What would you get if you had 10,to 12k to spend

[EverEvolvingExotics]

Let's do a little math with co-doms. Let's say you buy a single gene codom male for $5,000 in 2011. You get him to 800g and breed him in the 2012 breeding season. He successfully breeds three females, giving you 18 eggs. Out of those 18 eggs, you get 9 of the codom mutation. Prices have dropped 30%, so each one is now only worth $3,500. You sell all 9 for that price and make $31,500. Even if you take out expenses, you've made $25,000 from your $5,000 investment in one season. Think gold will do that well?

In the 2013 season, you breed him again, this time he gets 5 females to give you a total of 30 eggs. You get 15 of the mutation, but prices have dropped to $2,400. You sell them all for a total of $36,000. That's an even better return than the previous year.

Let's figure out the labor now. In the above scenario, let's say it takes you three hours a week to maintain that collection of less than 10 snakes. So that's 156 hours for two years of work. That earns you over $300 per hour of work.

This isn't including mixing that gene with other genes to make even more valuable animals. I think you can see where this is going. I guarantee your $5,000 investment in gold won't net you over $50,000 in two years. There are very few investments that can do that. It's true that the ball python market can be volatile, and there are risks associated with working with live animals, but if you spend your money wisely, you can make a very good return on your investment.

If you buy pastels and spiders and expect to make your money back in a season or two, you're kidding yourself. But if you spend good money on good investments, seeing a return in a single season isn't out of the realm of possibility.

"My boy is wicked smart!" -Good Will Hunting, haha

[mpkeelee]

I'd buy a Generac standby generator so I'd never have to worry about extended power outages again. And if I had any money left I'd buy as many base morphs as I could starting with pastels and cinnies

[AaronP]

Desert Ghost Stuff.

[Brandon Osborne]

I was half-heartedly joking. But in reality, gold is the same price worldwide and keeps going up. With the world economy in the shape it's in today, I bet you would have a difficult time selling $5k animals quickly....much less $12k.

I'd still be tempted to spend a little if I had it....but no more than half.

[AaronP]

I was half-heartedly joking. But in reality, gold is the same price worldwide and keeps going up. With the world economy in the shape it's in today, I bet you would have a difficult time selling $5k animals quickly....much less $12k.

I'd still be tempted to spend a little if I had it....but no more than half.

The Multi-thousands of dollars worth of snakes I've moved this year would disagree with you.

[tcutting]

Adult super enchi 1.1
Adult caramel albino het OG 1.0
Adult Orange Hypo Het Caramel 0.1
hatchling pieds 1.1

that i think is about 10k and if i had 12 make that pieds black pastel or adult black pastel het pieds.

[Brandon Osborne]

The Multi-thousands of dollars worth of snakes I've moved this year would disagree with you.

And I'm not arguing with you. I'm in the same boat. I still have a few nice animals for sale.

[kitedemon]

I see what you are saying but I also see holes in logic.

The biggest is one 5000$ snake does not breed alone. You need a female or male. Your figuring is off a single animal. The second flaw is labour investment return should not calculate labour as return but deductions. So lets start with 5200$ and you make 50000 in two years so that leaves 44800 then subtract labour say 50$ an hour @156 hours (7800) leaves 37000. Then subtract power, feed, substrate, cleaning and sundries say 225 per month (I think this is very low) then 5400 more gone leaves 31600. rent... the next big expense, say what in my area a 10x35 space with water hook up and bathroom is about 1200 a month, but lets say you find a basement somewhere or in a home, so 600 a month for that... so 14400 leaves 17200 profit in two years.

5200 in gold two years ago is 15112 today subtract the 100$ in labour and you have 15000 today. less the initial 5200 leaves you 9800$ with low risk and no effort. The difference is only 7400 give or take. If we figure only two years and add things like T-stats rack and tubs flex watt insurance ect. You can carve off a extra 2000-4000 quite fast.


If you are simply trying to make a buck there are easier ways to do so. But who breeds snakes just for money? Most have other reasons for doing so simple business math cannot account for. Yes there is more money in the long term but how many start with a modest investment and are millionaires in ten years of breeding?

[dart]

I see what you are saying but I also see holes in logic.

The biggest is one 5000$ snake does not breed alone. You need a female or male. Your figuring is off a single animal. The second flaw is labour investment return should not calculate labour as return but deductions. So lets start with 5200$ and you make 50000 in two years so that leaves 44800 then subtract labour say 50$ an hour @156 hours (7800) leaves 37000. Then subtract power, feed, substrate, cleaning and sundries say 225 per month (I think this is very low) then 5400 more gone leaves 31600. rent... the next big expense, say what in my area a 10x35 space with water hook up and bathroom is about 1200 a month, but lets say you find a basement somewhere or in a home, so 600 a month for that... so 14400 leaves 17200 profit in two years.

5200 in gold two years ago is 15112 today subtract the 100$ in labour and you have 15000 today. less the initial 5200 leaves you 9800$ with low risk and no effort. The difference is only 7400 give or take. If we figure only two years and add things like T-stats rack and tubs flex watt insurance ect. You can carve off a extra 2000-4000 quite fast.


If you are simply trying to make a buck there are easier ways to do so. But who breeds snakes just for money? Most have other reasons for doing so simple business math cannot account for. Yes there is more money in the long term but how many start with a modest investment and are millionaires in ten years of breeding?

Are there even ANY millionaires from breeding?

[LotsaBalls]

I see what you are saying but I also see holes in logic.

The biggest is one 5000$ snake does not breed alone. You need a female or male. Your figuring is off a single animal. The second flaw is labour investment return should not calculate labour as return but deductions. So lets start with 5200$ and you make 50000 in two years so that leaves 44800 then subtract labour say 50$ an hour @156 hours (7800) leaves 37000. Then subtract power, feed, substrate, cleaning and sundries say 225 per month (I think this is very low) then 5400 more gone leaves 31600. rent... the next big expense, say what in my area a 10x35 space with water hook up and bathroom is about 1200 a month, but lets say you find a basement somewhere or in a home, so 600 a month for that... so 14400 leaves 17200 profit in two years.

5200 in gold two years ago is 15112 today subtract the 100$ in labour and you have 15000 today. less the initial 5200 leaves you 9800$ with low risk and no effort. The difference is only 7400 give or take. If we figure only two years and add things like T-stats rack and tubs flex watt insurance ect. You can carve off a extra 2000-4000 quite fast.


If you are simply trying to make a buck there are easier ways to do so. But who breeds snakes just for money? Most have other reasons for doing so simple business math cannot account for. Yes there is more money in the long term but how many start with a modest investment and are millionaires in ten years of breeding?

$50/hr? I don't make that at my job. Plus I enjoy them, it's not a job.
$250/month for maintenance? I have almost 30 snakes and spend about $80/month on food and bedding.
I keep them in my kids room $0 rent.
I built my racks and incubator for about $300.