The lost art of reptile keeping...

[red ink]

Anybody still just keep reptiles these days instead of "breeding"?

Everybody that seems to get into reptiles do it with the intention of breeding them....

[CK SandBoas]

I started out with the intentions of just keeping my snakes, and I did just that for 4 years, until I got my first Kenyan Sand Boa, who came to me gravid with her first litter.

After the birth of her first litter, I still really didn't have or make plans to breed until 2011, when I made the decision to put one of my males back in with my original female. After that, I made the decision to begin breeding, not on a huge scale, but enough to make it worthwhile, but still not kill my passion for just keeping snakes.

3 years later, and a total 5 litters later, i'm beginning another season of breeding, and i'm enjoying it very much, along with keeping my other species:)

[Stewjoe]

I'm currently just a keeper, have been for 3 years. I might try breeding in a couple years but it's not a priority.

[Sharlynn93]

I'm just a keeper...all mine are females except one...no real intentions of breeding...not really a market around here for it...at least not the quality of people I would want to sell my snakes to...

[Donnie]

I'm currently just a keeper, have been for 3 years. I might try breeding in a couple years but it's not a priority.

Same here. A couple of mine will get bred to get me some holdbacks of the morphs I want but once I have those I don't plan on breeding them again and others won't get bred at all.

[LiL Zap]

I have no intentions of breeding...I just enjoy my snake.

[Mikoh4792]

i'm only going to be breeding 3 to 4 pairs for most of my life... and only one pair at a time(one clutch a year). no morphs. Just animals in their natural beauty.(Cay caulker bci, jungle carpets, IJ carpets....possibly green trees).

So a few of my animals are just pets. And the others I'll just be breeding for fun. Didn't get into the whole "breed the newest morph to make the most cash" craze. One of the things I don't like about the ball python and boa constrictor market. No longer about ball pythons and boa constrictors, it's all about pretty colors and patterns that make cash.

[smy_749]

I think breeding is a fun aspect of keeping reptiles. Breeding for money is a different story, but watching the process take place, ovulation, copulation, gestation, incubation, and hatching out is very exciting. Seeing how the babies turn out and raising them up is very exciting and rewarding as well. Also, If you would like to expand your collection, you can trade your offspring for someone elses and its basically a free animal.

I only kept them as pets for most of my life. Now the only 'pet' in the house is our leopard gecko, she even has a name haha

[drumcrush]

I'm only a keeper, May breed in the future as a hobby once I get my life figured out and set on what I want to do for a living

[Sublimeballs]

I do both. I have animals that I don't have any intentions of breeding. And animals that I do. I breed because its an incredible experience. There's nothing like looking into the incubator and finally seeing a little face starring at you. You get free snakes(well there's work involved), you can produce the morphs you want instead of buying them. I use the babies I don't keep to offset the cost of my hobby, or trade them for supplies/cages/rodents/other animals. I've always seen it as the reproductive cycle is just another part of a reptiles life, and I want to experience all my animals have to offer(except for the deceases,lol).

[Mikoh4792]

but I think we do need some self control on how many animals we breed. If everyone breeds everything, where will all the babies go? That's one of the reasons why I will only be breeding a few pairs for life, and only one pair a year. Don't want to be one of those guys flooding the market with clutches from all his pairs int he same year. Kind of like humans. if everyone has a baby we get over population and crowding. I congratulate people who choose not to pop one out.

[Lankyrob]

Never intending to breed any of mine

[poison123]

I think breeding is a fun aspect of keeping reptiles. Breeding for money is a different story, but watching the process take place, ovulation, copulation, gestation, incubation, and hatching out is very exciting. Seeing how the babies turn out and raising them up is very exciting and rewarding as well. Also, If you would like to expand your collection, you can trade your offspring for someone elses and its basically a free animal.

I only kept them as pets for most of my life. Now the only 'pet' in the house is our leopard gecko, she even has a name haha

Well said :)

I have only purposely bred reptiles once in 14 years (corn snakes). It was not for me so I never did it again. Even though I had many opportunities to with many other species. This seems to be a problem, people end up with a 1.1 pair and feel the need to breed for some reason. There are some species that I would like to breed for my pleasure alone not for money.

[red ink]

Since it's hatchie season here...

I keep getting emails/PMs from newbies asking how my breeding season is going?
It's their first reptile and they would like a pair to breed them in the future... could I also provide a caresheet if possible on how to breed them?

I retort by saying my breeding season is none existent and only breed my animals on the request of close friends for their collection....

They seem to be really baffled by this answer and atleast 60-70% ask why I don't keep breeding them???

At that point I don't bother replying...

It's happened for the past three years straight....

[Sublimeballs]

but I think we do need some self control on how many animals we breed. If everyone breeds everything, where will all the babies go? That's one of the reasons why I will only be breeding a few pairs for life, and only one pair a year. Don't want to be one of those guys flooding the market with clutches from all his pairs int he same year. Kind of like humans. if everyone has a baby we get over population and crowding. I congratulate people who choose not to pop one out.

Can't remember who, but I had a ball python guy tell me he feeds his normal/cheap babies to various other reptiles. He said its better than them suffering for months/years because some kid thought it was "cool" and doesn't want to provide proper care.

[sharthun]

Just a keeper for now. :cool:

[alessia55]

I don't plan on ever breeding ;)

[SSSSnakes]

I keep my snakes because it is my passion. I do educational shows to get others to like them and I run a snake rescue to save snakes from being turned loose or abandoned.

