Is an exotics "petting" zoo viable?

My dream is to have either a pet store or an exotic animal petting zoo. Does the latter seem like a viable business plan? It would include a tour, education on animals and care, petting or holding, a gift shop, and party room rental for kids' birthdays, etc.

Thoughts?

If anyone has the same idea, I just ask that you not open it within 100 miles of Charles Town, WV (:please:) and that you keep me posted on your progress. :gj: If you already know of one, please give me details.

THANKS again for all your opinions!!!

Oh gosh, this reminded me of the article posted not too too long ago, about the child who stomped on an albino burmese's head and killed it at a petting zoo type of establishment. :(

I am never having kids. :mad:

Back to your post, my only advice is to stress the importance of insurance. Parents, kids, and reptiles don't always mix so well, mostly due to ignorance. I'd hate to see anything happen to any of your animals or customers. You have to be ready for that type of stuff.

Generally, though, I don't see why it wouldn't be feasible since many places are already making it work. Why don't you spend a day at one and make small talk with the employees? Ask them about procedures and things they like or dislike. Just pretend you're a novice customer asking out of curiosity. :P

I'm sorry I'm not very helpful as this is the first time I'd even thought about something like this. I think it's a wonderful idea if you can make it work. I would also think that variety will be a key to getting return customers.

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Originally Posted by Mindibun

Oh gosh, this reminded me of the article posted not too too long ago, about the child who stomped on an albino burmese's head and killed it at a petting zoo type of establishment. :(

I am never having kids. :mad:

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ARE YOU SERIOUS!?! did he mean to or was it an accident?
Any way, I am doing something like that, but I am bringing my exotics to them. I have already made $50!:O Only two customers so far though. But still, $50! lol

by exotic do you mean mammals spelling:rolleyes: lol also?
cuase imo it would be a great idea if you could incorporate the two.

The kid meant to, yes. The article said the kid had anger issues or something, and that he didn't like snakes. It was posted on here somewhere. I bet you could find it with a little hunting.

If it is the same instance I remember the snake's name was Popcorn.http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...hlight=Popcorn

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Originally Posted by pythontricker

ARE YOU SERIOUS!?! did he mean to or was it an accident?
Any way, I am doing something like that, but I am bringing my exotics to them. I have already made $50!:O Only two customers so far though. But still, $50! lol

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Please tell me more! I will PM you.

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Originally Posted by Royal_Rodents

by exotic do you mean mammals spelling:rolleyes: lol also?
cuase imo it would be a great idea if you could incorporate the two.

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By exotics, I mean not the usual domestic animals in the US - with only a few exceptions to that rule. Large birds, ferrets, chincillas, snakes, lizards, tortoises, turtles, frogs, toads, giant millepedes, tarantulas, hissing cockroaches, etc. Maybe even a few things they can't touch/pet like honey bees, leaf cutter ants, and a few hots (barring insurance issues)? I would try to add to the collection all the time, but slowly (with QT room in back) and have things they can see nowhere else within about 75 miles. A museum, petting zoo, conservation station, animal care learning center, and circle of life education center all in one.

That is so terrible about the burmese. I would be SO careful and every activity would be supervised by myself or an employee. Kids would only be allowed to hold smaller species with intense supervision and ones I trust implicitly.

Mindibun, I hope that one bad seed doesn't drive you away from kids. But I understand if you don't want them anyway. I have two boys and they are the sweetest loving things, especially my 6 yr old, with all living things. Ryan even catches the rogue stink bugs in the house and calls them his "friends" and keeps them for a day or two. Personally, I just fling them outside. :D

I would offer passes - like $50 for an annual pass or something - and memberships $200 for an entire family including one or two free uses of the party room. Prices are just thrown out, but you get the idea.

This is just my way of justifying having 80 pets and making money somehow. :D

If you incorporate a local area exhibit into it you could probably get the local schools to do field trips. Like set up a mini ecosystem with local flora and fauna. That would get them there tie into the lesson plan of the school and then you could bring out the exotics at the end.

In high school we had an ecology club that did a little mini version of this and we took it to elementary schools all over central Florida. Of course we didn't make money doing it because the high school owned all the animals but it is the same type of idea.

Good Luck!

Keep us posted!

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Originally Posted by kellysballs

If you incorporate a local area exhibit into it you could probably get the local schools to do field trips. Like set up a mini ecosystem with local flora and fauna. That would get them there tie into the lesson plan of the school and then you could bring out the exotics at the end.

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Great idea! Thanks!

The only thing that would scare me about any business dealing with animals and people in a close setting is the liabilities associated with it. People are always looking for a quick buck and if someone was bit during their visit it could mean the end of your business.

Snakes are hard to gauge and you never know what they're thinking, its not out of this world to think that the tamest of snakes could have a bad day and bite someone.

Just my two cents and the first thing I always think of when I hear of people doing these petting zoo/ reptile parties. I think its a great way to educate people and expose parents and kids to things they normally wouldn't experience but the risk would be to big for me personally.

Maybe a pet store doing demonstrations and parties as a side line would be more feasible. I wouldn't do petting because I would expect that insurance coverage for petting is high and also I would expect that sooner or later somebody would get bitten by something.

Hmmm... interesting thoughts. I wonder about not being able to find something like this very easily. Am I on to a need that is unfulfilled or is it due to liability?

I have a lot of research to do! But it's fun research.

Thanks, again.

