Gerry from ssscales told me about this site he joined up with, and it seems pretty cool so far. It's a tracking software thing mainly (no forum that I see), and it is free. I think it is cool because you can track your animals really well, right down to batch feedings, etc, and even breeding loans and lineage reports so that you can link to other breeders.
Has anyone tried it yet? I am still adding animals right now (takes a lot of work with all these buggers!), but was wondering if anyone else out there has any experience with it? I figure for a free software, and it being online, it can't be that bad...

I have signed up but I haven't had the time to actually put in any information yet...

Seems like nowadays there are so many reptile related websites it's becoming harder and harder to stay on top of them all... Looks like a good site and I like the fact that it's ABOUT THE ANIMALS 1st... The community and social part of things 2nd.

Kind of a differen't aim for the online reptile world... :yessir:

I am telling you guys, it might take awhile to get all the stats added into the software (I'm STILL working on things from the past), but it seems well worth it. Take a few hours and get it together. Once it is all added in, it seems really easy to use. I only plan on using it as a tracking software, but it will be a great way to keep things updated on my business webpage on what is happening as well. Plus it will give me peace of mind. After only a few hours of messing with it, I would say check it out for sure, test it with a few animals (do some that have bred or are breeding now - the adding a clutch thing is COOL).

I use it and I like it...

http://www.iherp.com/Public/Animals/MembersAnimals.aspx?UserID=c21b350f-66c4-4660-a878-dc1e3c89d4ff

I have used it, but prefer Degei.

It looks pretty cool, I'll have to check it out. My computer is not in my snake room so I forget to update the feedings sometimes so I use a paper system that is right there in front of me. I may give this a try though.

I like the batch feeding thing. Once you get it set with one feeding with the food item (ie 1 small rat) then it carries over to the next batch feeding. So all you have to do is update the date of feeding and change anything like if one refused...
there are a few things I would like to see, like batch clutch sales (in case you sell them all at a show or to a petshop)...other than that, so far I am happy.

I looked at several tracking softwares and they all seemed so complicated.

iHerp was uber-easy and I've been using it without any issue so far.

http://www.iherp.com/ophiuchus

I do batch and rack by rack feeding with degei with no issues...I really like the way I can create clutch records from breedings along with creating new numbers for the hatchlings...I can track the sire and dam information back for a few generations (more later as I breed longer)...

It's all about what is easiest for you to keep good records.

yes i have been a member on iherp for a while now. it is a forum but in a different way and they will be adding a classifieds section and some new options by the end of the year. gerry just joined a few days ago and has already been settling in lol, it does have some nice features on keeping up with everything about your reptiles and so forth. it is a layed back form very much like here and aaron is a really good guy. it doesnt have alot of basics like most other forums have but it is a nice place. with bush league being my favorite place iherp would definately be my 2nd favorite place out of all forums i am amember of.

I just started using it and it seems to be really cool makes life real easy.

I tried it for 10 minutes, it was running ridiculously slow and just didn't bother to return to it.

I tried it for 10 minutes, it was running ridiculously slow and just didn't bother to return to it.

never had that problem before. its always been rather a speedy site for me.

I tried it, haven't really had the time to go back to mess with it, though. I've been using Metzcal for awhile, while in still developing my own application. I wanted something that I can easily integrate with my website and such, and it seemed that I could build something that would suit my needs better than any one else, so I've been working on my own. Metzcal seems to work ok, but I've had a couple times when my entire dataset was wiped out, and there's no one that seems willing to do ANY type of support over there, so I make sure to back everything up everytime I use it and use paper too. The problem I have with most of the systems I've used is the "proprietary" db formats or db's altogether. iherp seems a little better, but still, the data is stuck on their servers / web application. If they'd do some web services to accomodate people that want access to their data without their application, I'd be happy as umm.. well, something really happy.

I haven't tried iHerp yet just because like Jenea and Jeff I've been using Degei since I had just a couple of snakes. It works great for tracking records and I've got my girlfriend all schooled in how to use it so now on feeding nights and weigh-ins I do all the work with the snakes while she updates all the records. The only problem I have with it is it runs kind of slow on my computer with the ones that have pictures attached to them :D.

I haven't tried iHerp yet just because like Jenea and Jeff I've been using Degei since I had just a couple of snakes. It works great for tracking records and I've got my girlfriend all schooled in how to use it so now on feeding nights and weigh-ins I do all the work with the snakes while she updates all the records. The only problem I have with it is it runs kind of slow on my computer with the ones that have pictures attached to them :D.
Time to get a new comp! :)

Time to get a new comp! :)

You're telling me :D. If I don't wind up starting school this spring I'm probably going to make my own desktop gaming computer. Should be a fun little project :rockon:

i have one im working on now, it's going ot be a nuclear power plant when i have finished building it lol

So far I'm really liking Iherp...

