How is Covid affecting your hobbie?

[Ascended]

How is Covid affecting your hobbie?

There are different rules in different areas so it will be different for many of us.

For me in the Uk staring up again after a brake, I have had to only be able to buy on internet pictures and deliveries. and the extra cost of deliveries.
I could not pick up, or check out the animal and breeders set up in person before buying. Pet shops have been closed for ages here too.

Has it affected you? Buying animals, selling or equipment or whatever,

I guess its best not get too political about Covid. Just has it changed how you buy and interact in the hobbie.

P.S. mods. If this is to heavy/controversial please just delete.

[AbsoluteApril]

I'm not breeding my reptiles like I would like to, still have babies to sell (parents were paired up right before covid) and it's more difficult, I worry about shipping due to delays, so that's put a real damper on things for me.
Otherwise not much changed in regards to the animals, I'm in the middle of nowhere so anything I bought had to be shipped already, same with my supplies.

[Ascended]

I'm not breeding my reptiles like I would like to, still have babies to sell (parents were paired up right before covid) and it's more difficult, I worry about shipping due to delays, so that's put a real damper on things for me.
Otherwise not much changed in regards to the animals, I'm in the middle of nowhere so anything I bought had to be shipped already, same with my supplies.

Covid has hit a lot of us financially. And businesses like delivery companies. Good point. I see how that has affected the hobie also now.

[Bogertophis]

I'm not much affected, to be honest. I'm not breeding any snakes, just keeping pets these days, & I produce my own rodents also. I had heard that pet shops stopped selling live rodents for a while, but I didn't go in to verify that locally- I've personally played it very cautious with the pandemic, doing lots of grocery curbside pick-up & ordering supplies online- ie. following suggested guidelines to keep my distance. It's definitely a bad time to be trying to buy live animals.

[Ascended]

I've personally played it very cautious with the pandemic, doing lots of grocery curbside pick-up & ordering supplies online- ie. following suggested guidelines to keep my distance. It's definitely a bad time to be trying to buy live animals.

Curb pick ups are the same here for groceries, but they do that with snakes too.
Most uk reptile couriers deliver once a month. (we are not really allowed to used unlicensed 24 hour couriers).
I waited 3 months for one delivery because of specialist couriers going out of business due to covid, and the seller having to then book others, and when I got it, the snake was placed on the ice cold floor outside my house. with no bell ring.
I found it later really cold in its box. I had to spend 24 hours gradually warming up the ball python so it wouldn't be shocked by a rapid temperature rise. Luckily it was ok.

[Bogertophis]

Curb pick ups are the same here for groceries, but they do that with snakes too.
Most uk reptile couriers deliver once a month. (we are not really allowed to used unlicensed 24 hour couriers).
I waited 3 months for one delivery because of specialist couriers going out of business due to covid, and the seller having to then book others, and when I got it, the snake was placed on the ice cold floor outside my house. with no bell ring.
I found it later really cold in its box. I had to spend 24 hours gradually warming up the ball python so it wouldn't be shocked by a rapid temperature rise. Luckily it was ok.

Oh that's awful! Poor snake! Glad he's okay.

[KMG]

I have certainly notice delays in packages but luckily was well stocked with rats before things got bad. I recently placed two orders though and got them without any issues. Now I am fully stocked and then some. I used RodentPro like usual.

Other than that I was not breeding and was not really looking to add any so my collection has not been impacted at all. I did recently run across a Cen American Boa that I thought was a looker and bought from a guy local. Texas is open and without a mask mandate so that was business as usual with no issues. Neither of us had a mask and we got along fine. Talked snakes and made the deal before I headed to work with my new lil girl.

As for covid I got it and had an easy time with it. Wife did too. She got to work from home some but with my line of work that was not an option so my life really has not been all that different. I did like the reduced traffic though.

[Cheesenugget]

Didn't affect me much when it comes to my reptiles. I purchased some boas online like I would before covid and had no issues shipping, etc. In fact, I had purchases made right after that bad winter storm so the sellers and I agreed to wait until FedEx clear the backed up packages before sending me the snake.

All pet stores in my area stayed open at reduced hours, so getting supplies and pet food was no issue either. I actually liked it more because they were giving out coupons and 25-30% discount of curbside pickup orders (I had been using online pickup before covid so this was an added bonus). Pet stores and vet clinics were essential businesses so they had to be open. I have seen a huge spike in pet sales from these stores though. Some supplies were lacking, like coco husk was out of stock for a period of time. Now some cat food brands are out of stock, like Fancy Feast. I hear it's due to the aluminum or ingredient shortage (covid related). Fortunately, the brand I used for my cats was not affected.

