Coronavirus Pandemic & Future Plans

Have you made any keeping/breeding/selling/buying plan changes as a result of the pandemic and the predicted economic fallout?

I hadn't planned on buying any new snakes even before the pandemic, and was just going to focus on breeding Savus and Tarahumaras. The only change I'm making is to add more racks or enclosures in case I'm asked to take in rescues.

I've been wanting to buy a house / land for more space to build a full snake room, plus outdoor enclosures. Housing prices are probably going to dip, so hopefully I can make some moves then.

I just got that caiman, so I probably won't get anything for a minute. I like to wait a few months between animals, so I'm not hoarding. Though I have been looking for an adult male ETB for awhile.

The biggest hit is mostly to the conventions. Pet stores are deemed essential, so you can still get access to feeders. Hardware stores (at least locally) are also deemed essential, so you can still build your enclosures. There is nothing anywhere (so far as I know) prohibiting private sales of reptiles. And with more people staying home (pets are good for staying sane), the increase of unemployment benefits, and the government stipend checks, I don't think there will be many more "homeless" pets than usual. Snakes and other reptiles aren't that costly to keep, when compared to more common pets, such as cats and dogs.

All I´m doing is saving up for my first snake which I probably won´t be getting for a while, I do not want to impulse buy anything. Hopefully it will be a Savu but we´ll see. I picked up a 40B tank a few days ago via craigslist and cleaned it, I have to repair some of it so its something to do during isolation. Hopefully getting some stuff from Home Depot to make the background. No changes really, just continuing with my snake related activities and research to keep me busy.

Had already paired up some boas before this hit, so I'm a tad worried about selling those babies and wouldn't have paired them had I know this was coming. Otherwise no change to plans, just getting as new rack later this year but no new additions at this time.

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Originally Posted by wnateg

I've been wanting to buy a house / land for more space to build a full snake room, plus outdoor enclosures. Housing prices are probably going to dip, so hopefully I can make some moves then.

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Same here and the possible dip or at least hold in prices is the only silver lining to this whole pandemic.

I can't find paper towels anywhere! No but really the only change is I'm focused more on my rodent breeding end of things, as all the pet stores around me seam to be sold out of feeders. Having all the reptile shows canceld is not great but my online sales for snakes is up. More people are home looking online.

No changes here. I plan on getting a female Poki Suri for my male in a few months. I'm anxiously awaiting their birth. I want to try my hand at breeding a litter in 5 or 6 years when she is mature enough.

No big changes the animals I needed to invest in were already purchase in January.

Breeding wise I usually do this in 2 to 3 phases depending on how many animals I pair (November, March, July) so phase 2 has been pushed back a little bit, no point in breeding the same numbers if there is no demand right now.

Rodent breeding will be increased as plan (new rack more breeders) because I like to stay ahead no matter what is happening.

I no longer breed any snakes by choice, but if I were, I just wouldn't right now...I think the pandemic is going to be with us for a long time & so will most of your offspring.

Just my opinion, have no crystal ball...but with so many out of work, food & housing come before more pets...not saying you won't find a few good buyers, but I'd worry
about all the irresponsible ones, & keeping lots of offspring long-term isn't as much fun as it sounds. Good luck everyone...I know how hard it is not to go ahead with plans regardless, & I'm glad I don't have to make that choice. :snake:

I don't breed and no plans on adding any new snakes/reptiles. I did end up with another BP recently anyways so he needs an adult cage, I'd planned on ordering some this year but now that's likely getting pushed back to next. I'm doubting my summer job will exist at this point and I'll be losing out on hours I normally get when others vacation, many of which have been cancelled now so money will be tight all year most likely. I do plan on using part of the refund coming to stock up on feeders though.

The eggs that I currently have were planned before all this started. They were to be for shows in may, June and July. Im now shifting more towards the online sales. I have another one or two pairings I was planning on doing but those are project components that I was already planning to hold back for 6 months to a year so I could see how they color with age.

I'm not risking going to Homedepot or Lowe's so I currently have a half finished deck and snake room drywall is postponed. If I don't have supplies for something on hand then that project is on hold.

Sales from this year I was going to put towards a drymarchon and caging but I'm in no rush and can wait to see what the market is doing.

I just stocked up on extra feeders just in case I can't produce enough for the non selling babies. Extra bins are getting added to the rodent rack while things are incubating.

I'm still working but from home now. I'm enjoying larger savings account from not driving.

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Originally Posted by 67temp

The eggs that I currently have were planned before all this started. They were to be for shows in may, June and July. Im now shifting more towards the online sales. I have another one or two pairings I was planning on doing but those are project components that I was already planning to hold back for 6 months to a year so I could see how they color with age.

I'm not risking going to Homedepot or Lowe's so I currently have a half finished deck and snake room drywall is postponed. If I don't have supplies for something on hand then that project is on hold.

Sales from this year I was going to put towards a drymarchon and caging but I'm in no rush and can wait to see what the market is doing.

I just stocked up on extra feeders just in case I can't produce enough for the non selling babies. Extra bins are getting added to the rodent rack while things are incubating.

I'm still working but from home now. I'm enjoying larger savings account from not driving.

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My kids keep asking if your still doing a show:bow: I see Corns in their future. It's going to be expensive when this ends. Just had 6 new T8s drop at the shop.

