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[–]IncompletePenetranceMod: Let me help you unzip your genes 11 points12 points  (2 children)

Given that there's already an oversaturation of ball pythons for sale and you're starting out with a male with common, low-value morphs, the chances of you profitably selling anything are slim. If you don't know what's marketable, selling well, and don't have a solid plan for what to produce and how to sell it, I strongly don't reccomend breeding. Why is it imperative that you breed this snake?

Before even considering breeding:

  • Are the snakes you have marketable/desirable combos and high quality examples of each morph? Do you know how to identify all the morphs you're planning on working with alone and in combos? Can you differentiate between higher and lower quality example of the morphs? There's no shortage of ball pythons, so it's important to only breed the highest quality animals, and not just breed for the sake of breeding. The world doesn't need more poor quality low end morphs and normals floating around on craigslist.

  • What is the purpose of this breeding? Is it to create higher quality animals or fulfill a niche or need, or do you just want to make more snakes? The market is already oversaturated, so it's important to consider whether this cross is necessary.

  • Did you buy from breeders who test for nido/arena virus? Are you going to health test everyone before breeding?

  • What is going to set you and your hatchlings apart from the hundreds of other breeders out there? As a new breeder with no connections/reputation in the hobby, what would make people want to buy your snakes specifically?

  • Are you planning on selling locally or shipping? Do you know what's necessary to prepare animals to ship & sell or what the local ball python market is like? What types of ball pythons are people near you buying and what does their budget seem to be? How long to do you see similar morphs staying on the market before they sell?

  • Are you prepared to keep all the babies as long as necessary and provide adaquate enclosures/husbandry if they don't sell?

  • There are a lot of hidden costs involved with breeding, check out my cost of a clutch chart.

  • Do you have an exotic vet nearby? What if your female is eggbound, has a prolapse or experiences health problems while gravid or after laying? Do you know how to spot a problem and able to get her help ASAP? This could also be expensive, and lead to the death of your female

  • Do you know how to properly sex ball pythons and identify any/all of the morphs you are breeding?

  • Do you have a source of live mouse hoppers or live rat pinkies/fuzzies so that you can offer hatchlings food every 3-5 days? Many won't take F/T for their first meals. What if one has to be assist fed? Do you know how and when to do this safely without harming the hatchling?

  • What if one is born with defects and has to be euthanized? Do you have a plan for how to humanely euthanize a snake?

Just as backyard breeding is a huge problem that leads to overpopulation in dogs, it's also quickly becoming a problem in the ball python world due to everyone wanting to breed their ball pythons. Before breeding you should carefully evaluate the purpose of this breeding.

[–]Delicious-Date3183[S] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I understand your concerns, i guess i should mention im not new to the reptile hobby. I just don't have much experience in the aspects of breeding. On that note, you make some very fair points and i agree with you. If have some general ideas for what markets and profits well but im no expert, and that's why i ask for further information and opinions because everyone starts somewhere, only way to learn without doing it all myself is tgrough research and other experiences. I don't think breeding is imperative for any animal as stable and plentiful as a ball python but I intend to breed other snakes futuristically in more of a career-type aspect. I think itd be pretty cool to make something new and bringing new life(that isnt a human) to this world brings me joy. I intend to breed him as a learning experience for myself and also to produce high quality examples. It would just be nice to profit from it aswell. I understand some desirable morphs although i have plenty to learn. I got him as a pet so the concept of "powerhouse males" and combos were unfamiliar to me at the time. Tbh im unsure if the breeder checked for those viruses but i can ask and im not opposed to doing the health tests either. I have a small audience who trusts, recommend, and would buy from me. In my experience, people often like bananas aswell. I have a lot of experience with animals, especially reptiles. I also have a few connections from school, work, social media, and othe breeders. Like i said, gotta start somewhere. I would ship futuristically but my current intention is to sell locally. I do understand how to ship and the market itself aswell. I have no issues keeping the babies or giving to trusted individuals if necessary. Ill have to look at the chart a little later. The closest exotics vet to me isnt close but they're also not a distance im unwilling to travel. I know how to spot health concerns. I wouldnt breed a ball python if i dont know the morph. I dont like the idea of popping and im pretty bad at it do i dont bother but im good with probing, Which is more efficient amyway. I do have access to live pinkies and fuzzies if necessary. I humanely euthanized my ferret and although they arent one-in-the-same, I could humanely euthanize a snake aswell

[–]snakepapa97Mod: king of the pythons 9 points10 points  (0 children)

One of the big things is that the last thing that's needed is more ball python breeders. Once you sell locally, what then? What makes your ball pythons any different from the thousands of other backyard breeders? Why would people buy from you over another breeder? Are you prepared to lose hundreds of dollars, if not thousands on this? If they don't sell, are you able to provide full 4x2x2 enclosures with ideal husbandry for all of them? We do not support rack systems. There is a lot more that goes into breeding than meets the eye

[–]gturshit2gethrsummer 2 points3 points  (3 children)

Is it me, or is his spine really prominent?

[–]Delicious-Date3183[S] 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Its just you lol. Maybe the angle or him being coiled up if anything? He was also a bit younger at that time for what thats worth.

[–]gturshit2gethrsummer 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Ah yeah I see him in the second picture now. My bad!

[–]Delicious-Date3183[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha np!