Gonna be a while adding all of the animals as I have some more to include as well as the leo's and a pair of beardie's we're getting this weekend. But I like it... :)

I like it and have been using it for some time now. However, lately I really havent bEen updating feedings and all the tracking stuff. Ive found it to be to time consuming for my likes, I can do most of what I want on paper much faster.

One thing about degei is that you can set how often you want everybody to be fed, and then print a feeding list for any given day. It will print out each animal due to be fed and what they ate their last meal. Basically tells you how much to thaw out or get of each prey item. Then you use the feeder list to check of who eats or who refuses. You can then sit down and put it all in the comp at one time and you have a paper copy of who ate that day. I LOVE it! It also automatically update your feeder inventory for you. :)

Or go high tech with the wireless scanner...one day :rockon:

I have recently downloaded the free version of Degei... and I will soon be purchasing the full version.

And here's why. Lets say you spend 6 hours inputting all you initial data from paper... then you spend another 6-mo to a year adding to that data... then all of the sudden the website goes under. Now what are you left with. ZILCH!!!

Whereas with Degei... its software based on your computer... even if they never make another update to the software... you STILL have the original software and your data.

The reason I brought this up... (please dont slap me... but it rings true)..... who thought RI... Reptster (happy Byron :) ) would have closed up shop this soon.

Im not trying to say anything negative about Iherp.... but what if?

You have spent all the time uploading data... and you have lost it all.

One thing about degei is that you can set how often you want everybody to be fed, and then print a feeding list for any given day. It will print out each animal due to be fed and what they ate their last meal. Basically tells you how much to thaw out or get of each prey item. Then you use the feeder list to check of who eats or who refuses. You can then sit down and put it all in the comp at one time and you have a paper copy of who ate that day. I LOVE it! It also automatically update your feeder inventory for you. :)

Wow... now Im really sold on the full version

I may have to get you to write me an owners manual :yourock:

LOL! Learned everything I know from Damon! LOL! Another tip, I back all my data up to a flash drive. I keep up to 3 backups at a time on it. If their is ever an evac situation, I just pull the zip, pull the animals, and I am out the door! Easy breezy beautiful! Also, I can upload the record on any animal I sell to the buyer if they have degei also. It prints bills of sale, Certificates of Origin, Lifetime Activity records for any given animal, keeps trak of venders, customers, feeders, ect.... even does growth charts per species!! Now that is a really cool tool!

LOL! Learned everything I know from Damon! LOL! Another tip, I back all my data up to a flash drive. I keep up to 3 backups at a time on it. If their is ever an evac situation, I just pull the zip, pull the animals, and I am out the door! Easy breezy beautiful! Also, I can upload the record on any animal I sell to the buyer if they have degei also. It prints bills of sale, Certificates of Origin, Lifetime Activity records for any given animal, keeps trak of venders, customers, feeders, ect.... even does growth charts per species!! Now that is a really cool tool!

Walking commercial for Degei and covergirl...:lol:

I like being able to ship the lifetime records over in an email to someone, they just upload them and bam right into the feeding schedule, no inputing new animals...

Works well for me and it doesn't smear when I spill water on it...lol

Walking commercial for Degei and covergirl...:lol:


:o :o

Hi All...

This is Aaron from iHerp. First, thanks to all the existing members who are using it and happy with it and posting about it! Glad it's working for ya. :)

Lucid, your wish may come true. I'm currently working on iHerp Pro, which will be basically website hosting, your skin, your domain, your pages, iHerps data engine, and a lot more of the business management features of running a reptile busines.. in the long term, APIs are definitely on my radar, exposing the data to the owner for them to do as they wish via web services is very possible.

In regards to the site disappearing, not an option. iHerp is programmed by me, no employees and very little overhead cost. I have been working on it since 2005 (and mentally since 2000) ... I've been an internet database programming dork since 1996 (gulp) and have loved reptiles all my life. iHerp has been a way for me to take two things that I love doing and (hopefully) make a great site that can be beneficial to lots of people, and (hopefully) get people to take better care of their animals. This has really been a lifelong dream of mine. It's amazing to see it take shape, and to see kids and new herpers join and not realize that this hasn't always been there... a whole new generation of reptile people are going to think that this is how it's always been, you can track and take care and transfer your animals online.

