I have $20k to spend and I need help!!!

[ralphdp21]

Okay I found an investor that is willing to put up $20k into ball pythons. I have been doing a lot of research and I have started my own breeding, but my question is... What would be the best way to invest this $20k.

He obviously would like to profit as much as possible.

I have found the following snakes for sale that may be good candidates

Male: super pastel, spider, yellow belly 700g - $8000
http://market.kingsnake.com/image/1028177.jpg

Male: pastel clown PROVEN - $6,500
LEFT IN THE PHOTO
http://market.kingsnake.com/image/1057766.jpg

Female: super pastel spider pinstripe 700g - $6500
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...1&d=1270901972

Female: clown 943g - $2300
http://market.kingsnake.com/image/1056459.jpg

These were just some that I found in a few hours. I am hoping I can get some feedback from you guys.

[Jeremy78]

I don't know but I have some advice..
Ball pythons, IMO are hardly an investment. This year (for example, just randomly pulling numbers outta the air) a bee could be $2000. Next year that bee could be worth $700. If your looking to make money I would recommend something else.
This is just my opinion though.
Ball pythons prices are so up and down you should want them for there beauty and awesomeness hahahah. What does this person like? That way if down the road there "clownpastel" or pin yadda yadda is only worth $1000 then the snake will still get the proper care and attention it deserves.
But like I said just my opinion :-).
Also since I've been in this hobby, less then a year now, I have even seen prices drop 25%-50%...

But if he/she knows that there is a massive chance of losing a lot of money I would try making your own designer morph. Personally I would get a bunch of bees, normal females, pastel females, clown females, and start breeding looking for that next amazing morph :-).
Thanks, Jeremy.

[Big Gunns]

I don't know but I have some advice..
Ball pythons, IMO are hardly an investment. This year (for example, just randomly pulling numbers outta the air) a bee could be $2000. Next year that bee could be worth $700. If your looking to make money I would recommend something else.
This is just my opinion though.
Ball pythons prices are so up and down you should want them for there beauty and awesomeness hahahah. What does this person like? That way if down the road there "clownpastel" or pin yadda yadda is only worth $1000 then the snake will still get the proper care and attention it deserves.
But like I said just my opinion :-).
Also since I've been in this hobby, less then a year now, I have even seen prices drop 25%-50%...

But if he/she knows that there is a massive chance of losing a lot of money I would try making your own designer morph. Personally I would get a bunch of bees, normal females, pastel females, clown females, and start breeding looking for that next amazing morph :-).
Thanks, Jeremy.

You are forgetting something BG's rookie fan. Prices may go down on the animals, but you're not just letting them sit there...you're breeding them. You have to take the babies produced from the animal that dropped in value into account when considering whether it was a good investment or not.

Recessives will hold their value longer, but Co doms will see a faster return. If you don't want to see your snakes value seem to drop overnight....buy recessive. It will however take you a leeetle longer to see results.

Whatever you may be looking for though Ralphy....BG just might happen to know where you can find it.

[Akua_Ko_Nalu]

You could pick up a Female Banana!

[ralphdp21]

You are forgetting something BG's rookie fan. Prices may go down on the animals, but you're not just letting them sit there...you're breeding them. You have to take the babies produced from the animal that dropped in value into account when considering whether it was a good investment or not.

Recessives will hold their value longer, but Co doms will see a faster return. If you don't want to see your snakes value seem to drop overnight....buy recessive. It will however take you a leeetle longer to see results.

Whatever you may be looking for though Ralphy....BG just might happen to know where you can find it.

Okay cool good info. If you have any exclusive/rare morphs that have future potential please pm me. we can talk serious business.

This does not mean that I am closed to other suggestions. Please post away.

If you have anything that you believe that I may be interested in please let me know.

[rabernet]

I would also recommend that you use some of that investment to market yourself. If people don't know who you are, and/or you have no reputation at all, it's going to take some time to sell animals - they could be up for sale for weeks, even months if you're not slashing prices in response to them not selling right away.

I believe that first impressions are always important, so be sure to also get yourself a nice website if you haven't already. Doesn't have to be elaborate, but at least a professional looking one that is appealing and will bring people back to check out what you may have available.

