Is breeding...necessary?

Hi everyone!

In terms of the Ball Python hobby, I'm pretty new. I recently just got my first snake ever, a young
Het Albino boy. And I'm really interested in going deeper in collecting maybe a couple of more morphs. As
I'm browsing through, looking at the ones that interest me, in came to a thought that many of these morphs
that are a bit pricey are priced because both the buyer and seller have intentions in breeding that individual.
Now, that's left me to wonder... would it be a waste to not breed a morph or have a breeding program?
Is it considered bad, rookie-ish, wasteful, or dumb to buy these morphs just so I can appreciate such beautiful and wonderful animals? What are any opinions?

No you don't have to breed. Its all up to you.
I know collectors and have some animals myself that I don't plan on breeding.

As above .

You can be a collector like myself , a breeder or even both together .

I have never even considered breeding any of my snakes . I have a collection ( 22) of stunning display snakes that are also handled occasionally - depending on the species ... Check out the collection in my thread ;)

I leave the breeding to the those who know exactly what they're doing .... I don't have the time , space or breeding knowledge to ever consider it either .

There are benefits to focusing on collecting. If I was collecting I would have a lot more muti-gene animals and would be far less focused on the quality of a single gene in an animal. I have seen many beautiful muti-gene animals that I have not bought because I could not be sure of the genetics of the animal. If I was focused on collecting I would not waste any time with buying recessive hets. I would only be interested in the full expression of the gene.

There are many people out there who do not breed and spend a good amount of money on a snake just because they want it and because they can, just like people do with other hobbies or collection.

It's up to you.

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Thanks everyone! I always see people talking about adding morphs to their "breeding project", which is
why I thought people always bred fancy morphs. I might plan on a little breeding, but that's in the future when I have some more pythons. I really would just love to have a nice collection of snakes, because they're really beautiful animals. I've had reptiles before, but Pua is my first snake ever.

I have 90(ish) snakes of various species at the moment, and the vast majority are non-breeders. Only four females laid eggs this season, one of which slugged out, and another dropped a surprise clutch since she hasn't been paired since 2013.

This next season I'm only planning on pairing one male and one female - retics - since her clutch could easily fill the incubator.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JustinGatCat

Thanks everyone! I always see people talking about adding morphs to their "breeding project", which is
why I thought people always bred fancy morphs. I might plan on a little breeding, but that's in the future when I have some more pythons. I really would just love to have a nice collection of snakes, because they're really beautiful animals. I've had reptiles before, but Pua is my first snake ever.

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no there is nothing wrong with not breeding
a lot of people breed the snakes they can not afford or can not be easily found and this is what starts them into breeding. now I can say that breeding is in its own way rewarding but again no you do not have to breed

No I have a gorgeous banana NEVER breeding he is family, breeding is a lot of work I think it's a bigger problem to buy two snakes because you can breed just because you can. Do what you know is best for you and your pets.[emoji6]


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No breeding is not needed, some do it because they want to experience it, some breed it as a hobby and out of passion and some kick it up that far that they spend 70-90 hours a week breeding and cleaning and etc.. (making it their job)

Personally for me it is my hobby and passion, wanted to breed reptiles when i was 6 years old.
finally when i got older, had the time and resources i was able to start up a collection and breed with it.

But beside the ball pythons i got some other species like a corn snake and leopard geckos that do not breed, did breed the leopard geckos 1 year to experience it though!
So it really depends on you as a person, as you can read above there are also a lot of people that are just into collecting morphs that they love without the intend of breeding.

Agree with everyone. I think if you have the money to spend on a morph you like - just 'casuse it's cool - and with no intention to breed does not make it wasteful. I love my cinnamon mojave, he's the only snake I have. But at some point down the line, I still desperately want a piebald...which will also be male. So I am actually planning on having two snakes that can't possibly breed simply due to the fact that I like the way they look.

(I also don't have any interest in breeding snakes, so that helps too)

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Originally Posted by StillBP

a lot of people breed the snakes they can not afford

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This is true for me. I haven't really begun breeding yet, but I plan on purchasing some morphs to breed down the line for specific morphs that I want to own, but couldn't possibly afford to buy outright. The most expensive snake I have right now is my pied, and I wouldn't be able to normally spend that kind of money on a snake except for once a year.

Its entirely up to you. There are many reasons for and for not, some people like myself who will breed some reptiles but not others. I have tortoises and any females in that group could end up egg bound if not bred so I figured occasionally breeding them would prevent egg binding.