REPTILES UNLIMITED
Pets in Durban

Reptiles Unlimited was started in 1997 in Durban, South Africa and was amongst the first reptile specific pet stores in South Africa catering to an ever increasing specialist hobbyist market.Having been away from the commercial reptile scene for a while due to other business committments, Reptiles Unlimited has re-launched as a web based enterprise and is in the process of building up an impressive breeding collection.We currently have some exciting long and medium term Ball python and Reticulated python projects lined up as well as a substantial amount of indigenous South African reptiles and will be keeping you informed as these projects progress and offspring becomes available.

Reptiles Unlimited was started in 1997 in Durban, and was the first reptile specific pet store in South Africa. Reptiles Unlimited is today a web based, private breeding facility, and is in the process of building up an ever increasing impressive breeding collection. Getting started: There are several suppliers who have house snakes for sale, many are imported from the likes of Tanzania and Somalia yet these exact subspecies can be difficult to identify and it is well reported that intergrades between B. fuliginosis(Brown house snake), B. maculatus(Dotted house snake) and the B. capensis (Cape house snake) are infertile. These wild caught (WC) specimens are readily available at prices a lot lower than those that have been captive bred (CB). There are a lot more health risks to both the specimens you have acquired and your entire collection when purchasing WC animals rather than CB. Snakes that have old skin remaining on their bodies are also a sign that the animal has been stressed or subjected to conditions not favourable for their well being. Housing: House snakes are very easy to keep and their requirements are very similar to most other colubrids such as corn snakes. Babies can be kept in tubs as are all my hatchlings. These tubs are fitted into a rack system that ensures they can’t lift the lids off as well as having all their heating needs met by the fitted heating cables present in the racks. Substrate: A number of different substrates can be used in the enclosures and it is a matter of personal preference as to which you choose to use. Water: An adequate sized water bowl is required for these snakes to thrive. Water bowls and hides and decor can also be cleaned using this cleaning agent. However, there is an optimum temperature that is best suited for healthy snakes to thrive. This will enable the snake to move between the gradients and find a temperature ideal for their own personal needs. This gradient can be achieved by placing the heat source (either heat mats or pads) at one end of the enclosure, approx covering 1/4 of the enclosure. The movement can readily cause them to strike the pinkie and this in turn can spark a feeding response. Other products can be used such as lizard maker or simply rubbing the pinkie on a piece of shedded lizard skin, then offering it to the snake. Male snakes have much longer tails than females of the same size. Size: It is very advisable to keep your snakes separate as mentioned before but especially so if you are wanting to breed them. Females should be both in good health and up to size before any breeding is initiated. This is simply my own cycle for my house snakes and isn’t necessarily the be all of what to do. By this time the females have usually stopped feeding and start to get ready for laying. This offers them enough room to fit in comfortably and a place they can feel safe and secure inside. At lower temps, they can take up to 80 days to hatch.