Bothersome thoughts after first expo experience

[FollowTheSun]

The abundance of hatchlings/neonates, especially normal phase or common morphs is why you see so many folks on this site (and others) stressing to new keepers to slow down on breeding dreams. For the small time breeder especially, you can have the animals for an extended period of time. You have to be willing to keep, heat, feed, clean, etc. if the snakes don’t sell. And as Bogertophis and Whomping Wiilow both said, there are good and bad vendors.

I enjoy the local shows, but there isn’t near the variety of species as there once were in this area thanks to the morph craze. It’s mostly BP’s with some corns and hognose, and a few other species thrown in from time to time. I also used to breed and sell some of my snakes (Bci, corns, and Cuban boas once). I was picky about who I sold to or traded with. My first priority was the animals. I can only hope I read my buyers right and my babies are still happy and healthy all these years later, but you just never know.

I am new here and don't want to come to quick judgements, but when I see people breeding lots of snakes I do wonder what happens to the normals, or any of them for that matter. My daughter said it reminds her of that old game DragonVale where you can cross different dragons, and you get a lot of normals and one very special one-- but you still have to house and feed the normals. Good lessons in that game. :-)

I mean, snakes can live 20+ years. That's a lot of mouths to feed, and a lot of rats to provide.