Why This Site Exists
Ball python breeding is sold as an easy way to make money. The reality? Most people lose money and end up stuck with snakes they can’t sell.
My cousin went $20,000 into debt and got evicted because a "friend" got him into this scheme and tried to get me into to it too. I don't want anyone else to have to go through that.
🎥 Theo Von Reacts to Snake Breeding Pyramid Scheme!
One of the world's biggest podcasts recently exposed the ball python scam.
❌ Top 7 Reasons NOT to Breed Ball Pythons
1. It's a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme With No Riches
“You will not make money, period." — MorphMarket
- Most breeders make most of their sales to friends and families who want to become breeders too. After that, the money dries up fast
- Influencers like Justin Kobylka, Brian Barczyken, and Miguel Garcia encourage newcomers by showing racks of high-end morphs but skip the part where years of investment and marketing made those sales possible. They got big and got theirs. YOU WON'T
- Newbies get misled by “investor language” (e.g. ROI, bloodline, market curve) into buying snakes they couldn’t resell.
- You think breeding snakes will be easy money. But you end up stuck with a bunch of expensive snakes and no buyers.
2. The Market is Flooded — and It's Worse Than You Think
"There are currently 48146 ball pythons for sale on morphmarket. by comparison, there are 4208 boas, 2526 corn snakes, 1628 kingsnakes... and that's just the snakes that are listed on morphmarket. that doesn't include pet stores and breeders who aren't using morphmarket to list snakes for sale." — /r/ballpython Reddit mod
- Big breeders have dozens of listings each. They drive down prices and undercut the little guy.
- Common morphs like pastel, spider, and mojave often have 40+ unsold listings per morph per day.
- The majority of ball pythons under $100 are relisted weekly with price drops and ‘urgent’ tags.
3. The Gross Reality: You’re Cleaning Vomit, Diarrhea, and Dead Rodents
“Snake stench: ‘We thought someone was dead,’ neighbor says. We couldn’t open up the bedroom windows. My wife started to gag and throw up” — Los Angeles Times
- You’ll store and thaw pinkies, fuzzies, and rats in your freezer — next to your food.
- Rodents can rot in snake mouths if temps drop.
- Snakes pass loose stool after large meals, which soaks through paper and into rack slats.
- Breeding females can drop eggs on the heat tape and cook them alive.
- Mites, scale rot, and stuck sheds are weekly chores.
4. Genetic Defects & Unwanted Morphs — And No One Will Buy Them
- Spider morphs exhibit neurological “wobble” — they can’t strike properly, miss prey, and corkscrew while moving.
- Morphs like champagne and woma show lethal homozygous combinations, limiting breeding pair options.
- Spider morphs are banned at some shows.
- Many forums advise avoiding them completely.
- Rescues report large intakes of spider morphs from breeders who “couldn’t sell them.”
5. You’ll Spend More Than You Make — And Keep Spending
You can easily burn through $3-5K before you produce a single hatchling!
| Item | Cost (est.) |
|---|
| 2 breeding adults | $600–$1,200 |
| Enclosures + racks | $500–$1,200 |
| Incubator setup | $300–$600 |
| Frozen rodents | $60/month |
| Power (heat tape + humidifiers) | $20–$50/month |
| Vet fund | $200+/yr |
| Shipping | $40–$70 per snake |
- Most babies sell for under $80, often much lower.
- Feeder rodent costs rise seasonally and can wipe out your month’s margin.
6. Legal Trouble and Neighbor Nightmares
- Many states and cities restrict or ban reptile breeding and selling (e.g. New York, Miami, San Francisco) or require expensive licenses.
- Zoning often forbids >3 reptiles.
- Neighbors report snake smell or rodent noise.
- Transporting reptiles across state lines requires USDA certifications for some shows.
7. 🐍 The Real Snakes are at the top of the Pyramid!
“So many YouTubers are urging people that they can (make it as a side hustle) because in reality they want the pyramid to keep growing (else THEIR side hustle come crashing down)” — Reddit
“People come into it thinking ‘make money breeding snakes?! Sign me up!’ and end up disappointed.” — Arachnoboards
“Starting to breed ball pythons right now isn’t super wise… all you’re going to be doing is producing a lot of low value animals that will likely struggle to find homes/end up on craigslist or in rescues.” — Reddit
“So many people get into breeding just because they see the big breeders on top making a lot, but dont realize its kinda like an mlm in the way that the little guys aren't making much at all. and then they want out when they realize they have to feed and care for all those unwanted snakes.” — Reddit
🍭 Don't be a Sucker
98% of new breeders fail. Influencers like are the same ones who profit off selling YOU snakes to get in.
There are a hundred easier ways to make money. Don't get burned by ball python BS.