Thanx Moore. That all helped me out alot. Well to answer your questions. And don't worry nothing you said offended me. You don't know me one bit and you just want to know where my head is at and my goal in all this. Money hungry, nope, morph bug nope..... lol. Never heard that one. I guess you could I say I have a few dreams and they deal with reptiles. I want to do one of three things.
1. I want to get my degree in biology, then zoology and then study herpetology as a whole. But take snakes as my specialty. I love snakes with a burning passion. I was the kid that nobody hung out with, the weird one with glasses that played in the woods while all the other were playing baseball and squashing bugs and those they didn't kill they'd scare the girls with. I was the one that the parents said, well maybe if we got him involved in sports. And they did, I played little league baseball, left outfielder and short stop. As my coach put it. I had the talent but no interest. I could almost any ball in the strike zone and send out there. But that did not mean I wanted too. When I was out in the field.... I was the one playing with the beetle in the dirt as the ball whizzes by my head. Hahaha.
well number one goes with my other dreams or goals. I'd rather look at them as goals and not dreams. Cause when you say "My Dream" it's as if you are saying ya I would like to do it, but it's not reality. What I want to do can happen. And will if I apply myself 100%.
But onward to number 2.
Run my own Reptile Rescue center. We only have one in the state of VA. And that is in Richmond. Most people do not have the time to drive all that way. But here's the thing. Not only do I want to do rescue, but an education center, kinda like a museum. I want to have an area where guest walk through and see all the different types of reptiles throughout the world. And have people there to tell the guest about them. Guides I guess. And also sponsor field trips for schools to our facility and also go to the schools for education with the animals. I truly believe, and yes I know this is a little corky, that if they made reptiles a required subject in schools at a young age, it make change things over time as far as how they are viewed. Now that one is dream lol.... cause it will never happen.
Now for 3. I would like to run and operate a strictly reptile pet and supply store. And also in some way tie in education with the place. I don't want to say that it'd be a rescue by being selective about who can buy what, but I would in some way approve of sales based on a few factors, such as knowledge of the animal they would like, and understanding of requirements. If they didn't know too much about say an yellow anaconda, I'd disapprove and, "How bout this snake, it's called a corn snake, it does not get as large and has a more docile temperment." Something along that line. I don't want to get into it to just make money. I hope yall understand, that my number one goal in this life as a herper, is not to gain knowledge to use in my own benefit, or show off to others that I know more than them. My ultimate goal is to educate on acceptance, awareness and on how valuable these creatures are to us in our world. Not necessarily genetics or intense biological workings or stuff like that. I mean I still run into people who think all reptiles are slimy!!!! My ****25***** year old niece came over the other day and held Hercules, my first BP, and she said wow he's warm ( he was on the warm end on the tank) and he's not slimy. It blew my mind she thought that she's a med student and thought that cold blooded meant they were always cold and slimy to the touch.
Another example. I was standing in a local pet store admiring a Hogg Island boa for sale, (My dream snake

) and nearby was a family, no offense to anyone on this site, but they were ghetto as all hell. And the woman had a child and they were looking at the beardies. And she literally was like WOW!!! and called her husband over and said, "Baby baby!!!! you gotta come see this, they have DRAGONS!!!!!! I thought dragons were fake..." I just shook my head in disbelief. She thought just because they were labeled Bearded Dragons that they were actually dragons.....
But anywho. Yes I have all my BP's. As of right now. I have 6. 5 rescues, and one I bought. <----the one I was told was a orange pastel, lol. But my goal with breeding Moore, basically the same as my goals with the business. I would like to spread the love and appreciation for them. And also out of personal interest. If it coems to that i cannot move out the babies. That is fine with me. Which is why I didn't go and buy 20 breeding pairs. And no it is not the money. Because no matter what I have what I make in one clutch is not going to last forever. I'm one of those people who take the philosophy that money is not going to follow me to heaven. I wont be able to take it with me. So I'm happy and content with what I have whatever it may be and whatever may come. Cause I will always be the same person. Know what I mean?
But I will 100% admit that I have some serious faults. And sometimes that is taking a bigger bite that I can chew. Sometimes I want to take on the world. I wish I could adopt every mistreated and abandoned animal out there. Never going to happen, but I have the heart. But anyways.... sorry if this post was so long. I hoped I answered everything. If not let me know.
Oh and Cat, maybe you're right. I'm in no rush
oh wait wait.... for Moore if you'd like pics of all my BP's let me know. I have Hercules, Olivia (My wife and daughter named her lol), Olive, Bones (the new sick and skinny one) and the last one I haven't decided on a name.