Brad,



Since getting back into snakes hard core in 1996, I have bred animals from 2000 to present on and off pending on situations with work and family. Mostly corns, but I was also successful with alternas for about three years and had built up a decent collection of locality animals. I have also sold off most of my collection at least twice if not more in that time frame as well LOL!! Breeding adds another enjoyable dimension to the hobby, but also adds new sets of stress as well. In addition to the possible health issues with the females, you also need to worry about selling off the babies you dont want to keep, and just space and caging. Keeping 30, 50, 100 snakes is alot harder than 3 or 10. I had a tendency to acquire animals for breeding and selling/trading off really cool and unique "oddballs" I acquired because of space and time constraints. Some examples included a really nice female Mexican burrowing python (Loxocemus), a very well acclimated Calabar python, a 12 year old ball python I had since it was a baby, and many, many awesome colubrids. I found I was keeping animals I really didnt like because they fit into breeding programs or I felt they were sellable at shows. Right now I am at a fairly good balance, but I could dwindle down a few of the animals I have in favor of some animals I would REALLY like to get. I have been asking myself if I really need pairs or groups of all the animals I have and do I really need to breed them. Cant I have just one really nice cal king or honduran milk? Do I really need a pair of bull snakes? Most folks probably breed really for one reason, to get that spectacular one of kind example of the species they are working with. You know what I am talking about!! That one animal that represents everything we desire in that species. The one that would cost you an arm and leg to buy off a breeder. Its an accomplishment to know you produced it from your colony and a feeling of pride. The bragging rights to take a picture and post on the forums and go "Check out this smoker" LOL!! In a way, your WTF snake kind of represents that. Its probably got great qualities you enjoy most in a pet snake. Quite honestly, the color is exceptional and I am sure some breeders would cultivate that into their own one of a kind morph of pit if given the chance!! I understand your frustration not being able to breed Moses for ethical reasons. Even if you properly represent the babies, etc. No telling what will happen when others get the offsrping, especially if half as nice as your animal.

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