I've always wondered

[Squirtle]

How can people that own a ton of snakes afford to take all of them to the vet if they get sick? People like NERD, BHB, etc. Must be a ton of money

Please move this if it isn't the right section.

[SpOoKy]

I would assume they have arrangement with vets and don't get charged the same way walk in would.

[Squirtle]

I would assume they have arrangement with vets and don't get charged the same way walk in would.Oh thanks for clearing that up :)

[Trollbie]

Or they are pros and their snakes rarely get sick. That would be my guess...

[Gungirl]

98% of things are preventable if you quarantine properly and if you take proper care of your snake. Most common "cold" things breeders know how to treat themselves also. I think it is more about self education and quality control more than it is about money.

[Lankyrob]

I also believe that SOME big breeders would just cull sick snakes to reduce the risk of cross contaminating the whole of their stock :)

[UwabamiReptiles]

I'm pretty sure most of the "big breeders" know how to treat most things themselves and if something comes up that they don't know how to deal with, they will have a connection with a vet.

[CDN_Blood]

The examples you use are big-time businesses, and like any business, it's about keeping costs down and making profit. You don't think they're in it for the sheer love of the animals, do ya? Their profit margins on any snake are outrageously high, so they are able to keep the ball rolling pretty easily.

It's a different matter if you're talking about private individuals who maintain large personal collections, though. They're not making money, they're bleeding it, but because they *are* in it for the sheer love of the animals, they don't mind. It's like any other avid hobbyist - where there's a will, there's a way :)

[mykee]

"It's a different matter if you're talking about private individuals who maintain large personal collections, though. They're not making money, they're bleeding it, but because they *are* in it for the sheer love of the animals, they don't mind. It's like any other avid hobbyist - where there's a will, there's a way
"

I'm a fairly moderate hobbyist/breeder with a decent collection; maintaining around 160 snakes, and I'm not afraid to admit that I make far more with my snakes than I do at my day job.
I also have a contingency fund for illness, although I've only had to dip into it once in 13 years.

[Fredricks]

It amazes me some of the personal collections people have. I just think of how much food they go through a year, it's astounding

[Will0W783]

I have a modest collection, and am currently not producing any babies out of it, but over the years I've learned to treat most problems myself. RIs, mouth rot, mites....should not occur if a keeper knows what they are doing and uses proper quarantine and husbandry. However, I have a large bottle of Tylan and a box of insulin needles I bought from my vet in case of an RI occurring. Over the years, I've dealt with several RIs, one case of mouth rot, one very awful case of scale rot (snake arrived with it), and I find that I rarely need the vet for any snake issue these days. I would imagine that most large-scale hobbyists and breeders would be the same way.

[Norm66]

Living where I do I'm kind of on my own for all but the most serious stuff. The only real reptile vet is 2 1/2 hours away in Columbus, OH and one of my snakes I can't take there anyway because of the Lacey act addition of Burmese pythons. I do have a great regular vet who will sell me whatever I need but I'd have to do the research myself. She's the first to admit she's a mammal doc. Mostly my plan is to do things right and not have any problems I need a vet for. In a pinch though the reptile vet is only 2 1/2 hours away.

[shaunyboy]

i have a vet who keeps reptiles as a hobby,he ALWAYS keeps my costs to a minimum,as he likes to get hands on experience with exotic animals

i get charged for medication thats about it

he gives me,his time,x rays,syringes,feeding tubes,etc for free

i have to admit he's a rare commodity in vetenary circles ;)

he does it out of passion :)

cheers shaun

[bladeblaster]

There isn;t a lot you can;t treat at home if you know what you are doing, and big breeders certainly know how.

[StudentoReptile]

98% of things are preventable if you quarantine properly and if you take proper care of your snake. Most common "cold" things breeders know how to treat themselves also. I think it is more about self education and quality control more than it is about money.

There isn;t a lot you can;t treat at home if you know what you are doing, and big breeders certainly know how.

Indeed.

I also believe that SOME big breeders would just cull sick snakes to reduce the risk of cross contaminating the whole of their stock

This is also probably true. It's a lot easier/cheaper to cull than to spend time and money on an animal you may only make marginal return on when its healthy.

Its simply evaluating the perceived value of the animal and the expense of keeping it alive. Of course, as others have already implied, the answer to the question may vary between private collectors who are still essentially hobbyists and large-scale businesses with overhead to cover and profit to make.

[red ink]

How can people that own a ton of snakes afford to take all of them to the vet if they get sick? People like NERD, BHB, etc. Must be a ton of money

Please move this if it isn't the right section.


Very few afflictions can affect an entire collection... One that I know of is OMPV, if that does happen then no amount of veterinary treatment is going it save it.

One or two for big breeders that require treatment is not a problem....

All of them getting RI, they can treat it themselves, mite outbreak; annoying but easily solved.

[mykee]

ANY virus can decimate a collection in a matter of a month or so if left untreated, not just OPMV.

[red ink]

ANY virus can decimate a collection in a matter of a month or so if left untreated, not just OPMV.


I totally agree... just citing OMPV as one of those things that vets won't be able to do anything about.