Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If ya'll were in my shoes would you do this trade:

I've got a proven breeding pair of het for albino ball pythons.

Someone wants to trade me 3.8 bearded dragons.....

1.1 Breeding pair of citrus
0.1 snow adult
0.1 yellow snow adult 440g

1.2 citrusxcitrus 3 months
1.2 snowx yellow/snow 3 months

Assuming these are the facts, no defficiencies among the animals, and they are all 100% healthy, would you guys do it?

Some of the things that I am contimplating in is my wife will need to leave her full time job to become a full time breeder. (She's fine with it, anything to get her away from in store retail. I currently have 6 adults that will be ready to breed in the spring and a handful of juvi's. This will give me the opportunity to really jump start breeding dragons. I know what the potential value of the snakes are, but it isn't my passion. I hate pre-killing rodents and when holding snakes I always feel on the edge of my toes expecting to unexpectedly get bit. I just don't enjoy snakes as I do beardies. Anyway I will probably do this trade, just want some advice on if it's a great deal or I should as for less/more?

Jeff

P.S. I want to attatch a signature to my posts, how in the heck do I do that?

Paul,

I know that this may seem like a good idea and is probably really exciting for you in this stage of setting up your breeding group.... I just have to say that if you breed those snakes this season, you'll stand to make around 5 - 8 grand depending on how many albinos you turn out.... If you trade them for these beardies I hate to say it but you would be lucky to get half of that from this group. I know it would jumpstart you into where you want to go but the crosses with the exception of the citrus.... are not very desirable in todays market which is more than likely why this person wants to get rid of them.

My suggestion would be to breed them and after they lay sell them. Take the money from the parents and ask around at some of the more reputable breeders to see if you could pick up larger dragons from them... of course you'll have to pay a little more but in the end when you have dragons that are going to sell quicker I thinkyou'd be happier going this way..... You could also take the albino offspring and trade for SUPER nice dragons as albino balls are still very desirable to many people.... Think about a $2500 trading credit with someone who produces super healthy, gorgeous dragons..... That's just my opinion!!!
Good luck with whatever way you decide to go!

Robert
-----
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,
adored by little statesmen, philosophers and divines.
Ralph Emerson

If it were me I wouldn't do it. Just knowing what the price of one albino ball is. If you can double clutch the female even better. The fact that they are proven makes the case even stronger. I don't think you have thought through the cost of having a breeding colony that large. Just one clutch of beardies can easily go through 1000 crickets in a week. 2000 if it's a good sized clutch. Are you prepared to be buying 10-12 thousand crickets a week? Babies have to be fed frequently to keep them from eating toes and tails so you're talking about feeding 3-5 times a day vs. once a week for balls. You would also have to consider wholesaling babies out to keep numbers down. Are you prepared to accept $20 a baby to wholesale them out? Making salads, feeding them crickets, keeping crickets alive!!! death rates are high when kept in large numbers, cleaning all the cages DAILY. Do you have room to keep only 6-8 babies together? On top of all that you still have the UVB and flood lights to buy for every cage as well as the fixtures. How much room on your credit card? You may think I am being harsh but these are frequently things people don't consider when breeding 1 or 2 pairs of dragons let alone the numbers you are considering. Ask anyone on this forum how frequently people ask what they are suppossed to do with all the babies that keep coming and how can they feed them without buying all those crickets. All that and we haven't even considered what it costs to feed an adult. Breeding females need to gain weight quickly so tons of protien (crickets)is needed. I'm sure I am missing plenty of stuff but I would reccomend starting with just a pair or two the first year and preparing yourself for larger quantities before jumping in head first. You will not make very much money breeding tons of babies after you figure all the costs involved. Definetely not enough to consider supplementing an income. Snakes may not be a passion but it is so much easier to turn profits with them because of the lower costs for caring for them properly.

Good Luck
Mike
-----
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English, thank a soldier.

____

I appreciate the advice guys...this is going to be difficult.

Jeff

How is your wife with the snakes? Has she tried spending some time with them herself? Ball pythons are least likely to bite, and a wonderful snake. I ddin't think I'd love them the way I do till my daughter and I took one in from a rescue.
And, quite frankly, a proven pair of het for albinos ball pythons are to be lusted after...
-----
0.1.0 Boa, Elsa
1.0.0 Dumeril's Boa, Bruce
1.0.0 Mexican Kingsnake, Vincent
1.0.0 Graybanded Kingsnak, Boris
1.1.0 Ball Pythons, Pete & Sweetie-Darling
2.3.0 Bearded Dragons, Bela, Sally, Marigold, Phoenix & Spook
1.2.0 Fattailed Geckos, Sahein, Beltaine & Soltice
2.4.0 Leopard Geckos, Ian, Wicca, Rune, Ursla, Ostara & Pagan
2.0.0 Rats, Captian Howdy & Despero
0.0.2 Hermit Crabs Chiquita & Mango
0.0.1 Pom-pom Goldfish, Jester
1.0.0 Pushy Lovebird Baxter

Where are thse citrus dragons from? I have seen so called cirus that were not true citrus. Fire and Ice Dragons have the best citrus breeders that I have seen. Even then it does not seem like a very goood trade for you as a business decision.

I'd breed the balls to fund your beardie addiction!
-----
Stacey