First off I would like to wish everyone a happy New Year, and hope everyone had a great Holiday season. Unfortunately the last few months of '11 were not as kind to me, but it is great to finally find some time to catch up on the Forum. As always I am sure I missed some good arguments and name calling that gave me some nice chuckles through out the year.

With everything put down for the winter due to personal issues I find myself bored not taking care of any snakes. Was hoping to keep all my hatchlings up this winter, but just wasn't the case.I will for sure be getting some new pictures next month!

I wanted to touch on Tony D's post below. He made some great points and also the posters below did also. I think there is one main issue that BP owners and Lampropeltis owners have in common. "MAIN STREAM MEDIA" With all the negative talk lately on TV,radio, and every where else you hear ignorant people speaking their minds. Why would anyone want to spend a thousand dollars to have a new snake as a pet just for the government to pass a law and take it away? It happens, and some people don't like to bothered with the red tape just to have a pet. I think the combination of the local economies( John L, I know your area isn't in a recession due to the oil boom, same with Wilmington ND) and the negativity set by our great politicians and media are the driving factors of the overall downturn in the Reptile Market.

Just like some people are hit harder than others by the recession it takes years if not decades to find some comfortable growth level.The early 2000's people had disposable income, well at least they though they did. That's why most genre's of people's lives that were not necessity saw tremendous growth. All in all it comes to basics as a hobby. Keep what you like and there will always be people wanting the same. I see this downturn in the Lampro market as a blessing, there are not as many people out to screw you for a quick buck. It is kinda like a cleansing of bad people. You can no longer make a quick buck, so the people that have stuck to their guns and produced nice animals and stayed true to what they like. Are continuing to sell a majority of animals. The days of selling 100% of your hatchlings maybe long gone but if you can sell 75 - 80% before the next summer you still did great!

The other approach would be is if a majority of the breeders cut back on production( Which we have seen the past couple of years) the supply of yearlings and adults will thin. Which means people will have to buy hatchlings to get what they want.

Anyway, enough of the rambling, I am just glad to find some time to catch up on a great hobby and am looking forward to this spring and summer.


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Jimmy Tintle

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