Building a Ball Python collection on a budget - Hard Wired Exotics interview

[@rikersreptiles]

Tony is legit. He always gets back to me and truly cares about his snakes and customers. I have been imulating his path of success and its definitely working for me. I'm glad you were able to get him to sit down for this.

[@sakurascales9091]

Tony is the guy I made my first BP purchase from, ever. I would absolutely buy from him again. The animals on his table are always beautiful & well kept!

[@hipihypnoctice]

My story is going like this: I got a gravid bumblebee from a guy, and because I didnt know what to a gravid snake, I sent it to a friend in another state to take care of it.(I didnt know it was gravid before I got it). Once I discovered how easy it is to take care of the animal and breed it months later I got an amazing deal on a super fire project (3 snakes 1 male,2 females). This year I already have multiple local buyers and pet shops ready to buy my animals and I am set to make around 3k off of these clutches. Now I am going to reinvest for a cinder ball python. As soon as I saw it I knew it was the gene I really wanted to work with. Im getting my first real snake racks and going to spend a little of my own money to make a dedicated snake room. Im not doing it just for the money, I want to see how I can progress new morphs. Thanks for reading!

[@JustMe-999a]

Too bad you don't have access to the internet, or you could have spent 10 minutes reading and figured it out for yourself.

[@hi_tech_reptiles]

I hope you've found success since this comment. :)

[@highjinx6519]

Hope it’s going well for you now. Would love to hear an update if you come across this thread again.

[@hipihypnoctice]

@@highjinx6519 I produced the first banana cinder ghost. Due to many unfortunate things I had to quit after 4 years. I had gotten up to about 25 high quality animals. A room mate stole my racks and stored all my snakes in one tub, killing some very nice males who were still small and a female. After that life just got harder and the loss just took me down. My mother also passed away and that was another big hit. I work as a programmer now, and will one day get back into it when I’m more stable with my fiancé

[@KYKonstrictorsandExotics]

This is exactly how I got started. Bought a normal, in a tank, started researching ball pythons more in depth. Saw what was out there and now 5 years later. I own 50+ snakes and it's nothing dropping 3,000 on a powerhouse female or male for that matter. Great story!

[@user-ki8nw5ki5o]

KY Konstrictors and Exotics hey! Where are y’all located in Kentucky?

[@KYKonstrictorsandExotics]

@@user-ki8nw5ki5o Waco/ Richmond area bud

[@user-ki8nw5ki5o]

KY Konstrictors and Exotics neat, I’m from Winchester! Y’all have a website/social media?

[@KYKonstrictorsandExotics]

@@user-ki8nw5ki5o yes sir I have just started a page under KY Konstrictorz and Exotics on Facebook. I have an Instagram and KZbin channel of course. You should definitley check me out. I have a couple badass giveaways going on right now.. but I drive to winchester all the time. I actually get my rat food from Winchester Feed Company

[@IAMGiftbearer]

Yup, this is the model I'm using too. Lots of patience and making each buying decision really count. I look at literally hundreds of snakes a week in search of just the right ones and the right opportunities.

[@lonniw]

the breeder gene in people - absolutely agree. My list is so long on things I've bred over the years.

[@firstlight7419]

This was an excellent video. Also, he's preserving a gene that has fallen away. Traits can be lost. He still has them in different forms to add to the more recent new stuff people are flocking to.

[@brianmartin8256]

I'm glad y'all made this video. I'm disabled and am on a strict budget. I love the animals it just takes me a long time to get right. I'm slowly getting more and more. I do it just to see what I can make. I don't chase fads I do what interest me

Same here friend. Snakes and Geckos. Don't chase $. Chase what you enjoy the most. Make a few $ in the process and give the animals the care they deserve.

[@ryanchadwick2020]

Absolutely outstanding. So much valuable information in this vlog. 🙌🙌

[@randelclark9219]

Great video Justin. Tony is a great guy. He has helped us allot. We look forward to adding more to our collection from both of you.

[@teslasgeckos2727]

I breed geckos but was starting in ball pythons a few years ago. I bought a bad batch of rodents from a trusted large seller and they wiped out half my collection so I shut down and sold all my snakes that lived but 1. I still have him and now im trying to find a female for him and start my collection and breeding plans back up! This is awesome to watch and definitely inspiring. Hoping to be able to build my collection back up!!

[@teslasgeckos2727]

I didn't realize how old this video was, but it showed up on my home page at the perfect time!

[@davidlevine1934]

Really liked this interview. Thanks Justin

[@getchellfamilyreptiles19]

This interview was encouraging to me. It is possible to start off small and build from there and be succesful. Thank you for this video

[@joemurray6522]

This guy is a ball of energy

[@0MichiganExotics0]

nice interview its good to heard all kind of starters

[@samcraver7267]

Great video!!! Thank you and Tony both for touching on the budget subject.

[@chriscrisafulli798]

Fantastic video! Thanks to both of you guys!

[@76pault]

I really enjoy this type of video.

