Breeding

[dylanhagler]

??? Now I'm confused, you don't have the money but you do?

I do have the money

[dylanhagler]

This is my last post to you because you obviously are hearing what I am saying but not listening to a word any one has told you.

PLAIN AND SIMPLE -

How am I going to take care of the reptiles if I don't make money breeding them?

MOW LAWNS SAVE MONEY

Do you expect me to just magically create the rats and the racks and the tubs and the substrate and the hides and the water bowls?

MOW LAWNS SAVE MONEY


Despite what Obama promises nothing in life is free. You are putting the cart before the horse but let us know how that goes....

Last post to me? Thank you so much for not helping at all with my question by the I will gladly let everyone know how this goes.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

listen carefully and please reply answering these questions. I am not in it for the money I am in it for the reptiles. How am I going to take care of the reptiles if I don't make money breeding them? Do you expect me to just magically create the rats and the racks and the tubs and the substrate and the hides and the water bowls? Because I don't know how to do that.I am going to spend all of the money on the reptiles.

Everyone hopes to have a hobby paying for itself, been there done, I am even one of those making a profit, the difference is that YOUR plan is UNREALISTIC

What you are failing to understand is that based on your first post

I have about $180 to spend on the snakes.

it's just not gonna happen.

You need to feed 2 snakes for 2 or maybe 3 years, you will need to buy or build an hatchling rack, an incubator, you will need to feed 6 to 12 extra mouths for an undetermined amount of time (until the hatchling sell whether it is retail or wholesale).

Now here is the reality of the market, normal and single gene animals are hard to move the market is flooded as it is now, and by the time your animals will be ready to breed and produce a clutch the price of said animals will have dropped even more and they will still be as hard to move. Even if you are lucky enough to produce a 2 genes animal you will not see a return.

Again by the time you produce something (based on the initial investment) you will have already spend more then what the clutch is worth, that means you will not make a profit, you will not break even you will be in the red (been there done that too for 2 years when I first started and I initially invest 10K)

[dylanhagler]

Exactly. How? This is a question that you need to answer before owning a pet that depends entirely on you to live.

By having a job you can get a work permit at age 14 and it just so happens that I am 14

[dylanhagler]

Everyone hopes to have a hobby paying for itself, been there done, I am even one of those making a profit, the difference is that YOUR plan is UNREALISTIC

What you are failing to understand is that based on your first post it's just not gonna happen.

You need to feed 2 snakes for 2 or maybe 3 years, you will need to buy or build an hatchling rack, an incubator, you will need to feed 6 to 12 extra mouths for an undetermined amount of time (until the hatchling sell whether it is retail or wholesale).

Now here is the reality of the market, normal and single gene animals are hard to move the market is flooded as it is now, and by the time your animals will be ready to breed and produce a clutch the price of said animals will have dropped even more and they will still be as hard to move. Even if you are lucky enough to produce a 2 genes animal you will not see a return.

Again by the time you produce something you will have already spend more then what the clutch is worth, that means you will not make a profit, you will not break even you will be in the red (been there done that too for 2 years and I initially invest 10K)

I have $180 to spend on snakes, I have $400 to buy racks and other supplies plus a steady income.

[brock lesser]

By having a job you can get a work permit at age 14 and it just so happens that I am 14

Then why not start saving money now and buy the animal you want?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I have $180 to spend on snakes, I have $400 to buy racks and other supplies plus a steady income.

I get that and you still don't understand so I will try one last time $180 in snakes is not gonna produce something expensive or even something that will make a return it is that simple, to make money you need to produce something that people want and that is selling, normal and single gene animals are VERY hard to sell especially males.

[brock lesser]

I get that and you still don't understand so I will try one last time $180 in snakes is not gonna produce something expensive or even something that will make a return it is that simple, to make money you need to produce something that people want and that is selling, normal and single gene animals are VERY hard to sell especially males.

Amen to that!

[whatsherface]

Ok. Here's the thing. I know you say you can get a work permit, which translates to me as 'I don't have a job yet but I will.' So kudos to you for getting a job. Good life lessons and such.

But. You're 14. You're still in school and you will be for awhile. Are you going to have the time between your studies, your job, your snakes, and your social life to juggle it all? Being a teenager is hard enough without putting the extra pressure of a job and an intensive hobby like snake breeding. Any part time job you can get will likely not be 'steady income' because most people don't hire kids under the age of 16 or even 18 for liability reasons.

The old saying "You have to spend money to make money" does not apply in this hobby. Do not depend on making money. Don't go into this hobby planning on using what you earn to fund the hobby. Go into this hobby planning to never make a cent. You need to know that if you don't sell a single snake that you will still be able to care for all of them. Because most often people barely make back what they invested. You say you're passionate about the reptiles, and that's awesome. But with where you are in life, maybe you should get one or two good quality snakes and grow them. Don't rush into breeding. Do a ton of research. Figure out what direction you want to take. Start a piggy bank labeled "Snake Funding" and stick to a savings plan. Go to a lot of reptile shows and try and get a sense of how the game works. Ask questions. Talk to people.

I would hold onto your $180 and save a bit more to buy a high quality female hatchling. Raise her up, and use the two or three years to make a solid plan.

This forum is an amazing resource, but if you get an attitude or throw a tantrum like you've been doing for most of this thread, people are not going to want to help you. So be cool and stick with it. We want to see you succeed.

[alan12013]

At 14 it's better to buy a ball python or two then to spend it on BS... It will take time if you are hoping to have a hobby that will pay for itself... Just be patient (which is hard) and start by buying just one PET snake. Then some upgraded equipment. Save, plan and watch prices. Then buy another snake...

I just got on my computer and added up all of my reptile expenditures since I started recently. I'm mega frugal this year (highly unusual for me and very painful) and I've still spent over $1,500 dollars since MAY! Most of that money is for taking care of my animals and not the animals themselves.

I didn't read every post on here (nor did I have to...) but I take it you're 14 years old. Holy crap I (and probably every one here) wish I would have thought about this when I was 14. I could have an amazing collection. I'm 29 and just now getting into the reptile hobby as a life choice. There are many others that don't get into the hobby until they're much older than me! From what I can tell the largest ball python breeder in my area (for now) started when he was a great deal older than I am. Things will start to fall into place IN TIME.

With 180 dollars... I would just stick to getting 1 snake FOR NOW. Get the best looking baby single gene you can find but be sure to look for quality and shop around. Find one that you like, in that price range you could find a spider which is popular or maybe you could find something more unique. Stay away from recessive for now. Just take care of that one snake for a while. Make sure he has the best living conditions you can provide. Then eventually, the funny thing about money is that eventually you have some, so buy another then bam you have 2.

There are ways to make money if you're a serious risk taker though The stock market around election time comes to mind... Back on track... Just buy one snake and take good care of it and understand that you are lucky to be getting into a kick ass hobby at such a young age. So much time is ahead of you. Just my 2 cents.