** ball python industry going under????**

[janett]

LOL...I worked at NERD for nearly 10 years. Taxes aside, overhead at a big facility is mindblowing, not to mention the ins & outs of everyday business. It can be seriously crazy, and I have a lot of admiration for those who are able to maintain things on that level successfully, long-term.

Something else I learned from a decade @ a big facility, doing shows, the forums, all of it...there are more $#*! talkers in the "ball python industry/hobby" than there are ball pythons. True fact. It's shocking the number of people who run their mouths who have never even been near the morphs they like to trash talk.

Keep what you like, like what you keep, breed to fulfill your own goals, be realistic & you won't be left hanging. Never lose sight of what fascinates you about these snakes in the first place, and you'll find something every day that makes you love them even more.

And NEVER, no matter what, let someone who is talking smack take away from your enjoyment of your snakes. EVER. Their opinions are usually only as substantial as a fart in the wind.

Good luck w/your projects!

K~

Wow, very well put Thank you so much for your advice in this matter. This has been a topic that I've been dealing with for some time now. Every time I go to this guys store here in Central Texas area, he is always laughing at me and talking crap about the Ball Python Morphs,etc. Its been going on for about a year now, once a week, and I finally decided to post on here and get a feel of what you guys all think. Thank you so much for putting my mind at ease! =)

[Kara]

Wow, very well put Thank you so much for your advice in this matter. This has been a topic that I've been dealing with for some time now. Every time I go to this guys store here in Central Texas area, he is always laughing at me and talking crap about the Ball Python Morphs,etc. Its been going on for about a year now, once a week, and I finally decided to post on here and get a feel of what you guys all think. Thank you so much for putting my mind at ease! =)

You bet hon! I'm from North-Central TX originally & have traveled every corner of the state in my field-herpin' quests. The mindset of local pet stores can be very discouraging because it's easy for the folks at such stores to be big minnows in a mudpuddle. Fortunately they AIN'T the bottom line for what's what w/ball pythons or any other species.

Good on ya for getting out & doing your homework.

[Redneck_Crow]

Every time I go to this guys store here in Central Texas area, he is always laughing at me and talking crap about the Ball Python Morphs,etc.

Pet stores are a study. Sometimes I walk into one and find someone who is extremely knowlegable about snakes.

Sometimes I walk in and find someone who thinks that selling you a $3 rat makes him a flipping expert.

[rabernet]

Wow, very well put Thank you so much for your advice in this matter. This has been a topic that I've been dealing with for some time now. Every time I go to this guys store here in Central Texas area, he is always laughing at me and talking crap about the Ball Python Morphs,etc. Its been going on for about a year now, once a week, and I finally decided to post on here and get a feel of what you guys all think. Thank you so much for putting my mind at ease! =)

If they said that to me, I'd say "you know what? I'm your CUSTOMER and you suck at customer service by being insulting to me". And then I'd find another store to patronize.

[Crawly's Mom]

Agreed! I think you are giving your business to the wrong store. I only have one pet store I frequent, Arizona Reptile Center. I can tell you that they have never told me that the business is a bad idea or that I am a fool for getting into breeding. In fact all the employees are rather supportive and love the animals! They were so thrilled when I rescued Sally that they didn't charge me for probing or weight, they were simply happy to see her go to a good home. In my opinion you should find somewhere with better customer service, that's supportive of your choices. You don't need anyone mocking you every time you come in just because he doesn't think the market is going to last.

[janett]

Agreed! I think you are giving your business to the wrong store. I only have one pet store I frequent, Arizona Reptile Center. I can tell you that they have never told me that the business is a bad idea or that I am a fool for getting into breeding. In fact all the employees are rather supportive and love the animals! They were so thrilled when I rescued Sally that they didn't charge me for probing or weight, they were simply happy to see her go to a good home. In my opinion you should find somewhere with better customer service, that's supportive of your choices. You don't need anyone mocking you every time you come in just because he doesn't think the market is going to last.

I breed my own rats/mice but for some reason they are NOT interested in breeding. Not sure what the deal is. The male rat got a female pregnant ONCE and that was it. So, waiting on something to happen there, in the mean time I have to go buy feeders. TG that its breeding season and everyone eats every other week unless they are "refusing" which is only my one male and one normal at the moment, everyone else is eating. The babies and the others that are NOT of breeding weight are still feeding once a week. Anyway, instead of paying $3.99 a mouse at PetCo and instead of paying $6.99 a mouse at PetSmart, I go down to this :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r:s place and pay $2 a mouse. So, he is cheaper then all of them but he is such a *%^&$#!!$%$