Siren has just received an incredibly generous offer to match whatever the final take of our campaign is. So if you were thinking about contributing, now it counts double!
Our Story
My name is Diana Heideman, and I'm the owner of Siren Fish & Reptiles. (And that's our mascot, Siren the black pastel ball python, hanging off my necklace.) For the past 5 years, I worked and managed a local Bay Area pet store. I left my position there in 2011 to focus on opening my own store fish and reptile specialty store, with the intent of meeting the under-served needs of fish and reptile hobbyists in the South Bay. I have been breeding crested geckos, ball pythons, and corn snakes for several years, and have been vending online and at trade shows, previously under the name of 14th Street Geckos.
I have served as a board member for the Silicon Valley Aquarium Society, and been tangentially involved with the Bay Area Amphibian and Reptile Society for years. I know the community, I know its needs, and I know how the current stores are failing hobbyists. It's high time the Bay Area had a reptile store that carries more than leopard geckos and corn snakes, and a fish store that goes beyond neon tetras and guppies, and Siren is my solution.
The Impact
Siren will cater to the needs of both beginning enthusiasts and lifelong hobbyists. Siren's goal is to offer healthy, thriving animals and provide the support for fishkeepers and reptile owners to keep their animals successfully.
Siren wants to build a community with local hobbyists, and will purchase or trade with local breeders, instead of national wholesalers, wherever possible. We will offer captive-bred animals whenever possible, and are devoted to captive conservation breeding programs. Siren will also offer a variety of rare species, and morphs and varieties of animals currently unavailable in the bay area.
Most importantly for the community in today's economy, Siren will create between 4-6 part-time jobs and 2 full-time jobs in the local community, and will be keeping hobbyist money in the local community, when it is currently spent at trade shows and online.
What We Need
Siren is partially funded going into our campaign -- that is, we should be able to secure a lease, hire some staff, and partially stock the shelves . However, we need an extra boost to get us set up and going the right way from the start.
The $25,000 in funding will be used for:
$5,000 - reptile display cages, heat, and light fixtures (multi-unit Boaphile style cages)
$7,000 - fish tanks, construction and plumbing (20 gallon tanks, 48" light strips, sponge filters on a main airline)
$3,000 - Animal Plastics snake breeding racks
$1,500 - Animal Plastics feeder insect and rodent breeding/storage rack
$3,000 - shelving, pegboards, and other display fixtures
$3,500 - computer system, Quickbooks POS, cash drawer, credit card machine, receipt printer
$2,000 - closed-circuit security camera system (you'd be shocked how often reptiles are stolen!)
What do you get in return? We've got great perks!
There are three categories of incentive that Siren is offering: physical items, live animals, and services.
Most contributors are probably going to open for the goodies. This category includes "swag" (stickers and t-shirts) and photographs.
Here are the 3 sticker designs ($ 5 perk) -- pinstripe, dalmatian, and red.
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I'm a hobbyist photographer, as well, specializing in shooting reptiles, both domesticated and in the wild. So I'm sharing my prints as one of Siren's perks. For photographs, you'll get anything from a postcard to an 17x22 framed print ready to be hung in a place of pride in your home. Check out the GALLERY here for available photos--the gorgeous pied ball python at the top of the page is just one of the available options!.
A matted 11x14 print ($65 perk) ready to be shipped out:
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Some of you will choose reptiles. The basic "reptile" option is either a crested gecko or a ball python. These are "pet quality" animals, which is to say they're nice, absolutely healthy, friendly, and feeding well. But they're common morphs, nothing rare or fancy.
A ball python and crested gecko ready for new homes ($50 perk local, $100 perk shipped):
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If you choose to receive a reptile and you aren't local, they will be shipped using Ship Your Reptiles through FedEx. In these cases, keep in mind around $50-$75 of your total contribution is going straight to shipping, and not to Siren's fundraising, which is why the cost is as high as it is. We DO have some individual high-end animals available, but those are listed on our main site http://www.sirensanjose.com and not on our IGG page.)
Our highest-end options are events, and are only available to local contributors. You can certainly buy them as a gift for others, but the person receiving the service must live within 60 miles of San Jose. We offer birthday parties, and educational workshops for schools, libraries, clubs, and other groups.
Kirsch, our red phase bearded dragon, dressed up and ready to come to YOUR party! ($300 or $500 perk)
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Other Ways You Can Help
