SXR Changing Hands - New Auction Site

[kawasakirider]

Unfortunately I haven't been in the hobby long enough to purchase a snake of yours, but I'm thrilled to know the business will continue, and in capable hands. After seeing that jungle posted above, I am definitely going to save up for one, its colours are amazing

Good luck and enjoy your future endeavours

 

[Doc]

Thanks LizardLady for the kind words. Crikey - golden years .... how did this happen ... I'm too young :-(

Its been very hard to finally decide to quit. Now is a very exciting time for reptile breeding. My era was about learning how to breed Aussie snakes and then developing the first selective breeding programs. Today there is so much genetic variety to work with and the off the shelf equipment is fantastic and relatively cheap.

I brought one of the first pulse proportional thermostats into the country in the very early nineties. I used it to keep hatchlings warm by conecting it to heat tape. The heat tape came from the USA and was used to keep the centre of driveways clear of ice so that homeowners could access the street from their homes. I had to run the tape through a voltage converter. The pulse proportional thermostat was made by a fellow in the UK. Its terrible but I've forgotten his name after 20 years, but we used to talk alot about breeding over the phone. He had one of the biggest collections in the UK. Anyway, his wife rang me distraught one night to seek advice. He had fallen drunk into the Thames and drowned and she didn't have a clue what to do with the hundreds of snakes or the business he had started. That original thermostat is still working perfectly after non-stop operation for 20 years ...

Not sure about Sea Serpents but there are a couple of Dragons at my work....but working with them is the problem!!!

Hmmm - First thing to realise is that there is a significant difference between crossing dragons and getting them cross ...

 

[AshMan]

Congrats on the retirment! I dont have any of your animals and we have never spoken but all the best for the future and thankyou for your contribution to the hobby

 

[Wild~Touch]

Gotta say Thank you for all the "commonsense" articles you wrote for Reptiles Australia magazine.
You both shared your experiences and we learned heaps.
Enjoy your retirement and be safe and happy.
Cheers
Sandee

 

[rive0032]

I'm the same as AshMan. I've always visited your website and been amazed at all the snakes I have seen. I've never owned one and I've never spoken to either of you, but I've been in awe of what you have been able to do. You have done an amazing thing for reptile breeding. Best of luck with your retirement!

 

[kawasakirider]

Good job on setting up the bidding part of the website, very easy to navigate and looks great.

 

[Doc]

Thanks Kawasakirider for letting me know that. I'm not much of a techo geek and really struggled with it. I hoped it was relatively easy to use but wasn't sure. There seem to have been few problems. If this all goes smoothly, I've got lots of other animals I want to put on the auction site. By the way I ride a Ducati Multistrada 1200S ...

Time to call it quits for the night ... thanks again to all for the positive words ... I think I'll go and cry in my coffee ...

 

[SamNabz]

Definitely a well deserved retirement, you've done more than enough for the hobby.

Time to see the world you've been missing out on and relax.

I've entered a few of the previous animal auctions SXR have held but sadly never come out on top, maybe this time around I won't be so unfortunate

Enjoy the rest of your life doing what ever it is you please Simon & Diane, you've earned it.

 

[kawasakirider]

Thanks Kawasakirider for letting me know that. I'm not much of a techo geek and really struggled with it. I hoped it was relatively easy to use but wasn't sure. There seem to have been few problems. If this all goes smoothly, I've got lots of other animals I want to put on the auction site. By the way I ride a Ducati Multistrada 1200S ...

Time to call it quits for the night ... thanks again to all for the positive words ... I think I'll go and cry in my coffee ...

I'm only 19 and computer illiterate, LOL, I couldn't even make a website, let alone a functioning bidding system.

Ducati, eh? Do you follow motogp? Rossi is riding them now, he's not doing so well this season. I love Ducati's, I don't have a road bike yet, though. Got any bike tours planned now that you have the time? I hear that cambodia is good if you're into enduro at all.

Speaking of costa rica (you said you were heading that way), I have the chance to go next year with uni as a volunteer, but it will cost me a few grand, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to get over there. If I do, I'll be relocating leatherback turtles

Have a good one, mate.

