. Thanks!

Does anyone think an online service would be a good idea? It could be a digital magazine or BP classifieds. Something along those lines. I could maybe get paid for advertisements on the site.

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Originally Posted by BPavery

Does anyone think an online service would be a good idea? It could be a digital magazine or BP classifieds. Something along those lines. I could maybe get paid for advertisements on the site.

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Those are good ideas. And if you had a time machine you could go back 15 years and capitalize on them. However, I don't see a "digital magazine" doing anything as there are plenty of forums where information is shared and exchanged. And they're free. The BP related classifieds that are already out there are pretty well established, and new entries seem to have trouble catching on. There simply aren't a whole lot of opporunities for BP "products". They don't need leashes, or cute clothing. They don't chase or play with toys. They sit under a bowl with a hole in it hiding from you. If you want to start a breeding business, you have to go all in. If you plan on just doing a little something on the side, then it's a hobby, not a business.

The idea's you're talking about are nothing new...we've probably all had them...

If I was you, I'd focus on going to school, and in the mean time, pick up a few females. Decide what you like and what project you want to focus on. Pick up a few 1 or 2 gene females that best represent what you like. Then you can start saving up for a few males down the road.

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Originally Posted by sho220

Those are good ideas. And if you had a time machine you could go back 15 years and capitalize on them. However, I don't see a "digital magazine" doing anything as there are plenty of forums where information is shared and exchanged. And they're free. The BP related classifieds that are already out there are pretty well established, and new entries seem to have trouble catching on. There simply aren't a whole lot of opporunities for BP "products". They don't need leashes, or cute clothing. They don't chase or play with toys. They sit under a bowl with a hole in it hiding from you. If you want to start a breeding business, you have to go all in. If you plan on just doing a little something on the side, then it's a hobby, not a business.

The idea's you're talking about are nothing new...we've probably all had them...

If I was you, I'd focus on going to school, and in the mean time, pick up a few females. Decide what you like and what project you want to focus on. Pick up a few 1 or 2 gene females that best represent what you like. Then you can start saving up for a few males down the road.

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Okay, thank you for the advice. Yes, ball pythons don't need much. I'm thinking about buying a female lesser and bumblebee. By the time I'll be ready to breed them, they'll surely be up to size.


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Look up Garrick Demeyer, he was breeding before college but cut back big time while he was attending school. He wen't to school for something similar too. I'm a believer that anything is possible. He was breeding reptiles that were not his favorites just because business wise it made since. If I was in those shoes right now I'd probably be breeding bearded dragons just because it seems like they sell fast and are really popular. I don't care for them that much.

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Originally Posted by alan12013

Look up Garrick Demeyer, he was breeding before college but cut back big time while he was attending school. He wen't to school for something similar too. I'm a believer that anything is possible. He was breeding reptiles that were not his favorites just because business wise it made since. If I was in those shoes right now I'd probably be breeding bearded dragons just because it seems like they sell fast and are really popular. I don't care for them that much.

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My Pastel ball python is from Garrick! He's a fantastic breeder. Yes, anything is possible. I like bearded dragons, but I have little experience with them. I do have a Leopard Gecko, and I love him. They're quick to mature, manageable, good-looking, docile, and in pretty high demand. Maybe they are a possibility for my business. Thanks for your reply!


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Who thinks Rosy Boas are a good investment for future breeding? I can definitely see them as popular snakes. They're a perfect size, already come in many different colors and patterns, docile, and feed well.


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I think you should define your market first. You mentioned breeding leopard geckos because they are popular... start going to the pet stores and seeing what get sold the fastest or look online for how many of them there are that don't ever sell. I've gotten a few for free with all equipment. You can't sell a leopard gecko for more than 20 bucks or a snake for more than 200 bucks no matter what it is unless you have a name because then you're selling to a different group of people. Also you will end up with a lot of hets and who wants to buy a het from some one they cant trust. Some guy is trying to sell me a het albino BP right now, I talked him down to 40 bucks!!!! Basically I would get his "het albino" for less than what I would pay for a normal. When I start producing some of the morphs that I want with geckos I will have to sell 200 dollar geckos for dirt cheap (sub 40) if I want to get rid of them.

I like rosy boas along with most all reptiles so any of them are good for a breeder to familiarize with. Business wise though you have to think very logically and navigate the waters properly otherwise you just have an expensive hobby. I mentioned Garrick earlier and I guess you bought from him... I'm assuming that means you know about him and his path to get where he is at? Finding a role model or several to see how and why they did what they did will help you in decision making.

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Originally Posted by alan12013

I think you should define your market first. You mentioned breeding leopard geckos because they are popular... start going to the pet stores and seeing what get sold the fastest or look online for how many of them there are that don't ever sell. I've gotten a few for free with all equipment. You can't sell a leopard gecko for more than 20 bucks or a snake for more than 200 bucks no matter what it is unless you have a name because then you're selling to a different group of people. Also you will end up with a lot of hets and who wants to buy a het from some one they cant trust. Some guy is trying to sell me a het albino BP right now, I talked him down to 40 bucks!!!! Basically I would get his "het albino" for less than what I would pay for a normal. When I start producing some of the morphs that I want with geckos I will have to sell 200 dollar geckos for dirt cheap (sub 40) if I want to get rid of them.

I like rosy boas along with most all reptiles so any of them are good for a breeder to familiarize with. Business wise though you have to think very logically and navigate the waters properly otherwise you just have an expensive hobby. I mentioned Garrick earlier and I guess you bought from him... I'm assuming that means you know about him and his path to get where he is at? Finding a role model or several to see how and why they did what they did will help you in decision making.

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The most popular reptiles I see are Ball Pythons, RT Boas (too big for me), Corn Snakes, Leopard Geckos, and of course Bearded Dragons.

One problem I would have breeding Leopard Geckos is the amount of hatchlings they have. I don't think I would have enough space to house around 15 hatchlings...per female. With BPs and Rosy Boas, I could expect around 4-6 eggs per female.

Garrick Demeyer is a role model of mine (I was just watching some of his youtube videos). His story is very inspiring to me, and I'm sure it is for all people interested in breeding reptiles.

Thanks for your help!


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