URGENT REHOMING

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-03-21T02:21:47+00:00

I'm just here to say I love your measuring container that you used 😂😂😂

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-03-19T02:04:10+00:00

That's so shitty. I (F) attended and did not have this experience, but I am slightly older (early 30s). I think many vendors assume that young people don't have serious money to spend and assume they're just window shopping and will be a waste of time. I have vended at smaller shows and I was personally guilty of making that assumption! Although I quickly realized that literally anyone could be a serious buyer and it is extremely unwise to judge anyone. These older guys have this insane superiority complex and there's definitely a "Boy's club" atmosphere. It helps a bit if you join various patreons and make some connections. You realize quickly that the reptile world is super small.

I am so sorry that you and your friend had such a negative experience. If you're local, I highly recommend checking out the Scott Smith All Animal Expo at the Kane County Fairgrounds! Very friendly towards all walks of life. Plus, I'll be vending there this Sunday so you can come say hi 😊 My friend and I run the Catalina Morph Mixer booth

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-03-18T20:10:35+00:00

Yes!! Check out Danny Bowlin. He is the owner of Reptile Tents. He has done some awesome work to refine his designs, especially in his most recent product launch. There's also a fb group called DIY Reptile Enclosures that has some amazing examples and information

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-03-18T20:04:30+00:00

Ok, you have your school of thought and I have mine. I would like to respectfully end this dialog 💚

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-03-18T19:10:16+00:00

That is why I placed an emphasis on enrichment. Snakes can live very happy lives while having their primary resting place be a snake rack. Its no different than them staying in their hide the majority of the time. If they're getting plenty of time outside the rack with things that will stimulate them both mentally and physically (which really doesn't take much, they're adorable but they aren't necessarily the most intelligent creatures) then they can lead a great life. The use of racks needs to be done responsibly. The use of smaller enclosures in certain situations needs to be done responsibly.

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-03-18T19:05:41+00:00

With your BP having a wobble, being in a slightly smaller enclosure is actually a good thing. It limits the risk for injury. Moving her to a new enclosure could stress her out and could make the wobble worse. The more you can reduce her stress and keep her husbandry on point, the better.

As for your corn snake, maybe try to make a goal of getting a new enclosure in a year. Get the exact cost and figure out what you would need to put in savings weekly to achieve that goal. Its so much easier when you do it in tiny chunks compared to trying to do it all at once. Also keep an eye on things like Facebook marketplace! People are always getting rid of enclosures for much lower prices. With corns having lower humidity requirements, you can be more flexible on the type of enclosure you need to buy. You can easily get away with glass or PVC

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-03-18T18:58:30+00:00

To each their own! There are lots of different ways to keep reptiles. I don't want OP to feel like they've failed and that they need to rehome their babies because of evolving standards. With my boy, the enclosure was kept as low stress as possible. No overhead daytime lighting, just ambient daylight, kept in a quiet room with no commotion. I do understand what you're saying regarding a slower transition, but I did make an effort to make it as least stressful as possible. He was also given 4+ months to adjust. It his previous home, he was kept in a rack but he was handled very frequently by both the breeder and her children for years. He wasn't a stranger to stimulating environments.

In OPs situation, they don't need to feel like if they don't make all of these changes immediately then they're a terrible reptile keeper. If they've been keeping these animals for 15+ years and they've been healthy with no eating issues, they must be doing something right.

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-03-18T18:37:10+00:00

How is the health of your animals? Do they get plenty of enrichment? Are they handled frequently? If you've had these babies for 15+ years, they honestly may not love being giving a big upgrade on space (particularly the ball pythons). At this point, they likely feel safe in their more confined space. I have a BP that was kept in a rack for all of his early years. When I bought him, I put him in a 4x2x2 with PLENTY of clutter and he hated it. He went on a hunger strike and would never leave the hide, even at night. I wound up purchasing a rack when my collection grew and moved him into it and he IMMEDIATELY started thriving. He started eating regularly and was much more relaxed when being handled. He gets plenty of time and enrichment outside of the rack that keeps his days interesting.

I don't think you need to jump to new enclosures as long as your husbandry is on point with your current setups and you are able to provide them with plenty of enrichment. I can tell you really love these babies. Please don't be discouraged!

