Breeding snakes just because

[Frozenmouse]

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are on people breeding things like normal coastals or darwin carpets or low quality honey/brown jungles, standard beardies ect
I see for sale adds bumped for three or four pages until they are nearly given away.
Is there any point no one will pay anything worth while for them so they will end up rotting in a petshop with a stupid price on them or something not good anyway?

[Jacknifejimmy]

There is a general market flood these days as far as standard varieties, and as such of course market prices drop.
That said some people (myself included) just do it for the joy of husbandry i.e. successfully raising and then breeding a certain species. Knowing you have a solid grasp on the proper care of another creature and all things associated with that.

I feel if you're in it purely for money, then you're probably better off buying a Starbucks franchise...

[mo-deville]

as far as quality goes, personally for me its all about the highest of quality, i'm extremely picky, if there is a certain animal that i want, i will try to find the "best of the best" IMO, even if it takes years to find it, if im not 100% happy with it then i won't get it, same goes for breeding, but thats just me.

[yommy]

these species offer the keeper a learning tool for breeding and everything that goes with it. I've got my collection to where it is today by learning the craft with coastals and childreni. Though i no longer keep those species.

Its a sad day when you see a reptile under $100 as a $50 dollar animal just become disposable if they have issues. easier to buy another for that price then pay for vet services etc. that the issue i dont like with dirt cheap animals.... jmo

[Frozenmouse]

There is a general market flood these days as far as standard varieties, and as such of course market prices drop.
That said some people (myself included) just do it for the joy of husbandry i.e. successfully raising and then breeding a certain species. Knowing you have a solid grasp on the proper care of another creature and all things associated with that.

I feel if you're in it purely for money, then you're probably better off buying a Starbucks franchise...

You contradict yourself , flooding a market with animals that are not wanted is that the joy of husbandry? , if you care for them don't breed them , just a thought. Dont be tight and practice the joys of husbandry on higher quality animals that people will buy and care for . Maybe you should look into starbucks lol.

[Skelhorn]

Not everyone can afford a pure bred or perfected patterned snake/pythong/lizard however. I beleive if marketed properly then they will sell. If I was a 15 year old and wanted a python but had a limit of $500 its pretty hard to buy everything for that. But pick up a normal/dull patterned coastal or darwin for under $100 (as cheap as $50) then I am a happy boy.
Each to their own. As said above, more of a hobby and a joy then actually making any Dosh or coming even from dull patterned snakeys!

[Khagan]

Everyone has gotta start somewhere i guess. But i agree, people shouldn't breed something 'just cause they can'. I'd like to think people would only pair up the best animals they can source, rather than chucking together anything possible to breed as much as possible just cause they can.

Cheap average animals are good for if you're just getting into things, or not so much fussed over looks, but there is only so many that are needed.

[TheCheshireCat]

I think a few people in this thread have displayed perfectly why the wild looking pythons are worth nothing these days.
The simple fact is most people don't want wild looking pythons, they would rather pay more for a line which looks nothing like it's wild cousins.
That begs the question what exactly does "top quality" mean in this hobby? It certainly seems to refer more to their looks than anything else these days.

I honestly don't think there are many Australian pythons (man made or otherwise) that can compare to the beauty of a high yellow diamond or a nice black and gold jungle.

[Red-Ink]

I'm trying to create my ideal snakes from the stock I have... bound to be some by product as I go along. Unfortunately If I have to sell them for $100 or less so be it, possibly even give them away or trades for snakey food or husbandry equipment if it gets that bad. Nothing I can do about the market unfortunately....

[Waterrat]

"Market" is an entity. Breeders creating and flooding the market with animals are real people that we "could do something about" but realistically, we can't because there are too many of them. The hobby is flooded with breeders, they have outgrown the market. An act of self-destruction?
Bit philosophical but true.

[phantomreptiles]

The market is flooded at the moment and my jungles are at a very low price, but in saying that I would not of breed them had I not being able to provide proper care for them and will keep them until a suitable home is found. Yes the price is low, but I still try to ensure they are going to an appropiate home as best I can.

Just to add, I will keep them forever if I am unable to find a suitable home.

[mo-deville]

maybe most breeders should own a lace monitor or two, nothing would go to waste and its a good way to keep you collection at a controllable size if you can't sell off what you don't want and keep what you specifically want for your projects, its an idea!

HEY, thats a really good idea actually,lol don't know why i didn't think of that earlier!

[Wild~Touch]

This thread reminds me of people that just want to breed their kitty kats (or dogs or horses and everything else) because they want to experience the thrill of seeing kitties being born...

No thought whatsoever about what will become of the baby kitties once here and eating and shi....tting and loosing their appeal as they grow.

How hard is it to move animals that have (thoughtlessly) been bred with the end result of finding homes near impossible

Cheers
Sandee

[Chanzey]

Not everyone starts breeding top quality snakes? I'm sure most of the breeders on here that breed awesome snakes didn't always produce ones like that?

What do you want? people to buy expensive snakes and sell expensive snakes?

[ghosts]

Not everyone starts breeding top quality snakes? I'm sure most of the breeders on here that breed awesome snakes didn't always produce ones like that?

Its funny how its ok to flood the market if you breed "top quality" snakes, but not if you breed normal snakes.... do you realize those top quality snakes you see are pick of the clutch they don't all look like that?