NamelessGnome

Let me just preface by saying this: Out of ALL the various pet stores I’ve been to in my 5 years of owning exotic lizards this store in particular had to have been the most vile, dirty, neglectful place ive stepped foot in. I am genuinely surprised it has not been shut down yet. This post is to serve as a cautionary tale and warning to anyone who walks though those doors looking to purchase a reptile. Even if you are not in the Columbus Ohio area, PLEASE REBLOG THIS. The word needs to get out about how shitty this place is. PLEASE REPORT THIS PLACE TO THE POLICE FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY AND GET IT SHUT DOWN. 

Captive Born Reptiles is a reptile establishment run by people who do not know what proper husbandry is. When I set foot into the store I was greeted with the smell of ammonia, bleach, piss, and what I can only describe as death. This store is not cleaned regularly (despite what you might be lead to believe by the open bleach water container sitting among the feeder insect tanks and closed tub of rats sold as “feeders”) judging by the conditions of both the floors and counters, but the most disturbing thing was the conditions of the tanks and animals. 

This was a picture taken off of the google reviews since I would not take any myself. Almost all of the reptile enclosures were like this one and in various states of filth. Many of the tanks were empty to start off with, but the ones that were not contained lethargic, sick animals. There were a few tanks, im not sure what they contained, were bioactive and were filled with cobwebs and plants within varying stages of rot. Almost all of these enclosures did not contain any form of UVB or heat-lamp regardless of species. Leopard geckos, Bearded dragons, ball pythons, and other reptiles had no form of UVB or visible heat lamp. And what I mean by visible is that most tanks had no form of heat. 

I would also like to point out that almost ALL of the tanks have no form of tank decor, basking ledges, or anything for the lizards to hide in that is opaque. Its mostly just a bare-bones tank with the weird mystery substrate in it, woodchips, or in the case of aquatic or semi-aquatic no substrate at all. Tanks with turtles often have stagnate water with a greenish tint (due to lack of filter) which is honestly fucking disgusting. And many of the tanks are often littered with shit, insect corpses, or an unholy combination of both. 

To also speak more on the conditions of the animals, many of them In the store seem to have some sort of weight or other underlying health issue possibly stemming from their living conditions. As I mentioned before the store smells strongly of a combination of chemicals, and waste. Other animals, such as their large albino Burmese Python, seem to be suffering from mouth rot or the beginnings of some sort of infection. I have a Tokay myself. He currently (at the time of writing) is battling a systemic infection. He at his skinniest never lost this much weight. I have seen a sick Tokay and this one is on death’s door. it is skinny, discolored, and looks like it very much needs some form of vet care (as do the rest of the animals.) I even saw a Nile monitor that looked to be dead (it was half buried under it coconut fiver substrate face down) in its enclosure. And judging by the smell, there was probably others.

Not to even mention that the owner has already gotten in trouble with the law on multiple occasions for bringing crocodiles and pythons to a childs daycare. This was mostly for an ‘educational program’ he decided to conduct for a daycare without having any permits, or license to do so. He hangs redoric all over his shops walls about how great he is and how terrible places like the Columbus Zoo, Humane Society, and other animal rights/conservation groups are. They were all rather preachy and had virtually nothing do do with how to take care of a pet correctly, only defending his right to keep massive pythons. He does not care that he is slowly killing these animals by taking care of them incorrectly, he only seems to care that he has them. They are likened to possessions more than living things.

Despite MANY MANY negative reviews, this place still continues to stay open. 

Let me just preface by saying this: Out of ALL the various pet stores I’ve been to in my 5 years of owning exotic lizards this store in particular had to have been the most vile, dirty, neglectful place ive stepped foot in. I am genuinely surprised it has not been shut down yet. This post is to serve as a cautionary tale and warning to anyone who walks though those doors looking to purchase a reptile. Even if you are not in the Columbus Ohio area, PLEASE REBLOG THIS. The word needs to get out about how shitty this place is. PLEASE REPORT THIS PLACE TO THE POLICE FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY AND GET IT SHUT DOWN. 

Captive Born Reptiles is a reptile establishment run by people who do not know what proper husbandry is. When I set foot into the store I was greeted with the smell of ammonia, bleach, piss, and what I can only describe as death. This store is not cleaned regularly (despite what you might be lead to believe by the open bleach water container sitting among the feeder insect tanks and closed tub of rats sold as “feeders”) judging by the conditions of both the floors and counters, but the most disturbing thing was the conditions of the tanks and animals. 

This was a picture taken off of the google reviews since I would not take any myself. Almost all of the reptile enclosures were like this one and in various states of filth. Many of the tanks were empty to start off with, but the ones that were not contained lethargic, sick animals. There were a few tanks, im not sure what they contained, were bioactive and were filled with cobwebs and plants within varying stages of rot. Almost all of these enclosures did not contain any form of UVB or heat-lamp regardless of species. Leopard geckos, Bearded dragons, ball pythons, and other reptiles had no form of UVB or visible heat lamp. And what I mean by visible is that most tanks had no form of heat. 

I would also like to point out that almost ALL of the tanks have no form of tank decor, basking ledges, or anything for the lizards to hide in that is opaque. Its mostly just a bare-bones tank with the weird mystery substrate in it, woodchips, or in the case of aquatic or semi-aquatic no substrate at all. Tanks with turtles often have stagnate water with a greenish tint (due to lack of filter) which is honestly fucking disgusting. And many of the tanks are often littered with shit, insect corpses, or an unholy combination of both. 

To also speak more on the conditions of the animals, many of them In the store seem to have some sort of weight or other underlying health issue possibly stemming from their living conditions. As I mentioned before the store smells strongly of a combination of chemicals, and waste. Other animals, such as their large albino Burmese Python, seem to be suffering from mouth rot or the beginnings of some sort of infection. I have a Tokay myself. He currently (at the time of writing) is battling a systemic infection. He at his skinniest never lost this much weight. I have seen a sick Tokay and this one is on death’s door. it is skinny, discolored, and looks like it very much needs some form of vet care (as do the rest of the animals.) I even saw a Nile monitor that looked to be dead (it was half buried under it coconut fiver substrate face down) in its enclosure. And judging by the smell, there was probably others.

Not to even mention that the owner has already gotten in trouble with the law on multiple occasions for bringing crocodiles and pythons to a childs daycare. This was mostly for an ‘educational program’ he decided to conduct for a daycare without having any permits, or license to do so. He hangs redoric all over his shops walls about how great he is and how terrible places like the Columbus Zoo, Humane Society, and other animal rights/conservation groups are. They were all rather preachy and had virtually nothing do do with how to take care of a pet correctly, only defending his right to keep massive pythons. He does not care that he is slowly killing these animals by taking care of them incorrectly, he only seems to care that he has them. They are likened to possessions more than living things.

Despite MANY MANY negative reviews, this place still continues to stay open.