35 Years of Experience!

Joe’s mom is pretty sure he was born with a reptile in his hand and they have been a part of his life ever since. Snakes, lizards, box turtles, frogs and toads, they were every where when he was growing up and seemed to come into his life even if he wasn’t looking. By the time he was twelve he was visiting the only reptile store in Colorado, “Reptile Haven”, every chance he got. He would spend hours just hanging out and watching and learning everything he could about the animals there. He isn’t sure if the owner, Randy liked him or just tolerated him, but either way, he learned a lot from the owner who shared his passion. His first store bought reptile was a 7 foot male iguana, (and he has the scars to prove it). According to Joe, “It wasn’t the friendliest thing on the planet.” Joe’s passion for reptiles has never ebbed, if anything it has grown right along with his collection. He has learned a lot over the years and still feels like a little kid on Christmas morning with every new hatching.

Linda is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. Her life has been filled with the care and husbandry of animals. Her first exposure to reptiles was when turtles from the pond upstream found there way into her backyard. There were always turtles and tiny tree frogs to wonder at. She particularly remembers one year when the pond flooded and a huge snapping turtle founds its way into her back yard. “We put a metal wash tub over it and took turns riding around the yard.” Since then there have been an endless stream of turtles that have flowed into her life. From the little silver dollar sized sliders bought at the variety store to her current passion, box turtles. It was because of and injured box turtle that Joe and Linda met. They have become fast friends and spend hours talking about the care and genetics of reptiles. It is because of Joe that Linda discovered hognose snakes. “The hognose snake is an amazing reptile! There is no other reptile quiet like it. The tri-colored hognose and southern hognose are probably my favorites.”