We would like to thank you for your interest in the reptiles offered by Professional Breeders®. For over 20 years we have had a leading role in establishing, developing, and the commercial breeding of many popular reptile species in the industry today. We purposely remain focused on a limited number of specialized breeding programs, having selected species with excellent keeping qualities and outstanding long-term commercial breeding possibilities. We have had many rewarding experiences in developing the varieties we now offer because of their extremely unique appearances, “natural” domestic behavior, and inherent genetic flexibility. The popularity of these varieties continues to expand because of their distinctive traits and the progressive quality improvements accomplished through selective breeding. The combination of our in-depth knowledge of these species, focused breeding programs, and experience in the domesticated selective breeding process enables us to continually produce and offer some of the highest quality offspring available for the varieties we develop.

In addition to our goal of producing offspring that will meet or exceed your expectations for quality, we strive to provide complete service for the successful raising of your acquired stock. Many individuals are relatively new in keeping and breeding reptiles. We have found that the decisions made during the first few years in choosing species and the selection of an appropriate set-up can be critical. We would like to offer our experience to you to help simplify and uncomplicate this process. We encourage you to call prior to or after acquiring offspring if you have any questions concerning initial species selection, caging systems, environmental considerations, establishing a food supply, general husbandry, or growth performance standards. Whether you are seeking to establish a high quality commercial breeding colony or looking for a unique and beautiful addition to your collection, we would like to be of assistance to you. We would also enjoy hearing from you about the progress of your newly acquired stock.

Our residence and breeding facilities are located in the North Flathead Valley just west of Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana. If you would like to visit just give us a call. We participate in several of the major reptile breeder expos each year including the new National Reptile Breeders Trade Association Shows for 1998-99 in Trevose, Pennsylvania (last weekend in July at the Radisson Hotel Philadelphia Northeast) and San Jose, California (last weekend in September at the San Jose DoubleTree Hotel). This also provides a great opportunity to meet many of you personally and discuss the many aspects of commercial herpetoculture. We exhibit offspring and several examples of recent breeding advancements at each show.

As a closing note, we would like to respond to an often asked question of what features should be considered for a particular variety in determining its overall investment breeding potential. We have found that certain characteristics associated with a species or variety are directly related to successful commercial breeding programs. Varieties that possess the majority of these characteristics have led to the highest sustained popularity and maximum longevity for investment breeding returns. The characteristics listed in random, non-ranked order are:

1. Varieties from a taxonomic category of established awareness and timeless popularity due to unique outward morphology and associated pattern and color traits. This would include certain boas and pythons, Lampropeltis species, and specific lizard species. Within these taxon, favorable behavioral traits and acceptable size parameters carry significant additional weight in determining maximum keeping popularity.

2. A high contrast or easily recognizable unique pattern and bold, beautiful colors is a constant theme in the most popular commercially bred species and varieties.

3. Species that possess a high degree of genetic flexibility resulting in multiple known and presently unknown pattern and color morphs. This provides the ability to extensively develop and refine the known popular traits through domestic selective breeding and also the possibility for additional unique and breedable traits to emerge. With this ability, it forever changes the way we look at the hidden potential of a species or variety, such as the Ball Pythons, Honduran Milk Snakes, or California Kingsnakes.

4. The highest quality offspring in relation to color and pattern of any popular variety have consistently been the most sought-after and the most profitable. Considering the equal cost of care and feeding for specimens of low or high quality, it is an important standard to acquire the highest quality stock possible.

5. Species with “natural” domestic qualities that allow for the reasonable ability to meet housing, environmental, husbandry and feeding requirements in order for both breeding stock and offspring to thrive. A significant additional management consideration is the ability for offspring to establish and readily feed within several weeks after birth, and therefore, allow for distribution at a very early age.

6. Species with relatively low annual reproductive capability have consistently led to sustained higher price structuring and non-volatile pricing stability. In contrast, species with extremely high annual reproductive capability have led to eventual lower price structuring. The potential for acceptable short and long-term commercial returns from highly reproductive species exists in a few extremely popular varieties such as albino Burmese Pythons and Leopard Geckos.

7. Isolation from the potential impact of any significant importation or field collecting is a fundamental requirement for the long-term success of any commercial investment breeding program. This characteristic is usually satisfied by working with a variety that is rarely found in the wild, working with or developing a genetically determined trait not readily collectable in the wild, or legal status restricting the access of significant numbers of the wild population.

8. Isolation from existing or potential future legal issues that adversely affect the ability to produce and distribute a species on a local, state, national, or international basis.