Although I never made as much per hour from my work of breeding snakes (after expenses) as I did when I worked as a nurse (LPN), there were many years when I was able to make a profit and contribute to household expenses as a medium sized, one person business (Bill did his own thing with writing, Madagascar tours, photography, etc).
But the last couple of years the market seems to have crashed big time. Although expenses keep going up (mouse food, electricity, supplies, etc), prices of herps keep going down. And even at the low current prices, not many people are buying. The shows have become giant flea markets. I see vendors offering baby amels and snows for $8 - $12 at many shows. I think that a lot of out of work herpers are trying to supplement their unemployment checks with anything they can, including breeding herps. OTOH, many breeders and hobbyists are either getting out, or downsizing big time. I see a lot more adults available the past 1 - 2 years than I ever have before. I have also downsized a lot, although I can't imagine ever getting out entirely, until I am too old or infirm to care for them. But I can't afford to keep losing money, so I am trying to consider this is an opportunity to concentrate on what I really love, and to thin out animals that no longer part of important projects. Some day, the recession will hopefully be over, and people will feel confident that their jobs are secure enough to enjoy spending a little money on "extras" again. By that time, I hope to have streamlined my stock to only projects that I am really excited about, and that will hopefully be exciting to customers, too. I think many other breeders are doing the same thing at this time. Lots of good deals out there because of it!
As painful as these downturns are, I think they are necessary to get some of the excess and wastefulness out of business. It is kind of a "survival of the fittest". Unfortunately, many businesses of all kinds are failing right now. But whichever ones survive will be in much better shape than the average business was at the beginning of the recession.
I think this is a great time to buy whatever kinds of morphs you always wanted, but couldn't afford. That is - if you have a job that you are not worried about losing shortly, lol! Many breeders will make great deals for cash now. I think it is a time for caution if you expect to break even, or better, during the recession. Breeding is not difficult - but marketing is not easy at any time, let alone now. But if you look at this as an opportunity to learn the hobby, and discover all of the intricacies of breeding and marketing during a difficult time, then you will be way ahead of the curve when things finally turn around and the market (hopefully) returns. Because so many will fail during this time, you may find much less competition by the time things finally turn around, if you begin on a small scale now.
So enjoy the hobby, learn a lot, and work towards breaking even. But definitely don't plan on it making the mortgage payment, at least not for a while, lol!
