How's the BP Market Now?

[cinderbird]

I agree with Eddie completely. Sure they can't double clutch, and sure the average is 6 eggs. But consider this. NERD is going to have what, 500 clutches? BHB is going to have about the same or more? How about TSK? What about RDR? How many are going to be imported? How many more are going to be produced by small breeders? Is 10,000 clutches a conservative estimate for the total number of clutches that are going to be produced by all the breeders out there right now? At an average of 6 eggs that's what, 60,000 snakes? How many of those are going to be single gene co-doms, how many are going to be hets, poss hets, etc. They have to go somewhere, like the hands of the person who just googled snake and found ball python morphs. Now they want to breed to get a sewper k00lz bumblebeez ball python. More bees on the market, more pastels and spiders on the market...it doesnt stop.

This time last year, a super pastel was like $800. Im pretty sure you can find one for about $400 now.

but in theory the big guys arent spending their time breeding 3 pastel males to 30 normal females. Everything Ive read, heard, seen, etc they are striving to cut down on their normal production.

The top guys are where they are because they are absolutely dedicated in furthering the hobby. They are on the forefront of the creation of new morphs.

YES there probably are a ton of people hopping on the BP bandwagon.

Do i have a pastel male and a spider female? yes. Am i hoping to produce bumblebees this year or next? Yes, and its not because breeding bees is some gigantic cash cow in my mind.

I think the market is in a great place. The prices on morphs have dropped enough to put them into the average pet owners home. People that have no plans to breed snakes, they just want a pretty one as a pet. This should make people ecstatic. The possibilities in the market that open up because of this are almost endless. Reptiles are growing in popularity. I go to the local reptile show every month and you'd be surprised how many people who go don't even like snakes, they just want to see them. Its fascinating.

And for that 400 dollar super pastel. How nice of a super was it? The ones ive seen for that price you couldnt PAY me to take. :/

[jkobylka]

"Investing" in Ball Pythons... It all comes down to one thing... quote me,

"You can't treat it like a hobby and make money like its a business."

All businesses will survive or fail based on things like buisness plan, critical key investments, marketing, blood and sweat, risk mitigation, customer service and #1... PASSION!

The big thing that many have wrong in this industry is the idea that anyone can put too snakes together and money will just start rolling in. Ball Python breeding is not a magic business, its a normal business.

For those who really make a go of it, I think there is more promise than ever in the pet reptile business.

Justin

[dnnsfam]

I think the market is in a great place. The prices on morphs have dropped enough to put them into the average pet owners home. People that have no plans to breed snakes, they just want a pretty one as a pet. This should make people ecstatic. The possibilities in the market that open up because of this are almost endless. Reptiles are growing in popularity. I go to the local reptile show every month and you'd be surprised how many people who go don't even like snakes, they just want to see them. Its fascinating.

I am one of those who personally dont care if I breed mine or not, I am collecting to collect. I love Axanthic and many of the morphs with this, I would love to see more combos or pimp mine just for first pick of the off spring. I just got a VPI Axanthic male and a het female literally today, and hopefully get a chance to go to the Cleveland show to check out more.

As for the ones oing for $5,000 or more... like the female Axanthic KillerBee I saw go for 10k is not something in my range ever to pay. So being a buyer not a breeder, I am happy for the little guys that are willing to make deals, and work with having buyers be able to afford the beauty morph of their dreams. TY to the little breeders ( That care about the snakes more than the money) you make us normal working BP lovers be able to have a dream.

[dnnsfam]

I agree with you that it can be a business, but definately one for people who love BP's and not the cash. There is so much to invest in for good quality offspring, and time to make sure that you have healthy little guys for a good rep. It is a labor of love and not a cash cow project.

"Investing" in Ball Pythons... It all comes down to one thing... quote me,

"You can't treat it like a hobby and make money like its a business."

All businesses will survive or fail based on things like buisness plan, critical key investments, marketing, blood and sweat, risk mitigation, customer service and #1... PASSION!

The big thing that many have wrong in this industry is the idea that anyone can put too snakes together and money will just start rolling in. Ball Python breeding is not a magic business, its a normal business.

For those who really make a go of it, I think there is more promise than ever in the pet reptile business.

Justin

[jkobylka]

I agree with you that it can be a business, but definately one for people who love BP's and not the cash. There is so much to invest in for good quality offspring, and time to make sure that you have healthy little guys for a good rep.

Great Points. Nobody who loves money more than the animals should be producing living creatures for a living.

It is a labor of love and not a cash cow project.

With good management it can be and is both of these things.

[j_h_smith]

I hope I never lose my love for reptiles, but I have to tell you how I approach this subject.

I collect reptiles, I run a small business to help support my collection. Kind of like the little old ladies that sell their apple pies. They don't sell the apple pies to just make money, they do it so they have a little more money to bake a few more pies.

That's me, I sell a few snakes so that I can further my collection.
Jim Smith