Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It not who has the most wins either...But how many Ball pythons do you own...Its going to be a 2 part question
Kevin

I currently own 12. But you already knew that Kev.
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You're never gonna get me.........I'm the Crimson Ghost

n/p
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Ryan Sherman
Scottsdale, Arizona

I currently own 2 for now.
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1.0 albino Speckled king
0.1 speckled king
0.1 desert cali king
1.1 ball python
65 common rats
25 african soft hair rats
100 mice
7 degus
2.0.6 girbils
1.0 blue and gold macaw
1.1 orange wing amazons
0.1 tin african grey
1.0 sugar glider
.1 beagle
1.0 pink toe tarantula
1.1 borneo bloods (comming soon)
0.1 hell spouse
3.2 children (kids)

n/p

I currently have 82 but I am always adding, Infact I am waiting for three more as I write this.
Erick Markstaller
Exotic Designs

That last one is cool!!

I will be trying to prove out the genetics next year when his babies are big enough, I will keep everyone posted. Thanks

Just counted 457. Until this weekend!
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http://www.jasballpythons.com./

Jas, you know you can't count past 47.

Just kidding!
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Greg Power
B.O.A. Inc
boainc@gmail.com

My son counted LMAO!!
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http://www.jasballpythons.com./

Oh that explains it. I was wondering how that happened! LMAO
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Greg Power
B.O.A. Inc
boainc@gmail.com

Jeez! I feel the love Tonight LOL!
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http://www.jasballpythons.com./

NP
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Greg Power
B.O.A. Inc
boainc@gmail.com

I am with Jas on that one LOL !!!!!!!

Of course Jas can't count past 47!
That's why he cuts the eggs so early...LOL.
Sorry dude...I couldn't just help it.

Hey,

Where do you get the money to feed all those!!!! Or the time to lay the smack on all of us in the forums!!!???? Sounds like you'd be cleaning cages a bunch!

Stevo

Wife and to kids cleaning right now! LOL.. I just play Dumb...
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http://www.jasballpythons.com./

Right now, 25, but it was up closer to 75 earlier this year- I'm thinning normals...

Stevo

Next question Please!
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http://www.jasballpythons.com./

that number gets bigger every time I count.

~kasey
boas,balls,&burms

n/p

At what point does this HOBBY become a money thing?...I feel when you have 100 or so what made you keep buying more if it was just for the enjoyment of keeping snakes.I guess my point is when you spend the cash and time many have and do we need to stop kidding ourselves and realize it is for the money.....
Kevin

forgot my number is 100 ish....

I dont buy. I produce, then make trades for stuff I dont have yet. It's a fun hobby/job. But money maker? Hells No!!
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http://www.jasballpythons.com./

why keep so many is my point...doesnt it take the hobby out of hobby when you have 100 or so?

It is a hobby, no matter how many you have, until you start breeding them to sell them. I prefer to call what I do, a side business. Businobby anyone? Hobiness?

Go away!

Dave

LOL... I was not trying to stir anything up. I guess I jumped the gun a bit, because thats where i saw this thread going. I can apologize for that, sorry!

I guess I'll answer your questions. I have 172 ball pythons and 60 or so other snakes. For me its not about the money either.
I produce, trade and sell a few to help pay for housing, cleaning and feeding my obsession! Sometimes I get lucky and make a few bucks, I would call it more of a jobby or hob than a hobby at this point! I have to agree with Jas again, “make money… hells no”
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Greg Power
B.O.A. Inc
boainc@gmail.com

I agree with you Greg...Its more like a jobby when your doing it all on your own.

>>why keep so many is my point...doesnt it take the hobby out of hobby when you have 100 or so?

Depends on perspective really.Who's to say what level is a hobby or not..I myself seem to have anywhere from 50 to 80 at any given time.(When there are to many i simply sell a few off.)
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Charles Glaspie

My reason Kevin is this. I feel sorry for normal and possy het males. I wont give them away to pet stores. or sell them to idiots. So yea, Most of my stuff is just normal males I keep as Healthy pets.
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http://www.jasballpythons.com./

How many of the 400 snakes that you say you have are still in the egg If I know you, you probably count ovulating females as 8 snakes, since you count on having 7 eggs the female...You and Joye or however you spell his or her name, should write a Ball book. I promise I will buy it, but only if you sign it. Ok, I will do a trade for the book

Dave

My book for your? Naaaa....
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http://www.jasballpythons.com./

Write a book John !!.. I'd pay for one too,as long as you keep the cost down.

