Charlotte/Rock Hill/surrounding areas

[heatherhead42]

I just saw that there are at least a couple others on the forums in the Charlotte, NC metro area. Cool! We're in Steele Creek, which is SW Charlotte (near Carowinds). I'd love to know where folks around here like to get their supplies, etc.

We have a local source for f/t rodents that we like, and we know a couple in Mooresville who have nice snakes of various sorts (that's where we got our BP), who are very nice and also happen to be downsizing their collection. So we'd be happy to share our local resources as well for anyone who is interested.

I also know a few places that I most certainly will *not* be patronizing. I'd be interested in your list of "don't shop there" places too.

Heather

[ryandlf]

I live in Rock Hill, but I spend a lot of time up in Charlotte.

To be honest I haven't found a store in the city that i'm thrilled with, so if you had any suggestions i'll be sure to be checking them out this weekend

Other than that, I go to Pet Pros down here in RH, sometimes I go to Pineville Pets, but I don't really like how they keep their snakes. I hate going to PetSmart, because i'm just anti-corporation like that, but sometimes you just can't beat the prices...i've grown way beyond them a long time ago though. PETCO, on South Blvd. sells F/T rodents, but they are quite pricey...I would suggest the internet for that, I feed live though so honestly I don't have much of a clue.

Its good to be meeting some others in my area!

[heatherhead42]

Hello!

It *is* nice to meet others in the area! We don't have a store suggestion, though I also have very mixed feelings about Pineville Pets. My kids love to go in there because they have so many interesting things, and they do sometimes have supplies that are different and sometimes better than PetSmart. But I don't like the conditions they keep any of their animals in--it's not *terrible* but it's far from optimal. And I don't like the fact that they sell dogs and cats.

We actually looked at a BP there, not to buy but because we were trying to feel out all our options. It was sweet (is there a ball python that isn't?) but the employees didn't know much at all about his needs. One employee even said he was mean--even as he sat quietly in our hands looking around! I do hope he finds a good home.

We do have a great supplier for f/t rodents, but I don't think he supplies live. I just know him by "Russ" and he's got a warehouse up on Monroe Road. I like him because he takes pretty good care of the rodents and euthanizes them humanely (as a pet mouse owner, I'm very interested in the welfare of the cute and intelligent little critters). And his prices are good too, so if you're ever in need of f/t, I can hook you up.

I like PetSmart for certain things--they do have good prices, and I buy a lot of my mouse supplies there. But on the reptile front--man, is the selection limited and pathetic. I do like the reptile toys for my mice, lol. They love reptile hides and climbers. And I think PetSmart takes really pretty good care of the animals and handles them responsibly.

What do you know about... I hesitate to mention the name because I don't like to spread ugliness... but a certain reptile exchange in SC just south of Charlotte... ? We went in there and I was pretty upset at what we saw. Filth, stench, murky water, dead turtles, baby caiman crock for sale! The owner laughed about the dead turtles and said someone had put the caiman in with them. There was a Burmese python, quite large, in a tank that might have been 50 gallons. It was so tight in there that he had to be coiled up with his body on top of itself to fit. And the gila monster cage door was open a crack... yikes!

When you *are* in the market for a reptile, I highly recommend the folks in Mooresville we got Sammy from. They met us halfway, at Concord Mills Mall, with a couple snakes for us to choose from. They were really knowledgeable, really nice, and they asked us lots of questions about the conditions the snake would be living in. I don't think they have any extraordinary morphs or anything, but they do have different species and lots of other exotics as well. And we couldn't be happier with our snake--we've only had him since Sunday, so we haven't handled him more than necessary and we haven't fed him yet, but he seems to be settling in and isn't particularly shy of us. And he's beautiful and healthy looking. We haven't seen their facility, but only because we didn't want to drive all that way--they did invite us to bring the kids one weekend just to look around at their animals and see their set-up.

So, anyway, those are my Charlotte area recommendations. I'll let you know if I find any other good sources. I was certainly delighted to see that Reptile Basics is only about an hour or so from here (if I'm reading the map right), so we should be able to get shipments quickly. Please let us know when you find good stuff, too!

Good to hear from you,

Heather

[SongOfMyself]

I'm also in the Steele Creek area, and recently purchased my first BP. I don't have any recommendations for you, but look forward to sharing in the future.

[heatherhead42]

SongofMyself is my very amusing husband, folks. I suppose we'll be sharing dinner tonight for starters, eh? Oh, and he does very nicely share his snake with me and even lets me hang out on his forums...

[JLC]

Well welcome aboard to both of you! : :

[rabernet]

I drive through Charlotte on my way to visit my folks in Greensboro - does that count?


I actually was raised in NC - Winston-Salem and then Jamestown, and went to UNC-CH, lived there for six years after graduating before moving to the metro Atlanta area!

Anyway, it's nice to have you here!

I love your cute avatar!

[heatherhead42]

Close enough, rabernet! Don't know where you are, but if you drive through on your way to visit folks in Greensboro, then we probably drive through *your* area on the way to visit Carey's folks near Columbus, GA.

Thanks for the compliment on my avatar. I'm on a mouse forum where avatars of reptiles are actually banned, lol, so I'm glad to see that mouse avatars are not banned on the reptile forum.

Thanks for the welcome, JLC. Handshakes to you too.

[tmlowe5704]

reptiles are always happy to see a little rodent

[rabernet]

Thanks for the compliment on my avatar. I'm on a mouse forum where avatars of reptiles are actually banned, lol, so I'm glad to see that mouse avatars are not banned on the reptile forum.

You should go check out the feeder forum! A lot of us raise our own food for our snakes, but our breeders are treated as our pets. Lots of cute rat and mice pictures!

I think the common theme here is that we are all animal lovers - but also recognize the role of predator vs. prey. Seems odd to some that you can love reptiles, but also love your breeders as well!

For myself and a few others, the breeder moms and dads have "earned" their retirement with us (and our respect) as well and won't be fed off themselves.