Reptile Gardens

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United States
Rapid City, SD
Reptile Gardens

For hours and rates, check our website or give us a call. www.reptilegardens.com
(8969)

Founded in 1937, and still under ownership of the same family, the Black Hills’ Reptile Gardens has steadily grown to one of the leading tourist attractions in the Midwest. Since its beginning, Reptile Gardens has been a source of entertainment and family fun as well as an unforgettable learning experience for millions of visitors by providing them the rare opportunity to observe these exotic animals up close.

01/25/2025

“What do you feed your animals?”

Well, it depends on the animal as we have quite a variety. From parrots to crocodilians to prairie dogs, Reptile Gardens needs to feed a wide range of different species.

Most importantly, we feed our carnivores a whole food diet. Rats...lots of 'em and bugs, too. For our gentler giants and other turtles and tortoises, one species diet isn’t always the same as another’s. Some of our species have very specific diets, while others are quite broad.

Each day, our keepers are feeding out a variety of food items such as rats, chicken, hay, collared greens, crickets, carrots, cactus pads and so much more! No matter what our animals eat, one thing is for sure, it must be really nice to have your own team of private chefs.

01/22/2025

Even if you aren't superstitious, we wouldn't suggest walking under this ladder. 🐍

Our King Cobra is doing a great job supervising all the busy work as we prep for opening March 1st!

01/19/2025

That snake looks pretty dull. Literally! That’s because they’re getting ready to shed! During this period, sometimes called “in the blue”, our snakes seem to have a dull, bluish color to their scales, and their eyes will become opaque. This is because the old skin is separating from the new skin. When everything is loose enough, the snake will then rub its head on a rough surface, catching the skin. Then, they’ll wiggle their way out until the old skin is left behind, and all that’s left are their shiny new scales.

There are many factors involved in how often a snake sheds its skin, including age, species, health, and environment. Snakes shed as they grow, and it can also help the snake stay healthy by removing harmful parasites and bacteria.

01/16/2025

Did you know that Reptile Gardens is home to two species of snake that are fully aquatic?! The Tentacled Snake and Elephant Trunk Snake are incredible species designed for life in the water.

The Tentacled Snake is found in Southeast Asia and gets its name from the tentacle-like protrusions around the snout. While some scientists think they may be used to help locate prey such as fish and frogs, no one really knows for sure. We believe that the Tentacled Snake ambushes fish by anticipating their escape strategies! Instead of striking where their prey is, they anticipate the future escape route, and strike where the animal will be!

The Elephant Trunk Snake is found in Southeast Asia around the west coast of Malaysia and Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, and Northern Australia. Unlike most snakes, this species has no belly scales, but the same small, rough scales all around their body. These specialized scales allow the snake to hold onto slippery prey such as fish more easily in the water. According to our Curator, holding an Elephant Trunk Snake feels like holding an abrasive bag of snot!

01/13/2025

"Terrance doesn’t share food!!"

To be fair, why share when you can get your own?

01/11/2025

Out of all the animals on grounds, our Eurasian Eagle Owls and Bald Eagle are some of the few who can handle (and enjoy) the cold. Take that reptiles!

How do they do it though? Well, first, it helps to be “warm blooded”. Birds maintain a constant body temperature, compared to the “cold blooded” reptiles whose body temperature is dependent on the surrounding environment.

Second, feathers! Birds have a downy layer that traps warm air against their bodies, just like your down coat!

Last but not least, their feet! Bird’s feet are mainly made up of tendons and bone with very little muscle or nerve tissue that can be damaged when exposed to freezing temperatures. Additionally, their legs and feet are designed with a heat exchange system. Blood vessels going to and from the body are positioned close together, which means that the cold blood flowing back into the body is warmed by the blood flowing to the feet!

Even with all of these amazing adaptations though, our birds are spoiled. For the species that would normally be found in cold environments during winter, ours enjoy the luxury of sheltered habitats inside with multiple heat sources!

01/10/2025

She's Bloomed!!

Our Variegated Cup of Gold Vine, or Golden Chalice Vine, is absolutely stunning with her large flowers. These flowers are especially fragrant in the evening with a lovely coconut/ vanilla scent. While the leaves are growing, they are purple in color, and then finally turn green with streaks of white. Our Gardening Department is especially excited with this beauty!

01/08/2025

Our Polyphemus Moth visitor is embracing “Very mindful, very cutesy, very demure”.

