Reptile Gardens

[deltaneutral]

I just got back from holidays...a road trip through 12 different states.
While visiting Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, we stopped at Reptile Gardens, just outside Rapid City.

I have been pretty disappointed with how pet shops keep their reptiles, but compared to this place, Petco is like a 5 star resort.

I could not believe the poor conditions at this place.

We could see mites and ticks on a lot of the snakes and all of the enclosures were full of feces and urates, snakes with bad sheds...absolutely brutal.

As snake owners, we went in thinking how great it was going to be to see all kinds of exotic snakes and left disgusted.

Anyone else familiar with this place?
http://www.reptilegardens.com/

[rabernet]

I know that there's a member of the staff (I forget their title) that is a member here (has only posted a handful of times) - perhaps they can come here and address your concerns. That is very disappointing.

[WingedWolfPsion]

I suggest putting up a post on Fauna's BOI about it as well. Obviously any reptile owner would be advised to steer clear of a facility that's crawling with mites!

[Neal]

I really don't see how hard it is to keep the reptile section clean, and do proper maintenance. I really wish I could get on with W&F, because I would fine a few shops for the way they keep their animals.

[kon1]

i live an hour away from tha place i only go once every two or three years though cuz i dont like giving them my money.

[chapskis1]

My wife and I visited Reptile Gardens about 10 years ago, so I'm not sure if things are different there or not, but there was one thing about that place that sticks in my mind.

There is an open garden area in the main building (it's actually just a really big room that you go into where the animals roam free). Well, they had a nice looking bp in that garden area. The only problem is, they had her on a branch that was anchored to the wall about 10 feet in the air! There was no way for her to get down -- I figured they just must put her on that branch when they open every morning.

I wondered if she ever fell down. Plus, what a stressed out snake that must be -- no hide, exposed all the time, and sitting out in broad daylight. Like I said though, she was a good looking snake (didn't look skinny or dehydrated or anything), so I wonder how they ever got her to eat? Maybe they just force fed her....

I have a picture of the setup, but it was taken predigital era If I get access to a scanner in the next couple of days I'll post the picture.

Later,

George

[jblaze]

You should complain...

[Fallguy]

You went right by me and didn't even stop in to say Hi?

I go in there a couple times a year. I don't believe I have ever seen any mites or large amount of feces/urates in the enclosures. I have seen a bad shed or two though.

Rabernet, the reptile curater of RG is Terry Phillip.

[chapskis1]

There is an open garden area in the main building (it's actually just a really big room that you go into where the animals roam free). Well, they had a nice looking bp in that garden area. The only problem is, they had her on a branch that was anchored to the wall about 10 feet in the air! There was no way for her to get down -- I figured they just must put her on that branch when they open every morning.

Well, I found the picture (still need to get to a scanner). I was only partially correct. There definitely is a bp on the branch, but farther down on the branch there is a red tail boa as well.

Hope to get it scanned in the next couple of days...

-- George

[taphillip]

Wow.... Odd having worked there for 14 years heading up the place...I'm rather insulted...I have never and I mean never had such a feedback from a visitor here. I can guarantee you, and bet my left testicle that you did not see ticks anywhere here..ever. It has not happened in 14 years. Guaranteed.
In summer of 2009 I had some mites show up in our Green Tree Python and Rough Scaled Python exhibits.... Both originating from some skeezy snake people that visited and a staff member allowed them to handle those specimens.... Obviously, skeezy snake people and staff who don't follow the rules are not tolerated.

Sorry, but feces and urates mean that the animals are fed and hydrated...not seeing the connection here? Exhibits are cleaned daily, if you came on my days off then half of those exhibits go two days... so big surprise there... Feces and urates are signs of healthy animals. Was I out of town? Possibly... This doesn't bother me a bit....

Stuck skins? on what 20 foot Retics? Show me one that doesn't periodically have difficulty in shedding...

As a matter of fact, as irritated as I am in this blatant naivette...show me some pictures of your visit to back up such an erroneous post.

As for some of the others, the boas and ball pythons on the branches are put up in the morning and taken down at night....both of which used to breed on those branches during the day.... Those species were chosen simply because they do well on them and don't bite the passing guests underneath. I have since raised the branches and now use Amazon Tree Boas...but nevertheless the others did well up there for over 20 years.

Cheers,
Terry Phillip
Curator of Reptiles
Black Hills Reptile Gardens

I just got back from holidays...a road trip through 12 different states.
While visiting Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, we stopped at Reptile Gardens, just outside Rapid City.

I have been pretty disappointed with how pet shops keep their reptiles, but compared to this place, Petco is like a 5 star resort.

I could not believe the poor conditions at this place.

We could see mites and ticks on a lot of the snakes and all of the enclosures were full of feces and urates, snakes with bad sheds...absolutely brutal.

As snake owners, we went in thinking how great it was going to be to see all kinds of exotic snakes and left disgusted.

Anyone else familiar with this place?
http://www.reptilegardens.com/