Reptile Rapture

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Hey gang, I've been busy training a new fire dispatcher so I haven't had a chance to post until now....yeah yeah I could from home but it's busy there as well....ANYWAY.....

I watch a lot of YouTube vlogs and enjoy the various breeders and interviews available. I visit family in Chicago a couple times a year and considered taking the 2 1/2 hour drive up to Madison, WI to visit Reptile Rapture. After visiting the "Chicago Reptile House" (more focus on fish then reptiles IMHO) and being completely disappointed, I was leery about driving so far to visit another shop. I called and asked if they were worth the trip and was given an honest answer...."People come from all over to visit us, it's entirely up to you." My girlfriend that completely supports my love for snake keeping encouraged me to reach out to Richard, the owner, through facebook and explain how excited we were to come up to see his shop and meet him. He was very receptive and plans were made...we also planned on visiting the capitol city and touring the capitol building as it's a 15 minute drive, might as well make the best of the drive if things didn't go as planned.

We arrived at the shop and decided to look around before descending on any of the employees. The animals are kept in clean enclosures with plenty of amenities to ensure their safety. I was very pleased to see this, as most of us have experienced at one time or another a shop will have animals on display with no regard for their privacy, it's all about the sale. His animals are obviously comfortable in their enclosures and used to human interaction, another positive.

I heard Richards voice and that is when my excitement level increased and my girlfriend coined my nickname for that day, Fanboy. I'm glad she got a kick out of it but yes, I was nervously excited to finally meet Richard, whom I've watched on YouTube for over a year. He was very welcoming and spent a tremendous amount of time with us. Showing us various snakes, lizards, and quite frankly made us feel at home. When we talked about black headed pythons, he asked if I wanted to hold one of his. I was TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY at this point and my inner Christmas morning kid (you know the one, anxiously waiting to open the Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred Shot Range Model Air Rifle came out). WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SNAKE!!! I was in awe....I was FINALLY holding the snake I've been wanting but can't afford.

I didn't think this experience could get any better but it did when he asked if I wanted to see his collection in the breeding room. Back there we got to see his lizards, and handle a SD retic (another big deal for me and future addition). He also asked if I wanted to spend a day working with him and believe me I plan on doing so during my next visit to Chicago in the fall when I return for Tinley.

So if you're in the area and wonder if you should visit Reptile Rapture....DO IT!!! I can't say you'll have the same experience we did, but the shop itself was worth the drive.