Reptile shops...whaddya got in your hometown?

MDT · 02-02-13, 03:33 PM

I was lamenting the recent closure of really the only pet shop in my area (local owner...not a chain) that had any real reptile selection. Now I just have PetsMart in the greater Tulsa area (NE Okla)....

I look at some of the posts by others in diff areas and it seems you all have much more available to you in terms of selection of animals, quality of animals, etc...especially some of you guys overseas. I really wish we had a better option where I live!!!

Is this just perception, or does everyone else have great shops with lots of animals where they live?????

Zoo Nanny · 02-02-13, 03:46 PM

This area outside of Boston doesn't have too many stores available. We do have one good shop for supplies but they only carry tortoises, turtles and some lizards. Providence RI has some excellent shops with a variety of herps available. Luckily I'm smack dab in the middle between Boston and Providence.

Lankyrob · 02-02-13, 04:04 PM

We have two within five miles that both have a pretty decent selection of reptiles that are really well looked after and the staff are extremely knowledgeable.

We also have a chain store that just has colubrids and they are "ok" looked after tand the staff no ****

**Aaron_S** · 02-02-13, 04:54 PM

I know of one in my area.

There's 3 others a small drive away, two of which I haven't been in for many years.

Little Wise Owl · 02-02-13, 05:59 PM

There's one just outside of my town in an even smaller town... I just found out about it and got so excited. I went to visit it and was less than pleased. Most of the animals were in decent health but the Savannah Monitors looked dead and dehydrated. The worst was a Hog Island Boa who looked dehydrated and appeared to be stargazing... It was completely unaware of our presence and its head was straight up. My heart sank and I left. Finally a reptile store in my area and it was a disappointment. How hard is it to keep your animals clean and healthy? To be honest, I kind of wanted to call the SPCA on them. Sorry this was sort of a rant.

I need to go out of town to the cities in order to go to the good reptile shops.

**Aaron_S** · 02-02-13, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Wise Owl

There's one just outside of my town in an even smaller town... I just found out about it and got so excited. I went to visit it and was less than pleased. Most of the animals were in decent health but the Savannah Monitors looked dead and dehydrated. The worst was a Hog Island Boa who looked dehydrated and appeared to be stargazing... It was completely unaware of our presence and its head was straight up. My heart sank and I left. Finally a reptile store in my area and it was a disappointment. How hard is it to keep your animals clean and healthy? To be honest, I kind of wanted to call the SPCA on them. Sorry this was sort of a rant.

I need to go out of town to the cities in order to go to the good reptile shops.

Shoot me a PM of the name please.

puffinluffin · 02-02-13, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Wise Owl

There's one just outside of my town in an even smaller town... I just found out about it and got so excited. I went to visit it and was less than pleased. Most of the animals were in decent health but the Savannah Monitors looked dead and dehydrated. The worst was a Hog Island Boa who looked dehydrated and appeared to be stargazing... It was completely unaware of our presence and its head was straight up. My heart sank and I left. Finally a reptile store in my t was a disappointment. How hard is it to keep your animals clean and healthy? To be honest, I kind of wanted to call the SPCA on them. Sorry this was sort of a rant.

I need to go out of town to the cities in order to go to the good reptile shops.

Wow. .thats so crappy. We have one here thats decent. All the reptilss appeared to be well looked after. Enclosures well maintained. You probably should call...thats so sad.

Little Wise Owl · 02-02-13, 06:40 PM

This is their FB page:
Paradise 4 Exotics - Your educational pet store - Dundalk, ON - Pet Service | Facebook

**Aaron_S** · 02-02-13, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puffinluffin

Wow. .thats so crappy. We have one here thats decent. All the reptilss appeared to be well looked after. Enclosures well maintained. You probably should call...thats so sad.

Can you shoot me a PM of the store name and city? please and thanks.

Charis · 02-02-13, 07:34 PM

We have a Petco, that's fairly decent, both in selection and care, little limited on the selection. Then we have a family owned store with a similar selection to the Petco. That one is owned by people who are good with the more traditional pets in a farming community, reptiles not so much. I've been a hairsbreadth from turning them in a few times on their reptiles. They can be anywhere from fairly decent to horrific on care, depending on how good or bad their younger employees are at any given moment.

Rogue628 · 02-03-13, 12:44 AM

We have one shop that sells reptiles that I went in one time and will never go back. Not only were they extremely overpriced (they were selling a normal BCI juvi for $250!!!), you could tell they didn't know much about reptiles, much less their husbandry.

There's the place I get live feeders from that's a few blocks from my house. They're fairly decent with their husbandry, except for the couple of savs I've seen in there. And my main gripe was they didn't have near enough humidity, although they had an ok hot spot for them. As far as the other lizards they've had, I don't know enough about them to know if their husbandry was anywhere near decent. Most of the snakes they get to sell have good temps and most have decent humidity. A couple of the guys that work there are pretty knowledgeable, although I threatened to bite one if he caused a baby bredli to bite me...I was handling it and the guy was moving too quick and causing the animal to stress. I guess their prices are pretty typical, which means most of the animals are overpriced. I've seen a spider ball for $250 and an albino ball for $600 and it didn't look near as clean, crisp, and nice as Alessia's. They have a carpet python for $200 now, except it's a bredli. It's been there for almost 2 months now. I'm waiting to see if that one goes on sale or if it stays long enough if I can talk them down. That one is a really nice looking bredli. I'd love to know where they got it!

I've been going there since I moved here almost weekly so they're getting to know me pretty well and are actually starting to ask me questions. I help whenever I can and it seems they're starting to take some of my advice and suggestions, which makes for better animals.

They're probably the best store I've seen that carries reptiles. I like getting my live feeders there because their feeders are kept in clean tubs, don't smell, and always look healthy. They also let me go in the back pick them out. lol

Gungirl · 02-03-13, 08:47 AM

I don't have any near me.. I wish I did but then again maybe I am happy I don't. I like working more with breeders and buying directly from the company that makes the products I want. I don't like paying mark up prices retail stores charge.

KORBIN5895 · 02-03-13, 10:06 AM

I just go online now. I have the most amazing selection!

cossiecraig · 02-03-13, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

We have two within five miles that both have a pretty decent selection of reptiles that are really well looked after and the staff are extremely knowledgeable.

We also have a chain store that just has colubrids and they are "ok" looked after tand the staff no ****

Does Cadbury fit in to any of this rob ? LOL .....i used to live in Cheddar and know it well and surrounding areas !

Corey209 · 02-03-13, 12:05 PM

The Serpentarium, GBU Enterprises, Carter's Pet Store, Petsmart, Petco