Reptile Guild

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Dr. Tom Harbin Reptiles Memorial Endowed Scholarship in the College of Veterinary Medicine: https://give.auburn.edu/campaigns/dr-tom-harbin-reptiles-memorial-endowed-scholarship-in-the-college-of-veterinary-medicine-1

Buying the right reptile is about a lot more than finding an animal you like. And breeding a great animal doesn’t automatically mean somebody is going to buy it. This week on Reptile Guild, we’re tackling topics requested directly by our Patreon community.

What are the TOP 5 questions you should ask before buying an animal?

How should breeders determine what their snakes are actually worth? What happens when you produce a high-end animal with a very small pool of potential buyers? And when it comes time to sell, what actually works: expos, RADS, MorphMarket, social media, networking, or some combination of all of them?

We’ll discuss: • The 5 questions every buyer should ask • How we determine a fair price for an animal • Market price vs actual value • Pricing rare and high-end reptiles • When lowering your price makes sense and when it doesn’t • Strategies for selling expensive animals • Building trust before asking someone to spend thousands of dollars • Online sales vs reptile expos • Why some incredible animals sit while average animals sell • Whether breeders should produce animals before there’s an established market for them • The mistakes buyers AND sellers continue to make If you’re buying, breeding, or trying to sell reptiles, this is going to be a good one. Building Knowledge. Growing Community.

HOSTS Shane Kelley | Small Town Xotics Josh & Alisha Harbin | Herpin Harbins

TECHNICAL PRODUCER Jay Kaps | Green Line Morphs

Keywords reptile guild, reptile podcast, reptile business, selling reptiles, selling snakes, buying snakes, buying reptiles, snake prices, reptile pricing, ball python prices, hognose prices, high end ball pythons, high end reptiles, reptile expos, reptile shows, MorphMarket, reptile breeder, snake breeder, breeding ball pythons, reptile market, reptile industry, reptile sales, how to sell reptiles, Small Town Xotics, Herpin Harbins, Reptile Ads, Greenline Morphs

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.

Join the Reptile Guild on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reptileguild

Dr. Tom Harbin Reptiles Memorial Endowed Scholarship in the College of Veterinary Medicine: https://give.auburn.edu/campaigns/dr-tom-harbin-reptiles-memorial-endowed-scholarship-in-the-college-of-veterinary-medicine-1

The Reptile Guild went international. What happens when artificial intelligence starts changing not just how we use software, but how that software is actually built? This week on the Reptile Guild Podcast, Robert, owner of Husbandry Pro, joins us for a conversation that goes well beyond reptile record keeping. We’re digging into the technology behind Husbandry Pro and how software development itself is changing. We’ll talk about: • Encryption, security, and protecting user data • Traditional human engineers and programmers vs AI development • Claude and the rise of AI coding agents • What “vibe coding” actually means • Where AI excels and where human oversight still matters • How AI could change the speed and cost of software development • What all of this means for Husbandry Pro • New Husbandry Pro features and updates • What Robert has planned next for the platform AI assisted development is moving incredibly fast, but speed doesn’t automatically mean security or quality. That makes Robert’s perspective especially interesting because Husbandry Pro deals with real-world husbandry records and data while evolving alongside this new generation of development tools. Whether you use Husbandry Pro, breed reptiles, or you’re simply curious about where AI is taking technology, there should be plenty to unpack in this one.

REPTILE GUILD PODCAST

Hosts: Shane Kelley of Small Town Xotics Josh & Alisha Harbin of Herpin Harbins

Technical Producer: Jay Kaps of Green Line Morphs

Building Knowledge. Growing Community.

Keywords: Reptile Guild Podcast, Husbandry Pro, Husbandry Pro app, Husbandry Pro Next, reptile husbandry, reptile husbandry software, reptile record keeping, reptile breeding software, reptile breeder, reptile keeping, reptile technology, reptile industry, reptile podcast, Claude AI, Claude Code, Anthropic Claude, vibe coding, AI coding, artificial intelligence, AI software development, AI vs programmers, AI vs coders, software engineering, data encryption, cybersecurity, reptile data, Small Town Xotics, Herpin Harbins, Greenline Morphs

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Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reptileguild

THE REPTILE GUILD HAS GONE INTERNATIONAL!

