is breeding a good hobby

[reticulatedpie]

I love snakes and I was wondering if breeding snakes is something I might like to get into. I have been handling snakes for years and have had several as personal pets and wanted to know if its something I could enjoy for just the pure love of the snakes.

[infernalis]

It's the perfect reason to. If you start right out expecting to make a huge profit, it's not likely.

Be prepared for things like stillborns, deformeties and failure to thrive babies, it's all part of it. Every year I see many baby snakes wither away because they refuse to eat their first meal.

These are all things the end buyer never sees.

It's not 100% going to be unicorns and rainbows.

[Dave Kelley]

If you genuinely love the animals, and are prepared to deal with both sides of the coin, then there is nothing better.

The good? Watching new life hatch out before your eyes, watching animals you raised up from hatchlings breed and produce, starting that first clutch feeding, etc.

The bad? Suffering surprise animal losses, egg binding, dead in egg hatchlings, selling to people, dealing with the ignorant public, etc. Are all the above bad things necessarily going to happen? Not at all, but they are things that need to be considered before taking on the responsibility of breeding snakes.

I hope this helped somewhat!

[smy_749]

If you love snakes, you will love anything to do with them. You may not love the bad, but the journey of learning why it happens, how to minimize it, science behind it, etc. etc will be enjoyable. There is good from both sides, I'd say go for it. Start easy and work your way up.

[reticulatedpie]

Thanks there definitely are things I will have to do and some ups and downs but I definitely am going to try now :) :) :) :)

[sweatshirt]

Definitely a great hobby if that's what you're into. I think the best breeders come from those who are in it for the animals and educating the public :)

[reticulatedpie]

Also I am not exactly sure where I should start Like what specie, how many to get ect.

[KORBIN5895]

Get whatever species you truly enjoy.

[sweatshirt]

Get whatever species you truly enjoy.

I second :nerd:

[reticulatedpie]

thanks sweatshirt and KORBIN5895 I will think about that

[reticulatedpie]

I've decided I'm going to start by breeding corn snakes because they are really cool and have a lot of different genes I can work with, but I don't know what size containers I should use without spending a truckload, advice?

[red ink]

I love snakes and I was wondering if breeding snakes is something I might like to get into. I have been handling snakes for years and have had several as personal pets and wanted to know if its something I could enjoy for just the pure love of the snakes.


Honestly... as much as I enjoy it. A hard truth; it's a lot of bloody work.

Half of my enclosures are dedicated hatchling enclosures and grow out tubs. Then your expense sky rockets due to the extra mouths to feed, the extra work keeping husbandry up to scratch (hours in the rep room a week). If you breed snakes the joys of convincing a species whose language you don't speak that a thawed out mouse if perfectly good food and it should eat it is always an added bonus thrown in there.

Then there's this...
http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/breeding-incubation/100158-other-side-things.html

Which takes an emotional toll... and I speak from personal experience with the animals I have bred.

I'm not trying to discourage you in anyway but these are the hard facts away from the romance of breeding any species (humans included). If you put in research and the work the rewards are there :D

[reticulatedpie]

I completely understand and am willing to take the chance to work with these amazing creatures even if its very difficult

[Amadeus]

If you have a fair bit of time and a few extra bucks go for it.

Corns have sooo many different morphs too.

[ssshane]

It is a very good hobby. It does help to have a few things lined up, or at least a game plan. It helps to think about your food source, where to get your supplies such as deli cups and other shipping supplies, a plan on getting rid of the babies, and other things. It helps to have room for the babies should they not sell as fast as you would like. Having a good vet handy should the need arise.

Now for the better side. It is very rewarding to see the babies actually emerge for their egg. And not just the first time. I enjoy it every time. Its only my 7th season working with colubrids, and its just like the first year.

Its what you make of it. If you go into hoping to enjoy it, you will. Choose to work with animals you enjoy, and you will have fun. If you go into thinking you are going to make a quick buck, you may be disappointed.

All in all, have fun