01/05/2025

🎶 On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:

Twelve Parrots Screaming
Eleven Stuffies Snuggling
Ten Frogs a- leaping
Nine Flowers Blooming
Eight Snakes a- slithering
Seven Prairie Dogs Squeaking
Six Aldabras Eating
Five Croc-o-diles!
Four New Guinea Masks
Three Eagle Owls
Two Komodo Dragons
And a “Rattlesnake Under His Hat”! 🎶

01/04/2025

🎶 On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me:

Eleven Stuffies Snuggling
Ten Frogs a- leaping
Nine Flowers Blooming
Eight Snakes a- slithering
Seven Prairie Dogs Squeaking
Six Aldabras Eating
Five Croc-o-diles!
Four New Guinea Masks
Three Eagle Owls
Two Komodo Dragons
And a “Rattlesnake Under His Hat”!🎶

01/03/2025

🎶 On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:

Ten Frogs a- leaping
Nine Flowers Blooming
Eight Snakes a- slithering
Seven Prairie Dogs Squeaking
Six Aldabras Eating
Five Croc-o-diles!
Four New Guinea Masks
Three Eagle Owls
Two Komodo Dragons
And a “Rattlesnake Under His Hat”! 🎶

01/02/2025

🎶 On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:

Nine Flowers Blooming
Eight Snakes a- slithering
Seven Prairie Dogs Squeaking
Six Aldabras Eating
Five Croc-o-diles!
Four New Guinea Masks
Three Eagle Owls
Two Komodo Dragons
And a “Rattlesnake Under His Hat”! 🎶

01/01/2025

🎶 On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:

Eight Snakes a- slithering
Seven Prairie Dogs Squeaking
Six Aldabras Eating
Five Croc-o-diles!
Four New Guinea Masks
Three Eagle Owls
Two Komodo Dragons
And a “Rattlesnake Under His Hat”! 🎶

01/01/2025

Ringing in the New Year Reptile Gardens style, with a rattlesnake under our hat!

12/31/2024

See ya later alligator! Get ready for Reptile Gardens 2025!!

12/31/2024

🎶 On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me:

Seven Prairie Dogs Squeaking
Six Aldabras Eating
Five Croc-o-diles!
Four New Guinea Masks
Three Eagle Owls
Two Komodo Dragons
And a “Rattlesnake Under His Hat”! 🎶

12/30/2024

🎶 On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:

Six Aldabras Eating
Five Croc-o-diles!
Four New Guinea Masks
Three Eagle Owls
Two Komodo Dragons
And a “Rattlesnake Under His Hat”! 🎶

12/29/2024

🎶 On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:

Five Croc-o-diles!
Four New Guinea Masks
Three Eagle Owls
Two Komodo Dragons
And a “Rattlesnake Under His Hat”! 🎶

Address

8955 South Highway 16
Rapid City, SD
57702

Telephone

+16053425873

Website

http://www.reptilegardens.com/

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Greens to Go

Who needs food delivery when you have Gardener Greens to Go? 😂

Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of nature with our Virtual Reality Adventures! This fall, we're excited to introduce a new VR experience titled "Jinxed." Explore the mysteries of the unknown this Halloween season! For more details and videos, visit our website >> www.reptilegardens.com/activities/virtual-reality-adventures/

Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of nature with our Virtual Reality Adventures! Don't miss our newest VR experience "Jinxed." Explore the mysteries of the unknown this Halloween season! For more details and videos, visit our website >> www.reptilegardens.com/activities/virtual-reality-adventures/

I caught him red-handed!! He sure thinks he’s sneaky 🤪

Little does he know that we put them there just for his snack time!

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Our Story

Founded in 1937, and still under ownership of the same family, the Black Hills’ Reptile Gardens has steadily grown into one of the leading tourist attractions in the Midwest. Since its beginning, Reptile Gardens has been a source of entertainment and family fun as well as an unforgettable learning experience for millions of visitors by providing them the rare opportunity to observe these exotic animals up close.

Reptile Gardens

01/25/2025

01/22/2025

01/19/2025

01/16/2025

01/13/2025

01/11/2025

01/10/2025

01/08/2025

01/05/2025

01/04/2025

01/03/2025

01/02/2025

01/01/2025

01/01/2025

12/31/2024

12/31/2024

12/30/2024

12/29/2024

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Greens to Go

I caught him red-handed!! He sure thinks he’s sneaky 🤪

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