How much $ to get started?

[Chained]

So, i want to start planning out how to get into breeding BPs. Right now i'm thinking about waiting 2 years, to give me enough time to save up the money for all the equipment i'll need as well as the morphs.

First question is, how much did you guys spend to get started?
Did anyone get a business loan for it, or did you just save up?

also, im thinking about starting out with something like pastels and pieds, but any suggestions as to what to breed are welcome as well.

[MorphMaster]

I just saved up. Anyone could tell you that they didn't just become a business right away. It all starts as a hobby. As far as how much, it depends on the reptiles, where the rodents are bought, and the specific equipment you use. You'd probably like at least 5000 if you're jumping straight to a business, but that doesn't leave a lot of room. Like I said... Most start slowly, but that's just them. I'm hopin' my first clutch ever hatches in 2013. I dig clowns just saying.

[domenge]

Im headed towards a clown project too! and have over 3k easy spent in the last couple months

[1nstinct]

I'll give you a rough estimate for what I did.
Build rack $200(heat tape included, and tubs)
Bought a rack from rb bc build was too heavy-$300
Divider for rb rack-$16 for 2
Thermostat $350 (herpstat 4)
Albino female $350
Pastel lesser female $675
Black pastel female $450
Still need a killer bee male($1000) a firefly female($900) and another 2 gene female($800-$1500)
And I will need another rack for my females when they are full grown. Plus an incubator.
This does not include food.
But it all depends what you want to breed. My suggestion is to start getting you females, and in 2 years they will be close to breeding size, and it will not be such a heavy bill if you space out what you need slowly. I take $100 out of each paycheck and put it toward my snake fund so when I want the snake I like I can buy it with out having too worry how much it cost. But start slow and if your in the bp game to make money right away, you will lose your money real quick.
Tom

[Andybill]

I just saved up. Anyone could tell you that they didn't just become a business right away. It all starts as a hobby. As far as how much, it depends on the reptiles, where the rodents are bought, and the specific equipment you use. You'd probably like at least 5000 if you're jumping straight to a business, but that doesn't leave a lot of room. Like I said... Most start slowly, but that's just them. I'm hopin' my first clutch ever hatches in 2013. I dig clowns just saying.

Agreed. I spent about 5000 on my collection and then supplies and all that. I dont think you should get a loan but thats just my opinion because the snakes you get usually wont be ready to breed for a couple years supposing you get babies to raise up (female breeders are spendy and few and far between) so that means you will be payin on a loan and then on top of it cost of operations and so it just doesnt seem real lucrative and the fact that it is a slow growin business if that is what your intentions are.

Here are some good reads:

http://ballpythonbreeder.com/categor...tile-business/

[jcoylesr76]

well so far from Jan 1 2012 till right at this moment, i am just about $4500 into it, and still have a ways to go, still more stuff needed. most pick up along the way a little here a little there. takes a lot of time and patience to go from hobby to business. and a lot more of a loss than a gain for a while at the start of it.

[MikeM75]

The sky is the limit as far as starting money. It depends on way too many variables such as room, what you like or what you want to try to breed, buy them young or buy them as adult and so on.

Most folks start it as a hobby, probably the best way. I would never take out a loan for them but I am just a hobbiest getting deeper and deeper and de... lol

[angllady2]

It all depends. You could probably start a hobby level breeding thing to get experience for under a grand. And I very much recommend starting small. If you have little experience with snakes breeding, don't dump $5k + into a project that may not succeed.

Pick out a nice normal female with size. You can find them now because many breeders sell off some of their normal stock after they have laid to make room for new holdbacks. You can get a sizable female now for under $250 most of the time. Work with her, get her eating right and gaining weight. Then you can shop around for a hatchling male single or double gene. There will be lots of them coming into the market right now. Don't worry about his size, males breed sooner than females do.

While your female is getting back up to size and your male is growing, you can invest in a small rack system for future purchases and babies. Get an incubator and egg tubs, all those things that cost more money. By the time your girl is ready to go again, and your boy is up to size, you should have everything you need to care for a clutch of eggs. Then you can take the money from your hatchlings, should you be fortunate enough to get any, and reinvest in more snakes as your experience builds.

Sure it takes time, and starting out small isn't as glamorous as you'd like, but it is a solid way to find out if breeding is for you, without a huge investment of money. Time on the other hand, you will need a big investment of, even with two snakes and their clutch.

Gale

[Rob]

If your going into this just wanting to make money and think breeding snakes will be cool and easy, you are going to be greatly disappointed. Hate to be negative but that's just the truth, the people that make it are the ones that have a true passion for what they do and have the experience to boot. And would keep and have kept reptiles with no monetary upside.

[DooLittle]

I haven't kept track. However, our first snake started as a pet, and we fell in love and started collecting pets. We never thought of them as a business. Now since we have them, we will breed and see what happens. Not for money, but for fun and seeing cute little babies pip! And if we get some money, hey, great!

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