Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if anyone out there might be able to answer a few of my questions. I am a junior in high school and would like to breed snakes. I have been fascinated by reptiles my whole life, and have been keeping them for about four years. I asked my favorite reptile shop today if they had any advice on certain species I could breed, ect.. However it seemed like he was trying to discouraged me. I know that somebodys got to do that, but even though I was persistent, he just kept giving me excuses not to. However I know everything he said, and I have been thinking about this for the past few years.
My question is, do most people have a hard time trying to find homes/places that would buy their snakes. Also what might be a snake that I could breed that has relatively few young. (I have no intention on making money, I just want to do this as a hobby.)
Thanks

you because you're competition. Tell them you're thinking of opening a pet store and ask them what it takes. They will discourage you to do that. It's amazing that someone who owns a pet store (reptile shop) discourages breeding reptiles. Go to our website addy below and there's a few articles on it that should answer most of your questions. I suggest reading "Acquiring a Snake" and "Breeding Pituophis" on the website. Feel free to email Del or myself if you need anymore info. If you've owned reptiles, I encourage you to try breeding if you have the desire or inclination. We're near the end of the breeding season, so now is a good time to begin getting yourself and snakes ready for next spring. Good luck.

www.kernreptile.com

>>I was wondering if anyone out there might be able to answer a few of my questions. I am a junior in high school and would like to breed snakes. I have been fascinated by reptiles my whole life, and have been keeping them for about four years. I asked my favorite reptile shop today if they had any advice on certain species I could breed, ect.. However it seemed like he was trying to discouraged me. I know that somebodys got to do that, but even though I was persistent, he just kept giving me excuses not to. However I know everything he said, and I have been thinking about this for the past few years.
>> My question is, do most people have a hard time trying to find homes/places that would buy their snakes. Also what might be a snake that I could breed that has relatively few young. (I have no intention on making money, I just want to do this as a hobby.)
>> Thanks

I know that they might of been a little harsh, but I know that they do get a lot of uneducated kids coming in with leopard gecko babies, ect.. They might just think that I might be one of those kids that decide one day that it would be so cool if they bred their pet geckos. They are just trying to keep the reptile hobby clear of bad examples.

but, if you want some to produce a clutch or two every year pitouphis is a GREAT species!

...and not a species!

right now seems to be this pet store. I say pet store because I have not given them Reptile Shop status. Why would you defend someone who discourages you from breeding something you have had an interest in forever? They discourage kids that come in and ask questions about a problem with their gecko or snake or frog and turn around a buy them for nothing. Then this same store sells it for 500 percent profit. If you own a reptile and go in to a pet store they tell you what a problem they are and if you go in and want to get a reptile they tell you how great they are to own. If this pet store is not supporting your quest to breed snakes and competition isn't the reason, then its because they are uneducated and don't know how to breed. It is pretty safe for me to say that right now I could pick a pet store in my town and go in there and there will be at least one but usually several reptiles marked wrong as to what they are. I could even point it out and go back later and it still is marked wrong. You brought up a good thing. Alot of kids are uneducated, but pet stores use it to their advantage rather than educate them. Now, I will say there are reptile shops that do a great job with reptiles and selling and educating everyone. They are just the exception rather then the rule. Also keep in mind, that pet stores are exempt from alot of the permits and records (I don't know why) that private breeders must have and keep. Sorry I got up on a soap box. I just think you should pursue breeding if you'd like and email me or anyone on this forum and they will help you. Good luck. I've attached a pic of a Norhtern Pine. It's a great captive breeder snake and their clutches are usually around 10 eggs. Just a thought since you asked.

>>I know that they might of been a little harsh, but I know that they do get a lot of uneducated kids coming in with leopard gecko babies, ect.. They might just think that I might be one of those kids that decide one day that it would be so cool if they bred their pet geckos. They are just trying to keep the reptile hobby clear of bad examples.