Van
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Forever Trust in what we are,and nothing else Matters

Im in it for the thrill...I love to see those nose pokin out the egg...Its kinda like Christmas..you never know what your going to get...

That was your big two part question?

How about it is a hobby when it is fun and it does not have to financially support itself and it is a business when it has to at least pay it's own expenses and hopefully at some point make a profit. That is the definition of a small business, or any business and a hobby. This is maybe the 1,000 time I have seen this posted on thsi forum.

If you like the animals, yes you can still do it as a business but most people do not like the animals nearly as much after years of hard work. And most who get into it for money could care a less what comodity they are selling. Animals, cars, furniture, etc., it is just money to them.

Can we put this one to rest now?

look whos responding now...sorry evan if this wasnt your cup of tea...the next question i had was how many hours a day does everyone spend a day with there collection...Just lookin to see if there are others like myself out there..with the obsession of Ball pythons?....
Kevin S

Each day? Mon-Sat= about an hour. Sunday = about 3 hours on and off.
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http://www.jasballpythons.com./

N/P
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Greg Power
B.O.A. Inc
boainc@gmail.com

Jas ...I spend around an hour or so everyday and 3 on sundays(rat cleaning day)...kinda crazy,
Kevin

My wife and kids clean every day. I do feeding, weighing and breeding.
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http://www.jasballpythons.com./

Kevin I spend about, 4 to 5 hours a day!!!!

I beleive most of us started as hobbiest and soon realized that breeding and selling would be a way to fund more expensive snakes that some of us would'nt be able to afford other wise. At least that's how it was for me. Thanks
Erick Markstaller
Exotic Designs

almost all ball pythons.

No wait... That's my credit score. I've got 10 ball pythons and a few other snakes.

np

I was wondering what number you'd throw at us...

you are sicker than most of us....really.........

........LOL

........and I want to downsize........and an't push out the big girls..........wow........what difference a year makes.....

.....you are crazy..........LOL.....have fun Corey.......

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......and noone wants the big girls anymore....wow..................
.

np
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www.HeathersHerps.com

-Ohh, what a Lady-

Balls for Life, Baby!

I acquired them over the past year. I would have more if I could get my arse out of college.

I only spend a few hours a week cleaning, breeding, feeding, keeping records etc. I prolly spend more time on kingsnake.com trying to learn and find a nice spider or cinnamon.
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1.1 Normal Ball Pythons (Snakerton and Mathilda)
1.0 Het Albino Ball Python (Walter)
0.1 Albino Ball Python (Perrie)
1.1 Pastel Ball Python (Jasper and Trudy)
3.4 Breeder Rats
1.0 Red Ear Slider (Rufus)
1.0 English Bulldog[Red Brindle] (Jones)

Part 1:
currently 4
previously my highest count at one point in time, and not including hatchlings we were trying to sell, 88 ...and that was mostly colubrids, but they were still snakes, and a very valuable experience that has unquestionably shaped my adult life.
You didn't ask about years of experience. That should count for a lot - almost as much as number. My math sucks, but cumulatively, I would say that I have had reptiles in my life for 23 years, with at least 16 years of that experience in keeping snakes.

Part 2:
I don't really feel qualified to answer this for you. I think it has always been a hobby of mine, and we had to be pushing 100 in actual count. I think some of the previous answers covered this best; it all depends on the person. Some will only see the commodity they are selling in terms if its profit margin, and some of us will only see a driving obsession. I do try to sit back and put my snake keeping decisions under scrutiny - how much of this is akin to crazy cat-lady hoarding? I should hope none of it, but I do worry. I have decided that I need to stay away from colubrids; way too easy to go overboard fast when such pretty little critters sell between $10 and $40. I prefer BP's: much more personality, intelligence, and no musking!!

