The Farmers Pantry- Wildlife Interactive Nature Center

And now time for a shameless plug! The Farmer’s Pantry is located on a 125 acre apple orchard…and is a place to see reptiles? Indeed! Nestled in between the many different educational activities offered is Wildlife Interactive, a nature center focusing around Ontario wildlife. Exhibits feature a wide variety of species using live animals, taxidermied specimens and odds and ends such as bones and feathers. Although it’s no zoo by any means, you’ll find some legal Canadian colubrids like garter snakes and hognose, as well as some relatives of Canadian species like the corn snakes. Thanks to the Little Res Q, we also have a turtle on display, and we hope to bring her back for every summer and fall season! Come for a guided tour through the nature center and we’ll bring out some of the critters for you to interact with. About three times a year public reptile shows are held featuring both the general occupants of the nature center along with other more exotic species. We also do many shows for different camps, daycares, clubs and school groups. Additionally small groups of people can book presentation for a birthday party or other events.
So in the summer, you can sneak in a visit to see reptiles and maybe add in an archery lesson or a round of mini golf. In the fall check them out then pick your own apples and go on a tractor wagon ride! These guys are a nice treat for the reptile lover in the middle of an overall action packed day!
Check us out at FarmersPantry.com!

What Have You Missed?

Well, the Ectotherm Addiction blog has been active for three months now! Here’s a quick look at the variety of topics that were posted!

Book Review- the New Encyclopedia of Snakes
Great book for those wanting an easy read to gain a ton of knowledge about snakes!
Reptiles Canada Forum
This online forum brings Canadian reptile hobbyists together to share their collective expertise and show off their collections and breeding projects.
Reptilia Zoo
One of the biggest Reptile Specialty zoos in Canada, Reptilia is located in Vaughn and has some amazing animals on display and lots of cool interactive programs.
DeviantHerps Club- Reptile Photography
Love staring at pictures of cool reptiles? This group has some amazing photographers to help wet your appetite.
Documentary Review-Life in Cold Blood
Watch some amazing behavior as it happens, in pure BBC clarity!
Scales Nature Park
This nature center just outside of Orillia has the best collection of Canadian reptile and amphibian species out there!
Pictures Might Be Better Than Words-Bolivian Boas
Bolivian Boas are a beautiful, dwarf boa that are rare but becoming more popular in the pet trade! But why read about them when you can watch instead?
Rare Jewels- Bismarck Ringed Pythons
Spotlighting a beautiful snake that you may not of heard of!
Little RES Q
This turtle rehabilitation center in the GTA takes in unwanted turtles and finds them new homes while educating people about responsible pet care!
Wild Encounters – Dekay’s Brown Snake
Check out this native Canadian species! At his size, it’s no wonder you don’t see them around much!
Reptile Event Watch – CRBE
What better way to enjoy the reptile community than by coming to one of our events? The CRBE is the biggest and best!

Reptile Event Watch – CRBE

This past Saturday was the biggest reptile exposition of the year, the 2nd round of the now annual Canadian Reptiles Breeders Expo.
Along with the CRBE, the GTA region has about five expos per year, with additional expos in central Canada taking place in Ottawa and Montreal. The CRBE is the biggest of them all, taking place at the International Center in Mississauga and drawing vendors and people alike from all across Canada, and even the United States.
One of the best upgrades the CRBE offers is a change in venue. The International Center provides tons of space for both the increased number of vendors as well as the increased number of people who attend. For any person that has been to a standard Mississauga expo, you’ll well understand how crowded things get! The crush of people gets so overbearing that you just want to grab what you came for and get out of there as soon as possible! The International Center gives you room to browse and shop with contentment!
Of course, the CRBE is top notch because it’s more than just animals and supplies! The best part of the whole event is the speakers! On the Saturday Greg Graziani from GrazianiReptiles.com spoke about ball python breeding, lending advice to novices and experts alike! Neil Meister is a Canadian gecko expert and focused his presentation on the husbandry of leaf-tailed geckos. Brian Barczyk of SnakeBytesTV, a greatly revered celebrity in the reptile community provided a laughter filled question and answer period.
Reptile expos are the best place to purchase animals directly from the breeder so you know where your animal is coming from, to get the best selection of different morphs and species, to get care information from people who have made a living raising these animals, as well as finding the best prices.
If you can only choose one expo to attend throughout the year, make it the CRBE, it’s the biggest and the best, and it’s only going to grow over time!