There's lots more to come, this is really in its infancy stages. I think one of the cooler features is transferring the electronic data record to new owners, where they get the photos, tracking, lineage, and everything about the animal into their account. Also, I have a number of females on loan, and when they are updated in the system (by the loanee), I get email notifications that my girlie is eating, copulating, ovulating, whatever... having the animals networked in a multi-user environment definitely opens up the doors on all of this.. It's all very exciting!!

(Also, I'm working on iHerp Mobile Tracking, which allows me to do tracking from my phone... having some proprietary cell browser compatibility issues, but on the iPhone it sings!)

Damon and I are pals, we had a beer after the Tinley show this past October (we both had booths).. hopefully this doesn't turn into a Mac v. PC debate, because they're both really cool products that are beneficial to the industry, and that's really what the goal is here. They're both good, just different spins.

At any rate, thanks for the feedback, both positive and the concerns ... I take it all and try to make iHerp better all the time. If anyone wants to talk more, feel free to contact me at support [at] iherp [dot] com . I love talking shop :)

Cheers, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Aaron

I was one of the beta testers for iHerp and am very happy with the site so far. Although it's only been open to the public for several months now, it's been a few years in development. I love the features available so far and am looking forward to the new additions. The programmer has specifically worked hard to make this a very efficient site for load times, etc. It always loads fast for me.... which is important for me too. If any problems should occur don't hesitate to contact the webmaster, he's uber cool about helping out.

I totally agree with the comment though about "what if" the site should go down.... that would be a huge bummer but I have to say that I'm pretty confident that Aaron (webdesigner) is in this for the long run.


www.iherp.com/chondrogal

Dang, talk about timing!! Hi Aaron, glad to see you speak much more lucidly about this dream than me!!!

index cards and pens work for me!

index cards and pens work for me!

LOL...Me too John...:rockon:

index cards and pens work for me!

That's what I have plastered to the fronts of my tubs.... :yessir:

Hi All...

This is Aaron from iHerp. First, thanks to all the existing members who are using it and happy with it and posting about it! Glad it's working for ya. :)

Lucid, your wish may come true. I'm currently working on iHerp Pro, which will be basically website hosting, your skin, your domain, your pages, iHerps data engine, and a lot more of the business management features of running a reptile busines.. in the long term, APIs are definitely on my radar, exposing the data to the owner for them to do as they wish via web services is very possible.

In regards to the site disappearing, not an option. iHerp is programmed by me, no employees and very little overhead cost. I have been working on it since 2005 (and mentally since 2000) ... I've been an internet database programming dork since 1996 (gulp) and have loved reptiles all my life. iHerp has been a way for me to take two things that I love doing and (hopefully) make a great site that can be beneficial to lots of people, and (hopefully) get people to take better care of their animals. This has really been a lifelong dream of mine. It's amazing to see it take shape, and to see kids and new herpers join and not realize that this hasn't always been there... a whole new generation of reptile people are going to think that this is how it's always been, you can track and take care and transfer your animals online.

There's lots more to come, this is really in its infancy stages. I think one of the cooler features is transferring the electronic data record to new owners, where they get the photos, tracking, lineage, and everything about the animal into their account. Also, I have a number of females on loan, and when they are updated in the system (by the loanee), I get email notifications that my girlie is eating, copulating, ovulating, whatever... having the animals networked in a multi-user environment definitely opens up the doors on all of this.. It's all very exciting!!

(Also, I'm working on iHerp Mobile Tracking, which allows me to do tracking from my phone... having some proprietary cell browser compatibility issues, but on the iPhone it sings!)

Damon and I are pals, we had a beer after the Tinley show this past October (we both had booths).. hopefully this doesn't turn into a Mac v. PC debate, because they're both really cool products that are beneficial to the industry, and that's really what the goal is here. They're both good, just different spins.

At any rate, thanks for the feedback, both positive and the concerns ... I take it all and try to make iHerp better all the time. If anyone wants to talk more, feel free to contact me at support [at] iherp [dot] com . I love talking shop :)

Cheers, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Aaron

Nifty. I appreciate the info. If you need any help at all, I'd love to help out, free of charge. You can PM me if you feel like it. Anyways.. Keep up the good work.

index cards and pens work for me!

I used index cards in the past... We have a notebook that we have charts for every animal.... feeding, shedding, growth, breeding behavior/copulations...

But it is nice to also log it online as well... especially considering folks that might be interested in your animals can go onto your page and watch when it has ate... what it's eating... when it's last shed was.. and ect,.. ect,...

