JOURNAL-REVIEW (Crawfordsville, Indiana) 03 December 07 No mis-snaking these gifts (Aleasha Sandley)
What could you get the person who has it all this Christmas?
A reptile, perhaps?
Scott Newlin and James Komendo, co-owners of Slithers and Hops custom order reptile business, are ready to make buying a reptile an easier, cheaper and more rewarding experience for pet enthusiasts.
The new business allows customers to look through a catalogue of popular reptiles like snakes, iguanas and bearded dragons — more than 95 different animals to choose from — and order one that will be available in about a week.
The animals are guaranteed to be captive-bred, meaning they won’t have the parasites wild animals can carry and will be used to living in a cage. They also come with a two-week health guarantee from the company, Newlin said.
From tiny $1 reptiles to $800-plus pythons, if a reptile is on their holiday wish list, Slithers and Hops can get it for you. Because they don’t keep their inventory on hand, like at a pet store, they are able to order any kind of animal available.
But buyers should beware of purchasing a reptile for someone who isn’t prepared.
“Reptiles make great Christmas gifts for someone that’s expecting it,” Komendo said. “Bring the person you’re buying it for with you, and in the long run it will lead to a better relationship between the owner and the animal.”
The business will keep a few animals in stock at its storefront location at the Jak of All Trades tattoo and piercing parlor, 407 E. Market St., but the smaller inventory will allow them to keep a low overhead, savings that will pass on to the customer, Newlin said.
When purchasing an animal for a customer, education is key for Newlin and Komendo. They make sure the animal will be a correct fit for the customer and explain the reptile’s basic needs, like heat, food and moisture. Each animal is sent home with a care sheet, and Newlin will be happy to answer questions, he said.
“We’re here to educate the people who are looking for the animal as well,” Komendo said. “We’ll know and they will know before they take it home that is the right animal for them.”
By getting to know the buyer, Newlin, who has more than 25 years involvement with reptiles, can see if the customer is selecting an animal that will be right for them. For example, a new reptile owner might not be ready for a big snake.
“Everybody thinks that the big snakes are cool, but not everybody is experienced enough to handle that,” Komendo said. “You don’t want to give a new person a six-foot snake and say, ‘Here, you can cuddle with it.’”
Newlin said, “We’ll be able to take care of the amateur hobbyist and the experienced hobbyist.”
The reptile business can be surprisingly lucrative, Newlin and Komendo said.
“I’ve been surprised at how many people (who come into Jak of All Trades) talk about the snakes and iguanas they have at home,” Komendo said. “I’ve been surprised at how popular it is.”
Newlin said, “It’s quite a big business.”
It is mostly adults and young adults that look for reptiles, Newlin said. They make just as good of a pet as the average dog or cat, he said.
“They’re really no different than a cat and a dog,” he said. “They have their own personalities. They have their own little quirks about them.”
Interested customers can drop by Jak of All Trades to look at the Slithers and Hops catalogue, or can call the shop at 765 361-2983 or toll-free at 866 403-4525 to set up an appointment to speak with Newlin about purchasing a reptile. Buyers must be 18 or older.
Once ordered, the animals usually will arrive within a week, but Newlin will keep them for 24-48 hours to make sure they are healthy, he said.
Slithers and Hops sells starter kits for small animals, including a small aquarium and everything the animal will need at first. The business also will sell cages, from basic glass aquariums to customized wood cages measured to fit your space.
Once it’s fully up and running, the business will work toward having other animals in stock, like chinchillas, rabbit-sized rodents that look like a cross between rabbits and gerbils, Newlin said. He also will offer feeder animals for the snakes, like rabbits and mice.
Eventually, Newlin, who worked in a pet store for two years and personally owns 10-12 reptiles, would like to start breeding them himself.
Starting with bald pythons, Newlin has had reptiles all his life, including snakes, iguanas and bearded dragons. He and Komendo’s ultimate goal is to start a loving relationship between buyers and their reptile pets.
“The goal would be to make sure the right person gets the right animal and can have a long-term relationship with that animal, and a good one,” Komendo said.
No mis-snaking these gifts