Quote Originally Posted by spix14 View Post
I reserve the term "backyard breeder" for those who breed animals solely for profit, without keeping them in proper conditions, without giving them health care, and a lack of knowledge about the animals themselves. In other words people who just breed for the sake of breeding and are just trying to make a quick buck. The kind of people who will sell you a sickly animal and then disappear off the face of the earth when you try to contact them.

People who are breeding for the love of the animals and give them the proper care are not, in my estimation, backyard breeders. They are just beginners who haven't made a name for themselves yet. I'll be joining those ranks in a year or two.
Very good definition! I believe the care and health of the animals should be the first priority if you are just a collector or you are a breeder. Also as a breeder you need to be ready to take care of each baby that is born for as long as it takes. You may have plans to sell them, but they may never sell! At this point a responsible is ready to feed and care for those snakes properly. Also regardless of the situation I don't think a breeder should sell a sick snake even if in person and the buyer knows what they are getting into. This is just a bad practice that should be avoided at all costs.