. We owe it to ourselves as well as our animals to breed responsibly lest we will continue to see falling prices and snakes that end up in a place where they do not receive proper care.


I hate to be an ass here but I see statements like this all the time and they bug me.
Just because it is at a chain store it doesn't instantly mean it's not getting proper care. They're learning too. Some do a darn good job.
Or do you mean that people who BUY from chain stores don't know how to care for them?
I've bought from chain stores. Sometimes you see something that is just too hard to pass up. AND just because someone sells a snake at a show or through the internet, that sure doesn't mean they know any more then the chain store worker or chain store buyer.
Yes, we have seen bad conditions but there are a lot of us that have seen good conditions as well.
I just don't like to see all chain stores lumped together as bad and unable or unwilling to provide proper care.
or all chain store buyers lumped together as unknowledgable and unable or unwilling to provide proper care
or all show vendors lumped together as knowledgable and able and willing to provide proper care.
or all show buyers lumped together as knowledgable and able and willing to provide proper care.
It just doesn't work that way
sorry but that's how I see it.
Now, on the other part of it.
More breeders, less buyers, harder to get rid of snakes, they get wholesaled out, this will never stop, only increase.
Each season people look at what they might earn, what it might cost and what they should breed. There are some that rely on the wholesale animals to help tide them over for the individual sales. There some trying to make a living at this and they will continue to do whatever it takes to stay afloat.
There are some that are breeding to help pay expenses and allow them to continue to enjoy and learn. I know a lot of people who are cutting back on production but as some are cutting back, new owners are jumping in.
Add the crapy economy to that and you will begin to see every morph out there sold at Petland, PetCo, PetSmart or wherever.
I think we are heading towards a big drop in sales and prices.
Or should I say in the middle of said drop
People are going to have to figure out a way to sell snakes cheaper then the chain stores. A lot of prices ARE cheaper then chain store prices...Until You Add Shipping if via the internet.
AND a lot of people just don't like going to the shows. I noticed a tendency for some people to be rude at shows. They'll push you out of the way to get to a table in front of you. They'll step in front of you and interupt you while you are trying to make a buy or get information.
This is not everyone but anyone that's been to shows can not say they haven't experienced this.
I know this is bad but the next time you are at a show look around. We can be some rough/different looking characters. Some parents are simply nervous to be around us and to bring their children around us.
It's stereotyping and unfounded but that's simply the way people are. It's something that we are slowly over coming but it's there and a long long way from ending.
There are also a hell of a lot more chain stores then shows. The majority of cities do not have shows but you will be hard pressed to find anyone that doesn't have one of the chain stores near by.
The only true solution would be to only breed what is "pre-sold" but of course we know that wouldn't work or start doing like we do with dogs and cats...spay and neuter .....which is an obvious joke.
So, what I think I was trying to say is there simply isn't a lot we can do about it other then to try to adapt and do the best that WE can.
Human nature is to look out for number one so the idea of getting everyone to agree to do what some may feel is the right thing to do simply isn't going to happen.
sorry to rant and ramble..kind of got lost in there somewhere

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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

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