Reptile Adventure

09/21/2024

Come see us today!

09/20/2024

We will be adopting a sibling of these beautiful Easterns! It brings us joy to see a local person working with this species. They also have Northerns, and pink tongues!

Northern and Eastern blue tongues are Australian species, which means all the ones you find in the USA are captive bred. The Indonesian ones are often wild caught, but Australia does not permit exports of their native wildlife.

Milky Way is a great local business, and they give you a pedigree for each animal to show where they came from.

We still have just a few of these amazing NSW Eye banded Eastern Blue Tongue Skinks available... Message for details. Shipping weather is great in September!!

09/12/2024

Who's ready for Sunday?! Bring tons of cash for carrot cake and knishes!

08/25/2024

Today we'll be at the Everything Pets event from noon to 5!

1506 Altamont Ave, Schenectady, NY 12303

08/22/2024

08/18/2024

The number one animal people offer to us is red eared sliders, an aquatic turtle species. We can't accept any, because we don't have the space and time to properly care for them.

Before taking on the responsibility of this species, I want you to consider:

1. They need a BIG tank. Bare minimum 50 gallons for the smallest adult, but females may need twice the space.

2. They do best ALONE. They often fight and bite each other when housed together.

3. You need a strong water filter and expensive lighting (both for UV and for heat).

4. You need to do big water changes frequently. Otherwise they'll get shell rot and the tank will smell awful.

5. It is nearly impossible to find them a home if you find yourself overwhelmed or your circumstances change.

6. They can live over 40 years.

If you really are intent on having one, get the setup FIRST, and then find a turtle who needs a home. I guarantee most nonprofit reptile rescues will have plenty to adopt to you.

**** IMPORTANT UPDATE ****
Editing to add: you also CANNOT just release them into the wild. If they're not native to your location, you're introducing a potentially invasive species. If they ARE, they may have pathogens that the local population does not have immunity to.

Any animal that has spent time in captivity (aside from those who were properly cared for by a licensed rehabilitator) should not be released, and it may be illegal to do so in your state, including NY.
****

Photo credit: Trisha M Shears at Wikimedia Commons

08/03/2024

Hi folks, I'm not sure where people have read this, but we are not booked at the Vermont State Fair (and never have been). Thanks!

07/12/2024

Dear friends,
We are ALWAYS willing to try to identify any local (or semi local) reptiles or amphibians, given a good photo quality. Send us a text message with an image for that. 518-495-8684

Please do this instead of harming native wildlife or of fear!

We recently had a lovely family contact us because they found a snake outside that didn't look like she belonged, and they were right! After identification, we picked up a beautiful albino corn snake (escaped pet!) that they found in their yard. Corn snakes are not this far north in the wild! We've also helped families identify wild natives and at least a couple of escaped ball pythons!

She's still in quarantine, so here's a photo of Andromeda for you to enjoy!

07/08/2024

We had a lovely evening in North Creek today! Here are some photos, including one requested by a guest!

06/21/2024

Friends who joined us for the Strawberry Festival may have noticed a new face in the tegu pen! Cassiopeia is a blue tegu who joined the family this summer! The festival was her first public event, and she was staff only so she could get used to the public observing her. She gets along beautifully with her sisters.

Blue tegus are a color variant of the Argentine black and white tegu. They are a bit smaller than the regular b&w, are much lighter in color, and have a slightly "toasted" tip to their nose. They are NOT considered a subspecies. This may, of course change if research and genetic testing warrants it.

Blue tegus can interbreed with regular b&w and produce fertile offspring; however! Red tegus, which are a different species, can also do so! Breeders produce hybrids to create new colors and patterns.

Our definitions of "species" can sometimes get blurred lines when it comes to reptiles. Corn and king snakes, for example, are different GENUSES and can produce fertile offspring together called jungle corns!

06/20/2024

FYI tonight's event is cancelled for to storms.

06/15/2024

Tomorrow we will be at the Schaghticoke Strawberry Festival at the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds. This is the one put on by the town of Schaghticoke, and is a public event. There is a privately owned event nearby, so we just wanted folks to know where we can be found!

The event is 10 to 3. Bring cash for strawberry shortcake!

06/06/2024

Please don't trust the pet stores to know what you need. We'll post a link in comments to a good guide.

05/23/2024

We are sometimes asked how to deal with wildlife emergencies. Locally, the North Country Wild Care hotline is the best way. https://ahnow.org is a resource for everywhere in the USA, and has FAQs so you know what to do.

The hotlines and rehabilitators are all VOLUNTEER, so you will need to be patient and kind. I know that's hard when the situation is dire, but it's just how things are. Don't take it out on the few people who are doing their best!

Also consider giving a donation to whoever accepts the animal, as they need to pay for supplies and vet care. Neither of those things are free. It's surprising how many people are not aware that vets charge money for treating injured or sick wildlife.

05/18/2024

If you're coming to Niska Day, we are way back on the soccer fields (at Craig Elementary). There are a couple of trucks blocking the view, so you'll have to go past those.

05/02/2024

We've got TWO public events this month.

Saturday, May 18 is Niska-Day in Niskayuna
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/KKCabfuDQRFJ15MX

Sunday, May 19 is the Capital District Reptile Expo

Come see us!

04/13/2024

A cute idea for an animal themed party snack!

04/12/2024

We saw David Sedaris the other night. It was a good event, but he did say one thing that I was ITCHING to correct. He talked about how he and his friend carved their initials into a box turtle's shell when they were children. He also said that it didn't hurt the turtle because "they don't have sensory nerves in the shell". This is absolutely FALSE. Their shells are made of living tissue, mostly bone, and they are able to feel when they are even being gently touched.

I wish I knew how to contact him to educate about this!

Please do not carve or paint turtle shells!

04/08/2024

04/01/2024

For years we have been asked at almost every event, "Is it real?" Always, my response has been, "Of course, robotic ones are more expensive!"

Starting today, for the first time ever, the answer will be, "Nope, they're all robots!" Thanks to a grant from the Four One Society, we'll be switching all our animals for robots. Not only will this save us in food costs, our electric bill will become a fraction of what it is currently!

03/25/2024

Come see us! Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/easter-on-the-hill-tickets-834170124297

03/08/2024

She picked Oingo up off of the plant he was on, and he took the leaf with him.

I said, "Well, it's his leaf now!"

(Photo is cropped for privacy!)

03/03/2024

This water bottle was left in our room at the Kidz Expo today. We'd love some assistance reuniting it with its owner!