Looking to learn in Preparation for next year:)

[Freakie_frog]

There is no substitute for DOING -- as it cements it for you as REAL. Like the surgeon creed goes: "See one, do one, teach one". Reading EVERYTHING MANY times WILL help it all sink in. Like you, I would read stuff and think I understood the sequence of things -- only to back the next day and be confused. If you have never breed ANY animals before (I had not) it will seem very foreign for a while.

After you start pairing, seeing locks and ovulations, begin setting up eggs etc.... you will become more comfortable. If you do it enough it will become "no big deal" and second nature for the most part.

I would spend some money and get a substantial incubator if it were me. I have made a couple of my own since buying my first -- a Good Apple I have been very happy with it. I slept well when my eggs e=were cooking. I know I would have NEVER rested had I been using any kind of hovabator. I trust that many have been successful with them -- just not for me. Good Luck! Breeding is not that hard -- and it does get easier over time.

Bill I agree 100%..It really takes doing it to get a feel for it..your can read how to drive a car but till you get behind the wheel you can't explain what it's really like..

[Jason Bowden]

Vermiculite---I get mine from: www.uline.com
I use the coarse grade 4. I buy the boxes of grade 4. They require that you buy at least 2 boxes and that will last small breeders(like myself) a couple of years or more.

[Jason Bowden]

Check out Ball Bitz.
Joe Compel Reptiles---you may have to google it.

[Spaniard]

I've heard good things about the kits that Jake puts together for building your own. He also has some nice bators he fabricates.

http://www.jwexotics.com/incs.html

[LadyOhh]

No matter how much you read and see photos of it, you will still have questions...

And that is why this forum is here!!!

It's a great resource as well with plenty of educated and experienced breeders.

So, once you feel comfortable with everything you read, be prepared to be hit with plenty more questions once you are in the sitch.

And then, come back in here!

[Kysenia]

Thank you all for the time and posts, great information I will be going to Michigan in August and working for Brian from BHB. Taking a couple weeks vacation and so pumped that he is letting me come up there to spend some time in a big breeder setting. Will be working and helping out but i am sure i will learn a ton from all of them there.

thanks again for all the posts much much appreciated!

[jglass38]

I think you are on the right track. My only advice would be, don't overthink things too much. Learn the basics, gather information and figure out what works for you and your animals. There are tons of ways to make it happen. Whether it's cooling, pairing, feeding, housing or incubating, there are a lot of different approaches that work. Learn from the great people here and have fun!

[JenEric Reptiles]

Thank you all for the time and posts, great information I will be going to Michigan in August and working for Brian from BHB. Taking a couple weeks vacation and so pumped that he is letting me come up there to spend some time in a big breeder setting. Will be working and helping out but i am sure i will learn a ton from all of them there.

thanks again for all the posts much much appreciated!

u lucky bugger going to go BHB i wanted to visit his shop thinking my training was in MI but now its in Minnesota............I found out i will be in Minneapolis.At Double tree guest suites.....And Looked at the area Mall of America is 12 miles away, and found this http://www.minneapolisdoubletree.com/local_attractions/

but no vehicale company is providing a shuttle oh well packing the laptop and DVD'S.........and camera

OH BTW your post...........I downloaded all the reptile radio shows on Ball pythons...............LOTTA INFO there!

http://www.reptileradio.net/ no reading required!