imports??? whats your thought?

[majorleaguereptiles]

I thought I would share some things about CH animals. African exporters did catch onto selling specials in the last decade, however with the amount that is already here now, that has faded away completely in the last few years.

In Africa, there isn't very many wild caught animals anymore. There isn't much demand for those here. Pet stores don't want the problems that come with wild caught animals (ticks, mites, parasites) and nor do the animal right activist want wild animals taken for captivity. Also, we have so many morphs here, there are no more trappers going to look for many new mutations because they catch a pastel and we don't want it anymore... Sometimes they stumble upon nice stuff in burrows, but that's it.

In Africa they gather eggs from burrows, they put them in trash bags, then bury them in huge dirt pits and hatch them with incredible success. The process would actually blow you away, as we all sit here and worry about our incubation in our perfect incubators, in Africa they just throw them in trash bags, then in big holes.. It's insane... Granted we don't live in Africa either... When these snakes are hatched, they are trying to meet a high quota to ship and are behind schedule, they really are literally throwing these animals straight into bags before they even shed. MANY animals are overlooked, much more than you can think... Again, eggs from the wild... Hatched... Thrown into bags... Off to USA....

The reason I'm sharing this is because I think captive hatched animals are clean and safe way to hopefully prove out new genetics for our industry... Not to mention it brings fresh healthy high immunity blood into your colony. This is what I feel is a very big plus...

Now buying unsorted bags, I've never done that, nor do I know how outback does their business, but I've always felt they were honest people. I was recently granted access with a business deal to the largest number of imports that come into the states... This group hasn't ever been sorted before until this past year... Our racks are full of holdback potential and I'm forced to move/sell animals... Do they sell for more money than the cost of the import? Absolutely. That's the name of the game, but it takes huge expense and capital to acquire these animals, not to mention the importation risks, license fees and everything else, there isn't the sort of profit some people like to think. The animals that I will offer this year will be about 1/300 ratio. Meaning out of 30,000 snakes there will be about 100 snakes offered that are probably VERY high potential animals... You can ask why not keep them? Understand it takes YEARS to prove out projects, not to mention lots of expenses and space. We have incredible animals already, so parting with some isn't that difficult. It's actually been a topic of discussion to not flood our industry with mutations so that number could be less..

With all that being said, I firmly believe there is still very nice stuff coming in. I really wish I could share everything, and I might actually share some pictures of some animals, but I want people to be excited with for new genetics, because I feel it drives the ball python market. Its very difficult for me to buy a 5 gene combo animal for $15,000 when I already have all those genes in my racks (albeit separately)... I'd much rather take $15,000 and buy a new morph to breed and increase my immediate odds to make a quicker return. Its a safe investment for myself rather than crossing my fingers on great odds for a 6,7 gene animal, I know I got a 50/50 chance to make the new morph that you know will be in high demand.

I hope people can appreciate this post. I like to be open with the ball python community and I feel this is a subject that people just don't know much about.

Thanks,
Brant Rustich
Major League Reptiles

Edit: I also want to add that I feel a lot of these mutations are locale specific. Most of these CH animals come from the same locale... So mutations are consistent with what we typically have here with slight variables... Much like the YB complex, bel complex, etc...

I believe there is large portions of uncharted areas in Africa with new mutations.