Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The difference between success and failure is hard work and smart decisions, maybe a little luck. To quote Michael Cole, "hard work gets you the clutch, luck helps you with the odds."

Some people will be successful no matter what they do, landscaping, car detailing, pool cleaning or even snake breeding. I know hard workers who do all of these successfully. I also know someone with a fence company who has above average intelligence, but has filed bankruptcy twice during boom times. Now that things are slow he is in trouble.

I have bred snakes on a commercial level successfully for 20 years. I bred Burmese, Bloods, Childrens, Macklots, Green Tree and Carpets. Probably others that I have forgot. I bred Burmese for a living, now that is tough.

I wonder how many people here even remember when Diamond-Carpet crosses were a big deal. They sold for $375 or so, that was big money then. Now that price would be considered chump change and unworthy of the effort. How times have changed along with peoples perspective.

Here are some tips:
You have to enjoy this. It takes long hours. I work from 7am-10pm most days. I'm also an electrical contractor, if I put in anywhere near as many hours in that field I would be better off financially, but this is what I choose to do. I'm not saying others should do the same, but it is the only way I can get it all done.

I raise my own rodents. I know many who don't. I wouldn't be able to keep back all the best if I had a rodent bill to pay.

Start slowly and make contacts along the way. You need to know people at every level.

Wholesale and retail sales along with trading are the ways to move animals. You will not retail every snake through a classified ad.

Make smart decisions. Don't buy high dollar snakes if you don't have a proven track record of breeding, you need the confidence of knowing you can breed them. Don't buy a high dollar male and not have appropriate females ready for him. If that male sits around a couple years doing nothing while the price drops, where will you be then. High dollar snakes should be bought with snake money or traded for with other snakes.

In conclusion: You have to enjoy this, it takes hard work and patience. If any of this sounds scary or too much like work, don't jump in as a business. Remain a hobbyist, but remember if you run your hobby as if it was a small business and can make a buck or two you will enjoy it more.

These are obviously just the opinions of a snake kook. Thanks Mike

Hi,

Everything you have stated here is how I have molded my collection. I did not get there over night. I started with a couple snakes and moved from frozen rats to live within a couple of years. I have built my collection on the snakes I enjoy. I don't want a snake in my collection based on its price. I want a snake I can enjoy looking at and think to myself how lucky I am to own it. I know I won't get rich, but I do know I will be here year after year getting better and bigger. I just wanted to say what you wrote here is worth its weight and gold. As I stated earlier in a previous thread. Just because the prices have dropped does not mean you will be able to do this year after year just because the price is right. Think about breeding balls as more than a one or two year project. It will be a disaster if you don't.

Regards,
Bill R.
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2.1 Tripple Het Caramel, Orange Ghost, Genetic Stripe
1.1 Het Lavenders
1.1 Het Caramel Albino
0.1 Het Albino
0.1 Spider Het Albino
0.1 Het Pied
1,1 Pastel Het for Orange Ghost
1.0 Albino
0.1 Spinner
1.1 Super Pastel
0.1 Jungle Pastel
1.0 Pied 50 percent White
0.1 Clown
0.3 Normal
1.1 Kids
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Chocolate Lab

Mike, that was very eloquently put and I can vouch for your story as I was there when you started and remember it well. It warms my heart when I hear a story like your's and personally know the person as well as his struggles and successes. I started this in my case as a hobbiest and was a salesperson at Sears Roebuck and later became a manager in the Company. Imagine me in a three piece suit today..LOL...It was clear when I was asked to move to another state for a promotion that being an executive in a major corporation was NOT the job for me. I then turned to the business I loved which in the early 70's was anything but a sure thing and never looked back. My beginnings were very humble but I have never considered this work even though I still manage to put in 10-12 hour days. Quite simply I love reptiles and the strange and exotic adventures I've experienced worldwide. It has also been my pleasure to have known folks like you Mike who share this love of herps with me. My hat goes off to you and many others like you who have done so much for this Industry I love...
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

IT has been a long strange trip.

Thanks for taking the time to share.
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Cheers,
Jessica Gibbs
Ball Pythons; Corn Snakes; Green Tree Python; Jungle Carpet Python; Bci; Bcl; Bco
3.0 Crazy Dogs and 2.0 cats
Some Tropical Fish
...........and growing!

Thanks Mike for an excellent post. I totally concur.

I've been breeding reptiles seriously for 23 years, and as a sole source of income for the last eight. For me, love of the animals, combined with lots of consistent effort, good long term planning, and some all around business sense is what keeps my business profitable. It also helps to have good synergistic working relationships with others in the industry. Breeding snakes is not a get rich quick type of enterprise, but with the proper application of the above mentioned ingredients it can become lucrative.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience.
Dan

your post was one of the best i read so far this year!!!

Pitoon
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www.UnitedHerps.com

Very interesting and enlightening post,thanks for sharing! Jeff

Well spoken, Mike. It always puzzles me when i see someone get into reptiles primarily for the money. Definitely NOT a good way to get rich.

But for some of us, it's really the only thing we want to do.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

"Some things are flat impossible-until they're done."
Robert A. Heinlein

that's the best summary of snake breeding i've ever seen- what insight. thanks for the post.

bill stegall

Very good post and yet one I wish many new entrants into this hobby had the opportunity to read before entering.
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