I do not own a large collection I try to stay within 75 to 100 breeders, but I have good insight on the "dream" from my perspective the one and close friends who do this for a living (I do this successfully allowing me to make a nice profit but have chose not to make a living at it.)
Having a dream is great being realistic about it is very important.
First have you owned any of the species you mentioned above? No read about those species but actually owned them?
You want to go full extent on a breeding facility but seem yet seems reluctant to spend money, reality number one it takes money to make money and making money with animals is a risk, now you can minimize that risk by being smart and investing your money wisely.I dont go bankrupt collecting and selling herps.
First step to make money regardless of the level at which you want to succeed (collection paying for itself, extra spending money, making a living) you need to have a plan and treat this like any other business, second step you MUST know your market and while diversity is great, too much diversity can quickly be overwhelming especially when things do not work out as planned (and sometimes they do not). Over the years I have seen people jumping head first thinking it's fast easy money with little work and when things do not pan out they sell their entire collection within 3 or 4 years.
Now I could tell you how much my electricity bill is but it will not help you since the chances is you will not keep your animals the way I do, this too needs to be figure out with your own figures (number of racks/enclosure = how many feet of heat tape = how many watts, or facility kept at room temp, than how many watts are being used to do so with either oil filled heater or heat pump)
While getting to do what you want is close to a dream even if it's not how you make your living it's also a lot of work, planning, but also heartache at times (the ups and down of breeding) and that is reality.
Reply With Quote