Considering ball pythons can end up making money, I'd have kept the projects and sold the pets. Buuut I consider my projects and pets the same. Situationally you sometimes need to make cuts. I tend toward making those cuts where I am left with larger potential.
Actually... considering I consider my rats both pets and food producers, and have fed off my favorite rats simply due to them having issues with tub mates even once... yeah I don't think I get it. Guess I have a completely different outlook on things from other people