Although Importation of African species appears not to have changed much with with Ball Pythons, one must consider that most of the commonly Imported species such as the Ball Python are "Farm Raised" that are Imported into the USA. With decreasing population of uncommon and "Cheap" species they are Imported in fewer numbers. One can certainly factor in the declining prices of Popular species due to mass breeding as a uncertain variable for what the Future Market may be. Most of the changes to CITES varies yearly with the Wild Population Counts and Country of Origins own Wildlife Laws,and species Exportation Laws. So listed or not on CITES, species of Plated Lizards will not automatically be pouring into the USA forever.

As far as the Breedings making it Cost Effect, most breeders projects are high dollar/high turnover (such as Dwarf Monitors, Bearded Dragons, Womas, ect.) which makes breeding of the species they love Cost Effective. Even just a Hobbyist can breed the species they love and make some money but again this is not the point. It is those of us who breed the less considered species who gain the knowlegde and skills other do not have for repetative sucessfull breeding. Marketing is advertising a way of selling your offspring with higher demand. One does not need to sell Albino BPs to sell animals. All species of Gerrhosaurus & Zonosaurus have been sucessfully bred in the USA & Europe for years; although there is not a stampede to buy them there is a market and not exactly Dirt Cheap Import Pricing. Everyone has different opinions on what to breed and whats going to sell at how much, only the Future Market will unvail itself later.

The Incubation of G. flavivulgaris, G. nigrolineatus, G. validus is not as difficult as some Zoos have had trouble with. I have breed & hatched several generations of African and Madagascan Plated Lizards with no problems, just paying attention to the needs they require. Most of the other Private
Breeder I share data with DO NOT OFFER Husbandry Information or SELL CCB Plateds and have sucessfull breedings/hatchings everytime for over a decade.

Frank Retes is a good example of how to sucessfully breed monitor lizards while at the same time Zoos & Breeders across the Globe didn't even come close. Why try to Breed to be another Business venture, Breed them because you can. And they will sell to people who want them. Why do you think this Forum is here if there is no Future Market. Like all Reptile Species: Imports start coming in cheap, 10 yr gap price starts to rise as all the "HOT/POPULAR" selling species drop in price as expected, then other species are sought after to open new marketable animals. Even the Leopard Gecko still is in demand/price is Low/affordable to all. Another one, Zonosaurus quadrilineatus, Imported early 1990 selling @ $30 each now at $100 WC with CCB offspring that won't be available on the market for several years.

Bottom Line is Breed the animals especially if others are unsucessfull. You do not need to justify to the cost to anyone wether you are a Hobbyist, Business, or Private Breeder since those who are unsucessfull cannot justify the loss.

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