Any Profit in Breeding

[Bunnygirl]

I have been looking into getting a few bearded dragons, I am building cages myself. I am going to buy high quality dragons (Hopefully Reds!! I love reds) I just want to know if there is a profit in it, even it it takes a while to turn a profit. I love dragons, but need soemthing that can support it's self after awhile.
                      Thank you!

[TheVirus]

 They will eventually support themselves. It will take a few seasons and many babies. The problem with breeding is selling. Its easy to produce a couple hundred babies with two females. The problem is selling them for a profitable price.

 You can either buy high quality babies (in quality I'm talking color) and sell the "pretty" babies for a high price tag. Or produce tons of babies every season and sell them by the lot for cheap.

 If your lucky enough to have the "in" morph, at the time they become popular, and to have them in numbers, then you could turn a profit. But this takes a little luck and many morphs (large collection) and that takes a lot of start up money (and space).

 In my opinion you should by the high quality "color" dragons and only hatch out a clutch or two a season.

 Even then I would only breed if you've been in the hobby for a few years and are truly passionate about it. The reason is, having to take care of 50 lizards at one time is tiring and can "burn you out" to the whole reptile keeping thing. Its far less taxing to keep a single animal, and with initial costs aside, its very inexpensive for the up keep. Good luck!

[Thewolfmantom]

I have a total of 6 dragons. I have been breeding them now over 4 years. If your looking for monetary profit dragons are not the way to go. Between feeding, caring for, and being particular who I sell to I am lucky I break even year to year. Now with that being said I have found this to be a very rewarding hobby and I have made some really good people doing this. So profit is measured by different standards.
Tom

[reptilelvr]

you ll put it in more words than I had planned i was just going to post

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ahahahahaha......not really

[Bunnygirl]

Thank you all for the input. I am not worried about the cost of supplies, my Uncle owns a pet store so I can get everything at his cost (which is about 1/2 of the retail) I can also order wholesale insects through him. What is the "IN" Color right now?

[Dadx2mj]

I think most breeders these days would be doing good if they made enough $ to break even on their costs. I dont breed so this is only my opinion. Years ago there was money to be made in breeding dragons but they are so easy to breed and so many got into it now the money that was there is spread too thin and people sell dragons for very low prices just to get rid of them

[replvr]

Breeding is not something to tread into lightly. Its very expensive, time, and energy consuming. If you don't go into it just for the love of the species you will come away a little bitter. Or a lot bitter, depends on what your expectations were. My monthly cost when I am at full capacity is roughly $1500. $1000 per month just on crix, yuppers CRIX. That doesn't include greens, supplements, supplies (i.e. bins, bulbs, fixtures...nada). My electric bill hits right at $500 per month. I don't walk away with a profit EVER. I get lucky if I break even. However, I love the little buggers so I keep doing it.