Basically, what you're talking about is a private investor. The investor isn't part of the business anymore.

Legally, there's not much either of you can do. Whoever CURRENTLY has the snakes has the big upper hand. If there was no contract written/signed upon purchase of the breeding stock or investment into the business... (which as I'm understanding wasn't a business in the first place... it's just now BECOMING a business).

If he has the snakes, then same deal.... he bought 'em, he has 'em... bad luck. If YOU have them, then LEGALLY I don't think he can FORCE you to split your profits/earnings with him.

Now.... is it the right thing to do? Probably... But the "right" thing to do in MY opinion is for you to breed the animals that you have, and work it out like a breeding loan. Take turns chosing morphs, then hets out of the clutches until he has the trade value for the amount of money that he invested. If it takes four years, it takes four years. OR, you can sell said animals yourself, and pay him cash for the money that he invested. I would also expect, if I were him, to get not only what he invested, but a little appreciation of orriginal investment. (I.e hatchling prices vs adult prices.... if he bought a hatchling female for $50, and it's a 1500g+ female now, it's "WORTH" a lot more.

Depending on your collection and how large and diverse in the amount/value of morphs, hets that you have, I would say anywhere from 133% to 150% return on investment would be reasonable. (And appreciated, since he really has no rights to the snakes anymore anyway.. and you're just doing "the right thing" by him... not because you HAVE to, but because you appreciate the head start that he gave you.)

If he demands to be part of the business "for the life of the business", then in my very legal minded, sarcastic, short and stand-offish opinion, I would tell him to go pound sand, and see if that gets him any further than demanding that he be a part of something that he doesn't help with any longer...

Just my two cents...

This is Geneva, signing off....