We’re LIVE on location from the Canadian Reptile Breeders Expo in Toronto, Ontario!

The CRBE is one of the biggest reptile events we’ve experienced, and instead of just telling you about it when we get home, we’re bringing you right onto the show floor with us.

We’ll be talking about what makes the Canadian reptile scene different, checking out vendors and animals, catching up with people in the industry, and giving you our impressions of the CRBE experience firsthand.

Josh and Alisha are experiencing the CRBE for the first time, so we’ll also get their perspective on the show, the vendors, the Canadian reptile community, and how it compares to the expos we regularly attend back home.

BIG REPTILE GUILD ANNOUNCEMENT!

Starting in 2027, the Reptile Guild will officially be taking over the Fatman's 15 Minutes of Lame contest!

We’re excited to carry the contest forward, put the Reptile Guild spin on it, and continue giving members of the reptile community a chance to step into the spotlight. We’ll be talking about what’s coming, how the contest will evolve, and what you can expect when 15 Minutes of Lame returns in 2027.

Expect some familiar faces, some new ones, some big news, and probably a little chaos. We are live from a reptile expo, after all.

REPTILE GUILD PODCAST

Hosts: Shane Kelley of Small Town Xotics, Josh & Alisha Harbin of Herpin Harbins

Technical Producer: Jay Kaps of Green Line Morphs

Building Knowledge. Growing Community.

KEYWORDS: CRBE, CRBE Toronto, Canadian Reptile Breeders Expo, Canadian Reptile Expo, Toronto reptile show, Toronto reptile expo, Canada reptile expo, Canadian reptiles, 15 Minutes of Lame, 15 Minutes of Lame 2027, Reptile Guild 15 Minutes of Lame, reptile contest, reptile expo, reptile show, reptile breeders, reptile breeding, reptile community, reptile industry, reptile podcast, Reptile Guild Podcast, Reptile Guild, Small Town Xotics, Herpin Harbins, Green Line Morphs, ball pythons, western hognose, exotic pets, reptile vendors

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.

Join the Reptile Guild on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reptileguild

Dr. Tom Harbin Reptiles Memorial Endowed Scholarship in the College of Veterinary Medicine: https://give.auburn.edu/campaigns/dr-tom-harbin-reptiles-memorial-endowed-scholarship-in-the-college-of-veterinary-medicine-1

The Reptile Guild went international. In this episode of The Reptile Guild Podcast, Shane Kelley of Small Town Xotics joins Josh and Alisha Harbin of Herpin Harbins to recap our recent trip to Canada for the Canadian Reptile Breeders Expo, better known as CRBE. This was Josh and Alisha’s first time experiencing the show, so we’re talking about their first impressions, how CRBE compares to reptile expos in the United States, the vendors, the crowds, the atmosphere, and whether a show of this size is worth traveling for. But this trip was about more than reptiles. We stayed in Niagara Falls, explored the area, took in the falls, visited Toronto, went up the CN Tower, spent time with friends in the reptile community, and got another reminder that some of the best parts of this industry happen outside the show itself. One of the biggest takeaways from this trip had nothing to do with buying or selling reptiles. Traveling together, meeting people, building relationships, and spending time with friends reminded us why the community side of the reptile industry matters so much. Building Knowledge. Growing Community.