 

[FAY]

Best of luck for your 'retirement' Simon and Diane. You pair are not old.


Regards
Fay and Garth

 

[swan91]

HI Doc,
Ive been a long time admirer and stalker of your snakes and website and the auctions.. Im currently studying veterinary science at charles sturt university and im REALLY interested in specializing in reptiles!! they fascinate me sooo much! However books can only tell you so much. As part of our course we are required to undertake 12 weeks of external 'work experience' at varous farms/ breeding enterprises of a variety of animals (pigs/sheep/horses/cattle/poultry/other). I would LOVE to complete my one week of 'other animal experience' at your breeding facility, if that is all possible. Although now, SXR is changing hands, im sure id still learn A LOT from the new owner/managers! would this be, at all possible? i understand if it is not, due to security/ bio-hazard reasons..
Alex (potential future rural reptile vet)

 

[lgotje]

good luck on your holidays really hope u enjoy it and when u have some nice gtps in your auctions let me know thanks heaps guys loved chatting with you on the phone

cheers

locky

 

[PimmsPythons]

good luck with your future old fella and a big thanks also to you and Diane making the trip to support our first queensland reptile expo back in 2008. have fun in Costa Rica ,as i did ,and i want to see photos.
cheers
simon

 

[abnrmal91]

Good luck and all the best in your retirement. You have both done so much for the hobby. Cheers Daniel


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mje772003]

Enjoy your retirement as you have worked hard to represent our hobby and educating others

 

[1woma]

Im just getting started ( addicted lol) to reptiles and am not lucky enough to own one of your snakes.... hopefully one day i will;-) I just wanted to say thanks and i have enjoyed and learned so much from your articles, and your beautiful wife has been a pleasure to deal with via email. I just wanted to say being a fellow south aussie.... GO SOMEWERE HOT AND TROPICAL FOR YOUR HOLIDAYS, im sure you havent taken many due to your responsiblities with the buisiness.

 

[-Katana-]

Dear Simon and Diane
I have 4 snakes I finally got from you guys after spending two years paying them off. It was a long time waiting but I have told everyone I know, that your snakes were/are well worth the wait. I could never have afforded to pay that sort of money up front but yours and my patience paid off. I was more than happy to wait the time out to acquire your animals. My snakes are now yearlings - pair jungles and a pair hypo bredli. The jungle boy still looks like he's been painted, the colours on him are absolute incredible. I couldn't have asked for a better lot of snakes. They all look better than the awesome photos on your website. Thank you so much for your patience with me paying just $30 a week, and I wish you the very best for your future.

Sorry, but this has me choked up and blinking back tears. That was just beautiful!


Thank you for what you have done for the hobby, Doc.
Without innovators and the tireless work of people like yourself this hobby would be less advanced than it is.
The above quoted post is proof positive that compassion and passion can marry well within a business structure.
You are good people Doc. and I hope the new stewards have been imbued with the same ethos.

Cheers,
~Akwendi.

 

[marteed]

I was devastated when I found out you were retiring but overjoyed for you at the same time. Thanks to a friend who put me in touch with you, I purchased my first snake. A gorgeous gamon range female (Lolly), she is such a beautiful snake and have just started paying off a male. I have also had the pleasure of dealing with Steve and Melissa, I have just put my name down for a pair of Topaz Womas. They are very friendly and easy to talk to.
Thanks for all your help, you will be missed!

 

[Waterrat]

Congratulations Simon and Diane, enjoy every bit of your retirement. If you ask me, there is a sweet life after full-time job or full-time business - make most of it. Oh, and keep in touch.

Best regards
Michael

 

[FusionMorelia]

congrats Simon an Diane i hope you have many safe and exciting trips, remember to drop a line here to tell us of any adventures thanks for the many years its much appreciated by everyone in the hobby,
i just checked the auction site, unfortunately everything is already out of my reach even to put 1 bid in but
i will keep an eye on it ya never know right have fun and i hope to see the new SXR crew on here as often
as time will allow

Regards
Nato