Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have like 6 or 7 thousand to spend on snakes, I also need them to be ready to breed this 2005/2006 winter, yea i know it is going to be tricky finding some good balls ready to breed but im determined. Anyways I really dont know how to go about this, Ive been looking into maybe 1.1 albinos but breeders this year are hard to find, then maybe 1.2 pastels? or one albino and one 100 het( goes along with all other traits) so I need your input on what morph, hets or not? how many? and what i can produce out of it. Im also looking to make a few bucks off this so i can buy some more expensive snakes next year when ive had some experience.

First work with what you like - don't get something just to breed - breed cause you like that morph. First time breeding - try normals.

Pickins this time of year can be slim - be careful with your choices - don't get caught buying WC just cause they are of size.

Remember that you'll need to quarantine your snakes for at least 30 days before you introduce them - I would go at least 60 if they are going to breed. Skimping on this may cost you your snakes.

Most importantly - Do not overextend yourself thinking this is a sure thing - you may not get any eggs this season - things happen.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

Get a breeding weight pastel male and breeding weight norm female or two. should run you about 5k or thereabouts

What do you already have? You should see what qualities you already have in your collection, and add on to that. IMO

Well, yes, you should breed what you like, but you still need to look at the money! Albino balls are great, but a pair isn't going to offer much in the way of return. For example, if you do buy a pair of albinos and get 4 eggs/4 albinos...that's it-ONE clutch. Spent 7000 for an adult pair(if you found some for that) and get REAL lucky and sell all 4 babies at 2 grand each=1 grand over initial investment and nothing held back. Minus your expenses and your grand starts to look pretty sad. That same money can buy 1 male spider and several normal females. This will equal multiple clutches....1.4 for example with 4 eggs each or 16 total eggs. You get a good 50/50 ratio so 8 spiders total hatch. Now, spiders drop to 2 grand each, that's $16,000. Buy a pair of albinos with that(or whatever you really like). Of course things always look good on paper, so if you can't lose 7,000 dollars, don't spend it! Male won't breed, females die egg bound, infertile eggs, you name it....it can happen! Want to invest in a pastel, lol...hope it's to use in combo morphs! You could buy a male pastel for 450(saw one in the classifieds today that low) and a female spider for 3000(again, saw one today)....3,450 toward producing Bumblebees! Even this would leave you extra cash...you could probably still get a male spider too, if you try. Well, hope this helps answer your question. Take care

Paul

I totally dont understand why you said that... is it because Pastels arent worth the time to breed to get more pastels or because he wouldnt get his money back on the initial investment? I'm not trying to start an arguement, but i am trying to get a feeling for that statement. In my opinion, a NICE pastel would stand up to any of the other morphs out there. More expensive definitely doesnt mean better looking snake.
As far as what morphs you want to buy to make money... well, nothing is a sure thing.. you have a better chance of getting rich by going to Vegas and pumping it into slots. If you want to do it for the love of snakes, get what you like and stick with it. It is alot of hard work and very intimidating if you sit back and look at what is all out in front of you. I just bought my first Ball morph (Pastel) yep, going the inexpensive morph root to start. I have sand, rainbow and Dumerils boas, but this is my first "egg layer" and i tell ya... there isnt enough information out there to take the edge off my nerves.... all i want to do is break even and have un while doing so.
But anywho, do what you like... thats just my 2 cents.. Best of luck in what you decide.

Sean Ford

Basically, it's because he probably wouldn't get much in the way of return. There is nothing wrong with Pastels, the problem is with the markt IMO. I have some hatchlings here....they'd sell a lot easier if people would quit DUMPING prices every other day. The inherent problem of this "hobby" is nobody wants to buy from the "little guy". But...everyone wants in. Well, once your "in" your now the "little guy" and now nobody wants to buy from you, just like you wouldn't buy from them. Now, you either have 20 babies to feed or start dumping prices to compete with the other guy that jumped in and also can't sell his pastels. This guy is NOT going to spend 7,000 dollars for PETS, he WANTS to make money. In my opinion, a pastel isn't the way to go unless he's looking to do crazy numbers and we already have ASF for that, and I don't believe he's sold out yet either. I think you may have taken what I said a little personally since you have a Pastel, but my comment wasn't a knock against them in general, it was in regards to what is going to help this guy make a better return for his investment. Was my opinion right? Heck, probably not, but I thought I'd give him a more honest answer than...Breed what you like, do it for the love, etc.....Got some motley boas here, not really a big fan of them personally, but they're what a LOT of people want, so you have to offset what YOU want to work with sometimes with what pays the bills. I have over 30 Dumerils plus their babies, that is what I LOVE to work with, they don't pay the bills and probably never will, but they're not going anywhere. Well, I hope this helps explain my comments, sorry if you took any offense to them, it was not intended. Take care

Paul

Actually, I dont take offense at all, i REALLY wanted to know why you said what you said about Pastels because i jsut paid for one. I bought a pastel male, which is actually alot of money.. not a BOATLOAD, but alot of money to drop on one animal. And i didnt even purchase it from a big name either.. I have NERD about half an hour from me, I could literally drive there, but i decided to buy from a smaller home breeder. I know alot of people are all hung up on buying from big names, and smaller breeders are a big risk, maybe that works for me or maybe against me... but everyone has to start somewhere. Hopefuly someday when i decide to try to sell some of my snakes there will be people out there like me that are willing to give the "small guy" a shot.

Hopefully more people will start to realize that some of the small guys are actually some of the best in the business. Where many of the little guys will bend over backwards to help you out and make SURE your happy....your just another sale for SOME of the big guys. One things for sure, people need to start setting a price and sticking to it. If nobody dumps the animals, people that want that certain morph will either pony up the money or wait until they naturally fall in price. Like you said, the price you paid on a pastel is still a good deal of money on a snake, and you should see a return. My original reply was geared specifically to what the guy wants to spend...If he had a 1,000 bucks, Pastels would probably be his best bet. Good luck with yours, take care

Paul