I thought I would post my first blog here on a topic that I hold very closely in this hobby - and that is keeping a diverse collection.
There are pros and cons to keeping a single species of reptile, and equally the same for keeping an incredibly diverse collection as well. I believe that keeping a single species, or even 2 or 3 species allows the keeper to understand that partiular species on a very deep level. Getting a very wide sample size of behaviors, potential health issues, and quirks that very others could comment on the same way simply because of what's being seen in a larger colony of the same species. You can also push the envelope with breeding - quickly taking projects to new levels and in different directions when your collection is largely made of the same species.
For me, the 2 biggest cons to that are:
1) Personally, I just like too much to only have one or two species, so I wouldn't feel fulfilled.
2) You greatly reduce your marketability, and depending on the species you're working with, you can very quickly and easily be drowned out by others working the same species possibly in larger numbers than you with equal or greater quality projects that make it harder for you to stand out.
Again, these are my personal opinions based on my experiences and speaking with various keepers over the years.
Having a diverse collection can certainly have it's cons as well... that includes the intense need to stay on top of all husbandry parameters that could be wildly different depending on what you keep. If you have things in the same room, mitigating temperature and humidity requirements to that each species is maintained correctly, etc. It takes a bit more nuance and attention to be able to pull it off.
The 2 biggest pros I see in keeping diverse collections are:
1) My personal want to experience as many species as I can is satisfied (LOL)
2) I can hit every corner of the "market". Breeding things like corn snakes, and cal kings that are often purchsed as first time snakes, and Leopard and Crested geckos right off the bat allows me to communicate with the entry level keeper and fan the flames for the next group of reptile lovers. That is huge for me. This hobby goes away if people aren't excited about it, or what we are doing. Breeding things like Retics (as I have in the past), Amazon Tree Boas, Short Tail Pythons, and others allow me to speak to the intermediate and advanced level of reptile keepers and breeders looking to expand their own horizons into new territories, or even the first time keeper that's on fire for that particular species. I pride myself on having worked with so many different species for so long, that I can help get you setup for success regardless of keeper level!
Business wise, it is great to be able to tap into every level of keeper as it greatly increases your reach and who you can market to. Am I suggesting everyone go buy 15 different species and figure it out - NO. Not at all. But what I am saying is, it is ok to keep and breed something that isn't a ball python, or leopard gecko. If those genuinely keep your attention - DO IT UP, but if not, do not feel dictated by anyone on what species to keep and run with. I got back into ATBs about 7 years ago, and slowly locked into the species and fell in love with them. Now I am pivoting my entire business to work on this species, and the attention I've been able to bring to this species has made me incredibly happy! It's been great to travel to a few recent shows and get stopped while wandering to talk about amazons and my work with them and hearing that people are paying a bit more attention to them because I've been posting them so much.
I'll always have a diverse collection, for the reasons mentioned above, I think that is again something that allows me to stand out, and provide information for many more keepers than if I only kept one or two species. I am thrilled to have found a species that I truly love and can dedicate a larger amount of time to focus on and shed light on to the hobby as a whole!
At the end of the day - keep what you love, and take time to experience as many species as you can!
-Jeremy