It's also nice considering a potential buyer could not only look at the animal's history they can also check out several uploaded pictures from the most recent to the oldest (I believe it runs in that order)...

I think the site runs great and is well put together! We'll still continue to log our information on paper but also input it onto our profile so that if anyone wants to know about a particular animal rather than tell them we'll get back to them after looking at our book... We can just email them the link to that animal's page and everything they would want to know would be right there for them to see...

Being able to transfer all of that history to another user after a purchase is made is just another plus... :cheers:

Just signed up yesterday. Couldn't love it more, it has made keeping records so much easier for me.

http://www.iherp.com/Public/ShowUser.aspx?UserID=c6e004b2-32d9-4759-949b-d644ec540fb2

I used index cards in the past... We have a notebook that we have charts for every animal.... feeding, shedding, growth, breeding behavior/copulations...

But it is nice to also log it online as well... especially considering folks that might be interested in your animals can go onto your page and watch when it has ate... what it's eating... when it's last shed was.. and ect,.. ect,...

It's also nice considering a potential buyer could not only look at the animal's history they can also check out several uploaded pictures from the most recent to the oldest (I believe it runs in that order)...

I think the site runs great and is well put together! We'll still continue to log our information on paper but also input it onto our profile so that if anyone wants to know about a particular animal rather than tell them we'll get back to them after looking at our book... We can just email them the link to that animal's page and everything they would want to know would be right there for them to see...

Being able to transfer all of that history to another user after a purchase is made is just another plus... :cheers:

Sounds like a great concept and a great program but to be honest - I don't have the time for all that...I keep the basic info on index cards...(Hatch date - Parents - 1st shed - When they eat - When they copulate - Ovulation - Pre lay - Eggs laid)...I'm not one to keep track of every shed thru out the year - Every time they poop - Every time they refuse to eat...Ect...Collections too big and there ain't enough time in the day...

I have tried a few variations of keeping. I dont have many reptiles to keep track of on a program and not breeding much to need as detailed info. when I get a bigger selection I may need ot use something like degei. but for now its 3X5 cards and thats it

Yeah, I was just checking out iHerp and it does seem like a pretty cool site. I just already have everything in degei and I find that it works quite well for me (plus like I said before I already have the woman trained on degei lol) but I might just set up an iHerp account to try it out, sounds like a great idea :D

First let me say that Im not Knocking Iherp or the creator..... Im just stating my thoughts.

I can see where Iherp has its advantages... but for me... the disadvantages far outweigh them.

I do like the ability to send perspective buyers to a web link so they can check out what is going on with the animal.... especially if it happens to be a breeder animal... but there are way toooo many WHAT IF's associated with storing all my data online. Im not working on any super secret projects.. and if I was.. they wouldnt be online... but

At this time... the owner has no thoughts about shutting down the site.... and that is great. But WHAT IF.... what if the unthinkable happens... and the site has to close...now all your data is lost.

Now let me put this out there... IF either Degei or Iherp could pull it off... they would definatley have a huge market from those of us like me.. (those that doesnt want to spend the time uploading the info.. and hope something doesnt go wrong with a website.) What about making a computer based program like Degei... and then have a button you can click that will automatically upload all new entries to a web based page or system like Iherp.

It's the best of both worlds... you still have the computer based software for your records... and if something happens to the website.. you are not left in the cold... but you also have the website so you an easily share information with other people.

Just some thoughts from a cautious / paranoid soul.

Really I would have to talk to Damon about it but there is a feature in the Degei program already that allows you to put/show/share your stuff online...never used it personally so I can't say anymore about it.

As far as you buying something from me and if you use degei all I have to do is email you the file, you load it and you'll have the entire history on the animal...I do that all the time as it goes now and it is a really nice feature to me. Then I put the animal on inactive status and if 2, 3 or 4 years down the line you contact me to need something and have my original number I can look it up within seconds...

It really boils down to what works best for everyone...I still use paper and pen but it all gets uploaded into the program when I have a few mins but I don't do the detailed stuff like other people do...you'll get first shed and meal history from my stuff but I try to stay away from all my stuff stored somewhere on the net...things happen.

Sounds like a great concept and a great program but to be honest - I don't have the time for all that...I keep the basic info on index cards...(Hatch date - Parents - 1st shed - When they eat - When they copulate - Ovulation - Pre lay - Eggs laid)...I'm not one to keep track of every shed thru out the year - Every time they poop - Every time they refuse to eat...Ect...Collections too big and there ain't enough time in the day...

Right there with you BT, I would have to get rid of half the collection to find the time to do that......

