Breeding as full-time work?

[FelanMoira]

I was just wondering how many do this as a hobby and how many as sole income.

 

[paulnj]

It took 20% of my yearly income, but next year is going to be FUN!!

I didn't vote

 

[T&KBrouse]

Didn't quite know how to answer this one.
We make just enough from breeding to cover the cost of feeding and most of the vet bills incurred from the rescues.

...Sometimes...:main_rolleyes:

 

[KHGeckos]

I really cant answer this since so far im negitive in money, but i dont really see it as negitive because this is a very fun hobby and my leos are nothing but good to me because they are happy and healthy. My main focus and goal with these geckos are to learn from them from experience and see all the cool morphs that come out from selective breeding. Also, to meet new people that share the same common interest in the love for geckos and animals, and also. I think a big part of it is to teach others on how to properly care for not only geckos, but all cold blooded herps and to enjoy them, because they are fascinating and they deserve the best possible treatment. Making money is just a little "Icing on the cake" per say, that helps a person like me buy more racks, food, and more geckos, lol. ........ Great little hobby

 

[KHGeckos]

It took 20% of my yearly income, but next year is going to be FUN!!

next year will be fun

 

[FelanMoira]

I'm in the negative for this year too! I am just acquiring my stock and getting things set up and incubators and such.

 

[ataber]

i plan to be in the negative for a while lol but it sure is a fun way to spend money

 

[Ccrashca069]

Yeah definately in the red so far lmao. This is a great hobby. I also help my best friend run a Reptile Rescue besides being a computer tech. I hope to have alot of fun breeding some differant combinations and if I make some money, It will be spent on more leopards. Go figure

 

[MSMD]

I am also, obviously in the red since I am just getting ready for my first breeding season. I really don't plan on making any money, but am hoping to just help offset some of the cost of 'the addiction'.

 

[Carolina Geckos]

Well, I am not a breeder yet and voted wrong lol. I voted 100% thinking 100% hobby...lol brain hasn't kicked in yet. I will get there just slowly...

 

[mynewturtle]

I voted 40%. I breed my own mealies, supers and just spend money on bills (electric) having that heat tape on ALL day really works up a big bill. Still only about 100$ extra before having the geckos.

 

[Ipsl]

Well I, planing on getting my business license at some point soon here. I don't think that I'll be making any real money for several seasons. (Ive been part of start up companies during the dot com) I know what kind of rush and hope Im having is mainly childish awe... But than so what Im just glad I'll be able to have some decent write offs next year. And get further imersed in this hobby. D

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

This was a hard one to answer because if you count my husband's salary as 'joint' income, gecko sales contribute less than 20% before taxes. I am on Social Security Disability, so the geckos bring in about 40% of that figure. Considering Golden Gate Gecko's annual net profit alone against the number of hours worked, I make minimum wage.

 

[robin]

it's a full time job which yields minimum wage or less. you can hardly even make it as a sole income job (not even close) unless you are maybe the LUCKY 1 in however many thousand who is fortunate enough to be able to make a living of it. just be glad IF you even break even

 

[paulnj]

EXACTLY Robin! I do it to help pay for my expensive pets:main_thumbsup: Making a bunch of money would be great, but I have a day job (when not laid off for the winter that is) and don't plan to quit that anytime soon.

 

[Mel&Keith]

If I were to vote how much of our yearly income we spend on gecko breeding I would vote 20%. When you figure in "hourly wages", I would bet that less than 10% of breeders actually make more than minimum wage off of their geckos. It's definitely an 8 hour a day hobby, not a job.

 

[nwheat]

I voted 0%, but I might be slightly on the plus side after expenses this year. (this would be a first - woohoo!) It wouldn't be 10% including my husband's income, but it might be if you count only what I earn. I need to spend some time after the holidays getting all those numbers in order in preparation for tax season. Sigh.

 

[Ipsl]

Oh man I'm sooo excited about learning how to do ALL this tax forms and what not.
I really don't see any real potential for me to make real capital off this venture. But its going to be a great learning experience for me as far as "the real world" (Just felt a little of more of my youth slip away ) PLus this seems like a great sub-culture of people to know.

 

[o0 Ryan 0o]

We don't have the amount of money invested into this hobby like some of you do. I actually get paid in geckos for a lot of the work I do for friends in the hobby. You would think we might have a better chance at being in the green since we don't have as much invested, just a lot of work time. That's not the case at all. We still purchase lots of geckos and have all of the other regular bills/expenses. We're only a few fluctuating percent in the green over the past 3 years. Considering all of the time I spend in the hobby for ourselves and others, and hoping that we have a perfect season each year...I still think 10% would be the max for us, which is roughly half of an average minimum wage.

Do we mind, absolutely not. We're with Ken. This is a hobby and any money we make goes right back into it. If there's any additional money, that's just the "icing on the cake." We'll always find some way to spend most of it though haha. We're all horrible addicts, and this site is a giant portal to justify it

EDIT: I forgot to mention, I thought it made most sense to vote 0%.

 

[SteveB]

Pretty much anyone that is able to make money on leopard geckos has an alternative source of income providing the basic necessities in life for them. If you relied on geckos to pay for your home, you'd be in big trouble.

It's amazing that MANY of us have invested $20k+ in geckos that sell for $20 in Petco and are bred by the tens of thousands each year.

Doing what you love is the most important thing, though.