Nearby there is a town called Plano, TX. The pet store that is the best around here, the manager there, Rusty, and I became friends back around 91. He is the guy that showed me that reptile shows existed, etc. Anyways....He not only encouraged and told me about breeders when I was a customer, but GAVE me my first snake to breed! We were friends by then, but still, he has been the coolest guy at any pet shop I have ever walked in. I go in one day, he said Merry Christmas and handed me a pillowcase with a beautiful het for albino coastal striped cal king adult female, hibernated and ready to go! I then bred her that year, hatched out killer abberant albino and het cal king babies.

My point is that Rusty went out of his way to promote reptile propagation! This was the start of my breeding craze from like 93 to 97. Of course, he never bought any of my hatclings cause he was already a loyal customer to someone else, but he still promoted the breeding of snakes and promoted local herp clubs, etc, knowing that the store may lose a sale or two.

Take care! Billy
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Genesis 1:1

is great with reptiles. Rusty sounds like a great friend and mentor (so to speak) Billy. I'm glad you posted an example of the pet store that's great with reptiles. Most pet stores don't start out dealing with snakes. They do carry the rodents that snake owners buy for their snakes. These pet stores begin selling a snake or two and get drawn in to carrying snakes for sale. They don't take the time to learn about them as they should. The emplyees and/or managers end up discouraging kids who come in and want snakes because it seems to be a nuisance to carry them. Pet stores in quite a few states are exempt from alot of the regulations and permit requirements private breeders must have and deal with. I don't know why that's the case, but it is in California. I've heard a few cases of local herp clubs or herpers who go in and help the pet store owner and their employees get up to speed with snake husbandry, etc. Some are thankful for the help so it's not always a lack of wanting to learn about them. So are you gearing up for the upcoming Daytona show? I always enjoy your Daytona Show rundown and review when you get back.

>>Nearby there is a town called Plano, TX. The pet store that is the best around here, the manager there, Rusty, and I became friends back around 91. He is the guy that showed me that reptile shows existed, etc. Anyways....He not only encouraged and told me about breeders when I was a customer, but GAVE me my first snake to breed! We were friends by then, but still, he has been the coolest guy at any pet shop I have ever walked in. I go in one day, he said Merry Christmas and handed me a pillowcase with a beautiful het for albino coastal striped cal king adult female, hibernated and ready to go! I then bred her that year, hatched out killer abberant albino and het cal king babies.
>>
>>My point is that Rusty went out of his way to promote reptile propagation! This was the start of my breeding craze from like 93 to 97. Of course, he never bought any of my hatclings cause he was already a loyal customer to someone else, but he still promoted the breeding of snakes and promoted local herp clubs, etc, knowing that the store may lose a sale or two.
>>
>>Take care! Billy
>>-----
>>Genesis 1:1

Terry,

Yeah....Rusty from the pet store I talked about did help me tremendously. I have a lot to thank him for, and luckily, I was able to sorta repay him with a beautiful female sinaloan years ago. That made his day. Dude, that store has some funny stories. Here is one real quick. They would find snakes that people would let go in the store. Well, one day, some TX bullsnake that no one knew where it came from worked its way into the main mouse tank in the back room and ate ALL the mice! It ate something like 20 mice! Well, it couldn't move! It looked like a huge sausage! he ha!!!!! They kept it, and sold it later.

Yeah...I have been trying hard to save money and scrounge for my fund for Daytona. I sold some drumset pedals today, so that helped. Thing is....you never know what you will find there, so to have as much money as you can helps. This year, my job situation changed a little, so I may not go with as much to spend, but hey, that is cool. Great thing about pits, is that you don't have to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars for a great looking one...they ALL look great and most are cheaper than the snakes that are the current trend. I will come back with a Daytona report as well. Bro, you should try to make it this year. I know Shannon Brown is going now.

Take care Terry!

