Simple Question about Breeding

[Tonster307]

Just a real quick question about breeding Ball Pythons. I have been breeding Bearded dragons over the past couple years and I love it but I feel like dragon prices just keep dropping and dropping. All I want to know is do people think that breeding ball pythons is the type of thing where you are going to be losing lots of money? I have had snakes all of my life and I love them. I have been thinking about breeding for the last couple months and I want to do alot of research before I do anything to make sure I do it right. I understand costs and everything like that I just don't want to spend tons of money and not really get anything back out of it.

Thanks in advance for the help. Also any suggestions on morphs of BPs would be awesome. Thanks again!

[ed4281]

Well bp's like anything else you breed, you do because you love it, If you are looking to capitalise on an investment don't breed. You will be lucky to pay for your cost of husbandry.

[ImBooBy]

like anything else, except gasoline, prices do drop. However, some morphs still do get good prices. Like many people on this forum I simply breed for the excitement and love for the hobby. Its nice to get something back but I dont expect to make a living out of it. that being said, many people do make a living from breeding balls but thats on a much larger scale. Simply ask yourself if you like the hobby enough to invest even if there is little or no return. Honestly, I wish everyone can have the joy of breeding but some people simply arent mature enough or isnt ready for it
Its all up to you

[Tonster307]

Thank you very much and I do love the animals that is why I want to breed but I am 20 years old and losing money in a large amount of money hurts. Just trying to get as much information as possible. I also understand that prices do drop I just feel over the pas few years the dragon prices have dropped so much I'm losing just too much. I love really all reptiles! Hehe thanks again

[Oxylepy]

BP prices drop about 25-50% every year or so for basic morphs from what I have seen. Recessives hold longer, and Designer Morphs seem to hold the best. But Black Eyed Lucies dropped from 6k to 2k in a couple years. Fireflies went from 4.5k to 1.5k in about a year.

If you are having financial issues then you may want to strongly consider not breeding. Unless you already have a reputation as a breeder it may be hard to find people to sell snakes to, so you could be sitting on ~8 snakes per female you have bred that you cannot find homes for and will have to care for. Start at 2 snakes, jump to 10 in under a year... You may find you are incapable of caring for so many.

[Tonster307]

Its not really that I'm struggling financially I can keep up with the time and money I probably put out more for the dragons a week then id have to with ball pythons. I guess you are right though it is probably better not breeding. Since it sounds like ill still be losing somewhat.