control wrote:Ah, yes, that's very true. Didn't quite mean to make it come off as 'all big names are bad and all small names are good'. It was a quick reply while on break at work.
I more so meant the big companies that deal with a multitude of animals and imports (eg underground reptiles, if I'm remembering the name correctly) that are popular, big names even while their quality is lacking. Obviously a little research will indicate the reputation of the company pretty quickly but even so. I've always found smaller breeders more willing to communicate more with me on a personal level through messages or phone calls. And I prefer to support the smaller breeders, or big names that specialize in a species or two.
Never heard of them, but I think I can think of at least one or two others that are run like that as well. I definitely agree, though. I think a lot of the big name ones are the ones that import more because they want to find new morphs (though to be fair, their business success help them be able to afford that in the first place, so I think if smaller breeders could afford the investment lost, many would do it too).
But that's been my experience, too, so I tend to lean toward smaller breeders as well. :P That and the fact that I see more hobby breeders are local expos (where I get my snakes because I don't want to wait for shipping lol).
-fireflii