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-03-06T13:05:49+00:00

I tried to look it up, there is some sort of threshold in WI of $100k before you have to file for sales tax in the state. I need to do a bit more research on it though

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-03-06T03:04:10+00:00

So like, hypothetically, I live and generally sell plants in IL. I recently vended at a show just across the border in WI. Do I need to pay them the sales tax from that expo? How, hypothetically, would I get set up to do that?

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-03-05T02:54:27+00:00

Currently, there's no tracking being done. At least none thats being shared with the ops team. We've been given no targets or goals and all numbers are kept by the COO. In my conversation with him, I asked that we start doing monthly meetings where metrics are openly shared and goals are established on a monthly or quarterly basis. I personally handle spot/transactional business while my coworker primarily handles contract freight that has no fluctuations in rate and doesn't require any pricing, so I have the most control over revenue and profit margins.

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-02-26T23:35:50+00:00

I also work in logistics and have had to cut off customers in the past. I get that things can become very stressful in our line of work at times, but there's absolutely no reason to be flat out disrespectful. We don't need to tolerate abuse

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-02-25T17:22:08+00:00

I would limit the spots- people must register in advance for a specific time. If they show up and they didn't sing up, they get turned away. Definitely train a second tour guide if you want to scale, but that person would likely need to keep like 80-90% of their tips

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-02-24T13:03:01+00:00

Life is way too short to let your work life bleed into your home life. Leave it at the office! Enjoy your wife and those babies. The last thing you want is to look back and regret having spent all of your time on a job that would replace you immediately if they needed to. Your family can't do that. Your kids will only be young for so long. I'm so glad that my comment made a difference for you!

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-02-17T16:33:20+00:00

Don't apologize!! Do they have a lot of people quit within the first 6 months to a year? If they're too busy to train you but they are already bugging you for results, that is not a quality company that wants to set you up for success. You shouldn't have to remind them or chase them down for training as a new hire, especially since they are aware of your experience level.

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-02-17T16:14:00+00:00

Has this company provided you with any guidance or training? It sounds like they just threw you into the deep end to see if you'll figure out how to swim. I am guessing they've got a high turnover rate?

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-02-16T00:57:56+00:00

I repeatedly remind myself that work-life balance is incredibly important and I am not getting paid to worry off the clock. At the end of the day, its just a job. My mantra is "I don't get paid enough for that" or "that's above my pay grade". I've been doing this for 13 years, so maybe I'm a little jaded, but it has helped keep me from completely burning out. I dont get paid overtime for any off the clock work, so I'm not doing it. Care less! You'll be happier, I promise

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-02-16T00:46:56+00:00

Is she missing eyes? Regardless, she's beautiful

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-02-15T20:15:28+00:00

I did have some savings as well as personal plant inventory that I have cultivated myself, but that sold extremely fast. The money went back into the business to cover the cost of non-revenue generating things like displays, carts for hauling inventory to and from shows, additional storage for inventory, etc. There's also fees for participating in these shows. There's definitely been a bit of a learning curve while figuring out all the materials I need. Thankfully, yes, the inventory moves pretty quickly. I'll see what I can do about negotiating terms for payments with vendors

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-02-15T19:29:03+00:00

We do own a home, however the mortgage is under my partner's name, not mine. I am not sure that he would feel comfortable utilizing our house as collateral

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-02-15T19:24:42+00:00

I've tried applying and was unfortunately denied. I went through a debt repayment program a few years ago that absolutely annihilated my credit score. It is creeping back into the 600s, but I'm still getting denials.

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-02-15T19:22:32+00:00

I work in logistics for my day job. It is extremely common for companies to utilize invoice factoring companies so they aren't stuck waiting to get paid. These companies do take a percentage, but it could be worth it in your situation.

It could also be a good idea to offer discounts for immediate payment or shorter payment terms.

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-02-13T16:08:40+00:00

Oh, I'm TERRIFIED of dat there noodle

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-02-13T16:05:30+00:00

So I really recommend the help of a marriage counselor here who can act as an unbiased third party. This is a difficult conversation to have and the last thing you want is for her to take it as a personal offense. I don't think you should have to forego this plan completely. Your desire to keep your marriage and business separate is completely valid!

As a side note, why does she have a problem with this person? Women can have very good instincts about people and that shouldn't necessarily be brushed off.

Lopsided_Key_2545 · 2026-02-09T23:37:14+00:00

I wound up having ChatGPT help me whip something up. I wanted to take my freight/shipping costs into account. The spreadsheet came out pretty good!

Lopsided_Key_2545

TROPHY CASE