Questions about breeding

[Cmwells90]

So breeding is something I've been interested in for awhile, and it's something I want to look in to doing. Now when I say look in to doing, it's not something I'm going to start on for a least another year, so I can make sure I have all the right equipment and I'm "ready" for my first clutch. My primary question is, what do you do with the babies? I'm aware we all sell them, but to whom? I don't like the idea of selling on Craigslist because I might be breeding Boas, which can get very large and I don't want to sell to some guy who doesn't really understand how large a female BCC can get, gets her home, and 5 years later just lets her go or takes her to a shelter because she "got to big". I'm aware I can never control this, but has anyone heard of selling to pet stores? or selling over the US? How would you go about doing this, what outlet would you use to find people who are looking to purchase them? This would definitely involve shipping them, how would you do so, so it's safe for the snake?

I'm sure I'll be adding more questions to this thread, but this is just the start. I don't want to start thinking about breeding until I know I have somewhere to put them and somewhere to sell them. I'm not going in to this to turn a profit (although it wouldn't hurt). I mainly want to experience all aspects of a snakes life and know that I know what I'm doing. I want to open my own exotic pet store in the next 5-6 years so I would probably be selling out of my own shop, but knowing other ways before that time comes would be great.

[Mikoh4792]

Kingsnake classifieds, faunaclassifieds, craigslist, and local reptile stores.

You shouldn't assume that everyone on Craigslist is a complete noob when it comes to keeping reptiles. You will find them anywhere you go. If you want to send your snakes to good homes just talk to your customers before selling them, or write in your ads that you will only sell animals to experienced keepers.

Edit: you can even sell your snakes here as we'll. there is a classified section

[Starbuck]

when i bred chameleons i sold the babies to a local exotic pet shop. He knew the basics of their care and needs, and i gave him my information (email) to give to customers who had further questions.
I also had a few friends who wanted some of the babies.

[Aaron_S]

So breeding is something I've been interested in for awhile, and it's something I want to look in to doing. Now when I say look in to doing, it's not something I'm going to start on for a least another year, so I can make sure I have all the right equipment and I'm "ready" for my first clutch. My primary question is, what do you do with the babies? I'm aware we all sell them, but to whom? I don't like the idea of selling on Craigslist because I might be breeding Boas, which can get very large and I don't want to sell to some guy who doesn't really understand how large a female BCC can get, gets her home, and 5 years later just lets her go or takes her to a shelter because she "got to big". I'm aware I can never control this, but has anyone heard of selling to pet stores? or selling over the US? How would you go about doing this, what outlet would you use to find people who are looking to purchase them? This would definitely involve shipping them, how would you do so, so it's safe for the snake?

I'm sure I'll be adding more questions to this thread, but this is just the start. I don't want to start thinking about breeding until I know I have somewhere to put them and somewhere to sell them. I'm not going in to this to turn a profit (although it wouldn't hurt). I mainly want to experience all aspects of a snakes life and know that I know what I'm doing. I want to open my own exotic pet store in the next 5-6 years so I would probably be selling out of my own shop, but knowing other ways before that time comes would be great.


If your goal is to open an exotics shop I think you should be looking at this breeding to turn a profit, or to eventually turn one. This is the first step to ensure your future business could be profitable.

[Cmwells90]

If your goal is to open an exotics shop I think you should be looking at this breeding to turn a profit, or to eventually turn one. This is the first step to ensure your future business could be profitable.

It would be for a profit in the long run, but I'm not expecting to make money my first year out, I just want the experience at first and the profit can follow later.

[Aaron_S]

It would be for a profit in the long run, but I'm not expecting to make money my first year out, I just want the experience at first and the profit can follow later.

I think I didn't make my point clear.

You can't look at it in any other way than to build it towards profit from day 1. There's no "does this now and I'll worry about it later". You need to start now. It sounds crude but it's true. You need to already be looking at how to keep costs down and looking to the future plans.

[Cmwells90]

That makes perfect sense, any advice for minimizing costs? I know with my Boa she'll have a live birth so I wont need an incubator. However I'm thinking about breeding my Corn snake first because he's closer to sexual maturity, or might be already, and they're more popular so I don't think selling them would be an issue. Mind you I've just started to do research so I'm not well educated on the breeding and raising yet.

[smy_749]