Billy
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Genesis 1:1

gravid. LOL. Del and I are shooting for the year after this one for Daytona. We need to make it there and next year seems to be the best to shoot for right now.

>>Terry,
>>
>>Yeah....Rusty from the pet store I talked about did help me tremendously. I have a lot to thank him for, and luckily, I was able to sorta repay him with a beautiful female sinaloan years ago. That made his day. Dude, that store has some funny stories. Here is one real quick. They would find snakes that people would let go in the store. Well, one day, some TX bullsnake that no one knew where it came from worked its way into the main mouse tank in the back room and ate ALL the mice! It ate something like 20 mice! Well, it couldn't move! It looked like a huge sausage! he ha!!!!! They kept it, and sold it later.
>>
>>Yeah...I have been trying hard to save money and scrounge for my fund for Daytona. I sold some drumset pedals today, so that helped. Thing is....you never know what you will find there, so to have as much money as you can helps. This year, my job situation changed a little, so I may not go with as much to spend, but hey, that is cool. Great thing about pits, is that you don't have to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars for a great looking one...they ALL look great and most are cheaper than the snakes that are the current trend. I will come back with a Daytona report as well. Bro, you should try to make it this year. I know Shannon Brown is going now.
>>
>>Take care Terry!
>>
>>Billy
>>-----
>>Genesis 1:1

Where is Plano? One of the guys in my dorm's from there, but I never asked where that is *L*. If it's got a good herp shop and it ain't too far, it sounds like I've got a weekend trip. I need some entertainment when my fiancee isn't there and after the rattlers curl up for the season.

Thanks!
Paul
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Cornsnakes and kingsnakes and gophers oh my!

It is called Pet Palace, and for a pet shop, it really is good. I haven't been there in so long...I know Rusty only manages on Sundays now. It is on the northeast corner of Independence and Legacy. I don't have the number on me, so you may have to call information. Call and see what they have available at the moment, and if you do, tell Rusty Billy Fraser sent ya.

Take care!

Billy
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Genesis 1:1

thanks again It's always nice to hear of decent full line pet shops.
Paul
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Cornsnakes and kingsnakes and gophers oh my!

Where is Plano? One of the guys in my dorm's from there, but I never asked where that is *L*. If it's got a good herp shop and it ain't too far, it sounds like I've got a weekend trip. I need some entertainment when my fiancee isn't there and after the rattlers curl up for the season.

Thanks!
Paul
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Cornsnakes and kingsnakes and gophers oh my!

It depends; I'd actually go with spotted pythons, childrens pythons, or some less common but still easy colubrids--perhaps Mx. black kings, desert kings, taiwanese beuty snakes, or similar stuff.
As for people buying it; that depends on the species and the area you're in. In Denver there's a decent market; you can at least sell to some of the local shops, although there won't be any profit in that. If you're in the boonies, not so easy--but there are the classifieds in the paper, and internet sites.
As for homes--I'm actually not too picky for most species. I'll trust people to take care of them until the prove they can't. I've only ever fostered out rescue animals (spotted python, balls, an odd kingsnake), and when I went to college, some of mine that wouldn't usually eat F/T (again, BP's, the tree boas, and a cal king--issues with getting live mice there). So, I've never done it large scale, and I've also never done it with any "hard" species, except my tree boas. Most people fine caring of a BP, or a corn, or whatnot isn't it that onerous. Just use common sense--if you know someone's incapable, don't sell to them.

Paul
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Cornsnakes and kingsnakes and gophers oh my!

I agree with Paul2. Spotted Pythons and some less seen colubrids would be a good start. This year was my first year breeding and I really enjoyed it. I never had a pet store try to discourage me though. Most of them wanted to buy everything I had. I was breeding San Felipe Rosy Boas, Spotted Pythons and Ball Pythons (strictly by accident there). If you want to do it, go for it. Buy a Hovabator if you decide on an egg laying specie and go. It's a cheap efficient incubator and works quite well.