The Ball Python Industry

[bearhart]

Lacking? Well for one control on the part of the smaller breeder. I think RDR, NERD, BHB and a few others have exhibited control well. In their control of the number of animals and the makings of animals in the market, where would Phantom prices be if RDR wanted to see a phantom in every collection. Or would we be still be dieing over the crystal ball if that special female was given away from the get go take super striper's and some of the other stuff floating around that is still back door, under the table stuff where would that stuff be with out control they'd? be right there with pastels and some of the others quickly approaching corn snake morph prices.
I feel that there needs to be more light shed on what a person needs to understand and have knowledge of before becoming a "basement breeder" no offense Brian . I think if people could stifle their greed/excitement/whatever long enough to learn what it takes to breed, not just pairing and incubating but the business aspect of it the market would be far more stable than it is.

You appear to be lamenting what is called a "free market economy" while advocating what is generally referred to as "anti-competitive business practices".

[nevohraalnavnoj]

You appear to be lamenting what is called a "free market economy" while advocating what is generally referred to as "anti-competitive business practices".

i am all for a free market economy. if exxon mobile, bp, and other oil companies get together and say "hey, let's all raise gas prices at the same time" it's a crime. but what some people seem to be advocating is the same thing on the part of breeders.

JonV

[Adam_Wysocki]

I think that the number one thing lacking in the ball python industry right now is patience. Everyone is such a rush ... for so many it has to be "right now". My question is, at what expense? The animals aren't going anywhere ... slow down, relax, have FUN!!!

The best thing about this hobby? ... The animals ... for me, it's ALL about the animals ... everything else is just background noise.

-adam

[bearhart]

That's fair enough. But, money is always going to motivate people like almost nothing else. I imagine there are alot of people with $$ signs in their eyes and very little understanding of what it takes to earn them.

[jknudson]

The best thing about this hobby? ... The animals ... for me, it's ALL about the animals ... everything else is just background noise.

-adam

I'll agree that the best thing about the hobby are the animals, I mean...they are the reason most of us are in the hobby in the first place. The variety of patterns and colors is incredible, and it is just the beginning.

However I also enjoy the hobby because I have been able to network with some great people and make some awesome friends along the way. Its great to see friends enthusiastic about their own projects and animals day in and out, and see some of those projects come to fruition.

[DanielA989]

I think that the number one thing lacking in the ball python industry right now is patience. Everyone is such a rush ... for so many it has to be "right now". My question is, at what expense? The animals aren't going anywhere ... slow down, relax, have FUN!!!

The best thing about this hobby? ... The animals ... for me, it's ALL about the animals ... everything else is just background noise.

-adam

I am with adam. I started breeding animals yes partly to sell for money so I could afford the things I couldn't afford. Basically for better animals and equipment and cages... SO yea definately for more animals.

[MarkS]

The thing I dislike the most is the secrecy. All the 'hidden' morphs and mutations in peoples collections that they just hint at and tease us with. I understand the secrecy, people just want to protect their investment, but after a certain amount of time it just feels like they're rubbing our faces in it. I think in the long run all the secrecy will end up doing more harm then good. I've always believed that everyone benefits from a free flow of information.

The best part of it is of course the animals, after all they're the only reason I'm doing this in the first place.

Mark

[elevatethis]

The thing I dislike the most is the secrecy. All the 'hidden' morphs and mutations in peoples collections that they just hint at and tease us with. I understand the secrecy, people just want to protect their investment, but after a certain amount of time it just feels like they're rubbing our faces in it. I think in the long run all the secrecy will end up doing more harm then good. I've always believed that everyone benefits from a free flow of information.

If you had a project that you had invested more than what most people's car is worth, would you want every tool out there on the internet knowing exactly what's going on with it, and probably taking every opportunity to take advantage of that information? The fact is that if you are interested in the project and are serious about getting into it, that breeder will tell you everything you need to know. Just because it's not public on the internet doesn't mean that the information isn't out there. The internet is a big part of the hobby for most of us, but it is truely a small part of the industry as a whole.

Don't feel like anyone is rubbing anything in your face - it's just marketing...are you offended by all the exotic sports cars behind that glass at the Ferrari or Porshe dealership? I look at so called "unattainable morphs" the same way...

All of those "holy grail" type morphs would not exist if it weren't for the demand for them and the financial gains that once could receive by satisfying that demand. If ball morphs weren't worth anything, would a trapper in africa dig through the dirt to find them? Would a breeder in the US pay thousands of dollars to get it exported? Would that breeder invest in caging, racks, rat colonies, buildings, etc etc in order to reproduce those animals? Just food for thought...

[dsirkle]

I'm not sure that the industry is lacking anything. It's the perfect example of a free market. You have the big guys who have been in the business for years, and, consequently, have many of the biggest morphs. And then you have the little guys who start into the market... they're the ones that keep the market going, keep the prices low enough for new people to break in.

It's a lot like the airline business (studied it as a minor in college ) After deregulation, many of the big business airlines found themselves scrambling to figure out how to keep their costs down with all the new airlines entering the business---the industry went from having like 8 airlines to around 400. Things have evened out a bit now---ain't competition beautiful???---and you now have a variety to pick from: you can get top notch, first class service for a pretty penny on one of the big boy airlines... or, you can go with a cheaper airline ticket, and not have an assigned seat (fight for the window seat!).

Same thing in the reptile industry... you pay a big buck for good stock, or you take a chance on a little guy. It's capitalism in action, and it's awesome!

LOL... did I get off topic?

Not to be a wise guy, but the Airlines are pretty much either fighting off banctruptcy or have gone out of business altogether and the prices are higher than ever with the quality of service worse than ever. Its not a healthy industry at all. I hope that you are not correct about the similarities.

[MarkS]

If you had a project that you had invested more than what most people's car is worth, would you want every tool out there on the internet knowing exactly what's going on with it, and probably taking every opportunity to take advantage of that information?

If I were investing that much into a project, I wouldn't be advertising it at all. If you want to keep something secret, then DON'T TELL ANYBODY. Instead I see breeders leaking out tidbits of info here and there and giving out sneak peaks to a select few that then go out to the forums to advertise for them (everyone likes free advertising don't they???). It seems that people want to get credit for discovering and producing the morph before all the work of figuring it out is done, without the risk that someone else, who may be working on a similar project, gets the chance to name it and exploit it first. Sounds like a classic case of wanting to have your cake and eating it too.

are you offended by all the exotic sports cars behind that glass at the Ferrari or Porshe dealership? I look at so called "unattainable morphs" the same way...

Sure, I like to look at them. But I also know that I can go to the dealers website and look up the specs and find out exactly what goes into them and how they perform. Porsche and Ferrari know that people aren't even going to talk to a salesperson based on looks alone.