I got hooked about 3 yrs ago. I first got a normal from PetSmart. Then was a Pastel Jungle that caused a great deal of stress eating and so forth, long story, but basically I got her from Kingsnake a "reputable breeder" she never ate. Tried everything. I got her at a year old. Kept her for a year. So at 2yrs old she ate once (softfurred) and NEVER shed. She died at 364 grams at 2yrs old. Paid a good amount of money to 3 separate vets and all said that she had NO parasites, etc. She hated people, wouldnt eat, always biting, when I would pick her up she always wanted to be up high to climb up on something. Anyway, she started having brown horrible smelling liquid come out of her mouth and cloaca. She died about a day after that. As soon as she passed, I laid her on her back, and did an autopsy. I slit her from head to tail, and found that her stomach and liver had ruptured. PLUS her tissue was flaking off and white like a mold. I was very proud of myself on what I learned that night at 3am. I keep a detailed report on all my animals that have passed. This helps me to remember certain situations and the outcomes etc incase I have the same situation with a future snake.

Anyway, after her and all the problems and stress I had with her, I still have another 11 snakes that I have since bought. Ranging from hets to normals, to my Caramel Albino female that I love. (NO KINK!!! ) I am in it for the love of the animals.

Every morning I check temps, water, spot clean, and spend 10-15min holding each one and talking to them. It is time consuming. Recently one of them had a RI and I babied her like there was no tomorrow. Morning and night I would take a Q-Tip and swab her mucous out of her mouth, notate in my book, give her oral suspension of Baytril and notate again. It is time consuming and it is something that I enjoy. I am the kind of person that if I don't love what Im doing then I don't do it.

For me, its not about the money, I enjoy my collection. I PLAN ahead what I want to breed and this way I know what to buy instead of just buy something for the sake of buying something. If I don't make my money back then oh well. Everything happens for a reason.

Adult female BP 9 our of 10 times sell for more than a baby/hatchling. Thats true even with Normals. A normal hatchling can sell for $20 but my adult 8yr old Proven female cost me $60. So, depending on what you spent in total (I keep a record of everything included feeders,etc) you may NOT make back what you put into it, however, you will be happier if you are removing yourself from something that you do not enjoy.

BTW-Im looking for a female Pastel around breeding weight for my Spider.....So, ill be a potential buyer depending on what you have!