Watch "Why I don't breed ball pythons" on YouTube

Yes!! This guy, right here!

https://youtu.be/wzc2PBsY7v0

Yup. tl;dw you aren't going to make a fortune on ball python breeding, either over night or possibly at all. Why I still want to breed is because there are snakes that I want to have, but would never be able to out right purchase (dreamsicle anyone?), or that haven't been produced yet. Breaking even or making money would a nice side benefit, but my focus is on what I want, not what the market is doing.

Breeding for the money is never the right reason. I want to breed my IJ blueys because there aren't many CBB IJ blueys in the US market right now. Most are imported or "farm raised", and I think it would be awesome to be able to contribute to the CBB gene pool, that being said I have been trying to breed mine for 2 years now with no luck... I also agree with his statement about racks...I know a lot of people utilize racks and their snakes are surviving, but most people on here know my stance on them. I don't like them and never will, to each their own.

This guy spends 10 minutes giving a 30 second message that is basically common sense. Talking slow and repeating yourself doesn't make your message anymore important and it doesn't make you sound intelligent either.

Everyone has their own reason to get a ball python. Some want one for a pet. Some want to go through the excitement of breeding, which it is VERY exciting. Some want to make money and these people will learn there is no money in it. I knew baseball cards were just different colored ink on the same cardboard, but I wouldn't take back the excitement I had as a kid collecting them. This guy hasn't taken into consideration the value of enjoyment and happiness, which is priceless. The old adage that money doesn't make you happy is very true. If you don't believe that statement then you haven't lived enough yet.

The root of this video is based on the fact that he didn't get any enjoyment out of this hobby. If you don't love what you do, then there's no reason in the world to be in it in the first place - it comes from within.

So th over-inflated bubble of the BP market doesn't concern anybody here besides me? Where are all these unsold snakes going? Let's not forget some breeders lately have had a 'my 2014 season was extremely productive, so here's a 50% off sale I'm doing to get rid of them'- with hardly any buyers. Or people getting rid of their entire collections on kingsnake.com at a fraction of the cost they spent to obtain/feed/breed/house them. Really? & he's not intelligent?

Are all the breeders here willing to house/feed all of their unsold snakes for the rest of their lives? If not, where are they going? Just wondering if the hobby is really about the animals or is it about the hobby itself?

As far as money & happiness goes, I've lived long enough to know that the 2 can be mutually exclusive. I've worked 60+ hrs a wk, several wks/mth. Was I tired? Yes. Did I have to worry about food being on the table or bills getting paid? No. Was I happy every single second I worked all that OT? No, BUT not having to worry about certain aspects of my family's life & comfort DOES make me happy

Umm... This is just a hobby? Ain't nobody trying to get rich of this, I'm already rich. Talking about college degrees lol get outta here I make 6 figures with no degree

I get what he is saying but he didn't enjoy breeding ball pythons so of course he was going to lose interest. Why would anyone do this if they didn't enjoy it? I would guess most of the collection sales are people who were in it for the money. I'm generalizing but of all the breeders I communicate with only one has gotten out and he told me that once the big money was gone he lost interest. I respect his decision and would suggest the same to anyone who was no longer into it for whatever reason.

Why I breed ball pythons:

I love it!
I still get a thrill out of every clutch that hatches.
I turned a life long hobby into a business.
I get out of bed every day excited to see who's breeding, who laid eggs, what's hatching, etc.
I used to hate getting out of bed for my corporate job and now I don't even need to set an alarm because I enjoy what I do.
I can make much less than I did at my corporate job and I'm still much happier.
I get to be my own boss and make all the decisions.
Etc.....

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Originally Posted by stickyalvinroll

Umm... This is just a hobby? Ain't nobody trying to get rich of this, I'm already rich. Talking about college degrees lol get outta here I make 6 figures with no degree

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You're one of the lucky ones then, or you're lying

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

The root of this video is based on the fact that he didn't get any enjoyment out of this hobby. If you don't love what you do, then there's no reason in the world to be in it in the first place - it comes from within.