Hosts Shane Kelley of Small Town Xotics Josh and Alisha Harbin of Herpin Harbins

Technical Producer Jay Kaps of Greenline Morphs

Episode Talking Points 1. Why did we decide to make the Canada trip? 2. What was the drive from Tennessee actually like? 3. Crossing the Canadian border with reptile people. Any surprises? 4. First reaction when we finally saw Niagara Falls. 5. Was Niagara as impressive as we expected? 6. Journey Behind the Falls. Worth doing? 7. The boat ride and getting that close to the falls. 8. Our overall impression of Niagara Falls as a destination. 9. The good and bad parts of staying in such a tourist-heavy area. 10. The drive from Niagara into the Toronto area. 11. Helping with CRBE setup before the show opened. 12. Josh and Alisha: what did you think when you first walked into the venue? 13. Did CRBE feel more like a reptile expo or a complete pet expo? 14. How did the reptile section compare to major U.S. shows? 15. What stood out about the vendor booths? 16. Did you see species or products you don’t normally see at home? 17. What did you notice about Canadian reptile buyers and keepers? 18. How was the crowd compared to U.S. expos? 19. Did the show live up to the hype? 20. What could American reptile expos learn from CRBE? 21. Was there anything U.S. shows do better? 22. The networking and social side of the weekend. 23. Spending time with friends outside of the convention. 24. Why trips like this can be valuable even if you never sell an animal. 25. Going into Toronto and visiting the CN Tower. 26. Favorite meal or food discovery from the trip. 27. Favorite non-reptile experience. 28. Favorite reptile-related moment. 29. Biggest surprise of the entire trip. 30. If we went back next year, what would we change?

Keywords CRBE Canadian Reptile Breeders Expo Canada reptile show Toronto reptile show reptile expo Canada Canadian reptile expo reptile show review Niagara Falls Canada Toronto Canada CN Tower reptile road trip reptile community reptile breeders Reptile Guild Podcast Small Town Xotics Herpin Harbins Greenline Morphs

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.

Join the Reptile Guild on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reptileguild

Dr. Tom Harbin Reptiles Memorial Endowed Scholarship in the College of Veterinary Medicine: https://give.auburn.edu/campaigns/dr-tom-harbin-reptiles-memorial-endowed-scholarship-in-the-college-of-veterinary-medicine-1

Reptile Ads, better known as RADS, launched with the goal of giving reptile keepers and breeders another modern marketplace for buying, selling, and connecting within the hobby. Now Zac Parpart is back to give us an update. In this episode of The Reptile Guild Podcast, Shane Kelley of Small Town Xotics joins Josh and Alisha Harbin of Herpin Harbins for a conversation with Zac Parpart, Founder and CEO of ReptileAds.com. We first talked with Zac when RADS was still a brand-new platform. This time, we want to know what has happened since launch. How much has the marketplace grown? What does the site traffic look like? What are users actually doing on the platform? Which features have worked, which ones have changed, and what does Zac have planned next? RADS now operates as a reptile and exotic animal marketplace, has a mobile app available, and has continued rolling out navigation and performance improvements while building integrations and partnerships within the reptile industry. (Google Play⁠)

Topics include: • How RADS has performed since launch • Current website traffic and user growth • Number of buyers, sellers, and active listings • Which reptile categories are seeing the most activity • What Zac has learned from real-world marketplace usage • New features added since launch • The RADS mobile app • Website and app performance improvements • Husbandry.Pro integration • Seller tools and marketplace functionality • User feedback and feature requests • What has worked better than expected • What has been harder than expected • How RADS plans to differentiate itself long term • Competition within the online reptile marketplace space • International growth opportunities • Upcoming features • What is on the RADS roadmap for 2027 and beyond • Zac’s long-term vision for the platform

Whether you are a breeder trying to sell animals online, a buyer looking for your next reptile, or simply interested in where the reptile marketplace is headed, this episode gives us a look behind the curtain at one of the newest platforms in the industry. Building Knowledge. Growing Community.

Guest: Zac Parpart Founder & CEO of ReptileAds.com / RADS

Hosts: Shane Kelley of Small Town Xotics Josh and Alisha Harbin of Herpin Harbins

Technical Producer: Jay Kaps of Green Line Morphs

Keywords Reptile Ads RADS Zac Parpart ReptileAds reptile marketplace reptile classifieds sell reptiles online buy reptiles online ball python marketplace reptile breeder marketplace reptile app reptile business reptile industry Reptile Guild Podcast Small Town Xotics Herpin Harbins

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.