Wild Encounters - Dekay's Brown Snake

I always have my eye low to the ground and on the lookout for native Canadian reptiles. Many times it’s with little reward, but sometimes to get a surprise! After having never stumbled upon a wild DeKay’s snake in my life, I found two within a week of each other (unique individuals). Take a look at this video that was taken before this little guy’s release!

Little Res Q

Do turtles make good pets? Not for everybody.
Is it because they’re mean? No.
Is it because they get too big? Might be larger than some people expect, but many options stay fairly manageable.
No, turtles make bad pets for a lot of people because they live so long. How long is a highly debated topic, but for the red-eared slider, probably close to 50 years. The red-eared slider is the most common turtle found in the pet trade worldwide, but it is also the most abandoned. This turtle, native to the southern United States, is often released into ponds, rivers and lakes in foreign countries, such as here in Canada, and the slider is well adapted to make its home here, competing with the local turtles for food and habitat.
That’s not the only part of it though, just like any other pet, buying a turtle means you’re making a commitment to take care of the animal for life, but when that life is as long as a turtle, a lot of times university, work or family life comes in between that initial responsibility. So there are a lot of turtles out there needing rescue, rehabilitation, and loving homes.

Thank god for the Little RES Q! These volunteers found in several locations throughout Ontario take in unwanted turtles, mainly the popular red-eared slider, and do their best to find loving homes for them. If you’re set on having a turtle as a pet and have done your research on their care requirements, you can help by adopting an adult animal instead of purchasing a baby! Check it out at littleresq.net!

Rare Jewels-Bismark Ringed Python

Rare Jewels is a repeating segment where I spotlight a species of reptile that’s not very common in the pet trade. A lot of attention goes out to animals like corn snakes, ball pythons, leopard geckos and the like (for good reason!), so this is an opportunity to take a peek at some of the more obscure species. Simply because there are so many incredible options to choose from, it’s nice to highlight ones you might not have heard of before.

So the first feature of the column goes to the beautiful Bismark Ringed Python. These beauties from the Bismark archipelago off of Papua New Guinea begin their life bright orange and black, then turn golden as they age. One of the characteristic features is their black head, which has the appearance of a mask with a colored spot around their eye. For these burrowing snakes, the dark head helps absorb sunlight while the rest of their body is concealed underground. They are a medium sized snake, getting about six or seven feet and staying fairly slender. Another neat thing about these pythons is that they like it cooler than most, only needing basking temperatures of about 85 degrees. As a group, the ringed python is known to be a bit of a reluctant feeder when they’re young, but morph into having a ferocious appetite as they get older.
Unfortunately these snakes are not too common in Canada as of yet, though they are seen more frequently in the United States, so are not impossible for a determined collector to get a hold of! Before you purchase one, try to take a look at the parents, since these snakes go through such a massive color change over time. High contrast in between the rings is what is often preferred with these snakes, so look for that in the parents!

* Photo obtained from Google Images, unfortunately I have never had the chance to see one of these in person!

Pictures Might Be Better Than Words-Bolivian Boas

For any of you who have visited my website or seen some of my posts on the forum, you've probably seen my obssession with the short-tailed Bolivian Boa Constrictor. So take a look at this video to hear some cool info about them, and watch one in action! (Yes, that's me!)

