Future of Scale Zoo - rumours

[Scales Zoo]

Well, I have found out from a few people that there are rumours floating around about the future of Scales Zoo. This is unfortunate, as only a few good friends and family members of ours know about our plans for the future (which is not a secret), so obviously either these things are coming through one of them, or being distorted after the fact. Normally I wouldn’t air my private business on a forum like this, but wanted to clear the air for the people who have heard the rumours.

Rumour – We are selling the zoo and getting out of reptiles, and getting into horses

Fact – we may sell our zoo building, as it is very expensive to maintain. We would rather rent a spot for a while. We are parting with a few boas and pythons we can only keep with our zoo permit, to facilitate the move and free up time – but we have not advertised any of these, and all are going to other zoo’s, new zoo’s nearby where I’ll be able to see my reptilian friends, or friends collections where I know they will have a good home.

This way, we can move some of the animals that we keep at home, but that should be on public display somewhere, to a place where they can be. We are also going to make admission to the new place $0.00 – to promote education, which is was our goal when we started.

I am sad to part with some reptiles I really love, but it is something I should have done years ago, to be responsible, looking back on things. Also selling some high end boa’s and things, because, even though I’ve worked really hard to attain and grow them up, I do not want to get into the high end morph game and the politics it can bring with it – as it takes the fun out of my “hobby”. Income tax and business laws also takes the fun out of my hobby, so we may incorporate all of our businesses under one roof, including the reptiles, and run things like smooth running corporate machine with as much tax sheltering that incorporation can provide.

We had 100 baby snakes this year, and to keep doing that every year, would burn me out. I want to avoid burn out; I’ve seen it happen to friends. I don’t know how so many people like Mark, Henry and Jeff have avoided burn out over the years – but they are some of the good exceptions to the burn out rule.

We do have horses, we like horses, Sheila raised horses long before we raises snakes, and plan to do a few more things in the future, maybe even buy a piece of land or get an eyeball piercing – so stay tuned for that news, or gossip J

I did not get into reptiles when I was 9 to make money, but caring for all of our reptiles currently is preventing me from making my own money. I never wanted the snakes to buy me food, and have been happy to spend a stupid amount of money on my reptiles when I had a job that I could afford to have a 20 k / year hobby. Sheila used to look after the fort while I was away, but now she is working, and I could not go back to work with the amount of reptiles we have, without something suffering for it. And I hate bosses and large corporations – so time to try making a good living on my own.

I want to have fewer snakes, so I can dote over the ones I’ve always really liked, and make it feel like a fun hobby again. If I tried to make the snakes my source of income, all my eggs would be in one basket, and I don’t like feeling trapped like that.

Like I said, a post like this is something I normally wouldn’t do, but since there are rumours floating around, I figured I owed the community a straight up answer about the future of Scales Zoo.

Stay tuned!

Ryan

[Dom]

Ryan and Sheila,

I wish you guys the best. You have always been great ppl to me even in difficult times..

I value that in ppl. I am dissapointed to hear this news but I am sure that You guys will do very well with your horses and future employment..

If you guys need any help in any way please feel free to ask me

Best of luck
Dom

[Katt]

Whoa, I didn't even know there were rumours floating around! In fact, why wasn't I contacted for an interview for the tabloids?

[ReneeB]

It's terrible the rumors that spread through the community.. thank you Ryan for clearing up the BS that's been floating around..
I wish you both the best of luck with the new plans, and can't wait to see how much more of a contribution the two of you make to our hobby..

[ydnic]

I didn`t know there were rumors either.....good for you - It sounds like things will be much more rewarding for you in the future!

[Gary D.]

Well this seems to be a perfect thread to to make our announcement and add some clarification to details of Ryan's post.

The other local zoo Ryan was referring to was The Herpetological Garden. Which is infact mine. We are located in Maple Creek SK and will be opening our initial location this week. And hopefully a new location just off the #1 highway this spring or summer. This would not have been possible without the help of Ryan and Sheila, as really it was their brainchild. And their help has been instrumental throughout. If they were planning on selling off I assure you all they could have done far better financially than by sending them to us to display. And for all their help and friendship we are grateful. As for the future of SCALES Zoo, they are well aware (or should be I hope) that I am sincere in the offer that they can just step in and join us, if or whenever it suits them to do so.