My county shelter that I foster for ran out of kittens to foster or adopt!! That has never happened before. Fellow fosters were placed in a waiting list. That is crazy in a good way. The adult kitties and dogs also got adopted quickly. My local humane society ran out of cats and dogs to adopt out so they were begging for donations to stay open.

Vet clinics had the biggest impact. I had to bring my reptiles as well as my domesticated pets in for non-emergency and emergency treatment. Spay and neuter and vaccination clinics were closed or only accept emergency cases. Finding my rescue kitten affordable vet care was a challenge (She got adopted soon after). Waiting hours in the parking lot was no fun, especially my old car had no air conditioning and it was summer in FL. Not being to able to go with your pet wasn't helping either. Most vet clinics are so busy and understaffed (due to covid rules), getting an appointment was much more difficult.

Off topic but one MAJOR big pain in the butt was shopping for meat! Specifically, chicken. The grocery stores didn't limit the number of chicken per household and prices went up. When there is a sale, the local seniors get first dip because of senior hours in the store and they have nothing else better to do around here (People are hoarding all the chicken).

My other 'hobby' is crochet. I picked up crochet again after years of neglecting it. I finally mastered the magic circle! Yea lol! Making plushies, hats, scarfs, etc... And I also tried out cross stitching which is not as intense as crochet but the results can be just as beautiful.

[KMG]

Didn't affect me much when it comes to my reptiles. I purchased some boas online like I would before covid and had no issues shipping, etc. In fact, I had purchases made right after that bad winter storm so the sellers and I agreed to wait until FedEx clear the backed up packages before sending me the snake.

All pet stores in my area stayed open at reduced hours, so getting supplies and pet food was no issue either. I actually liked it more because they were giving out coupons and 25-30% discount of curbside pickup orders (I had been using online pickup before covid so this was an added bonus). Pet stores and vet clinics were essential businesses so they had to be open. I have seen a huge spike in pet sales from these stores though. Some supplies were lacking, like coco husk was out of stock for a period of time. Now some cat food brands are out of stock, like Fancy Feast. I hear it's due to the aluminum or ingredient shortage (covid related). Fortunately, the brand I used for my cats was not affected.

My county shelter that I foster for ran out of kittens to foster or adopt!! That has never happened before. Fellow fosters were placed in a waiting list. That is crazy in a good way. The adult kitties and dogs also got adopted quickly. My local humane society ran out of cats and dogs to adopt out so they were begging for donations to stay open.

Vet clinics had the biggest impact. I had to bring my reptiles as well as my domesticated pets in for non-emergency and emergency treatment. Spay and neuter and vaccination clinics were closed or only accept emergency cases. Finding my rescue kitten affordable vet care was a challenge (She got adopted soon after). Waiting hours in the parking lot was no fun, especially my old car had no air conditioning and it was summer in FL. Not being to able to go with your pet wasn't helping either. Most vet clinics are so busy and understaffed (due to covid rules), getting an appointment was much more difficult.

Off topic but one MAJOR big pain in the butt was shopping for meat! Specifically, chicken. The grocery stores didn't limit the number of chicken per household and prices went up. When there is a sale, the local seniors get first dip because of senior hours in the store and they have nothing else better to do around here (People are hoarding all the chicken).

My other 'hobby' is crochet. I picked up crochet again after years of neglecting it. I finally mastered the magic circle! Yea lol! Making plushies, hats, scarfs, etc... And I also tried out cross stitching which is not as intense as crochet but the results can be just as beautiful.

I actually liked taking the dogs for shots and just waiting in my truck. I've joked I hope they keep it going, but my Jeeps and Truck have A/C. Lol!


Meat was kinda a problem but I have a deep freeze we keep some extra meat in we were never without..... But we keep even more now.

[Bogertophis]

I actually liked taking the dogs for shots and just waiting in my truck. I've joked I hope they keep it going, but my Jeeps and Truck have A/C. Lol! ...

My vet did "curbside service" for my dog also, except here it was freezing at the time, but I waited in my car (not knowing how long it would take) & it wasn't bad. I was just so glad she was open, and she was actually quite busy.