Scales Nature Park

Scales Nature Park located a couple minutes north of Barrie is a new place for reptile lovers and other naturalists to visit, but the faces are not! The operation is carried on by Jeff and Jenny Hathaway of Sciensational Snakes, a company that has been promoting reptile and amphibian conservation through hands-on, educational programs in the Simcoe and Grey county area for years now.
Each reptile nature center or zoo throughout Ontario has a uniqueness that makes each and every one a joy to visit. One awesome thing about the Scales Nature Park is that they have the most complete collection of native Canadian reptiles and amphibians. These animals are highly protected by the law, so getting the chance to see all of them up close and personal is a real treat. We’re talking fox snakes, black rats, hognose, garters of a billion different colors, smooth greens snakes and more-don’t forget all the turtles! Snappers, spotted, painteds and musk, all in beautiful and naturally laid out exhibits. They also have exotic species and educate kids and adults alike about the difference between good and not so good reptile pets. Know that cute baby boa or Burmese python you were eyeing up in the pet store? Well wrap one of the adults at the Scales Nature Park around your shoulders and see if you still want one! I think you’ll find the friendly corns, kings and milks end up making the better pet!
But the unique collection isn’t even the best part. What about getting the chance to touch and hold just about all of them? Friendly staff members loaded with facts and willing to answer your questions bring out animals of all shapes and sizes for you to experience.
If you’re finished up in there, step outside, visit some of the turtles and tortoises hanging around out there, then go for a walk on the nature trail! On my trip I was lucky to spot a wild garter snake, but if you’re lucky you may spot turtles in the pond too! Another helpful and enthusiastic guide came with us and told us neat facts about the trees, edible plants and the other vegetation.
This is a place that’s well worth the trip, check them out at scalesnaturepark.ca!

Life in Cold Blood-Documentary Review

BBC is well known for some fantastic documentaries. Life in Cold Blood is a five part series that features both reptiles and amphibians. If you manage to catch this on TV, or find it at your local movie store, I recommend watching it! It’s split into hour long segments that feature different groups, such as one for snakes and one for lizards, so you can watch them all or just the ones most interesting to you.
The depth and detail of the documentary beats any book or internet source you can pick up, simply because it shows you some things a book just can’t cover comprehensively. You have the chance to see some absolutely amazing bits of behavior in a wide variety of species, probably some you’ve never even heard of. The film quality is astounding, and it’s like sitting back and watching a stunning photographer’s snapshot-just in motion!
The DVD also features ‘under the skin’, which goes even more in depth and behind the scenes by showing you how they filmed some things, or introducing you to some of the scientists they worked with.
Some highlights of the show were some of the complex and warm behaviors that are not often associated with reptiles, such as the Australian shingleback. Scientists have been following the shinglebacks, and have discovered that they appear to mate for life. The same male and female will spend several months of each year together before parting ways, only to find each other again the next year. One of the pairs they’ve been researching have been together for over 20 years! They are so dedicated, even if one is hit by a car, the other will stay by its side for several weeks. This behavior is only one of many incredible ones you’ll see if you watch the series.

DeviantHerps Club- Reptile Photography

One thing that online communities do is share, in the case of animal communities, often through the medium of photography. As much as many of us like to share, many of us also love to look. For some people, use of forums might be just for the sheer pleasure at looking at photos of people’s collections. We love it when we get to see rare species, cool morphs, funny moments or just some excellent photography skills. If you’re one of these people who just can’t get enough of reptile photos, why not check out a place dedicated to just that? For those of you who don’t know Deviantart.com, it’s an online community featuring the galleries of all sorts of artists, including photographers. You can stumble on all sorts of neat treasures just by browsing, but if you know you want to see some excellent reptile photography, I’ll point you in the right direction! Check out the DeviantHerps club, which features galleries of the four major classes of reptiles, and even reptile inspired art from a large group of reptile enthusiasts. If you don’t want to sign up for a deviantart account, you’ll still be able to browse through the club photos, but if you do, then you can choose to join the club and contribute yourself! It’s a great way to gain exposure for your photography to a group of people interested in the same topic as you!

