Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In response to Brian's post, I would like to point out that breeding herps is one of the coolest hobbies on the globe.

Where else can you play mad scientist/genetic engineer for fun and profit the way you can breeding herps?

We as breeders could expand our customer base ten fold if we could learn how to better explain to "outsiders" how much fun it is to create little reptile gems.

Twenty five years ago, almost no one knew how to breed Ball Pythons in captivity. I remember seeing a pied for sale for 3K and thinking, "that's cool, but what am I gonna do with a single animal",,,,Doohhh!

Today, thru chat forums,books, word of mouth, etc, everyone can now learn how to breed many different species of herps and the hobby base has expanded exponentially.

The supply and demand curve could be tipped way into our direction if we could better figure out how to tell everyone how much fun it is to breed herps in captivity. Also, as some of these morphs become more affordable, it should be a lot easier to draw the pet Ball people into the breeder world and I am quite sure that many people will want to own a pied or an albino as a pet.

Let's take this energy that people are using to argue about the market and go out and tell some people about your snakes!

Show them how awesome the hobby is, and therefore EXPAND the market so that the demand is higher!

Use your energy on more positive outlooks.

I absolutely love this hobby, and share it with everyone I know.
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www.HeathersHerps.com

-Ohh, what a Lady-

Balls for Life, Baby!

I have a couple of shirts with various ball python morphs on them, I will go to all my local pet stores and just walk around...You would be surprised how many people ask about them. The past year or so the economy has not been very good for the little guy, gas prices, higher taxes, cost of everything going up....people do not have as much disposable income and with more breeders the demand is down. I am personally happy with the prices coming down, it has made me buy a lot more than I would have, some of my animals I thought it would be years till I got and some I thought I would never get are now in my reach. I do this as a hobby I love, if I make a few bucks or do some trades to get the different genetics I want, it has more than paid off. I do this with my kids so the time we spend together doing it is priceless anyhow. Everyone needs to keep things in perspective, most of the general public will not pay $3000 for a snake and those that are just in it for a quick buck will eventually get out and those of us that love doing it whether as a hobby or a business will be better off when they do....I love collection sales...LOL

I agree one hundred % that this is the greatest hobby in the world. I have only been keeping ball pythons for 4-5 years now and i love it. I am soon getting hets for albino and pieds and hopefully a pair of albinos. I cant wait to start producing morphs and making my own desinger morphs. I got one of my friend hooked also. He is not into breeding them yet but its only a matter of time because lets face it other than heroin (sorry i grew up in the ghetto) this hobby is the most addicting thing in the world. I am just getting started and i am confident in the market. Just like ever other market it will rise and fall. Look at the stock market and the real estate market drops off and picks up. And these forums are the best. I learned everything i know about bp's on kingsnake. Who knew that a kid going to the pet store and asking the owner what would get under my parents skin (thats not really how i put it but i doubt i am allowed to say bad words lol) would lead to such a serious addiction.

LOL, Gotta love hearing, BP are crashing I'm selling all mine. Ok, I'll take all those breeding size females!
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Nita Hamilton
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Ball Pythons
ballpythonworld.com

I do a couple of presentations a year on ball pythons and ball python genetics in my school’s Biology and AP Biology classes. The students (all high school girls) learn to appreciate what they once were afraid of. It’s truly rewarding.

Their mom’s, on the hand, are a different story. They don’t really appreciate my efforts when their daughters come home saying “can I get one.” LOL
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Larry Walker

WebSite

I think the title to this thread says it all...to some, Ball breeding is a hobby, to others, it is a business. I enjoy keeping and breeding Ball Pythons, but it is only a Hobby and side business. If I do not hatch a single egg this year, my bills still get paid. So, my attitude towards breeding, keeping, selling, etc., is going to be different than those who depend on their collection to make a living.

That says it all........I sometimes just sit in my herp room and just watch for hours........Ill turn on the music and sit in my chair and just observe,,,,,,,,,Its great I feel like im at the zoo........Free admission! My wife will ask what are you doing ? Just relaxing and watching and dreaming! Thanks for this post It really does say it all !

Now that's what I'm talking about. Great post!!! I've been working on a couple of ideas that would reach the masses. Just to share my passion and express how cool these animals are to keep and maybe even breed, if that's what you want to do. I agree a Pied or an Albino or whatever morph would be a terrific pet, why not??? We don't just need to buy them for breeding. I realize that the price point would have to be???? to reach that market. But that's the masses for sure. Again, solving our supply and demand problems.
I'll keep everyone posted on the success or failure of my ideas over the next few weeks. If everything goes well, I think a lot more people will hear about our passion! Thanks again for the great post, Brian (BHB)

Best of luck with your project. That would be great if your plans work out, and we will definately see an increase of interest into the hobby. Looking forward to some good news.
Justin J
AAR

Now all we need to do is get Snoop Dog, ditty..P, whatever he is going by today or Brittney Spears to be seen in public with a ball python and we will immediately triple how much our collection is worth...next marketing ploy.......LIVE JEWELRY....think it would work???? LOL... It did for the tea cup dogs...and to think...us bottom dwellers started it... Personally I would not want to see them as "live jewelery"....hell, I just about do a background check on any of the people I have given my unneeded possible het males to.

There are plenty of "big name" people that are into herps.

Rock stars, professional football players, etc.

We just don't do a very good job of promoting these facts.

Steve Irwin was the best thing that ever happened to herps.

We need some more guys/gals like him.

>>hell, I just about do a background check on any of the people I have given my unneeded possible het males to.

Haha, I do the same thing when people want to buy reptiles at the store, and those aren't even mine!

~jenny
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1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 neurotic mouse (Cute Girl Mousey)
1.0 escape artist mouse (Jesusmouse)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
1.25 chickens (Ugly the rooster and his harem)

The Saddest Mouse

positive thinking goes a long way! nice post