At least one member has visited, but it was nearly a year ago and they've added a lot since.
Reptilandia - Reptile Lagoon News and notes
- Thread starter SwampDonkey
- Start date
At least one member has visited, but it was nearly a year ago and they've added a lot since.
Cool, I did not remember that someone made it there. For some reason I thought that was the other Reptile Lagoon. Yeah, a whole additional building's worth! I really want to get out to see it, there is a chance I will be able to in December.
I'm hoping to in January/February, and whenever I make that trip I'll be spending 2-3 full days there 
Should be a fantastic place to study what herp exhibits can really be. Nearly all of them are large, elaborate, multi-species enclosures that look to do a great job simulating natural environments in innovative ways.
Should be a fantastic place to study what herp exhibits can really be. Nearly all of them are large, elaborate, multi-species enclosures that look to do a great job simulating natural environments in innovative ways.
@biggiesmalls, I saw you mentioned this place having a species of giant softshell turtle? Would you happen to know what species it is? I'm really curious.
I'm not sure, but both P. bibroni and P. cantorii show up in the private trade from time to time. I've yet to see anything showing one, only heard mention of them so far.
Lucas Lang
Well-Known Member
I really hope they have Chocoan Bushmaster, always want to see other Bushmaster species.
I'm most excited for the perentie and that giant croc monitor exhibit
To be fair though, every thing I can think of at this place excites me. The fact that two people who are heavily involved in the hobby side of reptiles now keep komodos is also a huge deal, not many people who can say all of that.
I can sit down and make a list of a few other species I can confirm they keep, some have been added recently
Lucas Lang
Well-Known Member
Thanks for your work!
King of Komodo Dragons
Well-Known Member
I don't believe that this has been mentioned but in October Reptilandia received a group of Psychedelic Rock Geckos from San Antonio Zoo, it seems they plan to breed them in the future
We are VERY excited to work... - Reptilandia Reptile Lagoon
We are VERY excited to work... - Reptilandia Reptile Lagoon
Some newly-revealed species at this facility from various pictures:
- Black Rat Snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis), of the White-Sided morph
- Common Monkey Lizard (Polychrus marmoratus)
- Dumeril's Monitor (Varanus dumerilii)
- Gaboon Viper (Bitis gabonica)
- Giant Girdled Lizard (Smaug giganteus)
- Green Forest Lizard (Calotes calotes)
- Mangrove Pit Viper (Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus)
- New Caledonia Giant Gecko (Rhacodactylus leachianus)
- both Philippine and Sulawesi Giant Sailfin Lizard (Hydrosaurus pustulatus and microlophus)
- Plain-Bellied Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster)
- Psychedelic Rock Gecko (Cnemaspis psychedelica), as mentioned by @King of Komodo Dragons
- Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)
- Red-Headed Amazon River Turtle (Podocnemis erythrocephala)
- Spencer's Monitor (Varanus spenceri)
- Spiny-Neck Monitor (Varanus spinulosus)
- Wagler's Pit Viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri) is confirmed
- Western Bearded Anole (Anolis barbatus)
- Yellow Anaconda (Eunectes notaeus)
Lucas Lang
Well-Known Member
Not Bitis rhinoceros? That's so cool
Not 100% sure on that one
Last edited:
King of Komodo Dragons
Well-Known Member
this place keeps getting more and more impressive the more I hear about it, will definitely need to plan a visit next summer!
Why, given that the other, more available Lachesis species are at least as beautiful?
What's the big deal? I've been keeping B. gabonica for quite a while now, with no one leaping for joy...
Lucas Lang
Well-Known Member
Maybe I was a little bit weird, but I really enjoyed to see species I did not see before
Many American zoo's viper signed as B. gabonica is B. rhinoceros, and I never see a real B. gabonica, so I was a little bit excited. (By the way, wish I can visit your facility in future)
Sure; you know where to find me.
Bit of random updates and information for this facility, in case anyone couldn't tell I'm really itching to finally get out here
First up, a small collection of videos showing some progress throughout various stages.
The first two videos show most of the same things from two perspectives on the same tour - the first is more in-depth on the displays, while the second has a bigger emphasis on the BTS collection. This was back during the earlier phases of exhibit construction.
The third video shows further along in the construction process, still largely without animals in the Tropical Building.
