Online breeders?

[MD_Pythons]

If you want a BEL, why not just buy one?

[Skyrivers]

If you want a BEL, why not just buy one?

I wanted to specialize in breeding them. If I just wanted 1 for a pet would just buy one.

[Eric Alan]

well, when the mommy Dish runs away with her friend Spoon...

[artgecko]

When it comes to breeding and you get normal or less desired morphs, what do most people do with the ones that don't sell. I know if you breed every year this can get quite crazy. I would feel justly so obligated to keep them and care for them, but there has to be people looking for normal as well?

I agree with the other posters. You want to try to pair animals that won't produce normals, at least as much as possible. You can achieve this by pairing a super animal (i.e. super pastel or a BEL, etc.) to another non-super, that way, you will always end up with animals that are at least one morph and easier to sell. You can also do this by breeding 2 recessive visual animals (i.e. 2 pieds, ghosts, clowns, etc.) as that will always produce the recessive morph.

People who produce a lot of snakes a year, say, people that do this for a living, can sell their normals and cheaper animals at wholesale prices to large pet store chains, etc. Some people can work out a similar deal with a local (non-chain) pet store as well, but this is not very common. Many people sell their unwanted animals to flippers / re-sellers to then sell at reptile shows, etc. But again, for way less than the animals' normal "market value".

Normals are sold at reptile shows for as little as $25 (or even less) so consider that at that price, you aren't really even making any money considering the cost of food and housing. This is why it is best to go very slowly and be prepared to keep an entire clutch until they sell (unless you have the means to make a deal with a local store, etc.).

I'm not trying to be a downer, just trying to be realistic about things.
I have just now begun my first breeding project after ~5 years of keeping and I intend to only breed 1-2 clutches my first year with plans to sell at a local reptile show and online. I will have to wait for my breeders to mature, and purchase all the equipment, so I won't be making any money off this venture to say the least lol.

[Skyrivers]

I agree with the other posters. You want to try to pair animals that won't produce normals, at least as much as possible. You can achieve this by pairing a super animal (i.e. super pastel or a BEL, etc.) to another non-super, that way, you will always end up with animals that are at least one morph and easier to sell. You can also do this by breeding 2 recessive visual animals (i.e. 2 pieds, ghosts, clowns, etc.) as that will always produce the recessive morph.

People who produce a lot of snakes a year, say, people that do this for a living, can sell their normals and cheaper animals at wholesale prices to large pet store chains, etc. Some people can work out a similar deal with a local (non-chain) pet store as well, but this is not very common. Many people sell their unwanted animals to flippers / re-sellers to then sell at reptile shows, etc. But again, for way less than the animals' normal "market value".

Normals are sold at reptile shows for as little as $25 (or even less) so consider that at that price, you aren't really even making any money considering the cost of food and housing. This is why it is best to go very slowly and be prepared to keep an entire clutch until they sell (unless you have the means to make a deal with a local store, etc.).

I'm not trying to be a downer, just trying to be realistic about things.
I have just now begun my first breeding project after ~5 years of keeping and I intend to only breed 1-2 clutches my first year with plans to sell at a local reptile show and online. I will have to wait for my breeders to mature, and purchase all the equipment, so I won't be making any money off this venture to say the least lol.

I agree with you completely. I know I'm asking a lot of questions in a short period of time but I'm not in a hurry.

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[artgecko]

I agree with you completely. I know I'm asking a lot of questions in a short period of time but I'm not in a hurry.

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No problem... If you don't ask, you can't learn.

[Skyrivers]

No problem... If you don't ask, you can't learn.

And I have a lot to learn

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[Craiga 01453]

I, like so many others, have considered trying my hand at breeding. But, I'm literally YEARS away from ready. I've got 5+, probably 6 years of experience keeping snakes and am NOWHERE near ready.

There is a LOT more that goes into breeding than just acquiring a few snakes, pairing them and ending up with adorable baby snakes.

Some things to consider:
1) it seems you have a local store lined up, but...what if that falls through? Then are you prepared to keep the babies? Do you have a backup plan?

2) are you prepared to make difficult decisions regarding when to cull an animal? Are you qualified to make these decisions? What defects will prevent an animal from being able to live a healthy life? Will you be able to physically go through with the act of culling an animal?

3) do you have the time, financial resources, knowledge, physical space, etc...to properly care for the breeding animals as well as any and all babies that are produced?

I'm positive I'm not listing everything you need to consider, just giving you a few thoughts...

I'm not trying to discourage you, just trying to help you see the big picture. As I said, I've got some years under my belt and had to ask myself these questions. For now, and the foreseeable future, the answer is NO. So for now, I'm making the responsible decision to not venture into breeding any time soon.

[Skyrivers]

I, like so many others, have considered trying my hand at breeding. But, I'm literally YEARS away from ready. I've got 5+, probably 6 years of experience keeping snakes and am NOWHERE near ready.

There is a LOT more that goes into breeding than just acquiring a few snakes, pairing them and ending up with adorable baby snakes.

Some things to consider:
1) it seems you have a local store lined up, but...what if that falls through? Then are you prepared to keep the babies? Do you have a backup plan?

2) are you prepared to make difficult decisions regarding when to cull an animal? Are you qualified to make these decisions? What defects will prevent an animal from being able to live a healthy life? Will you be able to physically go through with the act of culling an animal?

3) do you have the time, financial resources, knowledge, physical space, etc...to properly care for the breeding animals as well as any and all babies that are produced?

I'm positive I'm not listing everything you need to consider, just giving you a few thoughts...

I'm not trying to discourage you, just trying to help you see the big picture. As I said, I've got some years under my belt and had to ask myself these questions. For now, and the foreseeable future, the answer is NO. So for now, I'm making the responsible decision to not venture into breeding any time soon.

I am in the education phase. When things are learned will determine whether or not I choose to pursue this or not. I'm fully aware that any Offspring my snakes produce I will be completely responsible for if or when I find them a new home

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[Craiga 01453]

I am in the education phase. When things are learned will determine whether or not I choose to pursue this or not. I'm fully aware that any Offspring my snakes produce I will be completely responsible for if or when I find them a new home

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I hear ya. And like I said, I'm not trying to discourage you. I just have the best interest of the animals in mind. I feel the BP market is already over saturated, especially with normals and even many single gene animals.
Keep studying, keep learning, and whether you decide breeding is for you or not, I wish you and your snakes the best.