Gary D.
The Herpetological Garden

[Scales Zoo]

I need to appologize about the way I worded the beginning of that post. I did not mean it to come off sounding that way, and have been messeged from a few friends saying "I didn't say anything".

Rumours only happen when the full truth isn't out there, and like snowballs they can get bigger each time they go around. So, that was the main reason for this post, to stop any rumours there are now, and prevent them from getting worse.

So, sorry if anyone felt singled out, I did not mean for that to happen.

Also thanks for all the kind words, and for those whove sent condolance messages, I am looking at this as an opportunity for the future. We are still keeping most of our favorite reptiles, and I'll enjoy them more than I am able to right now.

Ryan

[Jeff_Favelle]

You just gotta do what makes the two of you the happiest. For sure. We only get one crack at this man......

And its not like you're gettingout of herps altogether, so its not all sad.

[Derrick]

Sounds like you've had to make a few though decisions. I always find that the hardest part. Best of luck with things

Derrick

[gonesnakee]

Rumour has it that the Blackheads & Diamonds are coming to my house??? Can't blame a guy for trying? I think that most rumours in our hobby are started by those that are more worried about being internet "heroes" than being Herpers. There seem to be lots out there more concerned with politics than Herps. If ya can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with BS seems to be a general rule of thumb when it comes to most, Nuff Said, Mark
P.S. Better to burn out, then to fade away, my my hey hey...

[Scales Zoo]

Originally posted by gonesnakee
Rumour has it that the Blackheads & Diamonds are coming to my house???

LOL! Haha very funny.

Blackheads, Diamonds, indigo's, tiger rats, red hoggies, taiwans, whitesided and albino bulls - are hopefull future breeders we will be keeping.

From my cold dead hands or whatever C. Heston says. And we will never part with Elvira, NEVER!

May even get into blue beauties or woma's or jags or c.b. GTP's - or god forbid, ball python morphs - with the new found room.

Yes, I said ball python morphs - I could broker them out, and they can help pay for the rest of the snakes that I actually really like, and I'd like to try breeding balls to see if any idiot can actually do it

There is little sadness involved in this decision, I'm looking forward to be able to spend more time on my favorite snakes, and still provide education value to the public.

Jeff and others, thanks for the words of support!

Ryan

edited for grammar, holy cow Frankenstein

[marisa]

"Yes, I said ball python morphs - they can help pay for the rest of the snakes that I actually really like, and I'd like to try breeding balls to see if any idiot can actually do it. "

Yeah that's my plan as well. Balls have babies, Marisa buys more kingsnakes and more toys for the kingsnakes. lol!!!! The only ball I have that I really like is a female my boyfriend got me. The others are being used like cheap dates!

Good luck in whatever direction you take Scales Zoo.

Marisa

[Tim and Julie B]

Those totally weren't the rumors I heard. I heard that you guys had traded in the black shirts for polos and started driving a Honda Element! Whew.......thank god....see things could be worse. Best of luck to you although you are making some tough decisions it sounds like you have really been thinking it through. Good luck and let me know if you no longer want your turtles and torts. Hey you can't blame me for trying. TB

[Invictus]

I heard that Ryan was going to shave his head, paint his face blue, and join the Blue Man Group. Talk about rumors snowballing, holy crap!

Maybe this hasn't been said yet in so many words... CONGRATS on facing a tough decision and making it, even though it involved parting with beloved reptiles. As you know, I've made similar decisions myself, and have many more to make. I'll draw inspiration from you guys if you don't mind.

[Scales Zoo]

One P.M about tortoises coming your way!

(I do not consider this kind of thing to be in bad taste, and while I did not intend for the post to act as an add, nor do I want it to help me sell animals, I'd suggest to all my friends that if you know we have something that you want, this is the time to be contacting me - Tim was not the first one to do so)

Ryan