been thinking about starting a breeding business

I been thinking of starting a ball python breeding business for a while and have been doing research into breeding balls for last six or seven months to make sure I am well informed of everything that entails, but as I do my research I've realized there are so many other people that are trying to do the same and are already breeding the animals, I've been wondering if itd even be worth trying to turn my passion into a business and job id love. I still intend on breeding snakes as a hobby because I have an extreme passion for the animals and had always had a passion for them since I was a child. But with so many others out there I've become a little discouraged to really try. I think I probably will though because thats my dream job is to work with animals. I know I have a long road ahead of me and a lot of work as well, but in the end I hope it all pays off for the effort I intend to put into everything. I also hope that everyone who can make it happen for themselves becomes successful in what they love.

Chances are, from my understanding anyway, the business will be supplemental to a day job. But that shouldn't take away from the sheer satisfaction of it... (I want to breed once I'm done wit college)


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I've been breeding and selling snakes for about 25 years now, I started out with colubrids and switched to ball pythons and boas about 15 years ago. I'm one of the lucky ones that gets to do this for a living. Most people think that I make my living selling ball pythons and boas. I do make a profit at the end of each year selling snakes, but what really pays my bills are the hundreds of educational presentations I do with reptiles every year. So realistically if you want to do this for a living keep the breeding of the snakes as a hobby and push the presentation side of your business. I can answer any questions you have about starting a successful reptile business, but remember that if you want to pay your bills think a little outside the box, it sure has worked for me.

Best of luck

Brian Gundy
For Goodness Snakes
fgsnakes@sbcglobal.net
408-981-6694

Keep it as a hobby for a few years until you know if you like it or not. Running a business brings in additional stress - you have to show a profit two years out of five - and takes more time for things like collecting and remitting sales taxes.

Also, I hate to say it, but as a business you have to weigh each animal's replacement value against how much it would cost to treat it, should it need a vet visit. As a hobbyist no one cares if I spend $200 at the vet to treat a $25 normal.

I am at that point myself.
Though I know and never plan to try to depend on my reptiles for my sole income.

Well, what I really want to do is have it as a morning business and then have a night job for my other income so I'm entirely dependant on selling them for main income. But for now I'm just going to breeding the morphs I really like, like bumblebees and super pastels and then maybe add a little axanthic into the mix and then try to get into the higher end morphs as I can afford it.

I have talk about this before yes it is possible to make money there are 3 levels

1/ Having your collection pay for itself
2/ Making a supplemental income
3/ Making a living

The question is where do you see yourself? Do you have a plan? How much will you be investing?

If you want to make a profit you will need to treat this like any other business and have a solid business plan, you will also need to invest (it takes money to make money). As the market evolves you will need to be able to evolve to as well be smart about what you buy and pair.

If you expect to make a profit or start a business out of Axanthics, Bees and Super Pastels this will just not happen, between the money you will have to invest and your overhead you will be in the red and will not even break even and that sadly is a reality.

I decided to breed 10 years ago my goal at the time was simple, I wanted to produce a Pied, at the time they were 7.5K to 10K and I just could not justify spending that much on a pet so I bought a pair of hets (1.2K at the time) and a few other side projects. I was lucky to have my collection paying for itself within 2 years and by year 3 I started making a profit.

I chose to keep this as a hobby and this hobby has been making a nice profit over the years, I never wanted to make a living out of this but I know people who do and it is a lot of work and things do not always work the way you want them too.

This is not an easy and fast way to make money and a lot of people fail to understand that, they are not willing to invest or put in the work, they don’t have a plan and most importantly they lack the passion, patience and dedication, look around every year at collection sales and this will give you an idea on how many people try and fail.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

This is not an easy and fast way to make money and a lot of people fail to understand that, they are not willing to invest or put in the work, they don’t have a plan and most importantly they lack the passion, patience and dedication, look around every year at collection sales and this will give you an idea on how many people try and fail.

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This right here.
There are so many people that are in it for a minute and don't realize how low the lows can be.

Have patience!
I mean I want to breed and collect ball pythons for a hobby, but I have been waiting a while just to breed?
Patience!:taz:

If you expect to make a profit or start a business out of Axanthics, Bees and Super Pastels


I think you miss understood what I meant, thats not what I only want to sell, thats just what I want to start with as far as hobby breeding goes. Those are just a couple of my favorite morphs and so i want to start breeding those.