Kentucky Reptile Zoo is one of the few venom labs in the United States. They are open to the public every day and have venom "shows" you can watch. The facility is nothing pretty to look at, but they clearly take wonderful care of their animals. All of the enclosures had fresh water and were free of shed pieces. They had clean shavings and multiple logs, hiding spots, and other bits of enrichment in each one. One snake had extra hiding spots added because he was getting ready to shed and was looking to hide more. All of the animals looked healthy, were proper weights for their species and had bright eyes, clean skin, etc. A keeper was working in one building while I was there and I could hear him talking to the snakes like they were dogs or cats, very caring and affectionate. He previously worked at Omaha so was likely trained properly, versus all of these new herp people who learn from the not-so-reputable people on youtube.
The facility is divided into four buildings/areas. An intern directs you to each one, since they're all small and can't fit more than a few people at a time. There's also lots of raised sheds where they keep the off-show venomous snakes they work with. Every hot species they hold is on display. The lights + glass and black background in most of the exhibits makes it difficult to get photos.
Entrance building and gift shop
Cobra section
Cobra, King Ophiophagus Hannah
Cobra, Indian Naja naja
Cobra, Brown Forest Naja subfulva
Cobra, Spitting, Mozambique Naja mossambica
Cobra, Monocled (Suphan phase) Naja kaouthia
Outside Cobra section
Alligator, American Alligator mississippiensis (6ft male, two younger females)
Giants building
Anaconda, Green Eunectes murinus
Python, Reticulated Python reticulatus
Python, Scrub Simalia amethistina
Lizard, Caiman, Northern Dracaena guianensis
Outside Giants building
Tegu, Black and White Salvator merianae
Behind Giants building
Turtle, Snapping, Alligator Macrochelys temminckii (in tank)
Slider, Red-eared Trachemys scripta elegans / Slider, Yellow-bellied Trachemys scripta scripta
Tortoise, Gopher Gopherus Polyphemus / Turtle, Box, Eastern Terrapene carolina Carolina
Tortoise, Marginated Testudo marginata
North America building
Copperhead, Eastern Agkistrodon contortrix
Copperhead, Western Agkistrodon laticinctus
Cottonmouth, Western Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma
Kingsnake, Black Lampropeltis getula nigrita
Milksnake, Nelson’s Lampropeltis triangulum nelsoni
Rattlesnake, Diamondback, Eastern Crotalus adamanteus
Rattlesnake, Diamondback, Red Crotalus ruber
Rattlesnake, Diamondback, Western Crotalus atrox
Rattlesnake, Mojave Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus
Rattlesnake, Prairie Crotalus viridis viridis
Rattlesnake, Southern Pacific Crotalus helleri
Rattlesnake, Tamaulipan Rock Crotalus morulus
Rattlesnake, Timber Crotalus horridus
Snake, Hognose, Eastern Heterodon platyrhinos
Snake, Pine, Black Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi
Snake, Rat, Midland Pantherophis spiloides
Snake, Rat, Trans-Pecos Bogertophis subocularis
Watersnake, Northern Nerodia sipedon
Gila Monster Heloderma suspectum
(Visible in back:
Snake, Corn Pantherophis guttatus
Snake, Gopher Pituophis catenifer
Sheltopusik Pseudopus apodus)
Tropical building
Adder, Puff Bitis arietans
Asp, Small-scaled Burrowing Atractaspis microlepidota (Signed as Stiletto Snake)
Cantil, Taylor’s Agkistrodon taylori
Cobra, Cape Naja nivea
Cobra, Egyptian Banded Naja annulifera
Cobra, Samar Naja samarensis
Cobra, Shield-nosed Aspidelaps scutatus
Cobra, Spitting, Javan Naja sputatrix
Cobra, Spitting, Red Naja pallida
Cobra, Spitting, Sumatran/Black/Golden/Malayan/Palawan Naja sumatrana (Signed as Sumatran Cobra)
Habu, Princess Ovophis okinavensis
Habu, Tokara Protobothrops tokarensis
Krait, Banded Bungarus fasciatus
Krait, Many-banded Bungarus multicinctus
Lancehead, Brazilian Bothrops moojeni
Lancehead, Saint Lucian Bothrops caribbaeus
Mamba, Black Dendroaspis polylepis
Mamba, Green, Eastern Dendroaspis angusticeps
Mamba, Green, Western Dendroaspis viridis
Mamba, Jameson’s Dendroaspis jamesoni kaimosae (Eastern ssp)
Python, Green Tree Morelia viridis
Rattlesnake, South American, Cascavel Crotalus durissus terrificus
Snake, Collett’s Pseudechis colletti
Snake, Hognose, Speckled Leioheterodon geayi
Taipan, Coastal Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus (Australian ssp)
Taipan, Inland Oxyuranus microlepidotus
Urutu Bothrops alternatus
Viper, Beautiful Pit Trimeresurus venustus
Viper, Egyptian Saw-scaled Echis pyramidum
Viper, Eyelash Bothriechis schlegelii
Viper, Gaboon, West African Bitis rhinoceros
Viper, Hog-nosed, Slender Porthidium ophryomegas (Signed as Hog-nosed Viper)
Viper, Hump-nosed Hypnale hypnale
Viper, Hundred-pace/Sharp-nosed Deinagkistrodon acutus
Viper, Jumping Metlapilcoatlus nummifer
Viper, Long-nosed Vipera ammodytes ammodytes (Ssp is Western sand viper)
Viper, Malayan Pit Calloselasma rhodostoma
Viper, Mang Mountain Protobothrops mangshanensis
Viper, Rhinoceros Bitis nasicornis
Viper, Russell’s Daboia russelii
Viper, White-lipped Tree Trimeresurus albolabris
Water Cobra, False Hydrodynastes gigas
The facility is divided into four buildings/areas. An intern directs you to each one, since they're all small and can't fit more than a few people at a time. There's also lots of raised sheds where they keep the off-show venomous snakes they work with. Every hot species they hold is on display. The lights + glass and black background in most of the exhibits makes it difficult to get photos.
