Reptile breeder questions

[DXMtripmaster]

Hey there, new to Fauna. I had a few questions on breeding reptiles for a living in Michigan. I am only 17one so im just weighing out my options, I want a job that has to do with reptiles whether they are venomous or not. I have experience gabling large rattlesnakes and have held a friends Gaboon. But enough with mutual autobiography and more with why im here .

1- Is it a profitable business?
2- Is it worth it?
3- If you have experience in it, do you reccomend it?
4- What are the potential profits? Yearly/annually?
5- Is it more of a hobby than an actual job?
6- Is it only profitable if you run a large corporation or very large business?

Thanks in advance, would love to hear some replies/ideas from the community. I did this from my phone so please don't harp on me for grammar haha. Thanks again -John

 

[AGoodwin]

1- Is it a profitable business?

It CAN be.

2- Is it worth it?

That is a matter of opinion.

3- If you have experience in it, do you reccomend it?

No experience, sorry.

4- What are the potential profits? Yearly/annually?

That would depend on the scale of your operation and the quality of your animals/what morphs you are producing.

5- Is it more of a hobby than an actual job?

I believe for many it is more of a hobby, however if you are successful enough, it can bring in enough money to become your primary source of income.

6- Is it only profitable if you run a large corporation or very large business?

Not necessarily. I suppose if you deal in higher end morphs, you may be able to get away with a much smaller collection and still make a good amount of money. However, this would require a considerable investment. Not to mention, the ability to find customers willing to make such a large purchase from a you while you are still building your reputation.

 

[DXMtripmaster]

Thanks for the reply. Hopefully somebody with a little bit of knowledge in the field could shed some more light on this for me.

 

[rcarichter]

1- Is it a profitable business?
2- Is it worth it?
3- If you have experience in it, do you reccomend it?
4- What are the potential profits? Yearly/annually?
5- Is it more of a hobby than an actual job?
6- Is it only profitable if you run a large corporation or very large business?

1. Rarely
2. Absolutely
3. If you have the time and money, certainly. I don't recommend you start with venomous animals.
4. Potentially, you can earn enough to support your hobby. Most don't.
5. Definitely.
6. There are a small handful of large breeders making a profit, but you have better chances with a brick and mortar store.

Most, if not all, breeders start out with a 'real' job that can support themselves and their hobby. I'm not discouraging you from breeding, but I don't want you to be under the illusion that you can make a good living with it at age 17. It's tough when you see someone sell an animal for $1,000, not to multiply that in your head to a great profit. But for every animal you sell, there are many you can't even give away and still have to feed.
All that being said, I love breeding reptiles and have never regretted a single day.

Noelle

 

[DXMtripmaster]

Thanks for another great reply. I definetly didn't plan on starting right now. Although I do own a Western Diamond back rattler, its only a juvenile at the moment. I am being trained by a local snake expert to handle Elapids. He owns a serpentarium which includes a king cobra, a few other species of elapids. Its been really helpful. Thanks in advance to anyone else who like to share their experiences and knowledge on this subject

 

[Snake-Queen]

1. Rarely
2. Absolutely
3. If you have the time and money, certainly. I don't recommend you start with venomous animals.
4. Potentially, you can earn enough to support your hobby. Most don't.
5. Definitely.
6. There are a small handful of large breeders making a profit, but you have better chances with a brick and mortar store.

Most, if not all, breeders start out with a 'real' job that can support themselves and their hobby. I'm not discouraging you from breeding, but I don't want you to be under the illusion that you can make a good living with it at age 17. It's tough when you see someone sell an animal for $1,000, not to multiply that in your head to a great profit. But for every animal you sell, there are many you can't even give away and still have to feed.
All that being said, I love breeding reptiles and have never regretted a single day.

Noelle

I have to say that Noelle's response is spot on. I agree with her 100%.

I do it for the love of my reptiles & sharing my enjoyment of them with others.

 

[tspuckler]

You can't make a living off of it unless you are producing a large quantity of reptiles. There are some reptiles that have a large price tag, but once everyone starts breeding that type of reptile, the price goes down (supply and demand).

There are very few people in the United States who make their living off breeding reptiles. For most, it's a fun hobby and can result in some extra "spending money" if done right.

Keep in mind that other skills are needed in order to do well. Just because you produce reptiles does not mean people will be calling you up wanting them. Having photography skills (and a good camera), website skills, customer service skills, a vet that's nearby that specializes in reptiles, and the ability to attend shows (and have a display at the shows) are all components to being successful at breeding reptiles and making money off of it.

It also helps to breed what the market demands and species that are legal in most states. New laws are put into place with greater frequency that restrict ownership of certain snakes - especially venomous and large constrictors. I live in Ohio, where both are banned and native herps are regulated.

This of course is in addition to the knowledge and experience required to produce and maintain snakes. Raising babies, which each need their own enclosure with a heat gradient, hiding spot, water dish, etc. is often more than many first time breeders bargain for. Some of those babies are bound to e difficult feeders. And when those snakes don't sell right away, a great deal of patience is required.

I've been breeding reptiles and selling them to the general public for 25 years and those have been my observations.

Tim