Well, I Think I am Done

[MasonC2K]

Over the last couple years I have drastic reduced my breeding. Partly do to lack of time being a new Dad and partly because the market has crashed. Selling 2 gene animals for under $100 was a tough pill to swallow last year.

I had been contemplating getting completely out of it for a while now. Well, that decision was made for me today. I went to do the round on my collection discovered Daisy. my Pewter Albino, had passed away. And I had just started breeding her this season. No idea why. Don't care at this point. I don't think I have to motivation to continue.

[ReptiMoto]

Sorry to hear about Daisy. Everybody's light burns out. I played basketball for 10 years and was on a path to a scholarship, but I just didn't have the motivation anymore so I quit. Parents were devastated but that's Ok. I found a new hobby in motorcycles and cars.

[Reinz]

Sorry about Daisy

I can see how that was the final straw that pushed you to your decision.

[wolfy-hound]

Sorry to hear about Daisy. I've been at that ragged edge a few times and it's almost always been because of a death. At times I'm tempted to get rid of it all too.

Big hugs to you. Whether you continue in BPs or not, you're still one great person and I feel honored knowing you.

[Hammertime1977]

I hear ya man, I'm here because the same thing happened to me with fish keeping. The fish I once bred and got $10+ for, the fish stores are now buying at 3 for $1.

When you make money off fads, this happens.

Catch the next fad, or cling to the past and lose everything you made.

I have 1 Crested Gecko and just got my first Ball Python. I'm in the process of shutting my last 3 fish tanks down.

The one guy said Cars and Motorcycles...my WRX agrees

[bcr229]

Over the last couple years I have drastic reduced my breeding. Partly do to lack of time being a new Dad and partly because the market has crashed. Selling 2 gene animals for under $100 was a tough pill to swallow last year.

I had been contemplating getting completely out of it for a while now. Well, that decision was made for me today. I went to do the round on my collection discovered Daisy. my Pewter Albino, had passed away. And I had just started breeding her this season. No idea why. Don't care at this point. I don't think I have to motivation to continue.

I understand burnout, but even if you stop breeding them, keep a few of your favorites around as pets. Some of my least expensive BP's are the ones I fool with and show off the most to non-snake people, because they're awesome about being handled.

[Hammertime1977]

I'm a relative new Ball Python owner coming off a long history of keeping tropical fish and geckos...

What attracted me to finally buy a Ball Python?

$40 for what I have now learned is a 2 gene snake (Pastel/Calico)

^^ That's what attracted me to finally buy one, I always have a spare enclosure or 3 kicking around as a fish keeper.



The bubble has burst, people have finally realized that only a few desperate breeders will overpay for a gene they don't have. Meaning that the rest of the snakes out there are...as in any business "worth what someone will actually pay for them"

I've gone through this in fish keeping, I stopped breeding a good 2 years ago as the bottom fell out of our market too. I was to the point where I was having questionable people to my home to pick up young fish for $1

We killed the market.

Our quest for "franken-fish" and other genetic morphs killed the hobby. We readily produced 90% commons for 10% special results, sometimes less. Which often meant having to dump 200-300 fish from every batch. This is what took for the sake of discussion...Tiger Oscars from $24.99 each for a healthy 3-4-5" young fish to $6.99 for your pick of whatever 2" Oscar you want.

Not to mention that the blacks in a Tiger Oscar are now more of a dark gray and the once vibrant bright Orange fire is now more of a faded peach.

So I will caution you all...

Control the breeding and be careful what you breed. We have many examples in the fish hobby of genetically weak fish (due to breeding) that sometimes you have a 50/50 chance that they won't survive the step from Juvi to Adult.

Electric Blue Jack Dempseys are one of my all time fav's and yet the females are 100% useless and unable to reproduce viable fry, leaving you producing them with a Male Blue and a Regular Female JD that carries the gene. Not to mention that the bulk of them just magically die when they get around 3"

I'd hate to see this happen in the reptile trade.

I can't imagine putting 2-3 years into a snake and just have it die due to genetic weakness.

[Rob]

If you're in it for the money you're in the wrong hobby. Sucks to hear about daisy tho. Hopefully your not out for good.


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[distaff]

Interesting about the fish. I know very little about most fish (although, I follow a few channels - Dustin's Fish Tanks, Rachael O'Leary, and Joey's King of KIY).

Goldfish fascinate me. I would hate to see the most beautiful examples of those lost. Nevertheless, GF varieties may be the best examples of what extreme breeding can do. The Ryukin (spell?) is gorgeous when balanced, but so many just look overdone to me. They are becoming parodies. I would like to see more hobby breeders specializing in their favourites breeding and selling fish that conform to aesthetcially (spell?) pleasing, not extreme, standards.

[Albert Clark]

Hey Mas, so sorry about Daisy. Sorry too, that you have decided to give up the business. I know you have been contemplating leaving for awhile but don't let losing a animal validate your decision. At times of grief is a bad time to make important decisions. Take time off yes but dont throw it all in yet. There has to be things you love about the hobby/business so just give yourself time to grieve first. Then make a crucial decision later. Just my .02 cents. Stay in peace and not in pieces.