My primary question is, what do you do with the babies?
Housing, food, patience I'm aware we all sell them, but to whom?The unfortunate fact of the matter is if you will get into the business of selling snakes/having a shop, you will be selling to both experienced and inexperienced keepers. Some will do as told with husbandry, some will cut corners and the animal will suffer. Its part of the business when producing animals. Especially lower end animals (people tend to cut corners more when they haven't invested much) I'm aware I can never control this, but has anyone heard of selling to pet stores?This is in my opinion one of the worst options if your worried about your animals going to negligent homes. Even most pet stores can't take care of their animals properly, but yes, they do buy them at wholesale pricingOver the internet I think you mean here: How would you go about doing this, what outlet would you use to find people who are looking to purchase them? Advertising, Advertising, Advertising. You will have to 'make a name' for yourself by producing quality animals and good customer service as well. Mikoh listed some places to advertise your animals. You can also vend at expo's and what not. This would definitely involve shipping them, how would you do so, so it's safe for the snake? Shipping is safe if done right. You need structural support and proper insulation from the heat/r the cold. So polystyrene box, heat or cold pack, something to provide cushion like newspaper and a few holes in the box. 24 hour shipping is actually less than 24 hours since you can drop your animals off in the afternoon and they arrive by 10:30 am next day. Might run you about 50-70 dollars through third party companies licensed to ship (you are not licensed to ship live reptiles through fedex but some companies are. You can become certified though as well. Boxing will run you between 10-30 bucks as well. Just keep an eye on the weather, dont ship if its too cold or too warm and you will be fine.

[/QUOTE]

Also there is nothing wrong with turning a profit and making that a goal. Like Aaron said, if you really want to be successful, you need to start from day 1. I wouldn't open a shop until you've got everything down with regards to breeding/shipping/housing/ etc. etc. etc. and then outline your business plans as well. If your going to produce animals in large numbers, you will probably just want to make a closet sized incubator or something.

[KORBIN5895]

That makes perfect sense, any advice for minimizing costs? I know with my Boa she'll have a live birth so I wont need an incubator. However I'm thinking about breeding my Corn snake first because he's closer to sexual maturity, or might be already, and they're more popular so I don't think selling them would be an issue. Mind you I've just started to do research so I'm not well educated on the breeding and raising yet.

After reading most of your posts I am sincerely advising you to give up the idea of breeding for now. You have a lot of basics to learn before you should even think about trying to take care of an extra thirty snakes with very specific requirements and some potentially deadly issues.

[Cmwells90]

After reading most of your posts I am sincerely advising you to give up the idea of breeding for now. You have a lot of basics to learn before you should even think about trying to take care of an extra thirty snakes with very specific requirements and some potentially deadly issues.

I appreciate your input, but I never said I was going to start tomorrow. I'm not even fully sure when I will be starting this. It wont be until I am fully aware of what I'm talking about and what I'll be taking on, which is why I'm here. Forums are the best way to get information and from there we all take it in our own way and produce different results. I'm not a child who's going to do things because it sounds fun. Like anything else starting this takes money and I want to make sure that I can make that money back and then some before I'm going to start any of this. I do have a LOT to learn, but I also have a love for animals, and I believe if my heart's in the right place and I'm open to opinions from people who are more experienced than I am, then I'll learn like anyone else.

[KORBIN5895]

I appreciate your input, but I never said I was going to start tomorrow. I'm not even fully sure when I will be starting this. It wont be until I am fully aware of what I'm talking about and what I'll be taking on, which is why I'm here. Forums are the best way to get information and from there we all take it in our own way and produce different results. I'm not a child who's going to do things because it sounds fun. Like anything else starting this takes money and I want to make sure that I can make that money back and then some before I'm going to start any of this. I do have a LOT to learn, but I also have a love for animals, and I believe if my heart's in the right place and I'm open to opinions from people who are more experienced than I am, then I'll learn like anyone else.

Hence why I said to get breeding out of your head for now. I also hope you learn better than most on here. I've seen too many people kill something before they listen and take advice.

[Cmwells90]

So I've been reading around, and looking around online, and I've decided to start with genetics, so I can better understand what I'm going to be getting when I breed and how to better understand this.

This gets me to my question. Is inbreeding a major problem and when it is not a problem. Lets say I have a snow corn snake male and female.. If I wanted to keep the snow corns breeding and use one of the baby snows, I assume I would need to get another male/female to breed with it that is not from the same bloodline, because I wouldn't want to recycle the same chromosomes. Now if they have a baby, the snow from the first clutch and my secondary male/female snow. Could I then breed that snow with it's own grandfather/mother? Or would I need another male/female and breed them again, then use that baby with my original male/female, or the great grandfather/mother?

Sorry if this is confusing, I'm just wondering how this whole thing works and if I would NEED to make sure I don't breed back to the same bloodline and screw something up.

[Lankyrob]

Many breeder will breed son to mum or daughter to father, this is werer the f1, f2 etc comes from. Not so much an issue with reptiles

[KORBIN5895]

You can breed the offspring directly back to the parents.

[Cmwells90]

You can breed the offspring directly back to the parents.

Is there an amount of times you can do this, or can this be done forever all the way down the bloodline?

[KORBIN5895]

Shaunyboy has heard of it done to the 9th generation.

[KORBIN5895]

Shaunyboy has heard of up to 8 generations without problems.

[Kimmie]

If you dont, a good way to save it breeding mouse/rats/multi mouses.
I do this and save alot, I feed mine very cheap dog food (the ones with greens in) and they are fat and healthy,
before I only bred mouses but it did go to slow, so now I have all above, the multi mouses get LOTS of kids but slow growing, the mouse get not so many but okay growing, the rats get lots of kids and they grow very fast :)