What are you in it for?

[elevatethis]

There is no shame in making money in your hobby, but how do we know your still in it for the animals, and care more about them than the money?

...pretty easy...when every penny goes back into getting more snakes, buying feeders, racks, etc..make a profit? The animals ARE my profit...it's worse than a crack habit...

Overall, its pretty easy to tell when a hobbyist is in it for the money or not.

I think as far as the animals coming first or not, those looking to question others' motives need to look at all those guys at shows, on kingsnake, fauna, etc that buy and resell...aka Flippers...the problem is that these guys sell cheap and some the same people who whine about the animals not coming first buy from these guys because they can save a few bucks...sounds kind of hypocritical...

Its fairly easy to tell a good guy from a bad guy if you know what questions to ask...

[starmom]

You're sweet, and I appreciate your thoughts....I don't even have a normal!! I just think that if I keep this light and focus on the fun and the caring of them, and bring my nephews into so that they see the world is bigger than what they have lost.... so that they can help care for something and help something live... I don't know. It's a mess, actually.

Ok... my heart hurts now so I gotta be business like...
The fact that you have a male Lesser is good. If you have any normal females, great, get them big enough to breed the Lesser to. Keep the girls... in time buy a Super Lesser BEL to breed them to.

If you can afford it, buy a male Het Lavender Albino NOW. Breed them to normal females, keep the 50% het females. A year or two before those 50% Het females are ready to breed, buy a Lavender Albino male, or two, depending on how many 50% Het females you have. Breed them like crazy, and by 2014 you can pay for the lil nephew's college education, and then some.

[cassandra]

I just like snakes. Pulling a freshly shed snake out of her hide, seeing that nose poke out when a mouse is offered...they are just great animals.

That and they don't crap in the drapes like my cat.

[BalloonzForU]

I already have a full time business that pays me very well and a lot more than I could ever make off selling my geckos & snakes. To me our snakes and geckos are my getaway, my forget all my stress and enjoy a passion that I share with Ken.

Can you remember the first time you held a snake? The first time you felt that powerfull body wrap itself around your hand? To feel the cold scales as they moved along your skin? The rush of excitment the first time you saw a high white pied and or got to hold it.... better yet buy it? I still feel that every time I hold each and every one of my snakes and my geckos, and I pray that feeling never goes away.

Would I like for my hobby/passion to pay for itself? Hell yeah, who whouldn't? I just don't ever want it to feel like a job to me, become something I have to do insted of something I want to and enjoy doing.

[Brimstone111888]

I love snakes and earning returns to buy more snakes is where its at!

[littleindiangirl]

Your a bunch of addicts! The first step is admitting... I on the other hand, don't have a problem... I can stop anytime.

[Sasquatch Art]

Your a bunch of addicts! The first step is admitting... I on the other hand, don't have a problem... I can stop anytime.

You are just silly

[janeothejungle]

It's nice when the hobby can pay for itself, but the ultimate goal is in what you can produce. For me, it's about the process. I love watching snakes I've raised from birth grow up and lay eggs. I love the watch and wait for that first pip and the subsequent hatching. It's all about going full circle....

Cheers,
Kat

[Entropy]

Mostly hobby but I admit it would be GREAT if I can at least get it to the point where it pays for itself.

[BChambers]

IMO no one who valued their mental and financial health would get into herps for the money. In fact, the reason you see so many "collection for sale" ads is just this-to anyone who doesn't absolutely have a PASSION for the animals, breeding is often a LOT of work for surprisingly little (or no) return.

I firmly believe those of us who successfully left more mainstream jobs to attempt to make a living as reptile breeders all seem to have this passion in common. Since caring for reptiles isn't really "work" to me, I seldom notice the long hours.