Join the Reptile Guild on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reptileguild

Dr. Tom Harbin Reptiles Memorial Endowed Scholarship in the College of Veterinary Medicine: https://give.auburn.edu/campaigns/dr-tom-harbin-reptiles-memorial-endowed-scholarship-in-the-college-of-veterinary-medicine-1

We’ve spent a LOT of weekends behind reptile show tables in 2026, and now it’s time to compare notes. In this episode of the Reptile Guild Podcast, we’re looking back at the reptile expos we’ve vended so far this year and breaking down our experiences at each one. Which shows had the best crowds? Which were organized well? Where did vendors actually make money? Which shows had the strongest reptile community? And most importantly… which ones would we go back to? We may even rank them.

We’ll talk about the shows from a vendor’s perspective, including: • Attendance and customer traffic • Quality of buyers • Vendor experience • Show organization and communication • Venue and location • Species diversity • Community and atmosphere • Sales potential • Whether we’d vend the show again • Our overall rankings This isn’t about trashing shows. Every expo is different, and what works for one breeder may not work for another. We’re sharing our experiences and what we’ve learned from spending weekend after weekend on the vendor side of the table. What reptile show do YOU think deserves the #1 spot?

Hosted by: Shane Kelley of Small Town Xotics Josh & Alisha Harbin of Herpin Harbins

Technical Producer: Jay Kaps of Green Line Morphs

The Reptile Guild is about Building Knowledge, Growing Community through honest conversations about reptile keeping, breeding, business, and the community surrounding it.

Keywords reptile shows 2026, reptile expo, reptile expos, reptile show review, best reptile shows, reptile expo ranking, reptile vendor, vending reptile shows, reptile breeder, reptile business, selling reptiles, reptile convention, snake breeder, ball python breeder, hognose breeder, reptile community, reptile podcast, Reptile Guild Podcast, Small Town Xotics, Herpin Harbins

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Join the Reptile Guild on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reptileguild

In this episode of The Reptile Guild Podcast, Shane Kelley of Small Town Xotics joins Josh and Alisha Harbin of Herpin Harbins for a conversation with Brandon Nixon of Nixon Reptiles. Brandon works with multiple reptile species while continuing to build and develop his ball python projects, giving him a unique perspective on what it means to maintain a diversified reptile collection. We talk about why some breeders choose to specialize while others work with several species, how diversification can affect breeding goals, space, workload, risk, and long-term sustainability, and what Brandon has learned from balancing multiple projects at once.

Topics include: • Brandon’s background in reptiles • His current ball python projects • How he chooses which projects to pursue • Why he works with multiple species • The advantages of keeping a diversified collection • The challenges of managing different species and husbandry needs • Balancing space, time, feeders, and breeding seasons • Avoiding becoming too dependent on one species or one segment of the reptile market • Deciding when to add a new species • Knowing when a collection is becoming too large • Holdbacks and long-term breeding goals • How market changes influence breeding decisions • Staying interested and motivated by working with different animals • Advice for breeders considering expanding beyond one species

Whether you are focused entirely on ball pythons or considering branching into other reptiles, this episode is about building a collection with purpose and thinking beyond the next breeding season.

Building Knowledge. Growing Community.

Guest Brandon Nixon of Nixon Reptiles

Hosts Shane Kelley of Small Town Xotics Josh and Alisha Harbin of Herpin Harbins

Technical Producer Jay Kaps of Green Line Morphs

Keywords Brandon Nixon Nixon Reptiles ball python breeding ball python projects reptile breeder multi species reptile breeder diversified reptile collection reptile collection management reptile breeding projects snake breeding reptile market reptile business The Reptile Guild Reptile Guild Podcast Small Town Xotics Herpin Harbins

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.

Join the Reptile Guild on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reptileguild

What actually makes someone a responsible reptile breeder? Producing healthy babies is only one part of the job. In this episode of The Reptile Guild Podcast, Shane Kelley of Small Town Xotics joins Josh and Alisha Harbin of Herpin Harbins for an honest discussion about the responsibilities that come with breeding reptiles. We dig into the areas breeders sometimes overlook, including genetics, animal health, veterinary care, accurate record keeping, customer service, honesty in advertising, overproduction, pricing, and responsibility to the reptile market as a whole.