That sounds like an awesome idea! IDK what the actual market would be like for a "exotic petting zoo" but I'm sure if you marketed yourself correctly and were able to create a safe environment for bot the animals and the people (kids especially) you could have great success in it! I wish I had had someplace like that when I was a kid where you could really get up close and personal with animals that you just don't see every day!
just my .02 :)

The zoo near where I live has a kinda touchy feely hour 3 times a day where kids and adults can go along and Handle or 'pet' all kinds of exotics... obviously nothing overly large or dangerous! I went last year and held a BP for the first time and it totally made me and my boyfriend want to get one... which we did about a month ago! I was excellent to have a chance to experience exotic animals in a safe environment, I also held a cockroach which I NEVER thought I'd do! Really great especially for kids!

Good luck if you go for it!! :D

My greatest fear aside from liability would be the random kid who has a sick snake at home and didn't wash his hands before wipping out your entire collection. I don't let ANYONE touch my snakes.

With your name you may be predestined to start a business buying reptiles at wholesale prices and reselling at retail. There couldn't be a better name than "Flipski's Reptiles". :D

Its viable, yes, but it isn't cheap to establish or run.

There is a huge place called Reptilia about an hour or so from my house. Its massive... check out their website: http://www.reptilia.org/

Is this the type of thing you were thinking of?

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Originally Posted by anendeloflorien

That sounds like an awesome idea! IDK what the actual market would be like for a "exotic petting zoo" but I'm sure if you marketed yourself correctly and were able to create a safe environment for bot the animals and the people (kids especially) you could have great success in it! I wish I had had someplace like that when I was a kid where you could really get up close and personal with animals that you just don't see every day!
just my .02 :)

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I thought of it, b/c it's what I wanted and what I wanted for my kids and me now. No one else is doing here, so I figure I will! I think it will start as a "traveling petting zoo." Store front to come later - I hope.

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Originally Posted by Pieluvspooh

The zoo near where I live has a kinda touchy feely hour 3 times a day where kids and adults can go along and Handle or 'pet' all kinds of exotics... obviously nothing overly large or dangerous! I went last year and held a BP for the first time and it totally made me and my boyfriend want to get one... which we did about a month ago! I was excellent to have a chance to experience exotic animals in a safe environment, I also held a cockroach which I NEVER thought I'd do! Really great especially for kids!

Good luck if you go for it!! :D

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Very cool. Mine would be touch all the time with scheduled tours (if a store front) otherwise, I would come with them to a party, library, school, etc.

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Originally Posted by Jenn

My greatest fear aside from liability would be the random kid who has a sick snake at home and didn't wash his hands before wipping out your entire collection. I don't let ANYONE touch my snakes.

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There would be a requirement for them to wash hands before passing further than the threshold. Good point.

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Originally Posted by dsirkle

With your name you may be predestined to start a business buying reptiles at wholesale prices and reselling at retail. There couldn't be a better name than "Flipski's Reptiles". :D

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LOL :D I was thinking of being a transport for store fronts since I want to frequent shows anyway.

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Originally Posted by NightLad

Its viable, yes, but it isn't cheap to establish or run.

There is a huge place called Reptilia about an hour or so from my house. Its massive... check out their website: http://www.reptilia.org/

Is this the type of thing you were thinking of?

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I will check it out and let you know.

Also, I know about the liability, etc. But I would be the main person and very careful with interaction - both ways. No snake stomping allowed!

I think I will start with a traveling small exotic animals petting zoo for educational purposes at libraries, schools, and birthday parties. Here's a company only 1 hour away from me making nice money doing it.

http://www.animalambassadors.info/

Just out of curiosity, do you KNOW they are making money, or are you just assuming?

I browsed their website, which looks nice. The list of upcoming shows was nearly entirely at public libraries. I wouldn't be surprised if they were doing those as a tax write-off and attempt to get their name out there to drum up business.

There is another one a little closer to me than you, but might be worth looking at. They are more reptile oriented.
http://www.reptilesalive.com/

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Originally Posted by kc261

Just out of curiosity, do you KNOW they are making money, or are you just assuming?

I browsed their website, which looks nice. The list of upcoming shows was nearly entirely at public libraries. I wouldn't be surprised if they were doing those as a tax write-off and attempt to get their name out there to drum up business.

There is another one a little closer to me than you, but might be worth looking at. They are more reptile oriented.
http://www.reptilesalive.com/

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You may be wrong there. Many libraries have funding for just this type of program.

Insurance is mandatory in almost all cases.

Yes, they want insurance. Yes, libraries have $ for this kind of thing. The Shenandoah Herp Society, which a guy is trying to form and I am involved in, is presenting a reptile show for kids on 6/24 in Shepherdstown, WV for the local library. They usually pay a few hundred bucks, but will make a small donation to the club and accept us not having insurance, but would like it.

UPDATE

I have decided to run with this idea and am taking it full on. My business name is "Critters & Conservation." My line-up can be seen in my signature.

I hope my market to be libraries, clubs, schools, festivals, and other opportunities for teaching, mostly kids, about conservation, "think rescue first," and animal care and responsibility.

I've been invited to do a presentation with the snakes and eastern box turtle for the children's event at the American Conservation Film Festival. Yay! More info at:
http://www.conservationfilm.org/

Other than that, I'm planning on doing a free presentation for kindegarteners at a local elementary school. Gotta get my name out there!

My husband will be working on a website for me soon. Stay tuned!