Well, I'd say about half the people are using it for tracking, the other half just to get their collections organized and show em off and hang out at the site.. The animals are the core of the site, and everything else built around it.. There are breeding projects where you can show your upcoming breedings and all sorts of stuff like that, so it's not "just tracking" per se... There's iHerp Answers too which is a points based help system that's pretty responsive... And lots of little do-dads here and there for fun. And the Pro version is going to be the business management / website / sales side of things, which should be fun.

Thanks to everyone for the comments, and SW, I've worked for the US Government on web projects that had high levels of privacy, integrity, and security... iHerp was built very much with all of that in mind (just about everything has a bit field for private/public). And a little paranoia is good. As the site matures and you see this is my baby that I'm taking exceptionally good care of, maybe you can check it out.

Which reminds me, Wow! am I happy I'm not doing government work anymore and something I love! :P

Thanks again to anyone who took the time to reply and throw in the 2c... the positives and negatives help the site continue to grow... it's appreciated.

Cheers!

I haven't tried iHerp yet just because like Jenea and Jeff I've been using Degei since I had just a couple of snakes. It works great for tracking records and I've got my girlfriend all schooled in how to use it so now on feeding nights and weigh-ins I do all the work with the snakes while she updates all the records. The only problem I have with it is it runs kind of slow on my computer with the ones that have pictures attached to them :D.

Most likely because you dropped the pics right in off the camera without down sizing. It's opening them when you switch records. No different in the time it would take to open the pics in another program. Personally, I down size the ones I put it to 1024 x...

For the record, neither of us are going anywhere. "What if" all you want, but remember, worring is like sitting in a rocking chair. It's something to do, but it gets you no where.

Aaron: Talk to you soon about those things we talked about at that place that one time... ;)

i think both have great advantages with one being computer based and one being online based. i have messed with them both and while both having a different spin on them i found that iherps version to be a little more user friendly for me but degei is a great program. its not hard to use just takes a little longer when having to switch from tab to tab to input your information.

See I am just the opposite I found that it took much longer to input an animal in iherp. I actually went and input another animal on it last night just to give it another go.

See I am just the opposite I found that it took much longer to input an animal in iherp. I actually went and input another animal on it last night just to give it another go.

For stuff I sell, I just like Degie.... I can write it up quick and print it out.... :cool:

For stuff I sell, I just like Degie.... I can write it up quick and print it out.... :cool:
Don't you need the parents and all in there as well so that when you sell the babies, their geneology is there?

Thanks to everyone for the comments, and SW, I've worked for the US Government on web projects that had high levels of privacy, integrity, and security... iHerp was built very much with all of that in mind (just about everything has a bit field for private/public). And a little paranoia is good. As the site matures and you see this is my baby that I'm taking exceptionally good care of, maybe you can check it out.

Which reminds me, Wow! am I happy I'm not doing government work anymore and something I love! :P

Thanks again to anyone who took the time to reply and throw in the 2c... the positives and negatives help the site continue to grow... it's appreciated.

Cheers!

Aaron... Im not doubting the level of privacy, integrity, and security of iHerp (Sorry... Ive been putting the caps in the wrong place). And from what everyone says about it... Im confident its a very well thought out, and nice program.

The ONLY thing that keeps me from jumping on board is the fact that it is 100% web based. Between my regular job (I too am a Gov. employee... so I understand your pain) and the time I put into my animals... I dont have alot of free time. So when I take the time to put info into the computer... I want to have some way of maintaining that info. I also wont buy downloaded software or music so its not just about iHerp... I want a hardcopy in case my computer gets infected and I have to start over from scratch. Been there... done that :(

I understand you are passionate about 'your baby' and I applaud you for that, and Im glad you are (even if Im not currently using it). I know that you would not let anything happen to the site... but there are some things that are out of our control.

I will use myself as an example... I am very passionate about my photography and my photography site... but I also know that IF I get killed at work (which could easily happen).. then as soon as the payment for hosting runs out... the site will no longer be available and my work will be lost. The flip side is my family has access to all my photography files...so even If Im gone they can still enjoy my work.

anyhow... keep up the good work.

Don't you need the parents and all in there as well so that when you sell the babies, their geneology is there?

Depends on what it is your selling.... If it's recessive, I write up a separate certificate with photo ID and what the parenting was. Most stuff I think is pretty self explanatory.

I keep the geneology even if it is a co-dom in case the customer purchase from me again and is interested in an unrelated.

I keep the geneology even if it is a co-dom in case the customer purchase from me again and is interested in an unrelated.

Yeah, some people may want to know.... I mean, I know what produced what here so it's available if someone really wants that. :)