New breeder

[Sariel]

I have a decent amount of experience keeping reptiles and even a few exotic fish. I find I do well enough that I would like to try my hand at breeding now.

Since Im in a position I can do alittle investing Ive been looking at making an attempt at producing the black eyed Leucistic.

From what Im reading I need a pair of fires to make the lovely?

I'd love for anyone experienced to offer what advice or knowledge they might have with this project, treat me like a newb, Ive been out of the game for a minute and Ive forgotten alot.

Ty to all responces!

[Evilme5229]

I have a decent amount of experience keeping reptiles and even a few exotic fish. I find I do well enough that I would like to try my hand at breeding now.

Since Im in a position I can do alittle investing Ive been looking at making an attempt at producing the black eyed Leucistic.

From what Im reading I need a pair of fires to make the lovely?

I'd love for anyone experienced to offer what advice or knowledge they might have with this project, treat me like a newb, Ive been out of the game for a minute and Ive forgotten alot.

Ty to all responces!

Its a nice challege that you have taken on. Since its a first time, I would aim a little lower. I don't think it would be a great investment to buy expensive snakes in the intent to breed them without any experience. I would try something more inexpensive so that if you lose a clutch your not going so crazy.

Its best to prefect your breeding process than to put all your chips in and hope for the best. I'm a first time breeder myself, I want to make sure that all my equipment works properly with a lesser clutch, than when I start breeding my prime clutch in Nov. this year. You can get incubators for around $50 bucks and than start with an inexpensive morph pair to start off to see if everything works since your stating you are in a position to do a little investing.

Just fruit for thought. Black eyed Leucistics are awesome looking snakes. I wish you luck with whichever path you choose. Cheers!
~Shannon

[Sariel]

And that is certainly valuable information and a consideration Im fighting with myself over. lol.

I have some time to come to a desicion, Im certainly in no rush to settle on a project and I like to do alot of research before I do anything with the animals themselves. So while I might not settle on somthing so ambitious yet, I would still love information on it for in the future.

[kc261]

If you really want to make BlkELs, that is what you should go for. Fires are not a terribly expensive snake, and while the BlkEL you can get from fire x fire is worth more $$, I'm really not sure I agree that it is "ok" to mess up a clutch of less expensive snakes. (And, yes, I know Shannon/evilme5229 didn't quite say that, but I've seen others say it).

If you buy yourself a pair of '09 or '10 fire hatchlings, it will be a few years before the female is ready to breed. That will give you plenty of time to get back in the game, get to know your snakes, read up on breeding, incubating, etc. And then you can hatch out your very own, home grown BlkEL.

If you REALLY feel the need to rush things or to get experience with a less valuable clutch, you could buy the pair of fire hatchlings, and also a normal female that is about a year older. That will still give you some time before you start breeding, and assuming the normal girl cooperates, you'll have her first clutch roughly a year before the fire girl is ready to breed.

[Fallguy]

I have the same mission. I just started in reverse. I got a male fire, and bred to a normal female. I am hoping for a female fire, and I will then breed back to dad, in hopes of the BlkEL. Good luck in your quest.

[Kyle@theHeathertoft]

I'm in a similar boat...new to the idea of breeding. I desperately want a Super Mojave and am willing to wait as long as it takes...just bought a male Mojave and plan to pick up either another Mojave or maybe a Spider at an expo this spring/summer. I figure, by the time they're ready to breed, I'll be ready to let 'em. In the meantime I might also do what kc261 suggested...my male is almost eight months old now, a more mature normal female wouldn't be too bad to have around, and getting my first clutch under my belt a year or so sooner than expected wouldn't be such a bad thing, heh!

[Sariel]

Thanks for all the responces they are very encouraging. I think I am going to try my hand at fires and see what comes of it. As pointed out they are relativly inexpensive as far as balls go so Im not to worried about a poor investment if I find I fail at breeding.

Heres to hoping I dont

[bman123]

You have alot of different ways you can go. You can get huge normal females for $100 or so. They are cheap and everywhere.

You can do pastel x pastel for cheap. I see pairs for $225-$250 regularly
Het albino pairs are only $200 or lower.

There are alot of cheap options available for you. I am driving myself crazy with the ideas of what I want to breed. I like ghosts tho

[Sariel]

You have alot of different ways you can go. You can get huge normal females for $100 or so. They are cheap and everywhere.

You can do pastel x pastel for cheap. I see pairs for $225-$250 regularly
Het albino pairs are only $200 or lower.

There are alot of cheap options available for you. I am driving myself crazy with the ideas of what I want to breed. I like ghosts tho

Ghosts are perdy..
I think I have the two fires I want picked out. Just waiting on some correspondence on the female. Im also thinking now of trying to pick up a cheapish pastel female of breeding weight too put with my male since Ill have to wait for the fire girl to grow up. Just have to find a pastel and convince the husband to let me spend the money

[snakesRkewl]

Fires are awesome, and a BlackEL is a killer project, not too expensive and what fires do to almost any other morph is a beautiful thing.
As mentioned you can pick up a female normal and make a few more fires while waiting for the female fire to get to size/age.

Good luck in whichever way you go.