Northern Indiana Reptile Co Op

08/21/2022

It’s been a long and strange trip but today we welcomed our first rescue since the flood. He needs a name.

And a good home.

05/04/2022

Happy to have many of our noodles back.
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to keep them all.
This is meatball. He was a rescue we picked up about 2 years ago (he was at least 15 years old at the time) and he currently lives with Kolyn and Ben.
They not only provided a home for Meatball but also took in my false water cobra “Fugazi,” and-as a thanks for holding on to ALL my racks, enclosures, and hardware-were gifted my tarantula named “hairy.”
Long live Meatball 🤘🏻

09/29/2021

I told you I wasn’t done helping…

Someone reached out a few days ago looking to rehome their beautiful leopard gecko with equally beautiful enclosure.

While she expressed regret she wants what’s best for her pet.

Clearly a healthy animal ready for a new home.

If you would like to be considered, please let me know by sending a message and we can discuss specifics.

This animal will not go to a home without experience. Interested parties WILL BE VETTED to be sure this animal can continue to thrive.

✌🏻❤️🦎

09/23/2021

Dear Friends,

I regret to inform you that for now, and the foreseeable future, the reptile rescue is now CLOSED.

A week ago, we had a flood event that has left us homeless.

Thanks to an amazing outpouring of support, all of our rescue animals (as well as my sizeable, personal collection) were rehomed in a single day in order to begin demolition of my home. While this week has been the single hardest of my entire life, I am encouraged by the kindness of others, and the willingness of people who, two years ago would have been strangers, to take on the responsibility I asked of them.

To those of you who helped, your kindness means the world to me, and I only hope to be able to one day, repay that kindness.

To those of you who wish to help, any donations made will be split across the volunteer network to help offset their costs to keep the animals until I can get them back.

To those who are new to this page, I AM STILL WILLING TO HELP IF I CAN so if you are here seeing this because you googled "reptile rescue" rest assured, I have an awesome network of keepers from which to draw help and resources. Just because I don't have a place for them now, doesn't mean I can't help find one.
So send me a message and if I can help, I will.

Finally, the future of this organization is unclear at best.
At this moment, my house is being gutted and then the process of reconstruction can begin. Best estimates have us back in the house after the New Year. This arduous journey will no doubt be difficult to navigate and may require your help going forward.

For now, wish us the best and reach out if you can help.

Thank you again for 2 amazing years we can't wait to get back to our mission of busting stereotypes, educating children and their families, and most importantly, helping misunderstood animals find forever homes.

- Jason

08/16/2021

New friend alert!

This Ball Python was surrendered today by a well meaning owner who knew well enough to find a better home for an animal that was not thriving in their care.

Though not at all mistreated, this snake is under weight for its age (though definitely not starving) and has some stuck shed (after repeated soakings) but is not at all afraid of me or being outside.

We will continue to improve the overall condition of the animal while putting on some weight before finding him a new home.

His given name is Hex
But we prefer Professor Chaos. 😉

🤞🏻❤️🐍

07/08/2021

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here so a little update:

Still doing the rescue thing. Fortunately we haven’t had to take in any new rescues though we have been working behind the scenes through messages and calls to help people keep (or find) their animals.

We haven’t been at an expo since October of last year (the one where I became violently ill the morning of and my wife and son vended on my behalf). This doesn’t mean we are done vending but my full time job became even more full time thanks to the pandemic and has left me with very little time to vend (or even attend expos) though I do look forward to the return of the Tinley Park NARBC in December.

We are still taking donations. These donations help improve the care of our rescues and go to offsetting the cost to rehome them. Currently we have a wonderful ball python (I’m having a hard time parting with) and that’s about it.

We appreciate your support over the last 2 years and hope to continue to be a valuable service to the reptile community for years to come.

✌🏻❤️🐍

04/28/2021

Oh the lengths to which we go to help these amazing and misunderstood creatures.
It’s never about the accolades it has always been about the animals.
✌🏻❤️🐍

04/15/2021

Happy herping!

It's the time of year again when ratsnakes get into all manner of mischief.

Tragically, untold numbers of these highly beneficial snakes are killed each year because many people find that destroying nature is easier than educating themselves.

Snakes don't recognize human property rights. To them, your yard is simply the place their ancestors have been living for millennia, and your house is just part of the landscape.

They are not trying to scare you or hurt you. They are just going about their snakey business of offering free pest control services.

The wise naturalist is overjoyed to see a ratsnake in their yard and knows that all snakes are signs of a healthy ecosystem.

We encourage everyone to take some time and learn to recognize the animals in their ecosystem. Get help at LIVE Snake Identification and Discussion and also at Ratsnakes in Predicaments. Join us for some great learning!

If you want to really learn about these fascinating animals, we have an online course for you! Visit herpcollective.org for more info!