Fun at the reptile store

[RavensGryf]

So this afternoon we stopped by this reptile store. Wow, it was like going into a mini zoo just for reptiles and amphibians! I've been fascinated by these creatures ever since I could remember. Many years ago I had a chameleon, frogs, and geckos, but I don't think I had my set ups and particulars as good as they could have been. If I ever did it again, I'd be a real newbie and have to join a reptile forum lol. No place to put anymore birds let alone reptiles for now anyway, so just dreaming. Hubby loved the (large) water turtles in the indoor pond. No pics, but we paid $2 and fed them giant meal worms.

But look at this guy... A Black Tree Monitor. I was absolutely fascinated by it! The employee said they're not very common, and it was almost $500. Pic doesn't do it justice, it was exotic and a beautiful specimen. Very long whip-like tail. Look at that tongue in the second pic!!!



I took pics of more exotic stuff, but for some reason they didn't all upload to Photobucket technology. I give up!

 

[Kiwibird]

He is a beautiful lizard. Hope when he finds a home, he gets a bigger enclosure (or mabey it's just the photo?). Anyways, thanks for sharing! I love reptiles and amphibians too. So quiet and clean

 

[RavensGryf]

April, most of the enclosures were too small for the animals. There were some (really big) Iguanas clawing at the glass to get out. It was sad, it didn't look like they had enough room for the long tails what was sad is their tank said "not for sale". That must mean they live in there?!
Hopefully some of these larger active lizards get a big enough space and the care they need. If someone pays hundreds of dollars for an animal, you'd think they'd look into doing everything correctly. I'm sure not everyone does, just like with birds.

 

[labell]

One of the worst bites I ever got was from a friends monitor lizard, they have a nasty bite, highly prone to getting infected. Unfortunately people buy monitors and iguanas when they are really little and cute and have no clue how huge and dangerous they can become. Even iguanas can deliver a nasty bite once they are mature.

Long ago I kept gecko's and dart frogs...very cool!!

 

[RavensGryf]

One of the worst bites I ever got was from a friends monitor lizard, they have a nasty bite, highly prone to getting infected. Unfortunately people buy monitors and iguanas when they are really little and cute and have no clue how huge and dangerous they can become. Even iguanas can deliver a nasty bite once they are mature.

Long ago I kept gecko's and dart frogs...very cool!!

Ooh.. Now I really don't think I'll be getting it. Lol. He said that one stays fairly small. I will never be able to look at a monitor lizard (of any kind) in the same way after seeing the pilot episode of "Fatal Attractions". In short, it was about a guy who lived in a tiny studio apartment with several large (and illegal) species of monitors. He basically adjusted his apartment for his reptiles in regard to temperature and particulars, and lived like he was living IN the monitors' enclosure! One day he got bit. It of course it got infected to the point he got very ill... The lizards were illegal, and he didn't want them confiscated at ANY COST for fear they won't be taken care of very well, which is why he didn't call for help or go to the hospital!! Well, he died and his pets ate him. The neighbors called authorities after they hadn't seen the guy for a while, and a horrible stench was coming from his apartment!! love that tv show, but I will never forget that episode! It was very gross and disturbing.

Edit: I've also kept Mantella frogs which are relatives of the darts. I saw several gorgeous varieties of darts today too!

 

[thekarens]

I saw that show Julie and it gave me nightmares. The guy was a nut job.

 

[RavensGryf]

I saw that show Julie and it gave me nightmares. The guy was a nut job.

Total and complete nut job! It was SO awful :26:

 

[RavensGryf]

Here are a couple really interesting looking geckos (forgot what they were called), but they changed colors to camouflage, and maybe with mood like chameleons? Some were red, black and white, white, yellow... The yellow one there had lost it's tail apparently.




Oh, and we went BACK to the shop later after dinner because my dad wanted to see the turtles. I noticed the guy who's pic I took in my first post (black monitor) was moved to a different enclosure! It was a nicer cage, not a tank, BUT it was maybe even smaller than before because it was taller than wide though he seems to be on a branch mostly.

 

[labell]

Those are crested gecko's from New Caledonia, that is actually some of the kind of gecko's I had as well as another larger variety called Chahoua. The crested gecko's change from duller colors to what is referred to as "fired up" they do it when excited, nervous and to attract a mate. They are fascinating little gecko's and actually quite tame and easy to handle.

Unfortunately once they lose their tails they don't grow back. They are then called "frog butts" but still very cute!

