Oh, I do feel your pain . . .
I have been seriously financially impaired lately . . .
Which is part of the reason I haven't been on the forums that much, all the pretty snakes that I can't have bum me out. My snakes won't be old enough to breed until next year, and I feel like I'm sort of in limbo with them.
I decided I want a crestie. I really want a crestie. And I really want to get rid of that stupid hybrid I bought . . . so I looked into trading at a reputable pet store. I can't trade it straight across tho, so I ended up choosing another that isn't turning out how I'd hoped, and another that is a "spare" - sort of. So, I went from actually wanting to get rid of one snake to seriously considering trading 3 snakes for 1 gecko. I had it all worked out in my mind, but then I look at their little snakey faces and I feel like a TRAITOR.
But the fact of the matter is that when you have an expensive hobby like reptiles, and aren't to the point of breeding/selling babies yet, I guess sometimes you have to make these difficult choices. Am I doing myself any favors keeping snakes I know I won't use in my breeding program? And here I am, I've never bred snakes before and I'm already planning 3 clutches for next year . . . and 6 for the year after . . . plus I am going to have a zillion holdbacks . . . Even if I trade those 3 snakes, and only buy 1 more (I still need a male for one project) by the end of next summer I could easily have 20 snakes. I know that doesn't seem like a lot to many of you, but I am truly small time, I can't even begin to hope for a reptile room for at least 4 more years unless I come into a lot of money! I've got to keep it small!!!
I'm sorry Traci, this has turned into my personal rant, but I have been going through the same thing!!! It sucks. And another thing is that I know that if I trade my snakes for a gecko, I'm gonna have to love it! I'm probably being more picky than if I were shelling out my cash . . . supposing I had any.
Again, I do feel your pain. And I am sending +++ thoughts your way that you are able to find good homes for your little snakes soon, and you'll feel better. I know you have a lot of really nice snakes, which ones are you keeping? And I'm sorry to hear one died too, that's always hard.