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That is that main thing I got out of this video. You can't get into this thinking it is a get rich quick deal, those days of where you put a mortgage on your house to buy a $25,000 pinstripe and breed it to 5-10 normals are long over.
Can you make money breeding ball pythons? Sure, but its a saturated market and you won't be making money over night. You have to love these animals and expect to care for them as you build a reputation and relationship with people and market yourself. You have to be passionate about these animals. The money isn't the important thing here, that will come when it comes, otherwise you'll just end up being another breeder who invests all this money in animals thinking of getting rich, failing after 2 years and selling everything off at a fraction of what you paid.

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Originally Posted by Dave Green

I get what he is saying but he didn't enjoy breeding ball pythons so of course he was going to lose interest. Why would anyone do this if they didn't enjoy it? I would guess most of the collection sales are people who were in it for the money.
Etc.....

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^This^

I will also go a little further in translating the video, "I thought I could get rich over night even though I did not care anything about them anyway, ran into some issues, gave up and now I tell everyone they shouldn't do it"

He is at least right on a few things it's not a get rich fast type plan, you get out of it what you put in it and the number one ingredient you have to put in is PASSION

I do not do this for a living however, my collection pays for itself and make a profit each year, I did not start breeding hoping it would ever make a profit, I did because I could not afford my dream morph at the time and wanted to produce it myself. I am still here while over the years many have called it quit and my goals are still as simple producing my next dream snake.

Im the first to admit I get tired of all the stress I make for myself keeping and breeding these snakes. Not to mention the work caring for all the rodents to feed these guys.
About the time I am ready to turn everyone into belts and boots one of the girls will give me these little white sacks of joy. Then the frustration of waiting to pip or cut comes around.
When I see those little heads poking out, I remember that its all worth it. 👍

What Dave said. Everyone is entitled to their own decision. What's frustrating to me is that people who are in this for the wrong reasons do not take the welfare of the animals seriously enough.

I have not once met a person who was into ball python, or any snake breeding, just for the money. I could understand the stress that big breeders have, but for me, my collection is small and hopefully stays that way. I love ball pythons. I have other snakes, but the ball pythons for me is where it is at. But this is all personal right?

There is no huge money to get made, but I also did not quit my day job to breed ball pythons. I also did not spend my college money on ball pythons either, I never had a college fund. I took out student loans and have almost paid them back. He put snake breeders into one group when there are hundreds of reason why people are into this. Basically judgmental on his part. I am not a high school or college drop out, I am not poor or rich, I am not in it for the money, and I will not "throw away" unsold hatchlings. Where does he get these ideas that we all the same? If he doesn't want to do it then fine. I don't want be a hair stylist but I do not need to tell the world about it...

If it came down to it, and a ball python could not be sold simply because no one wanted it, even if I posted him/her as free, I would keep it, feed it, love it. Nothing would stop me. And who cares what we choose to sell our snakes at? Seriously? If I feel like giving 20-50% off, then I will. Good for you because you are getting a deal, why are you whining about it?

Hmm... I don't really get it. Was his video a rant? A review? Or maybe a diary? Whatever, so he doesn't like breeding ball pythons, but he seems to be happy breeding monitors. All the luck to him in his project. As for my BP projects, whether it makes me money or not, I love it!

Oh and as for the OP wondering about unsold BPs. Honestly, if I had the room, I would keep EVERY ball python I ever hatched out. But unfortunately with my home being the base of my hobby, I cannot keep them all. But if it ever arose that I could not sell one, I would care for it like any other. Eventually it will be an adult and worth more. And if it still doesn't sell, then he/she will be an awesome pet. It's not like I would throw it out the window and wish it luck.

Everyone who has commented are choir members (as in "he is preaching to the choir.") but I am sure there are people who think that all they need to do is to fill up a rack the size of a bookcase, let them screw their little brains out and be able to quit their job/school.

Even though I keep many other reptile and amphibian species, and interact with all types of creatures daily as a career...I still love keeping and breeding ball pythons! Regardless of what species each person decides to keep or breed, whether it is strictly a hobby or a career to pay the bills- the most important aspect to remember is we have a responsibility for the well being of every single individual kept under our care!

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Originally Posted by Deborah

^This^

I will also go a little further in translating the video, "I thought I could get rich over night even though I did not care anything about them anyway ran into some issues, gave up and now I tell everyone they shouldn't do it"

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Whoop there it is :)

"but he seems to be happy breeding monitors"

So damn funny lol. This guy is trying so so hard to look successful and of superior intellect.

