Lol yes we are kind of hijacking the thread, sorry OP!
I guess it depends on how you define "professional." I think that hobbyists can be professionals, and in fact quite a few are. I tend to draw the line between those who breed for fun and/or extra cash and those whose reptile sales are their primary income. Generally speaking, those who are making the majority of their income from breeding are more well-known in the hobby and because of a good reputation can reasonably continue to ask higher prices for quality animals. After all, it's typically smaller breeders that lower prices to begin with in order to draw business from folks who would otherwise gravitate towards the big names. Some argue that that sort of price lowering is really all that necessary...there are plenty of corn snake owners who've never heard of any of the big wigs of the reptile industry. But a small-time hobbyist can't necessarily afford to house and feed babies that just won't sell, but they might not have a large enough lot to attract wholesale buyers, so the price goes down to encourage a quick sale. There are, of course,
exceptions to every rule.
Anyway, these are things I will no doubt struggle with personally in a few years and maybe I'll have a completely different opinion by then. I am admittedly still somewhat of a novice when it comes to the industry. Perhaps any further discussion should move to a new thread though. XD
You sure you won't let one of those girls go this year?
but next year hopefully we'll have a few available. I sold only one male to someone in germany and now regret it, he looks awesome 
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