I've been contemplating posting this thread for a while for concern that I may offend some members here but after some thought, I'm thinking where else am I going to raise this question/issue? The question of breeding/what to breed/how to start breeding is a common topic here and I'm always wondering if its a good idea to start breeding in the first place. Long story short: Why do you want to breed?

This isn't aimed at the established breeders I see on this site (but I do welcome your feedback). I'm more putting this question on those who haven't started breeding but are seriously considering it. Breeding is something that is very accepted in this community, I see. I cant go to a reptile show without having most of the vendors asking me what I have and suggest what snake can breed nicely with it. When I tell them that my 2 BPs are just pets, I honestly think many see dollar signs fly out the window since they know I'm not likely going to pay $1000+ for the snake they are offering.

Why breed? I'm thinking many may consider this a great stay-at-home job where you can make $300+ per "product" and not concern yourself with a 9 to 5. There are a ton of absolutely gorgeous morphs out there that will likely take you years to breed but by the time you catch up to breed that expensive, unusual morph, its now more common or oversold that you anticipated and now there is a new morph for you to catch up to.

To truly get to the core of why I'm posting this, I genuinely often wonder what new breeders (maybe even experienced breeders) do with the snake they CANT sell. Do they drastically drop the price just to break even? Put them into the breeding circulation when they are old enough in the hopes of getting a bigger batch next time? Do you have the clientele that will likely buy the snakes you plan on breeding or do you plan to wing it in the hopes you can get by and eventually make it as a breeder?

And yes, I pretty much am venting/ranting here but its all in the hopes that it'll raise some iota of thought or reconsideration to someone looking to start breeding. Are you really doing a service to the animal you so love or to the reptile community as a whole? Just saying really consider what you are getting yourself and the animals into before jumping on that boat. Thanks for reading.