The fourth video shows the completed Tropical Building, with a large focus on the Komodo exhibit. The entire facility can seemingly be seen, although in high speed.
The last video is a short showing a few more finished displays.
Their Komodo is a male named Bumi. His exhibit is definitely one of the better exhibits I've seen for the species, and he's clearly quite well-socialized based on the videos posted of him. I know the keepers have a decent amount of hands-on interaction with him, and that side-lick that he does in the fourth video above while watching the videographer is a clear indication in Varanids that he's comfortable.
Not sure if it was ever confirmed, but they do have a pair of African Dwarf Crocodlies on display. The male is named Gimli and the female has not been named. Super excited to see how this pair interacts in their massive exhibit. I am not sure if the planned Congo Softshells were added, but the exhibit is a gorgeous and realistic slice of the African tropics regardless.
Another enclosure I haven't talked much about yet but I'm super excited to see is for the Crocodile Tegus. They are housed alongside Red-Headed River Turtles and some unknown fish, and appear to be quite active on display. This is a species I've never heard of for public display in the United States, and they've really only been in the pet trade for under a decade at this point. Captive breeding is still rare, and these are very much four-figure animals, if not more as proven adults.
I mentioned it in the species list thread, but Western Black Tree Snake (Thrasops occidentalis) can be added to the list of animals on display. Not sure whether it's a single or multiple, or whether it's housed with other species, but I'd guess it's housed solo. These are a rear-fanged venomous colubrid with a relatively serious bite, and another species I've never heard of for public display.
Finally, many of the planned species for the massive Crocodile Monitor exhibit have yet to be added/sourced. The current list is Crocodile Monitors, Giant Sailfin Lizards, and a Fly River Turtle, which is still impressive. Fingers crossed we get to see Flying Lizards gliding through the trees and a Freshwater Croc patrolling the water feature someday
This is all I've got off the top of my head, but I'll have a full detailed walk-through in the next few months
First up, a small collection of videos showing some progress throughout various stages.
The first two videos show most of the same things from two perspectives on the same tour - the first is more in-depth on the displays, while the second has a bigger emphasis on the BTS collection. This was back during the earlier phases of exhibit construction.
The third video shows further along in the construction process, still largely without animals in the Tropical Building.
The fourth video shows the completed Tropical Building, with a large focus on the Komodo exhibit. The entire facility can seemingly be seen, although in high speed.
The last video is a short showing a few more finished displays.
Their Komodo is a male named Bumi. His exhibit is definitely one of the better exhibits I've seen for the species, and he's clearly quite well-socialized based on the videos posted of him. I know the keepers have a decent amount of hands-on interaction with him, and that side-lick that he does in the fourth video above while watching the videographer is a clear indication in Varanids that he's comfortable.
Not sure if it was ever confirmed, but they do have a pair of African Dwarf Crocodlies on display. The male is named Gimli and the female has not been named. Super excited to see how this pair interacts in their massive exhibit. I am not sure if the planned Congo Softshells were added, but the exhibit is a gorgeous and realistic slice of the African tropics regardless.
Another enclosure I haven't talked much about yet but I'm super excited to see is for the Crocodile Tegus. They are housed alongside Red-Headed River Turtles and some unknown fish, and appear to be quite active on display. This is a species I've never heard of for public display in the United States, and they've really only been in the pet trade for under a decade at this point. Captive breeding is still rare, and these are very much four-figure animals, if not more as proven adults.
I mentioned it in the species list thread, but Western Black Tree Snake (Thrasops occidentalis) can be added to the list of animals on display. Not sure whether it's a single or multiple, or whether it's housed with other species, but I'd guess it's housed solo. These are a rear-fanged venomous colubrid with a relatively serious bite, and another species I've never heard of for public display.
Finally, many of the planned species for the massive Crocodile Monitor exhibit have yet to be added/sourced. The current list is Crocodile Monitors, Giant Sailfin Lizards, and a Fly River Turtle, which is still impressive. Fingers crossed we get to see Flying Lizards gliding through the trees and a Freshwater Croc patrolling the water feature someday
This is all I've got off the top of my head, but I'll have a full detailed walk-through in the next few months
Lucas Lang
Well-Known Member
I think I see two individual on the second floor of tropic building.
Lucas Lang
Well-Known Member
It was list on the screen, but I did not see it in the "mud" water I would say.