Since the live stock auctions are closed I have too many piglets an rabbits. Time for bigger snakes.

That's a good point, both of my feeder sources for the larger snakes are in other states so I stocked up in case of a travel ban.

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Originally Posted by 303_enfield

My kids keep asking if your still doing a show:bow: I see Corns in their future. It's going to be expensive when this ends. Just had 6 new T8s drop at the shop.

Since the live stock auctions are closed I have too many piglets an rabbits. Time for bigger snakes.

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It's going to be an interesting year for buying and selling. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

I’ve made arrangements for my son’s best mate to come round and take all my snakes and vivs to his own new reptile room in the event of me being stricken down and things going pear shaped


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

I’ve made arrangements for my son’s best mate to come round and take all my snakes and vivs to his own new reptile room in the event of me being stricken down and things going pear shaped


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I've got a plan in place as well, just in case.

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

I've got a plan in place as well, just in case.

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Things are getting scarier and scarier here in England - by the day ..
1000 dying each day now and increasing daily

We had a care home who had 15 people die in five days ( 15 people out of 69)
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Let's hope no one needs their 'plans'! :please:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Let's hope no one needs their 'plans'! :please:

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Yup!! I had a plan in place before all this, but I actually reached out to a buddy since my crew has grown. So now I've got a "best case scenario" plan and a backup plan.

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Things are getting scarier and scarier here in England - by the day ..
1000 dying each day now and increasing daily

We had a care home who had 15 people die in five days ( 15 people out of 69)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

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I know...it's horrible! Just saw that we (U.S.) had almost 2000 deaths on Friday (1953, to be exact). :tears: Our total to date is 18,637 deaths so far...keep hoping it's a nightmare & we'll wake up. Doesn't look to end any time soon- not without effective treatment & too few tests. Viruses don't listen to politicians.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I know...it's horrible! Just saw that we (U.S.) had almost 2000 deaths on Friday (1953, to be exact). :tears: Our total to date is 18,637 deaths so far...keep hoping it's a nightmare & we'll wake up. Doesn't look to end any time soon- not without effective treatment & too few tests. Viruses don't listen to politicians.

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The guys in the know are saying the second wave will be far WORSE than this and it could be here around October..

I hope I am as well :(


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Took in a rescue already thanks to Corona. Married couple with kids, husband lost his job, wife still employed but her mom has dementia and really needs to go to a memory care facility. Of course they don't want to have Mom admitted because nursing homes are hot spots right now. So, they're rehoming their dogs and bringing her mom to live with them since he can keep an eye on her while unemployed.

I now am the proud owner of a free 18 month old male intact unregistered GSD with separation anxiety that no rescue would take because they're so overwhelmed they're only pulling dogs from high-kill shelters (they contacted six in the area). Of course the vets are only seeing emergencies right now so it will be months until he gets his brain surgery. Sigh. At least they did have some professional training put on him so he listens.

I am praying that the people who have puppy mills look at the economy and figure that almost no one will be buying pets over the next 18 months and stop producing, but they ain't that bright.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Took in a rescue already thanks to Corona. Married couple with kids, husband lost his job, wife still employed but her mom has dementia and really needs to go to a memory care facility. Of course they don't want to have Mom admitted because nursing homes are hot spots right now. So, they're rehoming their dogs and bringing her mom to live with them since he can keep an eye on her while unemployed.

I now am the proud owner of a free 18 month old male intact unregistered GSD with separation anxiety that no rescue would take because they're so overwhelmed they're only pulling dogs from high-kill shelters (they contacted six in the area). Of course the vets are only seeing emergencies right now so it will be months until he gets his brain surgery. Sigh. At least they did have some professional training put on him so he listens.

I am praying that the people who have puppy mills look at the economy and figure that almost no one will be buying pets over the next 18 months and stop producing, but they ain't that bright.

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Wow, so many sad stories like this everywhere right now...awesome that you were able to take in this dog. Do tell: they are doing brain surgery on dogs now for separation anxiety? That's totally new to me. I have a small dog that I adopted in 2012 who at that time was back in the shelter for a second time (for "separation anxiety"), but being with me (I'm home a lot) & my other dog cured him- I assume his was less severe? He also gets car-sick very easily, not sure if that is associated or not, but I can see how it could be?

I'll 'second' your prayer :please: about people breeding dogs for money in these times, but I'm not optimistic either. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Things are getting scarier and scarier here in England - by the day ..
1000 dying each day now and increasing daily

We had a care home who had 15 people die in five days ( 15 people out of 69)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I know...it's horrible! Just saw that we (U.S.) had almost 2000 deaths on Friday (1953, to be exact). :tears: Our total to date is 18,637 deaths so far...keep hoping it's a nightmare & we'll wake up. Doesn't look to end any time soon- not without effective treatment & too few tests. Viruses don't listen to politicians.

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

The guys in the know are saying the second wave will be far WORSE than this and it could be here around October..

I hope I am as well :(


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Getting of topic here, you already have a thread in QT for those type of posts.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Do tell: they are doing brain surgery on dogs now for separation anxiety?

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OMG no, that is a euphemism for having him neutered. :D

I absolutely will not risk him contributing to the pound puppy population.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

OMG no, that is a euphemism for having him neutered. :D

I absolutely will not risk him contributing to the pound puppy population.

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Oh, my bad! :rofl: I was like, "what???"