The BP world is being ruined by guys like this who breed for money with no passion rather than quality. Every animal in my collection was purchased as part of a well thought out plan and is an above average example of the genetics at play. I don't buy animals for the price or because of the amount of dirty genes it has crammed in it. I will survive the BP bubble bursting because I'm invested at a sustainable level with animals that are quality.

So no one thinks that's the message was "I was a stupid kid getting animals I didn't love for the wrong reasons, please don't do what I did. Now I can afford having animals I'm actually interested in and I planned ahead and am doing it for the right reasons, and can easily afford it and keep them, unlike before."? No one got that? I will readily admit I zooned out a few times, but I think that was the main message?

Maybe he's preaching to this choir, but a lot of people aren't part of this choir and need to hear it. Common sense isn't always something you're born with, and I'm happy people make vids like this to make people think twice. Just because you can buy an animal doesn't mean you should. Not everyone will have parents telling you no(a point he made in the video) and the money could be spent elsewhere.

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Originally Posted by carolineleven

So no one thinks that's the message was "I was a stupid kid getting animals I didn't love for the wrong reasons, please don't do what I did. Now I can afford having animals I'm actually interested in and I planned ahead and am doing it for the right reasons, and can easily afford it and keep them, unlike before."? No one got that? I will readily admit I zooned out a few times, but I think that was the main message?

Maybe he's preaching to this choir, but a lot of people aren't part of this choir and need to hear it. Common sense isn't always something you're born with, and I'm happy people make vids like this to make people think twice. Just because you can buy an animal doesn't mean you should. Not everyone will have parents telling you no(a point he made in the video) and the money could be spent elsewhere.

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There are easily 1/4th members and 3/4 guests for this forum at any time. Enthusiasts who want to become breeders need passion, just as the big breeders had when they started out. Enthusiasts need to understand the BP industry now so they don't lose their shirts in the hope they can quit their day job.

When the breeders who are making good money now started, normal BP sales can almost pay the bills. Having a single morph snake was exciting. I believe, in general, the more syllables needed to describe something different, means the market is saturated for anyone except big breeders. I would guess that big breeders lose money on buying a single snake more than they can recover. Their reputation and generations of offspring help keep them afloat. I also wonder how many raise just BPs or do they raise/breed other herps. Do they use their BPs, no matter the morph as a gateway to increasing a customer base for other, more expensive reptiles?

I think Dave and Deborah and most others hit the nail on the head, what I always get a kick out of are the guys who make these videos saying things like "that's just my opinion, I don't care if you like it or not." If you're going to take a stand either for or against something then be prepared to defend it intelligently and in a non confrontational manner.

My hat's off to you guy's for watching his video. I've tried to watch his video several times. However I can only get thru two or three minutes of it. Before I find something better to do with my time. Like clean a few ball python cages,while getting some gooey mess on my hand. I do agree with almost everyone else. There is so much joy seeing a Bp hatch and trying to make something you can't afford to buy out right. I don't care if it's a ten twenty dollar normal that hatches I still get the same joy. I wish him the best, maybe one day.I might be able to watch his whole video. O well it's feeding time.:D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTVd02LVV-0

Watch this video... this is what it is all about!

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Originally Posted by BCS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTVd02LVV-0

Watch this video... this is what it is all about!

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Wonderful! Do you ever wonder if the first and second hatchlings pop their heads out and say, "Nope, I won't be first. You do it. No, you do it, I won't. No you check to see if its okay!"

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Originally Posted by Monty's_Mom

Wonderful! Do you ever wonder if the first and second hatchlings pop their heads out and say, "Nope, I won't be first. You do it. No, you do it, I won't. No you check to see if its okay!"

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Hahaha, right? Way too awesome!

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Originally Posted by BCS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTVd02LVV-0

Watch this video... this is what it is all about!

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Awww:)

Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Monty's_Mom

Wonderful! Do you ever wonder if the first and second hatchlings pop their heads out and say, "Nope, I won't be first. You do it. No, you do it, I won't. No you check to see if its okay!"

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My first pipper is doing exactly this right now. He's still chilling with his head sticking out while 3 others have crawled out already. Silly little worms! :P