Topics include: • Knowing the genetics behind the animals you produce • Being honest about possible genes, hets, lineage, and identification • Breeding only healthy and appropriately conditioned animals • Knowing when an animal should not be bred • Veterinary care and recognizing when professional treatment is needed • Quarantine, disease prevention, and protecting your collection • Keeping accurate breeding, feeding, shedding, and health records • Supporting customers after the sale • Being honest when something goes wrong • Producing animals you realistically have the ability to house and sell • Overproduction and its effect on the reptile market • Pricing animals responsibly • Avoiding the temptation to breed simply because you can • Taking responsibility for the animals you produce • The difference between being a reptile breeder and simply producing reptiles • Ethics, reputation, and building trust within the reptile community There probably isn’t one perfect definition of a responsible breeder, but there are standards all of us should be willing to discuss. Whether you’re considering your first breeding project or have been producing reptiles for decades, this conversation is about taking a closer look at the responsibility that comes with bringing more animals into the hobby. Building Knowledge. Growing Community.

Hosts Shane Kelley of Small Town Xotics Josh and Alisha Harbin of Herpin Harbins

Technical Producer Jay Kaps of Greenline Morphs

Keywords responsible reptile breeder reptile breeding ethics ethical reptile breeding reptile breeder responsibility ball python breeding reptile genetics reptile health reptile veterinary care reptile breeder customer service reptile record keeping reptile market reptile overproduction reptile community The Reptile Guild Reptile Guild Podcast Small Town Xotics Herpin Harbins

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Join the Reptile Guild on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reptileguild

Everyone sees the snakes, the success, and the social media posts, but very few people see the struggles happening behind the scenes. In this episode of the Reptile Guild Podcast, Shane Kelley of Small Town Xotics sits down with John from Black Rock Balls to have an honest conversation about the challenges he’s faced, how those struggles have affected both his personal life and reptile business, and what has helped him keep moving forward. This episode isn’t just about reptiles. It’s about perseverance, mental resilience, community, and finding purpose during difficult seasons of life. Whether you’re a breeder, keeper, business owner, or simply someone facing your own challenges, we hope this conversation reminds you that you’re not alone.

Hosted by: Shane Kelley of Small Town Xotics Josh & Alisha Harbin of Herpin Harbins

Technical Producer: Jay Kaps of Green Line Morphs

The Reptile Guild exists to bring reptile keepers together through honest conversations, education, and shared experiences. Building Knowledge. Growing Community.

Keywords Reptile Guild Podcast, Black Rock Balls, John Aji, reptile breeder, ball python breeder, mental health, overcoming adversity, resilience, reptile community, reptile podcast, snake breeder, reptile industry, Small Town Xotics, Herpin Harbins, ball pythons, breeder burnout, motivation, entrepreneurship, keeping reptiles, reptile education

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Join the Reptile Guild on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/reptileguild

What separates a great reptile vendor from an average one? Is it the animals they produce, the prices they offer, or something much more important? In this episode of the Reptile Guild Podcast, Shane Kelley of Small Town Xotics joins Josh and Alisha Harbin of Herpin Harbins to discuss the qualities that build trust, create loyal customers, and strengthen the reptile community. From customer service and honest communication to display setup, ethics, and supporting keepers long after the sale, we explore what it really means to be a professional reptile vendor. Whether you are vending your first reptile expo, considering becoming a breeder, or simply want to know what to look for when buying your next reptile, this conversation is packed with practical advice that applies to every level of the hobby.

Hosted by: Shane Kelley of Small Town Xotics Josh & Alisha Harbin of Herpin Harbins

Technical Producer: Jay Kaps of Green Line Morphs

LIKE If you enjoy honest conversations about reptile keeping, breeding, and the future of the hobby, be sure to like, subscribe, and share the episode.

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Keywords: reptile vendor, reptile expo, reptile breeder, reptile business, reptile community, reptile podcast, reptile guild, reptile sales, snake breeder, ball python breeder, western hognose breeder, reptile customer service, vending reptile shows, reptile ethics, reptile education, reptile husbandry, responsible reptile breeding, buying reptiles, reptile expo tips, reptile keeping