I have a question for the breeders out there who are working with some of the more expensive visible morphs - the snakes that get into the multi-thousand price range. How did you start your business? Did you start inexpensively with hets and possible hets, and purchase more animals with the profits from your breeding? Did you get capital from another source, such as another job or business? I'm just starting out with morphs (currently I have some gorgeous reduced patterns, het ghosts, and some het VPI axanthics on the way), and the money is already pretty substantial, especially since I'm a law student - just wondering if anyone would share their "how I got to where I am" story. I really want to start a good, responsible business that will grow to be successful, and I'm very committed to doing the best for my snakes. Thanks to all.
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Business question for breeders
Replies (4)
although i am no a 'professional breeder' by any means, i am a fellow law student who breeds albinos, pieds, spiders, pastels, instead of working in Mcdonalds, and i started out with hets and possible hets a few years back, and with a portion of my returns i always invest back into more snakes.
It's been 3 years now since I first discovered what a ball python actually was. I started out with 1.1 normal CB. I was immediately smitten. Having always been an animal lover, I couldn't quite get over how facinating these great little snakes where.
Soon thereafter I started adding to my collection with more normal females and my first big purchase...a proven breeder pastel jungle male from Greg Graziani. Greg and I often joke that the best thing that ever happened to me was in fact the worse thing that ever happened to him. You see, I had ordered a pastel jungle from Greg well before the hatching season. I kept in constant touch with Greg to see how his breeding was coming and the news was always the same. No eggs yet!
Eventually the breeding season came and went and Greg's bad luck had turned into my good fortune. You see Greg didn't produce one clutch that year. Yes it happens! Even to the best and most experienced breeders. As a result Greg decided to part with his original hold back Pastel male and a few select females. I took them all and I was suddenly ahead of my original game plan. In addition I invested in a het caramel male from Janie Malsin.
The next breeding seaon was a go and I managed to produce 16 clutches and 40 pastel jungles from 10 clutches. I held back a few and sold the rest. Every penny went back into purchasing more stock. I also bought a poss het albino female which gave me 2.0 albinos the following year.
This hobby business is the most rewarding I have ever experienced. There are always things to look forward to and lots of surprises. Good and bad. But you learn. You persevere and you will eventually succeed.
With it comes a lot of HARD work. Cleaning rats, Cleaning snake cages, keeping records. And last but least..providing a quality product.
Have fun. Snake breeders are way more interesting than lawyers! LOL!
Good luck Ashley!
MJ
you say you nought a poss. het albino and got 2.0 albino's the following year?was the other snake a het and you didnt know about it?
She was bred to Greg Graziani's albino male on breeding loan. She produce 4.0 albinos of which I got 2.
MJ
