an interesting question came to mind...a ramble ;)

[paintedlizards]

We're attending a reptile show this weekend. Initially we were gung ho and had alot of money saved up to buy a few more geckos of the more expensive morphs if we saw them.. but then I got to thinking-


WHY?


There are so many leo breeders out there right now... and some of the newbies ( I'm included in that generalization) are jumping right in with the Enigmas and the Sunglows ect... but whats really wrong with us sticking to the 'less popular RIGHT NOW' morphs. We're breeding Murphy Patternless, Tremper Albinos, Hi-Yellows, Hypo's and Tangerines. Why expand that? I was thinking that I'd still have a market to sell them- because new people are joining in the hobby every day. I figured some people have to keep up the quality on the 'not so hot right now' morphs to produce a quality affordable animal for people.

I'm not knocking those of you who do it- I'm just saying that it may not be for us. I feel ( and I'd like opinions on this ) that crossing out what we have and combining morphs from THAT should be enough for us on the small scale that we're planning on breeding. IF and WHEN we decide to pick it up a bit and really start selling obviously we'd have to keep up with demand.

so do you think that we've got a decent genetic group to work with as a small scale breeder? Could you think of ONE more gecko that we could intergrate to add something more interesting to the mix? :main_evilgrin:

 

[Ga_herps]

I have tons and trust me sometimes I ask myself why so many, but we really love finding bright little babies from anticipated projects every year. If you were going to expand I would say maybe a few raptors and maybe some mack snows would be some good additions. Other then that right now it looks like you have plenty to work with.

 

[acpart]

I feel the same way as you and really try to rein myself in with small, interlocking projects. I have 3 breeding males and plan to keep it that way. I don't know how many males and females you have, but if you wanted to get one more thing, I would second the idea of getting a Mack snow, maybe a super snow so you ultimately have the possibility of snows, super snows and albino, patternless, etc. Macks. The other possibilty would be to upgrade your tangerine line, with one very bright tang, if that's the way you want to go.

Aliza

 

[eyelids]

Don't worry about the market and keep/breed what YOU like...

 

[Retribution Reptiles]

I'm with Mike on this one. Do what you like. If you feel as if you're getting overwhelmed then take it back a notch or two.

But by all means don't do something because of what you think the "market" wants. Do it for you and you'll be happier about it in the end.

 

[Country Gecko]

Don't worry about the market and keep/breed what YOU like...

Good advice Mike!
Too bad more people don't see it this way:main_thumbsdown:

 

[paintedlizards]

thats kind of where I wanted to go with this post- thanks for articulating what I was trying to explain.

I care about the geckos, not their market value. I got caught up in it for a minute but really- i like what I'm working with. I recognized that I do not need 60 geckos breeding a different morph every egg- that's not for me. I enjoy the genetics angle of it, but I have plenty to work with on that level. I have a juvi snow ( i think its a female but its too small to tell now) and I'll establish him/her and see where we're at.

that said- I may get one or two more at Repticon this weekend- i am driving like 6 1/2 hours to go to it! but really i think i'm focusing on supplies and my new snake ( which is either going to be a Corn or Ball python- not sure yet...)

 

[liljenn]

Don't worry about the market and keep/breed what YOU like...

:main_thumbsup: Amen!! Work with what you like and the hobby will continue to bring you joy! I decided when I first got into this there were a few I REALLY liked, and I am sticking to those. I have learned to just appreciate the other cool morphes rather than having to have them all... although it does get tempthing:main_laugh:

I'll be at that show tomorrow too! Very few shows around here!! The Columbia, SC shows have been good lately. I try to go to everyone within driving distance (within reason!) Maybe we'll run into each other! Send me a PM....

 

[cassadaga]

I agree, this is a hobby, so play it the way you want to. Personally, I love red stripes, so we're working almost exclusivly with them. Melissa also loves SSPAs, so we'll probably pick up with that project also. I think high quality geckos of any morph are always in demand, and I think what makes this hobby great are the small breeders working with high quality animals for their own satisfaction, not the mega producers looking to be the first with the coolest new toys.

 

[whkrazyk]

theres nothin wrong with it, im one of the "newbies" that jumped into the more expensive and less researched morphs, because i had the extra money and am taking the advise of my grandfather who has been in the reptile industry for ove 40 years, so breed what you like, keep what you like, reptiles to me is more than money, i have a few wild type geckos, and some blizzards and mack snows, but thats because i like them not because i see money signs over their head lol

 

[reptilemorphs]

i personnally am going to breed what i can afford and i will be breeding some normals to sell to the newbies

 

[paintedlizards]

just wondering if anyone had anything else to add...

we ended up adding a couple of stripes and an Aptor/Raptor angle to our guys- that said we're also massively cutting back on some of the geckos. . . it's whats right for us and our animals.