Entrance building and gift shop
Cobra section
Cobra, King Ophiophagus Hannah
Cobra, Indian Naja naja
Cobra, Brown Forest Naja subfulva
Cobra, Spitting, Mozambique Naja mossambica
Cobra, Monocled (Suphan phase) Naja kaouthia
Outside Cobra section
Alligator, American Alligator mississippiensis (6ft male, two younger females)
Giants building
Anaconda, Green Eunectes murinus
Python, Reticulated Python reticulatus
Python, Scrub Simalia amethistina
Lizard, Caiman, Northern Dracaena guianensis
Outside Giants building
Tegu, Black and White Salvator merianae
Behind Giants building
Turtle, Snapping, Alligator Macrochelys temminckii (in tank)
Slider, Red-eared Trachemys scripta elegans / Slider, Yellow-bellied Trachemys scripta scripta
Tortoise, Gopher Gopherus Polyphemus / Turtle, Box, Eastern Terrapene carolina Carolina
Tortoise, Marginated Testudo marginata
North America building
Copperhead, Eastern Agkistrodon contortrix
Copperhead, Western Agkistrodon laticinctus
Cottonmouth, Western Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma
Kingsnake, Black Lampropeltis getula nigrita
Milksnake, Nelson’s Lampropeltis triangulum nelsoni
Rattlesnake, Diamondback, Eastern Crotalus adamanteus
Rattlesnake, Diamondback, Red Crotalus ruber
Rattlesnake, Diamondback, Western Crotalus atrox
Rattlesnake, Mojave Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus
Rattlesnake, Prairie Crotalus viridis viridis
Rattlesnake, Southern Pacific Crotalus helleri
Rattlesnake, Tamaulipan Rock Crotalus morulus
Rattlesnake, Timber Crotalus horridus
Snake, Hognose, Eastern Heterodon platyrhinos
Snake, Pine, Black Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi
Snake, Rat, Midland Pantherophis spiloides
Snake, Rat, Trans-Pecos Bogertophis subocularis
Watersnake, Northern Nerodia sipedon
Gila Monster Heloderma suspectum
(Visible in back:
Snake, Corn Pantherophis guttatus
Snake, Gopher Pituophis catenifer
Sheltopusik Pseudopus apodus)
Tropical building
Adder, Puff Bitis arietans
Asp, Small-scaled Burrowing Atractaspis microlepidota (Signed as Stiletto Snake)
Cantil, Taylor’s Agkistrodon taylori
Cobra, Cape Naja nivea
Cobra, Egyptian Banded Naja annulifera
Cobra, Samar Naja samarensis
Cobra, Shield-nosed Aspidelaps scutatus
Cobra, Spitting, Javan Naja sputatrix
Cobra, Spitting, Red Naja pallida
Cobra, Spitting, Sumatran/Black/Golden/Malayan/Palawan Naja sumatrana (Signed as Sumatran Cobra)
Habu, Princess Ovophis okinavensis
Habu, Tokara Protobothrops tokarensis
Krait, Banded Bungarus fasciatus
Krait, Many-banded Bungarus multicinctus
Lancehead, Brazilian Bothrops moojeni
Lancehead, Saint Lucian Bothrops caribbaeus
Mamba, Black Dendroaspis polylepis
Mamba, Green, Eastern Dendroaspis angusticeps
Mamba, Green, Western Dendroaspis viridis
Mamba, Jameson’s Dendroaspis jamesoni kaimosae (Eastern ssp)
Python, Green Tree Morelia viridis
Rattlesnake, South American, Cascavel Crotalus durissus terrificus
Snake, Collett’s Pseudechis colletti
Snake, Hognose, Speckled Leioheterodon geayi
Taipan, Coastal Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus (Australian ssp)
Taipan, Inland Oxyuranus microlepidotus
Urutu Bothrops alternatus
Viper, Beautiful Pit Trimeresurus venustus
Viper, Egyptian Saw-scaled Echis pyramidum
Viper, Eyelash Bothriechis schlegelii
Viper, Gaboon, West African Bitis rhinoceros
Viper, Hog-nosed, Slender Porthidium ophryomegas (Signed as Hog-nosed Viper)
Viper, Hump-nosed Hypnale hypnale
Viper, Hundred-pace/Sharp-nosed Deinagkistrodon acutus
Viper, Jumping Metlapilcoatlus nummifer
Viper, Long-nosed Vipera ammodytes ammodytes (Ssp is Western sand viper)
Viper, Malayan Pit Calloselasma rhodostoma
Viper, Mang Mountain Protobothrops mangshanensis
Viper, Rhinoceros Bitis nasicornis
Viper, Russell’s Daboia russelii
Viper, White-lipped Tree Trimeresurus albolabris
Water Cobra, False Hydrodynastes gigas
