I opted for #2 but I have to say that I am not your average keeper. I'm downsizing now, have been for the last 2 years. I'm down to about 90 adults and will hopefully winnow that down to about 45 this year.

I do this as a business but I also do it as a breeder/hobbiest. At one time, when I was more business oriented, I had over 400 breeders. Phew, that was some work.

Now though, I'm fine tuning. As much as I like my corns and kings and milks, I'm going to thin way down. On the business end, I can buy babies cheaper than I can breed them. They may not be as cool as mine or have the genes and surprises mine do, but most folks don't care.

This will allow me to just do what I want, to work towards that next new thing in CalKings or whatever without having to worry about so many others that are just there to produce, much as I do like them, babies.

In part it's the economy and in part, I've grown weary of being responsible for so many.

However, that fine tuning means targeting specific morphs and bloodlines and working with higher end animals because they are the ones I like the most at this time.

Knowing me, I'll reduce by 45, keep 20 hatchlings and pick up a dozen that I "need" and next year will be having this exact conversation.