Good luck with your endeavors!

[Emilio]

If I had 20k right now I'd open an account and start investing in the stock market. Put some of that into ball's if you don't mind the risk of not getting your money back. My sig say's it all, its all about the animals for me, its my belief that the days of someone making a living off of this hobby are over. Now is there money to be made yeah but not enough to justify a 20k investment unless you are getting the next hot morph that everybody wants. This economy sucks.

My post might be unpopular but I've invested about 7k and have recouped half my money in 2 breeding season's but I also count my holdbacks to drop my number. If I do not make another dollar I will still be happy ask yourself that same question. I love ball pythons

[Freakie_frog]

Things to consider.
1-feeding bill, don't spend all your money on snakes you have to feed them. Whether it breeding your own rats or buying them it can get expensive especially around hatching season.

2- Caging you have the money now go ahead and get all the caging your going to need for the next three years. Even if you don't use it have it.

3- Marketing do a budget for marketing, website, Magazine adds, business cards, swag, show equipment ect, you might not need them now but in 3 years when your hatching 1500.00 animals you want people to see a professional business front.

4- Animals Choose wisely!! just running out buying the biggest baddest thing out might not be the best idea. Instead of a Pastel clown of 6500 you might consider 1.3 Pastels het for clown find a way to give your money some legs.. To many times I've seen people spend mass amounts of money on big time morphs to "become a breeder" and after 2 years of keeping feeding and trying to breed they get frustrated and realize they wasted 2 years because either they have no clue what they are doing and have all this money tied up, or they can't sell the animals they produce cause they didn't market themselves or whatever.. Out of that 20K I'd say spend 10 on snakes and the other 10 on getting your feet on the ground. Buy some big normal female and a couple of super males. Nothing will frustrate your investor more than spending 8K+ on two females that become picky eaters and don't breed for 3 more years.

5- take a step back and look at all aspects thing people forget when trying to become "Breeders" are their down fall.. in the last three years we have spent 25k + on snakes alone, just the animals..you will NOT recupe your investment in your first or second year Prices go down, snakes die, snakes quit eating, snakes don't breed, eggs don't hatch, babies don't live.

Just my two cents

[tonkatoyman]

Things to consider.
1-feeding bill, don't spend all your money on snakes you have to feed them. Whether it breeding your own rats or buying them it can get expensive especially around hatching season.
2- Caging you have the money now go ahead and get all the caging your going to need for the next three years. Even if you don't use it have it.
3- Marketing do a budget for marketing, website, Magazine adds, business cards, swag, show equipment ect, you might not need them now but in 3 years when your hatching 1500.00 animals you want people to see a professional business front.
4- Animals Choose wisely!! just running out buying the biggest baddest thing out might not be the best idea. Instead of a Pastel clown of 6500 you might consider 1.3 Pastels het for clown find a way to give your money some legs.. To many times I've seen people spend mass amounts of money on big time morphs to "become a breeder" and after 2 years of keeping feeding and trying to breed they get frustrated and realize they wasted 2 years because either they have no clue what they are doing and have all this money tied up, or they can't sell the animals they produce cause they didn't market themselves or whatever.. Out of that 20K I'd say spend 10 on snakes and the other 10 on getting your feet on the ground. Buy some big normal female and a couple of super males. Nothing will frustrate your investor more than spending 8K+ on two females that become picky eaters and don't breed for 3 more years.

Just my two cents

The Frog speaks wisdom. It isn't enough to have a load of high end animals. People may buy a pastel for 100.00 off a no body, but they will go to those who are well known for the high end stuff because they are trusted. Start small and build. Build the collection, build the breeders and feeders, build your Rep...Time sweat and knowledge will help you succeed where money will not.

[Paysons Bps]

Ball pythons are a good investment, but things to think about,
1.will they breed?
2.what if they die?
3.can you afford a 200-500$ vet bill if somthing goes wrong?
4.Can you manage feeding all of them mice or rats weekly?
5.Can you also offord a rack for all of them?

Ball pythons are very beautiful animals and can be expensive but can be hard to sell at times. Hope this helped =D

-Payson