I voted other. I intend to keep them as pets with the possibility of breeding without 'selling' being a factor.


After reading many opinions and discussions on the captive keeping of reptiles, I have developed the personal opinion that since we keep reptiles as captives then we should allow them to undergo as many 'life processes' as possible. I have no desire to deny an animal a basic 'life process' such as reproduction. Money or selling has nothing to do with it.

If someone keeps an reptile with no intention of breeding, what true purpose does that animal serve in the end? It is 'kept' solely for the keepers' enjoyment then eventually it dies. However an animal that is bred in captivity is provided the opportunity to pass on its genetics to offspring and partake of a major 'life event'.

I believe that since captive born offspring in the 'market' are competition to wild caught animals in the 'market'..... it will one day have a great effect on this hobby.

So even if you are keeping a normal pair of ball pythons (or a pair of ANY reptile), what reasons are there not to breed? Besides the costs associated with caring for a pair of animals, what 'extra' costs are associated with breeding? No costs are specific to the breeding process and the cost associated with the incubation and initial care of a clutch or two of eggs is not so bad it will break the bank. Even if the incubation and start-up costs for a clutch of eggs are too much for someone, they can always sell the offspring......a clutch of 6 normal ball pythons can easily be sold for $20 each to any local pet store...that would pretty much cover the cost of incubating a single clutch ($40 homemade incubator or hovabator, $20 for electricity, $10 for medium) plus you would have some leftover to feed and house the babies.....PLUS...you will have the added experience of breeding snakes, incubating eggs, and caring for young....PLUS...your snakes will have had the chance to complete a 'life process'.
.....so that is just my general take on breeding reptiles that you keep as 'pets'. Keeping single animals/non-breeding animals is fine in my book if that is what you desire (so I am not 'fussin' at people that do not intend to breed ). I just like to ask...If you have a pair of reptiles, what reason is there not to breed??