[@sacredscales4099]

I really appreciate this point of view. Thanks for doing this!

[@theballpythonproject6598]

Very informative in the sense of seeing a different angle of how someone can reinvest. You mention work ethic involved at the end and that may be the best information from this whole video. It can take a ton of work just maintaining a great business model even on a small level and some people end up backing out as a result to the overwhelming nature of the work involved with keeping these animals and breeding them, even aside from the costs. I could talk for hours about this industry and my perspective of any topic. It's always interesting to hear from others within the industry because sometimes there are negative perspectives on projects or people that can dull it down.

[@shawnmckee5513]

I bought a Mojave from this guy at repticon in Charlotte NC back in February for 60$. Cool to see his story. Cool video, Justin.

[@lanielwolff7144]

Wow love this guy, so humble

[@dshesser]

Awesome interview! Thanks gentlemen

[@lilithpemberton5402]

Tony's awesome! All the balls we got from hardwired are very well tempered and we LOVE THEM!

[@taeviansworldofreptiles3828]

Man So much knowledge in this one! Great video guys!

[@DankiusMaximus]

Been working for years and finally hatched and sold my first animal. Next step, keep investing lol

[@BallPythonBlvd]

Love these interviews and this was a great topic to cover

[@Amazingcoins4you]

What a great video. So inspiring.

[@cappyatl]

I found this very inspiring as someone who's just getting started!

[@bobj8063]

Great interview Justin.

[@cmmconstrictors5971]

Nice interview! Personally the Black head will always be one of my favorites. I'm the same way money wise if it wasn't for the nice breeders out there that didn't work with me on doing payment plans i definitely wouldn't have the snakes that i do now I'm sure a lot of us can relate.

[@rikersreptiles]

My nicest snake was purchased on a 3 month payment plan. Black pastel fire spotnose het clown.

[@The_reel_archer]

Very awesome!! Hopefully there one day

[@MrPeter924]

Great lnterview great show. Reptile snakes 🐍

[@ballsbyjp8092]

Awesome interview with lots of great info

[@raredog939]

ABSOLUTELY agree about breeders NOT replying to emails, FB messenger, phone messages ECT. Incredibly horrible business practice. I'm still waiting for breeders to get back to me. When they do, too bad! I've bought 3 Ball pythons in the last 2.5 months. I'm a real customer. As for Justin, we spoke in October. He called me back! Thanks Justin! Hopefully we can do business in the future 😉 You know how it's done on a million levels!

[@SpartanReptiles]

Truly inspirational ! I can definitely relate to Tony! Great interview Justin and thank you for sharing!

[@ajsreptiles6170]

Good video. It's interesting to hear other people's stories on how they got started.

[@lauraholzler1417]

Excellent video even if I am late viewing it. 😁

[@budtompkins4324]

Thanks

[@josephcastro5894]

Great interview!

[@COOPERSCICHILDS]

Awesome thanks

[@jb8rtolo]

Absolutely an awesome video of inspiration to people like me who just started off leaning all about ball pythons all because out of nowhere my 10 year old daughter had serious interest in a ball python as a pet. My wife and I thought she was crazy out of her mind bcuz never in our life we as a family would ever think to have a snake as a pet. So my daughter had about $300 in birthday money deciding what she wanted to spend it on. So after realizing how serious she was when we noticed she has been watching a lot of videos on you tube about them, I decided to look into ball pythons. So after doing a lot of research on them totally changed my opinions about snakes(balls). She bought her first ball python a few months ago and we all as a family fell in love with the ball who she named Sniper. Make a long story short, After learning a lot about balls pythons and the hundreds of beautiful types of morphs that can be artfully created, has built my passion up in such a short time. I haven’t begun as of yet because I do have a small budget to begin with and wasn’t sure if I had built enough confidence and knowledge to even begin. But after watching so many videos of breeders here on you tube and learning from so many great people through their experiences specially this video here totally encourages my passion to proceed and start small like Tony. So I thank you so much Justin for putting out this video. Not having a lot of money and after watching this video totally has sparked my interest in moving forward in the very near future. I understand it can take some time but I’m absolutely not in any rush as I want learn as much as I can as I go. Super awesome video of encouragement! 👍🏽🤙🏽 ✌🏽

[@briantrujillo81]

Damn good guys!

[@stevemunn367]

Great interview Justin 👍🏻

[@ReggiesUrbanJungle]

Great interview

[@drtile77]

Great video

[@rebeccafitzpatrick2233]

Massive respect to this guy and great video Justin.

[@martinexoticsusa]

bro ive been watching your videos all day, not sure why I never have yet ive known about you for years lol!

[@GameOfMorphs]

thats what i'm doin, starting off small and on a budget.

[@SikwititBallPythons]

Great video.

[@centuian]

awesome interview

[@johnblaha5692]

Justin: hey let's go look at some animals. Video: ENDS.

[@djowen23]

Lol....right!

[@chain_reaction_exotics]

Amazing interview!

[@hazardousone2946]

What a Great interview!

