The Isle of Wight Reptilarium Found a little gem!

[Fresco3]

So on my most recent trip to the Isle of Wight I visited a place called Fort Victoria, not expecting to do anything 'zoo related' whatsoever. However, I stumbled upon this little venue called the Reptilarium. It costs £5 to enter and you get a full days visit, being able to come and go freely as you wish (so if you can't spot something you can pop off and do some of the other bits there and come back for free).

The building consists of 3 long rooms lined with various vivariums, a terrapin pond and a nocturnal room with more vivariums. They have quite the array of unique herpetiles and invertebrates if I do say so myself Managed to get quite a few life ticks!

Just thought I'd let you guys know as they're website is pretty useless and I'm sure many of you, like me, have never heard of them before!

It's certainly not a zoo, but for a fiver and with a beautiful sea view and other bits to do. It's definitely worth a visit if you go to the Isle of Wight and fancy something a bit different

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Species list, perchance?

 

[Fresco3]

Yes of course These are all the ones I have images of.

- Phrynosoma Platyrhinos (Horned Lizard)
- Leiocephalus Personatus (Hispaniolan Curly Tail)
- Cordylus Tropidosternum (Dwarf Sungazer)
- Chameleo Calyptratus (Yemen Chameleon)
- Tiliqua Scincoldes (Blue-Tongue Skink)
- Varanasi Acantharus (Spiny-Tailed Monitor)
- Pituophis Catenifer (Gopher Snake)
- Sceloporus Poinsettii (Crevice Spiny Lizard)
- Uromastyx Acanthinura Nigriventris (Moroccan Uromastyx)
- Eutropis Multifasciata (Sun Skink)
- Chlamydosaurus Kingii (Frilled Dragon)
- Rhinoclemmys Pulchemma (Painted Wood Turtle)
- Orthriophis Taeniurus Friesei (Taiwanese Beauty Snake)
- Basiliscus Plumifrons (Plumed Basilisk)
- Calotes Versicolor (Oriental Garden Lizard)
- Phelsuma Grandis (Giant Day Gecko)
- Eurydactylodes Vieillard (Veillards Chameleon Gecko)
- Thamnophis Marcianus (Checkered Garter Snake)
- Elaphe Obsoleta Quadrivittata (Yellow Rat Snake)
- Elaphe Climacophora (Japanese Rat Snake)
- Trachemys Scripta Scripta (Yellow-Bellied Slider)
- Graptemys geographica (Northern Map Turtle)
- Teratoscincus Scincus (Common Wonder Gecko)
- Lissachatina Fulica (Giant African Land Snail)
- Salamandra Salamandra (Fire Salamander)
- Blaberus craniifer (Deaths Head Cockroach)
- Ceratophrys Ornata (Ornate Horned Frog)
- Heterometrus spinifer (Asian Forest Scorpion)
- Opistophthalmus Sp. (Burrowing Scorpion)
- Mastigoproctus Giganteus (Vinegarroon)
- Hadrurus Arizonensis (Desert Hairy Scorpion)
- Polypedates Otilophus (Borneo Eared Frog)
- Polypedates Leucomystax (Golden Tree Frog)
- Rhacodactylus auriculatus (Gargoyle Gecko)
- Eurydactylodes Agricolae (Bauers Chameleon Gecko)


Phew! That's pretty much all of them I think. As you can see there are quite a few rarities in there (atleast I believe so comparing them to my various zoo visits and Zootierliste searching) whilst also having some relatively common herps.

 

[Chlidonias]

it's a really new public collection - only opening at Easter this year:
New Isle Of Wight Reptile Attraction To Open This Easter | Isle Of Wight Radio
Easter Opening of the Reptilarium at Fort Victoria | event | Freshwater

Website: Home Page
Facebook: The Isle of Wight Reptilarium

They currently have a five-star rating on Tripadvisor too.

There's a short video of still-photos showing the interior here: The Isle of Wight Reptilarium

 

[Fresco3]

I've uploaded the clearest photos to the album. Have many more but they're either very dark (From the Nocturnal House) or are just a tail or head peaking out at me!

 

[Fresco3]

The Reptilarium’s spiny-tailed monitor ‘Ackie’ has passed away aged 17. She had been at the site since 2007.