What would you get???

[J.P.]

ball python hobby paying for itself or another hobby? i wish you the best of luck.
this is something you do for the love of it. i do not mean to discourage you, you obviously have good research skills which is a great tool to have, but i want to save you from disappointment if you expect a positive financial return. many have dreamed of all the cash flows from selling ones own hatchlings (guilty here), majority of those dreamers have quit, but a few of us accepted the fact that ball python breeding is not a profitable endeavor. yet we still do it because of the non-monetary satisfaction. i do make some money out of selling hatchlings, but it's nowhere near what i spent buying the breeders, feeding, caging expenses, etc. thank heaven's i have been spared from vet bills......

on a side note, you may still generate a some cash by breeding and growing feeders. if you have the right market, enough space, and a few hours of extra time, money from rodents could be enough to sustain the ball python hobby or even make it a little profitable.

[dustponds10]

I want to do it for the genetic aspect of things and of course a right off. It fits into ag. But mainly for the genetics involved. I enjoy combining them that is one reason why starting with single or double gene animals doesn't bother me. There are not many people in my area and I think low scale I could get rid of normals. So we will see. I appreciate the heads up for sure. Thanks.

[Pythonfriend]

i think if you want to make some money by breeding reptiles, its much easier with other species.

for some species, like ball pythons and leopard geckos and even retics, there are so many people breeding them that its really hard, competition is tough, and prices for normals are low. of course you also have so many morphs because so many people work with these species.

but its different for other species like green tree python or jacksons chameleons, where even normal juveniles fetch a lot of money.

i see how rhodents can work because demand is so massive, and people like to buy locally because shipping frozen rhodents is so expensive.

there is also lots of money to be made with spiders. sure, a little tarantula spiderling might only cost 10 dollars, but price increases as they get bigger and does a jump when the females can be identified. and you can get 100 little ones at a time.

[CptJack]

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for some species, like ball pythons and leopard geckos and even retics, there are so many people breeding them that its really hard, competition is tough, and prices for normals are low. of course you also have so many morphs because so many people work with these species.

This is the crux of it - and I"m not speaking as a breeder, just a pet owner and buyer.

The reality is, the ratio of breeders to pet owners in BP isn't exactly right. The reality of the situation is, A BIG percentage of buyers are breeders. Breeders don't need common single genes, normals, or a lot of males. Even those animals that do sell to pet homes... Well, let's be real, how many people are keeping that pet snake for the life of the snake? Lots of second hand snakes floating around from that, too.

Their popularity as breeders is just out of whack with their popularity as PETS. I mean, yeah, they're recommended to people and they are great pets and not exactly obscure but... the ratio of people wanting to breed them compared to people who want to own them isn't one that supports 'low end' snakes having homes. People are GIVING away single gene and normal males. Rescues are DROWNING in them. Even retail right now normal ball pythons in my area are selling for - 19.00 a baby. RETAIL - which is not exactly known for being cheaper!

I don't know what I would get. Well, I do, but it wouldn't lead to a return of money but because I thought it was pretty (breeding is not something I have any desire to do) Lesser, cinnamon, black pastel, mojave, butter, are all things I like a lot and aren't super expensive.

or I'd get a normal female, actually, but only because I'd love to have a bigger snake than my boys are likely to be.