Part 3:
Somewhere between 1 and 4 hours per week; having a new human baby to look after has definitely changed my priorities and my available time. That's the only downside I can find to having my son: NO time for anything anymore. I don't mind anything else. I just miss having time for my snakes.

~Rebecca
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1.0.0 Dumeril's Boa '04
1.1.1 Ball Pythons
[1.0.0 '05 Orange Hypo (Specter)]
[0.1.0 '05 Het Orange Hypo (Sylvia)]
[0.0.1 '03 Normal (Sue)]
0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers (40lb darling lap dogs:Brandy&Mara)

Just remember Rebecca, when your son gets older, you can keep TWICE the amount of snakes with all of the extra help!
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Ryan Sherman
Scottsdale, Arizona

Hadn't actually thought of it that way - my husband isn't really into the snakes - but I'm sure this could become more of a family thing

Thanks!

~Rebecca

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1.0.0 Dumeril's Boa '04
1.1.1 Ball Pythons
[1.0.0 '05 Orange Hypo (Specter)]
[0.1.0 '05 Het Orange Hypo (Sylvia)]
[0.0.1 '03 Normal (Sue)]
0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers (40lb darling lap dogs:Brandy&Mara)

I think I win for the minority on this one! Or at least I'm not too proud to post.. I have ONE!! His name is Harvey and he's the love of my life. When he's a bit older I plan to breed him, but I've had happy homes lined up for possible offspring for eons.
I don't plan on any money-making schemes,& I don't have the space or money for hundreds of snakes. I just love my BP & I frequent this forum to learn more about the other people in the hobby than how to care for him (I think I've done quite well with that, due to past advise on this forum and from vets). & I try to lend a hand when I can.
I think any amount of snakes (or any animal, to a sane extent) qualifies as a hobby as long as you enjoy what you're doing. Once it becomes WORKwork.. well.. it's not really a hobby anymore.
&.. I spend at least 2 hours a day (& 4-5 on weekends) with my one python. So what does that make me??

-Tami*

Happy...Thats all that matters Tami is happy is not about whom has the most wins its what makes you happy in the end..
Kevin
www.kmsreptiles.com

Tami is happy & her snake is healthy!

Best combination in the world there!

~Rebecca
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1.0.0 Dumeril's Boa '04
1.1.1 Ball Pythons
[1.0.0 '05 Orange Hypo (Specter)]
[0.1.0 '05 Het Orange Hypo (Sylvia)]
[0.0.1 '03 Normal (Sue)]
0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers (40lb darling lap dogs:Brandy&Mara)

Baby season is not far off though. Kevin Rocks.

57... Mostly normal females from 1-3 years of age being raised for breeding purposes but include 2 het albino, 2 het genetic stripe and two female pastels.
Males include 2 pastel, 1 black pastel, spider, G-Stripe, het clown and het orange ghost.

25 currently in the snake room, 2 new girls bought and waiting to be shipped here, and a few others currently in the process of being purchased.

When does it stop being a hobby? That depends on the person, their goals, their reasons for doing this, and how they view their animals. For me, it will never stop being a hobby -- I have a full-time job, that's where my paycheck comes from. This is a side thing that I do when I come home. I didn't get into this with the intentions of making money. I really love these animals and all the variations they come in -- and my goal with breeding is to produce enough that I can trade off for other ones that I don't have. I don't really have an interest in money, but I do have to try to sell a couple to justify this to my husband. LOL! I did set a limit for myself though -- if my collection ever grows to the point where I can no longer think up names for new additions or spending time in the snake room becomes a chore vs. enjoyable, then I know I have too many and need to scale back.

I spend at least 1-2 hours in the snake room every night during the week to refill water cups and feed the rodents. A lot of times I take out my favorite 2 snakes and let them hang out with me for a little while. On Sundays it is anywhere from 3-4 hours -- cleaning tubs, changing out water cups, checking everybody over and letting them get some out-of-tub time, cleaning rodent cages, feeding everybody...and my daughter hangs out in there with me. I use it as a chance to teach her new words, teach her about animals, things like that. She understands that the rats are food for the snakes -- I drop them in the tubs and she goes, "Mmmmmm! Yum!" Then when the snake whacks the prey, she goes, "WOW!" and claps. LOL!
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors