So I have been reading a lot of different posts over the last sveral weeks and the theme seems to be that this is a hobby, and you will be lucky to break even by breeding ball pythons. Maybe I have not done enough research, but I dont see how that is possible, if a person makes wise decesions on the animals he (or she) purchases, profit should be made after the first year or two. For example, I bought 2 racks on craigslist, a 3000 gram normal female, and a breeder spider male for less than $600. I also bought 1.1 pieds and .2 het pieds, paid way more for these 4, but around $2500. One of the hets can be bred this year, so my pied project is a little ways off, but I can pick up a .1 breeder pastel for around $600 (I think) and sell two clutches of spiders, pastels, and possibly bees early next year and pay for everything (excluding pieds, I know that will take a while to pay for).

On another note, I enjoy these snakes very much, it is not just a dollar sign to me, I have a full time job, make good money, and have some disposable income. I just started a rat colony so I know I will be buying them from the store when I need them though, so my only costs from here out is rat food, an occasional rat, and electric right? I know there are possible vet visits, and clutches that dont happen, but it all seems pretty idiot proof to me? Maybe that makes me the idiot , anyway, just wanted to see what everyones thoughts were