Reptilia Zoo

If you have a love for Reptiles, then this should definitely be a stop on the next trip you make to the GTA. With about 200 different species on display, you’ll find rare and exciting reptiles and amphibians, including the giants and an impressive venomous collection. Within the zoo you’ll find the longest reticulated python, longest venomous snake (King Cobra) and largest crocodilian (Nile Croc) currently kept in Canada.
However you have to love this place for more than just their outstanding collection. View one of the four daily feedings, or watch some of the six daily interactive shows.
Reptilia does a lot more than that though, they give you the opportunity to get involved and experience hands-on interaction with the animals through many different avenues. They do birthday parties, zoo tours, curriculum compliant programs for schools, day camps, and even the junior keepers program to teach future reptile pet owners the basics of caring for their pets properly.
With the vast variety of beautifully crafted exhibits, and all the activity going on, you won’t find it hard to spend the entire day at the zoo, and it won’t be wasted!
Additionally, Reptilia has an amazing gift shop and pet store.It is packed with rare animals from breeders, as well as animals produced right at the zoo. They have all the supplies you could imagine needing. One of my favorite aspects of the store, is that along with selling exoterra and other name brand reptile products, they also sell great alternatives for cheaper prices, such as crock water bowls and planter feeder dishes, so you can set up your animals home just the way you want it, for the price you want to pay!
If you love your hobby, you won’t want to miss this place! Check it out at Reptilia.org.

Reptiles Canada Forum

One thing you’ll find out quickly if you stick around to read my blog is that I’m all about education. I believe as pet owners and hobbyists, we are responsible to provide for the needs of the animals we keep.
With that in mind, I want to introduce you to the wonderful world of the forum, if you’re not already familiar.
There are a few ways you can educate yourself about a new pet you’re considering bringing home. You can talk to the pet store staff or breeder, you can purchase books, or you can look up care sheets online. Personally I find the use of online forums to be the best education tool you can discover. Why? You can ask specific questions about specific problems that may not be covered in other static sources, and you can receive knowledgeable answers from a variety of people with real experience.
But this also brings up the main fault of a forum as well, as it demands you to take what you read with a grain of salt and think critically. Some people may answer your question, but not give you the correct answer, or may be speaking from a source they’ve read instead of actual experience. So the bottom line is, forums are fantastic, as long as you know how to take advantage of the resource.
Now, before you go running to the forums to ask the almighty experts about how to care for your corn snake, remember this! These are dedicated people volunteering their time to help you and the animal your caring for, and just about anyone will eventually get ticked off at answering the same basic question over and over and over again. So go to other sources first. Read up on a care book or a few internet care sheets and compare information across the sources: learn the basics. Then take your questions to the forum!
There are many reptile themed forums out there, including ones that target specific families or species. However, I strongly encourage Canadian herpers to become a member of Reptiles Canada. This will link you with other Canadians interested in the same thing as you, inform you of herp events going on, allow you to learn the national and local legislation, allow you to share photos and see what sort of animals other Canadians are keeping, and give you access to the best herp classifieds.
I definitely encourage any Canadian reptile lover to join! See you there!

Book Review- The New Encyclopedia of Snakes by Chris Mattison

Having a collection of reptiles often creates a fascination that fosters the desire to learn as much as you can about them. If snakes catch your interest, then you’ll have a hard time beating the New Encyclopedia of Snakes by Chris Mattison. This book covers all the bases such as senses, reproduction, defense and even taxonomy. The book isn’t a heavy read, it uses language and a level of detail that is easy for everyone to understand. Of course, the most important part is that it is packed with hundreds of color photos, making it just as fun to flip through as to actually read! No matter what level your previous knowledge of snakes is, you will defiantly learn some cool, new material out of this book! If you perform educational programs with your animals, or teach children about nature, the book also works as a great teaching aid with the graphical illustrations of anatomy.
Education is always an important aspect of life, but is especially critical for our hobby. The general public views reptiles in a negative light, but through gentle education and exposure, we can change that! By proving that we are highly educated about the animals we keep, and by sharing the information to others around us in a noninvasive fashion, we can make sure that in the future, the animals we love are respected and admired by all!
Overall, I highly recommend this book! You can order it from any major bookstore, such as Chapters, and it is well worth the modest price tag. Many worthwhile reptile books cost outrageous prices, but this book is packed with information at a much more affordable cost!
Chris Mattison is the author of many reptile related books, so if you enjoy the Enclyclopedia of Snakes, but you’re still thirsting for more info, check out some of his other titles.