what do you wish you had known before your first ball python? and good UK breeders?

[Eric Alan]

I wish I had known about the ideas, opinions, beliefs, and attitudes expressed in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzc2PBsY7v0&t=308s

Here's my take on his take:

1. I agree that breeding ball pythons is not a get rich scheme. Like so many things, sometimes the best way to make a small fortune is to start with a large one.
2. I agree that the priority for someone younger wanting to get into the business should be to first get an education. Spending tuition money on snakes is not a good idea for most.
3. I agree that if you are going to do it anyway, then you should absolutely have a passion for what you're doing and be willing to invest significant time and energy into doing so.

I don't agree that he should be looked at as someone who's an expert on BPs or the BP market at all. Not even remotely so. Here's why:

1. He said that he bought four BPs - 1 Paint, 2 Normals, and 1 Pastel. Two of the four died because of "genetic issues".
2. He felt it was inhumane to keep them in a rack system and described their behavior in the 125G aquarium as being happy because they were all over the place (which was quite likely a sign of stress).
3. He says, "I didn't care enough about my snakes to give every last one of them that type of environment" - the environment he described as making them happy (the 125G aquarium). He doesn't care to make them happy?
4. He talked about a Hovabator incubator as if it were the crème de la crème for ball pythons. They are most certainly not - not even close.

Again, just my honest worth (which would probably have been better spent paying off my student loans ).

Best regards,
Eric