ravensgait
Convoluted Member
Thanks for coming here and giving you side Jim, I have some questions but will wait till we get a copy of the letter Mike posted that we can read... Randy
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Posted 08/15/2025
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Addendum: 01/10/2026
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Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....
James Stelpflug SW Wisconsin reptiles is a liar
- Thread starter Phoenix2
- Start date
I tried blowing that document up, but it is still nearly impossible for me to read. Mike, could you post a cleaner scan?
viperidae_81
New member
Jim is right when he said this thing is like a messy divorce. I have purchased numerous animals from Jim and I know Bill and Linda through the Iowa Herpetological Society. As you all know, the IHS will be sponsoring the Midwest Herpetological Symposium this fall, and our auctioneer will be Jim Stelpflug- that will not change. I would not have agreed to have Jim be our auctioneer if I didn’t consider him a stand-up, truthful person.
I agree with those of you who said that the ball python issue should have never been brought to the attention of local governments but I have to stand behind Jim’s agreement to cooperate with the city of Dubuque in regards to local ordinances. Local, state, and federal laws are in place for a reason. Many of them may be considered unreasonable (i.e. dangerous sand boas) but it is the law. Bill and Linda knew they were breaking the law by having the sand boas, milk snakes, and the indigo in the first place. Every responsible hobbyist should know their local ordinances, and if you choose to break those laws you will eventually get caught- don’t blame someone else for your negligence.
Those of you who belong to a herp society look at your society’s mission statement. Conservation and/or education are central themes which are almost always implied if not stated outright. The keeping of threatened, endangered, or protected species without the proper permits or documentation should be considered a direct violation of what every herp society (and hobbyist) stands for.
Some examples:
The KHS is a non-profit organization established in 1974 and designed to encourage education and dissemination of scientific information through the facilities of the Society; to encourage conservation of wildlife in general and of the herpetofauna of Kansas…
The Nebraska Herpetological Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of amphibians and reptiles, the encouragement of responsible captive propagation, and the promotion of public education and understanding of reptiles and amphibians.
The Iowa Herpetological Society (IHS) was founded in 1978 and has a long tradition of promoting herpetological education.
I also spoke will Bill & Linda last week. I asked what could be done to put this entire incident in the books so we could all move on and get back to doing the things we got in this hobby to do…like clean cages (for those of you who haven’t realized, this disagreement has been going on for quite some time). They said there is nothing that can be done and they will not stop until everyone knows what a bad person Jim is. I want the negativity to stop and I know I am not alone. Threads like this are what drive the negative perception held by so many about this hobby. YOU all have the power to end it. Stop dragging this out and it will fade away. You all know the difference between right and wrong. You have been presented with two sides of a story that in my opinion should have never escalated to involve the entire world. Make your judgments and move on.
Nick
I agree with those of you who said that the ball python issue should have never been brought to the attention of local governments but I have to stand behind Jim’s agreement to cooperate with the city of Dubuque in regards to local ordinances. Local, state, and federal laws are in place for a reason. Many of them may be considered unreasonable (i.e. dangerous sand boas) but it is the law. Bill and Linda knew they were breaking the law by having the sand boas, milk snakes, and the indigo in the first place. Every responsible hobbyist should know their local ordinances, and if you choose to break those laws you will eventually get caught- don’t blame someone else for your negligence.
Those of you who belong to a herp society look at your society’s mission statement. Conservation and/or education are central themes which are almost always implied if not stated outright. The keeping of threatened, endangered, or protected species without the proper permits or documentation should be considered a direct violation of what every herp society (and hobbyist) stands for.
Some examples:
The KHS is a non-profit organization established in 1974 and designed to encourage education and dissemination of scientific information through the facilities of the Society; to encourage conservation of wildlife in general and of the herpetofauna of Kansas…
The Nebraska Herpetological Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of amphibians and reptiles, the encouragement of responsible captive propagation, and the promotion of public education and understanding of reptiles and amphibians.
The Iowa Herpetological Society (IHS) was founded in 1978 and has a long tradition of promoting herpetological education.
I also spoke will Bill & Linda last week. I asked what could be done to put this entire incident in the books so we could all move on and get back to doing the things we got in this hobby to do…like clean cages (for those of you who haven’t realized, this disagreement has been going on for quite some time). They said there is nothing that can be done and they will not stop until everyone knows what a bad person Jim is. I want the negativity to stop and I know I am not alone. Threads like this are what drive the negative perception held by so many about this hobby. YOU all have the power to end it. Stop dragging this out and it will fade away. You all know the difference between right and wrong. You have been presented with two sides of a story that in my opinion should have never escalated to involve the entire world. Make your judgments and move on.
Nick
Stardust
human
Thank you Nick for giving your input as well.
There are a lot of things that should be learned here and that does include how Jim acted as well. I am gathering Jim is not really a bad guy but one that acted rashly and one that knew what was going on for years but chose to use what he know as a get back when it was needed. Does that make him a bad guy? No. Does it make him someone to watch out for? Yes.
As for Bill and Linda, they did cross the law and now are paying for it. I can name more here but think at this point it is futile to do so.
I will say it is not this thread that let it be known to the entire world but it was in the papers, that alone let it be known.
A messy divorce is a great analogy to this situation. Loads of lessons to be learned here. Sad ending to what was once a friendship. Although this could just be the beginning...
There are a lot of things that should be learned here and that does include how Jim acted as well. I am gathering Jim is not really a bad guy but one that acted rashly and one that knew what was going on for years but chose to use what he know as a get back when it was needed. Does that make him a bad guy? No. Does it make him someone to watch out for? Yes.
As for Bill and Linda, they did cross the law and now are paying for it. I can name more here but think at this point it is futile to do so.
I will say it is not this thread that let it be known to the entire world but it was in the papers, that alone let it be known.
A messy divorce is a great analogy to this situation. Loads of lessons to be learned here. Sad ending to what was once a friendship. Although this could just be the beginning...