I do breed Amazon Tree Boas, but I don't sell them, I keep them or give them away to people who will take good care of them.

[CK SandBoas]

I love the anticipation of breeding, seeing the confirmed lock or locks, and then realizing that the breeding was indeed successful. My most anticipated breeding is occurring right now, already have seen a confirmed lock. Now I can only hope that this results in the litter i'm hoping for :)

[Jinxygirl]

I don't breed, nor do I have any intentions of doing so. My reptiles are like family members.

[Terranaut]

I have bred once and am trying to breed my jag this year. After this year I will be a keeper only.

[kelzerman]

I have not bred any of my reptiles. As for now they are just my beloved pets. I do have plans on breeding in the future, but I am in no rush.

[kwhitlock]

I keep my snakes because it is my passion. I do educational shows to get others to like them and I run a snake rescue to save snakes from being turned loose or abandoned.

I do breed Amazon Tree Boas, but I don't sell them, I keep them or give them away to people who will take good care of them.

I really would want to do that one day..I've done a little bit with my family and girlfriend with convincing them that they all aren't big and scary but one day when I'm older, doing a show at a school or similar would be something I would love to do!

And as far as topic goes, the only animals that I would ever breed is Brazilian Rainbows. I love the little buggers and wouldn't get into serious breeding but enough to support my hobby would be cool !

[EL Ziggy]

I love all my animals and I'm just trying to be the best keeper I can be.

[LadyWraith]

Just a keeper. I don't really plan on owning 2 of any species so breeding is likely not in my future. However, if I acquire a species that just blows me away, I may breed for fun. I'd have to have good, educated homes lined up beforehand though. Just my preference.

[Kid Boa]

I do both. I love all aspects of the Boa constrictor.

I have several I breed. Its very rewarding and I'm a dad of 30+ every year. :)

I also have several that are just here as pets.

[marvelfreak]

I been keeping snakes just as pet for over 20 years. Last year was my first attempt at breeding. I have been wanting to add to my collection but the miss said no it costing us to much money. So i made a deal with her. That if i breed and can make enough selling the babies to pays for anything i need snake related i could get what ever i want. Basically i am just breeding to make enough to get a few other snakes i want and to help pay for care.

[Sublimeballs]

I been keeping snakes just as pet for over 20 years. Last year was my first attempt at breeding. I have been wanting to add to my collection but the miss said no it costing us to much money. So i made a deal with her. That if i breed and can make enough selling the babies to pays for anything i need snake related i could get what ever i want. Basically i am just breeding to make enough to get a few other snakes i want and to help pay for care.

Chuck, what did you try for? Was it the chrome heads? Any luck this year?

[StudentoReptile]

No breeding here. I just keep and rescue.

[bigsnakegirl785]

I'm just a keeper, and have been for 7 years since I got my ball python. I have no intentions of breeding, but if I ever start reaching out to more species and gain enough experience, I may try my hand at breeding species that are difficult to breed in captivity. I don't think I'll ever get to that point, but that's the only reason I can think of right now. But, who knows what will happen in the future?

[marvelfreak]

Chuck, what did you try for? Was it the chrome heads? Any luck this year?
I am kind of going all out in hopes of just one clutch and i be happy. I have my Chrome Head Black Bloods, my lighter male Savu Python with the female, BRB's, Diamond x Jungle and my big Jungle together. Plus i have my Jungle x Jag with my Coastal and these two have now locked up 11 confirmed times in the last month. :DThe Bloods and BRB's have showed no interest in each other yet that i seen.

[Sublimeballs]

I am kind of going all out in hopes of just one clutch and i be happy. I have my Chrome Head Black Bloods, my lighter male Savu Python with the female, BRB's, Diamond x Jungle and my big Jungle together. Plus i have my Jungle x Jag with my Coastal and these two have now locked up 11 confirmed times in the last month. :DThe Bloods and BRB's have showed no interest in each other yet that i seen.

Oh, wow. Best of luck to you chuck. I might have to get something off of you if all goes well. What are you doing about an incubator?

[LadyWraith]

I am kind of going all out in hopes of just one clutch and i be happy. I have my Chrome Head Black Bloods, my lighter male Savu Python with the female, BRB's, Diamond x Jungle and my big Jungle together. Plus i have my Jungle x Jag with my Coastal and these two have now locked up 11 confirmed times in the last month. :DThe Bloods and BRB's have showed no interest in each other yet that i seen.

Good luck to you Chuck. Sounds like some good match ups. I'm interested to see what you'll get from the Coastal x Jungle Jag pairing. Your jag is stunning.

[Pareeeee]

I'm just a keeper.

[swolek]

I'm just a keeper for now. I do want to breed some KSBs in the future but that's it and I still consider them my pets :). They're all spoiled rotten, hehe.

[marvelfreak]

Oh, wow. Best of luck to you chuck. I might have to get something off of you if all goes well. What are you doing about an incubator?
Thanks!
I am building one out of a deep freezer I have that just took a dump or I might buy one.

Good luck to you Chuck. Sounds like some good match ups. I'm interested to see what you'll get from the Coastal x Jungle Jag pairing. Your jag is stunning.
Thanks!

[Akuma223]

I'm just a keeper, but maybe one day if I have the money and space I'll breed my roughneck monitor. It'd be a wonderful experience.