Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know it will cost me more to buy proven breeders or adults because it gives me a jump start on breeding. Question is will it be hard to find adults or are they readily available? I want to get some breeding done this fall and I will be in the market to buy in the next couple of months. Also do I go to a reptile expo and cross my fingers that they have something or do I just keep an eye out here?

You can find them on the classifieds here and at expos, but I would be very cautious before buying adults or "proven" adults. The can jumpstart your breeding projects, but they can also be a big risk. Why would someone want to get rid of a star player? I have a female 06 mojave that's 2500g and still hasn't bred yet, but I'm not going to put her on the classifieds as a 2500g virgin, or lie and say she's laid in 09 and took this year off, but I could. She's an awesome snake, but I'll wait it out. Also if there's males out there that are proven the ONLY reason I would get rid of one of my males is if I upgraded. That's it!! Some males just don't court the ladies like others do. They could be picky feeders, poor breeders, have health issues, ect. I over heard a breeder at an expo tell a potential customer the snake he was looking at was an 08. When the customer walked off he said to another person working his booth it was really an 06 he's just a picky eater!! I'll never forget that! I'm not saying there aren't any good adults out there, just make sure you don't just walk up and slap your money down because it's "almost" breeding size. It may have been almost breeding size for 3 years. When you find a snake your interested in get to know your breeder and ask lots of questions. They ARE out there just make sure your buying from someone you trust. Good Luck!! Chris Hall

This time of the year you may have better chances finding 'holdbacks' or find breeders selling off adults to make room for upcoming babies. Some may just be selling off older stock as they have managed to get the morphs they want to work with (from hets say..)

You definitely need to make sure you are buying from a reliable source. Ask lots of questions and don't be afraid to shop around, even if the first place you look may have adults for a good price. They may be as suggested, poor feeders or finicky etc.

If you plan to go to a reptile show hoping to find adults, contact the breeders shown on the vendor list (most expo websites have a lit of vendors coming to the show). If babies are out, the breeders may only bring babies to sell, maybe with a few adults for 'show' but not to sell. If you get ahold of them ahead of time and let them know you are looking for adults, and if they have some available, they probably bring them to the show for you. Then you can buy them if they look healthy etc. Otherwise the breeders may not bother bringing adults they have available, especially if they have plenty of babies to sell.
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PHLdyPayne

Some people get rid of adult morphs because they have super or combo morphs to replace them.
Why keep a regular pastel male when you have a bumblebee or super pastel ready to take his place?
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

That's one of the points I tried to make. Everyone updates their collection every year. Especialy with males. Adult female morphs just dont find their way to the classifieds too often unless they're normals. NO ONE has enough adult female morphs!!!!

Chris gave you great advice,you may want to look for someone selling a collection.I have bought collections with good results.

Back in the day (how come I use that more and more?) I used to check out the "classifieds" and pick up nice females that were pets! Anymore, they all seem to be males!

I can always post a want ad in the classifieds when I am ready to buy. I'm just ready to get started I can barely stand to wait. I think I may do a little variety. Like mostly balls, but do some green trees, emerald trees and dwarf retics. Saw an add for dwarf burms. Are there really dwarf burms? Would it be a good idea to breed different species?

Lots of people breed different species, but personally I'd start with one...then try another.
Ball pythons are a good start. So far they are the only species I've bred...though when I have more space and funds I want to get into corns again.
I owned them, never bred them.
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

From buying adult females, I have seen it good and bad last year.

One gave me 7 good eggs like the other years before the breeder told me. I am still waiting for them to hatch.

The other one was 07, a bit too small for breeding but since she took weight, I still breed her. Got multiple lock. Unfortinately she didn't go.
Meaning I am a year behind on my project. The good thing is that she is already close to 2000g and still looking slim (she is longer than large) and hopefully will gladly more than make it next year.

In the end, I put a lot of money in these girls and even if they don't make it right now, they will pay for it later. Should I have bought younger ones instead ? or more younger ones ? May be, may be not. It's up to you to do the calculation and the risk involved.

Most of the time it's not worth it. But risk is part of the game and part of the fun I think.
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love this world, don't hate it.

I would buy hatchlings and raise them. I bought some proven females and none of them bred the first year I had them. I am breeding my 08 hatchlings this year and all of them are going to give me eggs. If you have a wheelbarrow full of money go for it and buy them. But economically it can cost you if they don't breed the first year.

Bill
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2.1 Tripple Het Caramel, Orange Ghost, Genetic Stripe
1.0 Honeybee
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 (9) and (16)
0.1 Spouse (22 Years Married)
1.0 Chocolate Lab