Well it looks to me as if we have gotten off of the original but I am not complaining as I think it evolved into a sort of morph AND I LIKE IT! <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='
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A couple of you seem very concerned that the majority of sales at shows lately seem to be going to neophytes. Please do not let this get you down; my guess is that you are not old enough to have realized that the herp trade (as do many other such things) runs in cycles over years long time spans. If newbies are buying lots now that is likely a good thing, because it means there is a lot of new blood coming into the hobby. This new blood is either replacing older herpers lost by attrition due to such things as: the big one (death), people who have lost interest because they now have real jobs and lives and mom and dad aren't paying for their herps anymore, the long time herpers are now keeping and breeding their own more expensive species (which they buy less often because they are so expensive, the more experienced herpers have seen the light and are now breeding Bearded Dragons, Leopard geckos, corn snake morphs and so on to make money off of the newbies.
As far as newbies being good for the hobby believe me they are. In a year or three, the ones who stick with the hobby will be more advanced and want more interesting herps than the above listed newbie stuff. Many have to convince mom and dad for their first herps and one of the best ways is to show they are docile. A parent worries more about the safety of their children than the care of the pet – like it or not that is just natural. As they mature, the some of the one time newbies will even discover the pleasures of keeping and breeding the so called less than desirable normal phases of common (or once common) species such as Sonoran Gopher Snakes, Garter Snakes, Chain Kingsnakes and so on. Some will go into morphs, maybe more than those who get into regular stuff, but enough will likely take up the regular stuff to keep them going. We have to do our part and make sure we keep up the interest in the regular stuff. That is why I post lots of stuff on those forum at kingsnake and others where you see questions like: wah du I fEed my gaRdar snek? Many of you complained about kingsnake forums that have lots of questions like that. I go to those forums and try to mold the minds of new herpers to keep such things as: Smooth Green Snakes, Garter Snakes, Gopher Snakes, Desert Kingsnakes (splendida), Rosy Boas, Rubber Boas, Ball Pythons (normal phases) and so on. I don't see anything wrong with albinos and other morphs, but I am cheap and like regular snakes for the most part anyhow.
Now as far as neophytes buying things other than Bearded Dragons, Leopard geckos, Ball Pythons and corn Snakes - I see it regularly. Newbies often buy other species, but you have to sell it to them first. You have to advertise, you have to get on those "dah huh" forums and convince people that regular Ball Pythons, Black Rat Snakes, Baird’s Rat Snakes, Fox Snakes, Eastern Milksnakes, Regular Corn Snakes, Garter Snakes, Smooth Green Snakes, Hognosed Snakes, Rosy Boas, Chain Kings, Desert Kings, African House Snakes, Gopher Snakes are all worthy and worth while to keep for a new keeper. (The list goes on too.) I do this all the time, as do many others. In fact, I have had almost all of these available over the last two or three years with the exception of the Bairds Rat Snakes, Fox Snakes and Chain Kings. I can tell you one thing though - not many other breeders or sellers do so, but some do. When was the last time you guys did so?<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>??? I am not criticizing - just asking! You can be your own critic, you do not have to answer, it was only a rhetorical question for self reflection only. But I think you get the picture.
Look at what I sold yesterday. I gave away a yellow rat snake (for free - no strings - but it was nasty), and sold a Black rat snake in addition to the hypo Bearded Dragons and the REGULAR ball Pythons. Now as for those Ball Pythons, one went to a guy who has another and has had it for over 7 years. Another went to a fellow with many years experience who wanted but never had a BP. Another went because of its color and the fellow wanted to breed it (not a hybrid but a high yellow naturally occurring). At that same show there was a lot of variety at the other tables. Sure there were lots of morphs of Beardies, BPs (some over $14,000 a pair), corns, leopard geckos and so on; BUT there were a lot of normal harder to come by snakes. For instance their were numerous python species from Australia, such as Womas. There were some spectacular Black Necked garters with red dorsal center stripes. There were regular Gopher Snakes. There were normal corns. There were Cal Kings, Gray Banded Kingsnakes, Desert Kings (I had them but no one was interested in buying because they were just hatched and had not eaten - but there were lots of inquiries). There were also: sand skinks, Blue Tongue Skinks, crested geckos, fat tail geckos, pacman frogs, poison dart frogs, turtles and tortoises galore. There was a lot of other varieties and a lot of sales as usual.
The buyers were not all newbies, but yes they were there. There were also lots of experienced herpers in the crowd. The woman who took my Black Rat Ssnake has kept snakes for many years. One person who bought a BP from me had another for over 7 years. A dad who bought two beardies, was getting them for his two sons but dad had kept herps over the years too. I saw people (buyers) who I have seen coming to the shows for many years now. They are still out there and still buying. Sure there are lots of new guys, but in no time you will be a few years older as will they; and you will see them as the regulars and another bunch of younger ones as the new newbies - and sad to say yourself as the older seasoned herper! By that time I will be retired from my real job, and will be among the group of herpers known as the old dinosaurs. That is not too far off.
Be careful, but don't despair about species disappearing from our care. Even if they do go under for a while it is likely that a few will be bred by someone, and they will make a comeback in popularity. Just as new herpers come, evolve and either stay or go - so to species rise and fall in popularity in cycles. The thing is if you think one may be on its way out, you still have the chance to grab some up and keep them going. Make sure you do just that before it disappears, and you will have done a good thing. Join a herp society, write articles for its journal; write advice on the forums, encourage new herpers to care for the less than desirable species such as Gopher Snakes, Garter Snakes or Smooth Green Snakes, Savu Pythons, Tree Boas, Tokay Geckos, Red Spotted Newts, American Toads, map Turtles, Cooters, Painted Turtles, salamanders (you know things within reason). Encourage breeding of those same species. Do your part and the hobby and those species will thrive for the most part. We may lose some, but may save many more for our followers - that is the way things go when we make an effort.Good luck in your endeavors.
Best regards,
Glenn Bartley <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='
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