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

[ChuckSM]

The economy may be slow but I just went to the worst Hep show (because of selection) and yes some morphs were a little lower than normal but standard snakes like spiders pastels and pins were all at the normal price. The market fluctuats on everything.

The key is that store just doesnt want to pay for your babies when the time comes so he is talking you down and when you do sell to him, he will say you know I am doing you a favor taking these worthless things off your hands. He then he makes a killing in profits. It is a typical strategy.

[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.

[MarkieJ]

Not to rain on your parade, but check this thread out concerning female caramel albinos laying viable clutches. http://www.reptileradio.net/reptiler...caramel+albino

Maybe you'll get some tips on getting her to give you a good clutch. Good luck with your breeding efforts.

[majorleaguereptiles]

I've only been breeding for 2 years and my collection's value in today's market is over 50k greater than all my original investments, and when I determine market value in my spread sheets, it's very very low so I'm never surprised in my differences or when I have to sell a snake. I also keep track of which snake in my collection is decreasing or increasing in value... This difference will GREATLY increase for me this next breeding season, as it will be the first season of really producing high end stuff.

For example, you buy a female lesser pastel and she pounds food and puts on weight, her value is increasing with size as she becomes a potential or proven breeder. Same would go with a high end male breeder, when he gets breeding size his value increases... however over time there comes a plateau, then a gradual decrease in value, sometimes faster than expected. Those animals that decrease too much for me, it's time to move them down to the next breeder who's value of the same snake would be better for them for what he/she is investing for. I'm constantly evaluating what snakes I should keep that is a greater value of my own collection and which ones I need to move.

This is why when people ask me how they should get into the business, I tell them they should invest early in female morphs because every rat you feed them, their value increases. That is what I would consider a safe investment, especially if you reduce your own expenses. For instance, this would be no good if you had to buy rats for 5$ each, but if you can get rats for cheap, or produce your own, than it's a solid investment. Then I tell them to invest in a male morphs that are in high demand that you produce more of. Just the way I did it.

Also, when my fiance and I work on our collection, it's an enjoyment and never a burden, so we don't see it as work when it is a passion. That's always the best part.

[janett]

Looked at your website and looks nice. Just to let you know...poss yellow is not correct, it eiter is or isnt.
Good luck

Someone told me she is, then some tell me she isn't so not sure. What I do know, is that we got called 2 yrs ago from our local Pet Smart to come get her. They told me it was a him based on tail length (LAST time I ever fall for that! I recently was at a PetCo here in the area and a lady was interested in buying a MALE Ball Python so here comes the MANAGER of the store, telling the lady that, "Based on tail size, bla bla bla" So I (of course) said, "EXCUSE me, and I popped it and it was an OBVIOUS male. The manager looked at me as if I was the most amazing thing to ever walk the earth! Anyway, I popped "him" to find out that he was a SHE! No wonder she wasn't interested in my female. Anyway, SHE has beautiful copper/gold tones all along the side down into the stomach. Its beautiful. Only picture I have of her, she is in shed, so ill get one of her stomach as soon as she "clears" up.

[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 $2 a mouse. So, he is cheaper then all of them but he is such a *%^&$#!!$%$

[janett]

The economy may be slow but I just went to the worst Hep show (because of selection) and yes some morphs were a little lower than normal but standard snakes like spiders pastels and pins were all at the normal price. The market fluctuats on everything.

The key is that store just doesnt want to pay for your babies when the time comes so he is talking you down and when you do sell to him, he will say you know I am doing you a favor taking these worthless things off your hands. He then he makes a killing in profits. It is a typical strategy.

It actually never crossed my mind to sell to a "pet store", do breeders do that will what they can't get rid of?

[SilverDemon]

Many breeders will wholesale normals and sometimes hets that are in lesser demand to pet stores. There simply isn't a huge amount of demand for normals (ESPECIALLY normal males) in the breeding side of things, and many pet stores (those that actually care about animals) would rather buy local captive hatched babies that are in good shape and they don't have to pay shipping for, instead of babies from Africa.

Never underestimate normals, though. Simply because they aren't in high demand with breeders, doesn't mean that they can't be wonderful pets. Many ball python owners start out with a normal from a pet store, and they learn how great the snakes are from that.

[mattchibi]

Lol for someone who knows "crackheads" irl, I dont feel comfortable comparing something so beautiful as ball pythons to something as destructive as crack. I would more likely compare ball pythons to candy or chocolate. Once you have one bite, you gotta have another. That being said, I know it was just an exaggeration

In terms of the market and what that guy was saying about the market going under, I think a lot of breeders these days can manage to sell all of their stock through a website and forums. The pet store owners who have physical locations where people can go to "shop" are quickly losing money because its not really that sustainable because cost of operation is SO high with renting a unit (unless youre a top breeder where youre from). Upkeeping a website keeps costs way down and I think many breeders these days just devote a "snake room" in their own house. Dont lose hope! I am hoping to breed too in the future, and as long as you dont depend on snakes for your income and keep it as a hobby/project on the side, then you will always be alright!