I know all about the small breeder because I am one. Believe it or not I have been raising and breeding ball pythons for almost 6 years now. I know what its like to work a full time job 40 hrs a week, come home each night and spend an hour out with the rats and then another 1-2 hours in the snake room. On top of that I also coach my 9 yr olds baseball team. Time is very hard to come by, but I really enjoy what I do and wouldn't change a thing (well I'd like to quit the full time job, but I don't see that happening. lol) Anyway, as I said I am not a big breeder although the snakes I produce are top notch specimens, I don't have the "big breeder name" to go with the snakes. I too have to sell for a little less, its what makes the difference to some people. If I were selling a snake for the same price as (insert big breeder name here) do you think anyone would buy from Steve who??? Exactly. Don't get me wrong though, the big breeders deserve every dollar they get for producing those amazing new designer morphs. It helps me to know that I will also be able to produce the new morphs of TODAY, in 3-4 years.



Remenber, it's not the big breeders who are concerned with the low prices of Pastels, Spiders or Mojaves. They already made their money on those morphs 4 years ago when WE all bought them. When I started Mojaves were $7500. Pastels were $1000 for males and $2000 for females and Spiders I think were $3000.



I know that when my $1000 male pastel breeds I may only get $700 for the whole clutch, but that buys alot of Mazzuri.



I say this: get what you can get for your babies and then re-invest. I'm not making much, but I'm still plugging away.



HAPPY HERPING

Steve

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