[@djowen23]

Another awesome video I really appreciate the information and the content in this vlog because I feel like I fit in that scenario of the topic of the video

[@phoenixconstrictors3307]

Awsome interview, literally reminds me of me. I started breeding in 2011 and prices were up there for what we call "basic genes " these days, especially for females. The struggle is still real for me , lol 😆

[@joemarcon1516]

Great info, I wish it was that easy. My son and I want to breed balls just enough to pay for the hobby.

[@VetiExotics]

Great Interview!!! Really enjoyed the vid.

[@harshlifespotlights]

Crazy you can get a male Mojave now for $50-60 🤯

[@fearmeknot588]

kool

[@jasongrahamPUTTtheonly1]

My first venture was dog breeding as well and always always been any animal kind of guy

[@jasongrahamPUTTtheonly1]

My first snake was a male pastel make that i got from only local pwt store never ate

[@buffalophil3630]

I have 6 ball pythons and have only paid for 3..so far I'm in 320 with my champagne at 200 which is a rip off..pastel for 20 and a pastel yb for 100..i got my sulfur mojave and another pastel for trade and my Mexican black is my pet

[@BigMacTheGamer]

Where and how do you get whole sets/ groups of snakes? You guys say that a lot of people do it but how?

[@MrDavidcarp]

✊🏿🐍🐍🐍

[@zackeletonfh8940]

Ive bought snakes from both these guys who have gave me babies.

[@powistonpiedpythons9286]

It's not the camera that makes the picture, it's the photographer. Breeding Royals isn't that different. Some people would say that most of my snakes fall into the "it's only a" category. I wonder if any of them have actually stopped to take a long hard look at those snakes to see what can be done with them. Having a 'normal' Royal is nothing normal at all; you can use these snakes to help prove out what genes you have, plus you never know which one of them can carry a new morph gene. Having money can help, but it's not a given that you will excel with those six or seven gene animals. My first two eggs look as if they will be hatching in a couple or three weeks and those two babies will be the most beautiful snakes I will ever breed.

[@natehbrotherroy17]

Let's be really honest. Money makes all the difference. It can save you years and years on projects if you can buy visuals, high end double recessives and so on. The point is that you CAN do it with little money. Money is a tool. It can buy you great camera equipment which makes a HUGE difference and makes an average photographer good. At the end of the day the point of this video is to give hope and direction to those who don't have lots of money. To be successful with little money you have to be harder working, innovative and very thrifty as well as smart with what you buy and when a far as breeding animals and caging. Best of luck.

[@zachbumgarner8653]

i would really appreciate any advise i want to start a small business i have about 6 grand to invest

[@repsecure1924]

The blackhead what was causing originally causing the influence with the clown gene which KJay of Canada 🇨🇦 originally called the Carnival Clowns. Just a little history for some newbies to the hobby.

[@silkydog1107]

Hi Justin. I was watching a video about inbreeding ball pythons and the guy was talking about how pied’s especially albino pied’s because they have been inbred so much that they are having problems with them breeding and sometimes eating. Do u have these problems, if so how have u dealt with it or is this person just having bad luck with snakes eating habits and breeding seasons since the guy has been very successful with his breeding seasons.

[@jasongrahamPUTTtheonly1]

Have one female lesser a male pastel and one male normal. Have to find me a incubator

[@ballpythons6776]

So do I need to really worry about ovulation? Or is it easy to see?

[@DonKeller_dkexotics]

How much do we have to spend with a larger breeder, to not get ignored?

[@KINOVAReptiles]

We don't ignore any potential customers or past customers. If you inquire about a snake with us, you'll get a response.

[@DonKeller_dkexotics]

@@KINOVAReptiles that was directed towards Tony. I sent a few emails and was ignored. In all honesty ive sent messages to a few other larger breeders and was ignored. Ive been advised by a number of other people that is common unless money is spent. Or subbed to their patreon.

[@jssmorphs5729]

if you do what u love you never work a day

[@mercswifejl]

I have a question. Probably dumb but oh well here goes. I follow a few 🐍 channels on YT. They all have the little brown bag or the typical rodent box in their feeding videos. Why don't they breed their own mice/rats/bunnies? Seems it would be more cost effective. I'm probably wrong tho lol. I mean it isn't like you have to spend alot of money on husbandry for them. Thanks in advance for any input!

[@ICYEXP]

They typically do breed their own rats/mice

[@user-ki8nw5ki5o]

Two Mojave’s make a BEL..? I thought it was Lesser x Mojave

[@toomanypogs6844]

Aaron T there’s a whole “complex” of basic genes that their super forms are Lucy’s! Black and blue eyed (: I do believe lesser x lesser also makes bel’s

[@beachratsandballs3340]

😤😡BP community hates "flippers". 🤔🤫🤐 BP breeders who sell hatchlings to wholesalers 🤑🤩😁 Wholesalers "flipping" snakes. 🤔🤣🤣 ME............

[@jamesnelson1970]

Great interview