Real keeper decisions · Every week
Decision of the Week
One real keeping-or-breeding call a week, walked through end to end — the options, the trade-offs, and what that keeper actually chose to do. The reasoning you can reuse the next time it's your call to make.
Should I Sell at Reptile Expos or Stick to Selling Online?
August 12, 2026
I spent close to $2,000 getting ready to sell at expos, then nearly sold out online before my very first show. I went anyway and learned that the value of an expo isn't always measured by what you sell that weekend.
Preview & unlockThe Cheapest Mouse Wasn’t Always the Best Deal
July 29, 2026
Buying frozen mice seemed simple when I had one adult snake and an expo vendor standing in front of me. Once I started buying babies during the winter when no expos were scheduled, I had to figure out how to find feeders that were affordable, consistently available, and handled in a way I actually trusted.
Preview & unlockDo I buy one $3,000 snake for my breeding program or three $1,000 snakes?
July 29, 2026
When I first started thinking about breeding hognose snakes, the math seemed almost too easy. Buy expensive snakes, breed them together, and produce expensive babies. What I did not understand yet was that producing a $3,000 snake and selling a $3,000 snake are two entirely different things.
Preview & unlockThe Biggest Risk Wasn't Shipping: Getting My First Hognose
July 19, 2026
I was convinced buying a snake in person was the safest option. What I didn't realize was that I was protecting myself from the wrong risk entirely, and it took two very different hognose snakes to completely change how I think about choosing a breeder.
Preview & unlockKnowing When to Retire a Presumably Infertile Female from My Breeding Program
July 19, 2026
After four clutches of infertile eggs over two breeding seasons, I had to decide whether to keep hoping Chai would finally prove herself or accept that it was time to let one of the sweetest snakes in my collection become someone else's pet.
Preview & unlockShe Couldn't Get the Eggs Out. Here's Why I Asked My Vet to Aspirate Them.
July 12, 2026
I wasn't trying to save a clutch anymore, I was trying to save my snake. This is the story of recognizing when waiting had become the bigger risk, and why knowing your species can be just as important as knowing when to ask for veterinary help.
Preview & unlockI Almost Put My First Baby Hognose in a 40-Gallon Tank
July 12, 2026
When I decided to buy my first baby female Western Hognose, I thought I already had everything figured out. I'd bought a beautiful 40-gallon enclosure, set it up, and was excited for her to arrive. As far as I knew, that's exactly what female hognoses were supposed to live in. Every care guide I found talked about females needing a 40-gallon enclosure, so I never questioned it. One casual conversation with the breeder changed everything.
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