Reptile Adventure

12/21/2024

11/20/2024

The other day, we got a call from the DEC asking is of we could help with this stray alligator. I let them know that we don't have the license or facility for crocodilians, and gave them Mr. Perpetua's number. I'm glad this guy was found and captured safely before winter.

PLEASE do your research before getting a pet! Baby gators (and their kin) are very cute, but they grow up into a dangerous adult that is expensive and difficult to house. In NYS, you can't have them as pets. Licenses are only available to legitimate exhibitors and educators.

If you choose to illegally keep one of these animals (or any other prohibited species), know that the state can and will take them away, fine you, and potentially euthanize the animal (this alligator was very lucky). It's not worth it, and it's totally unfair to the animal. Whoever dumped this creature in the cold climate of NY State is a cruel and thoughtless jerk.

The American alligator could've frozen to death had he stayed in the cold creek, said his new owner Mark Perpetua.

10/10/2024

Our recommendation for locally bred ball pythons and sticky-toed geckos (leachie, crested, gargoyle, mourning) is DMJ Reptiles ! They also have invertebrates, including isopods!

10/08/2024

Hi friends! We've had a few folks ask recently about humidity for leopard geckos. The simple answer is, you use a humidity chamber so the geckos can choose to go in as they feel the need. This will help keep their toes healthy during a shed.

This ✨LOCAL✨ company makes humidity chambers for them. You put moss inside and spray with water daily. You can use a homemade solution as well, but their items are more attractive in a display!

The company also breeds high quality leopard geckos, and they are extremely conscientious and caring to their animals and customers. J5 Gecko is where you go for geckos, otherwise the link goes to their Etsy.

Shop Everything for your gecko needs by J5Gecko located in Halfmoon, New York. Smooth shipping! Has a history of shipping on time with tracking. Speedy replies! Has a history of replying to messages quickly. Rave reviews! Average review rating is 4.8 or higher

10/06/2024

Tortoises just keep going, stubbornly and determinedly.

Rabbits are distractible 😅

09/23/2024

What are Phoebe and Jerry gossiping about?

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.