Hi,

I was reading about some of the comments on Dan Sutherland...I really think we owe certain breeders a bit of thanks for the hard work they have done over the years. It has been a tough year for everyone. I just wanted to add some thoughts that some of you might have had as well.

When I got into breeding ball pythons about 3 years ago, I got on the internet and started to educate myself about anything I could find on the hobby. It did not take long to find out who the kings of breeding and selling where. I remember how excited I was and was thinking how everyone must share the same excitement, especially the big breeders.

So I wrote all the big breeders with so many questions about how to get started and what snake to get first? How many snakes do I need for a good start and just about any thing most of us wanted to know when we started.

So about 2 weeks later I would get these limp replies....

"Great to have you getting into the breeding of balls. Good Luck."

"Hi sorry it took me two weeks to get back to you. Buying a ball python is really what you want."

"We have been really busy breeding out our high dollar snakes, and what was your question?"

When I was looking for a clown I wrote 3 of the big breeders if they had one or where expecting any? About a month later one of them wrote me back saying they had one and that would have been great if had not already bought one 3 weeks earlier. I did reply letting them know that with no response from them.

So I realized just as fast that these guys did not want to waste 2 seconds of their time on me unless I was going to write a major check. So I than wrote the smaller breeders and they could not have not been better about answering my questions and sharing my enthusiasm. And every snake I bought came from a reputable small breeder. Personally, if I went to a show I would not waste two seconds of my time trying to talk to the big boys. They are just not interested in talking about your spider and albino ball python. If anyone thinks this is a slam on the big breeders it is not...It is just the reality of what we have to deal with.

Regards,
Bill