 

[RavensGryf]

Those are crested gecko's from New Caledonia, that is actually some of the kind of gecko's I had as well as another larger variety called Chahoua. The crested gecko's change from duller colors to what is referred to as "fired up" they do it when excited, nervous and to attract a mate. They are fascinating little gecko's and actually quite tame and easy to handle.

Unfortunately once they lose their tails they don't grow back. They are then called "frog butts" but still very cute!

Thanks Crested Geckos. That's interesting their tails don't grow back like most lizards. Frog butts

Nice to get a TAME lizard. All the ones I've had (besides Leopard Gecko) were definitely not the kind you handle... If they got out of your hands, that's it. They'd be under furniture somewhere in an instant!

I once had a bad bite from a large male Standing's Day Gecko. Definitely NOT your tame type of gecko! It felt worse than any bird bite I've had. It hung on like a pit bull too, until I put my hand (with the lizard) in a dark bag for it to jump off.

 

[GW.Joe]

So this afternoon we stopped by this reptile store. Wow, it was like going into a mini zoo just for reptiles and amphibians! I've been fascinated by these creatures ever since I could remember. Many years ago I had a chameleon, frogs, and geckos, but I don't think I had my set ups and particulars as good as they could have been. If I ever did it again, I'd be a real newbie and have to join a reptile forum lol. No place to put anymore birds let alone reptiles for now anyway, so just dreaming. Hubby loved the (large) water turtles in the indoor pond. No pics, but we paid $2 and fed them giant meal worms.

But look at this guy... A Black Tree Monitor. I was absolutely fascinated by it! The employee said they're not very common, and it was almost $500. Pic doesn't do it justice, it was exotic and a beautiful specimen. Very long whip-like tail. Look at that tongue in the second pic!!!



I took pics of more exotic stuff, but for some reason they didn't all upload to Photobucket technology. I give up!

WOW, totally off the hook!! Great Pics Thanks for sharin !!

Joe

 

[labell]

The crested's are really mellow, every now and again you will see one that is a spaz but most of them will just sit there on you without taking off.

Reptile bites are really bad right up there with human bites when it comes to probability of getting infected and also really painful.

Tokay gecko's will bite and not let go, really beautiful gecko but extremely nasty temperaments!

 

[RavensGryf]

Tokay gecko's will bite and not let go, really beautiful gecko but extremely nasty temperaments!

I was thinking about Tokay's when I wrote how my Standing's bit me... I wonder how the bite compares? The large Standing's didn't let go either, and was making me feel sick to my stomach it hurt so much. Maybe a Tokay wouldn't have even jumped off in the dark bag? They have such big mouths too. No thank you... Then again bird bites can be awful too especially those hormonal bites when they go full force and hang on and don't let go!

 

[labell]

I'll take a bird bite over a reptile bite any time.

This thread got me thinking about all the bites I have gotten through my life.... the monitor I previously said, a nag of a Shetland pony that bit me in the bicep when I worked summer's at a riding stable, a dog when I was 7 yrs, my aunt's coon cat trying to get porcupine quills out of her, a ferret who wasn't used to baths bit right through my finger nail! An elderly woman in a nursing home I volunteered at, many parrots, a saltwater trigger fish actually took a chunk out of my finger, spit it out to marinate it in saltwater and then ate it! I must be tasty or something...why I no longer swim in the ocean....stung by jelly fish!!

 

[RavensGryf]

I'll take a bird bite over a reptile bite any time.

This thread got me thinking about all the bites I have gotten through my life.... the monitor I previously said, a nag of a Shetland pony that bit me in the bicep when I worked summer's at a riding stable, a dog when I was 7 yrs, my aunt's coon cat trying to get porcupine quills out of her, a ferret who wasn't used to baths bit right through my finger nail! An elderly woman in a nursing home I volunteered at, many parrots, a saltwater trigger fish actually took a chunk out of my finger, spit it out to marinate it in saltwater and then ate it! I must be tasty or something...why I no longer swim in the ocean....stung by jelly fish!!

Good God!!! That is A LOT of bad bites (including human) ow!!
I've actually been pretty fortunate during my life with bites. Though I'm not too much younger than you, I have not been close enough to as many (or as many different kinds) of animals as you have been exposed to.
Besides bird bites, that one gecko (maybe green Anoles but that doesn't count), and a dog once. Westie that hung on and wouldn't let my hand go! It hurt badly and gave me a Pasteurella infection. I've had some near misses with dogs too thank goodness.

I used to do saltwater too, but never Triggers. I've heard about their reputation though. Man that must've been painful!