First year breeding and what it took to get here.

[marisa]

I figured I would add up a couple numbers, and post them for other people just getting into corns, or just for anyone who is interested. I started out with snakes knowing I was doing it because I LOVE snakes, and because I have bred birds before I also knew making money from the snakes I am interested in is a joke (lol i love corns) but maybe this will help someone else out somehow. Just to show what it takes to get to a first year of breeding.

O.k. so my first year has gone by and I bred 1.1 snow corns.

Each parent is close to four years old.

Male & female mice consumption:
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Mice
Year 1 208 (fed once per 4-5 days)
Year 2 104 (Fed once per week from a year old on)
Year 3 104
Year 4 104
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TOTAL: 520 Feeder Mice


Caging was roughly 20.00 as I use rubbermaids.


Substrate costs about 10.00 per year for both snakes as I use paper towel and buy in massive bulk. LOL.


I didn't add up heating because I keep them in a rack with others and that is just too much darn math, but you can imagine...hydro bill, replacement heat source (I replace it each year)


Time spent on these two snakes per week: 1-2 hours including cleaning, feeding, handling, etc.


And the thing is that is your pair. The hatchlings have already eaten through almost 100 pinkies in a bit less than a month, all have seperate caging, heating, substrate, etc. And time for cleaning and caring for the babies is double that of the parents because they are so darn messy! LOL.

Anyways my point? You gotta love snakes to do this.

Marisa

[Simon]

LOL Marisa,

I totally hear you....
and you only have 1.1 breeding pair.....
I have around 40 breeding adults.....and around 200 yearlings.....this year I have around 5-600 hatchlings.....do the little math and I end up losing tons of money....and people want tons of discounts from me....hahah
I should just sell all my snakes and get some of my money back and start running instead of keep breeding...sigh....lol

but I totally hear you....

[marisa]

HAHAHA

Simon its true though. This year I only did 1.1 and my plans were to do something like 4.4 next year (not all corns, some kings too) but HELL NO! Those babies are frikking messy, lovable and dear to my heart, but MESSY! And little brats too. I get bites for my unconditional love! LOL :D

I don't know how you, and others do it. I really don't. I have already decided on breeding only 2.2 something or other instead of my original plans. :D

Marisa

[Simon]

Marisa,

LOL...getting bites from them isn't a problem at all....but MESSY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And feeding them is even worse!!! If they don't eat f/t pinkies, then I'll have to try something else. And guess what...I already had to force feed a few of them already. Some of them wont even eat a pinky head since it's too big....I had to cut the pinky's head into half and then force feed it in.....then you'll have to worry about it regurgitating.......finally if they don't sell you'll have to keep them until later on. During this time you'll have to provide, food, water, clean cages, heat, time, love, and tons of other things....

I just breed for fun and hobby......I should quit someday or else I'll have to be feeding the hatchling slices of myself or something.....sigh.....

[Mike177]

true it is not a money makeing proces unless you have a valuble morph. but nexed year you will have only spent money on the mice and if u sell the hatchlings in time u might break even!

[marisa]

LOL LOL!!!

Well I must say when it comes to feeding I have really lucked out BIG TIME. 18 of 19 took F/T pinks right off the bat and haven't stopped eating since. Only one non-feeder! hehehehe. *lucky* But when you are producing in numbers like you are, you are bound to have all ends of the spectrum for sure!!!

And Simon brings up a good point! *Some* of mine have sold, but if not then you do have to count for all the supplies and food to keep the babies longer. And you never know, you may sell one, you may sell them all. Or something in the middle. Either way you are putting out to keep the little ones in tip top shape.

Ahhhh. God love them though. When we open those little enclosures and see those faces peeking out from their hide, or watching them eat their first meal, it is SO worth it.

Marisa

[Colonel SB]

Yeah any money I make goes right back into the cost of keeping my animals. It does help off set the cost of keeping a larger collection.

[drewlowe]

yep breeding has it's benifits and drawbacks. You truely have to love the animal if you want to do this. I sure know there isn't any profit for me.

[Lisa]

We had to breed fancy rats to help pay for our regular rats.