Cryptic Colubrids Shop Policy

Welcome to Cryptic Colubrids! The health and happiness of our scale babies is our absolute top priority. We are deeply committed to ethical breeding, which means we strictly refuse to work with morphs known to cause genetic health issues. Our goal is to give every snake the foundation for a long, happy life. To ensure our babies get the best care and our patrons have a wonderful experience, we are always here to support you. Whether you have questions today or years down the road, we're just a message away! :)

All our reptiles are produced in-house with accurately labeled genetics, unless otherwise specified. We socialize and spend time with every baby to learn their individual personalities, helping you make a fully informed choice when selecting your new scale baby.

Each baby will come with:

• Genetics of both Sire & Dam to the best of our knowledge

• Their feeding and shed logs (If you have husbandrypro, we can transfer that data to you!)

• Current weight and feeder size

• A basic care guide for your reptile

Payment & Terms

We accept Credit Cards (via Square Invoice), PayPal, and Venmo.

• Inquiries do not hold an animal: It is only officially on hold when either a deposit or complete payment is received.

• Payment in Full: Payment is due at the time of purchase unless a payment plan has been pre-arranged. Animals are considered "on hold" only once a plan is in place and the deposit is received.

• Payment Plans: Available for any reptile over $500. We require a 25% non-refundable deposit to place the snake on hold.

• Balances under $1,000: Full payment is due within 30 days.

• Balances over $1,000: Full payment is due within 60 days.

• Cancellations: If the balance is not paid within the agreed timeframe or if you choose to back out, all previous payments are forfeited, and the animal will be relisted for public sale.

• Age Requirement: By making a purchase, the buyer confirms they are at least 18 years of age.

Shipping Policy

• Packaging: All animals are shipping in insulated boxes with heat or cold packs as needed.

• Safety First: We ship to FedEx Hubs only—no home delivery.

• Weather: Shipping occurs only when temps are between 32°F – 85°F at both ends. We will hold animals for free during extreme weather.

• Schedule: Overnight shipping on Mon/Tue/Wed for next-day pickup. Full payment is required before shipping.

• Compliance: Please verify that the species is legal in your state before purchasing.

• Liability: Cryptic Colubrids is not responsible for delays caused by the carrier (weather, mechanicals) or buyer error (wrong address, late pickup).

Health & Feeding Guarantees

• In-House Breeding: Unless otherwise noted, every reptile is produced by Cryptic Colubrids. We guarantee that every animal leaving our care is healthy and free of external parasites.

• Feeding Standards: We ensure our hatchlings are well-started before they head to their new homes. No animal leaves our care until they have successfully taken 5 to 10 consecutive, unscented frozen/thawed meals (depending on the species).

• 24-Hour Notification: If you have any health concerns regarding your new arrival, please contact us within 24 hours of receipt so we can assist you immediately.

• Quarantine Recommendations: For the safety of your entire collection, we strongly urge a minimum 30 day quarantine for all new arrivals. This includes keeping the new reptile in a separate room, using dedicated feeding tongs, and washing hands thoroughly after handling or cleaning before interacting with other animals.

Genetics, Sexing, and Visual Representation

• Accurate Photos: The photos in our listings are of the actual animal you will receive, unless explicitly stated otherwise. We strive to provide images that accurately represent the animal's true colors and patterns.

• Genetic Integrity: All genetic traits and attributes are identified to the best of our knowledge. As a breeder focused on quality, we take great care in tracking lineages to ensure our labels are as accurate as possible.

• Sexing Policy: We use proven methods—primarily tail length and shape—to determine the sex of our hatchlings. While we are highly confident in our results, sexing young colubrids is not 100% foolproof. In the rare event that an animal is incorrectly sexed, we will work with the buyer on a resolution, which may include a partial refund, shop credit, or an exchange if a replacement is available.

Returns, Refunds, and DOA Policy

• General Returns: To ensure the biosecurity of our collection, all sales are final. Returns, refunds, or exchanges are not guaranteed and are considered strictly on a case-by-case basis within 24–48 hours of receipt.

• Exchanges: In the event of an approved exchange, the buyer is responsible for purchasing appropriate shipping materials (via Redline or MorphMarket) and shipping the animal according to industry safety standards. We will ship the replacement animal once the original has been safely received and inspected.

• Unboxing Documentation: We strongly recommend taking a video of the unboxing process. This provides essential documentation in the unlikely event of a health concern or DOA.

• Live Arrival Guarantee (DOA): In the rare and unfortunate event of an animal arriving deceased, Cryptic Colubrids must be notified within 4 hours of the recorded pickup time. Evidence, such as photos or unboxing video, is required to process a claim.