Burke Business Highlight: Medusa’s Reptile Friends

Hello Burke County!!!

Help us welcome Medusa's Reptile Friends, a new shop in Morganton located on Fleming Drive!!!

After six months in business, Travis and Jessica Kirkland (the owners), are looking to share how wonderful owning a reptile can be for the right family. I wanted to find out what owning a reptile would look like so (as usual) I had to ask. Here is what they said...

Reptiles, with their diverse and fascinating characteristics, have long captured the interest of pet enthusiasts. From the personality-packed bearded dragons to the curious and exploratory snakes, each reptile species offers unique traits that endear them to their owners. Medusa’s Reptiles shares insights into these interesting creatures and offers guidance for prospective reptile parents.

Unique Traits of Reptiles

Reptiles are known for their distinctive behaviors and traits. For instance, bearded dragons are known for their expressive personalities, often bobbing their heads to communicate agreement or disagreement. “The more you bond or watch a reptile (or any pet), you will understand their behavior,” says Jessica. Snakes, on the other hand, are notably curious and love to explore their surroundings, requiring careful monitoring to prevent them from getting into tight spaces where they could get stuck or injured.

Wide Selection of Reptiles

Prospective buyers have a range of choices at the local reptile shop. "Our current selection includes bearded dragons, ball pythons, boa constrictors, iguanas, and a variety of geckos, chameleons, amphibians, and arachnids," states Jessica.

Special Care Needs

Reptiles require specific environmental conditions to thrive. Essential needs include belly or top heat, UVB light, and a reliable water source. "However, what your selected pet will need can be discussed or researched in advance as it will vary," she advises.

Responsibility and Lifestyle Fit

Caring for a reptile is a continuous commitment, similar to any pet. "You want to have a conversation about who will be responsible for the continuous care, just as you would with any pet, including cleaning its tank, terrarium, aquarium or habitat," says Jessica. The level of care required should also fit the owner’s lifestyle. "If you're an individual or family that's not home very often, certain reptiles may not be a good fit for you," she cautions. The shop offers consultations to help match potential owners with the right reptile.

After-Care Support

New reptile parents receive comprehensive after-care instructions to ensure they are well-prepared. "We ensure each person understands what they are required to do for their desired reptile and make sure proper enclosures and environments are set up prior to bringing them home," Medusa’s Reptiles explains. Paper copies of care instructions are provided to avoid any issues that might lead to a pet becoming hurt or sick. "You can end up with a hurt or sick pet if this is not done," they warn.

Price Range and Expenses

The cost of purchasing and maintaining a reptile can vary significantly:

- Snakes: $80-$500+

- Lizards: $25-$300+

- Amphibians: $30-$100+

- Arachnids: $25-$400+

"It's advisable for customers to research and calculate the ongoing costs, particularly for feeding, as some reptiles like iguanas and bearded dragons can have expensive dietary needs," Jessica recommends.

Healthy Reptile Assurance

To ensure the health of their reptiles, the shop performs health checks on all new arrivals and holds them to monitor for any signs of illness. "We ensure they are happy, healthy, eating and pest-free before selling them," Jessica confirms. Reptiles born or hatched in the shop are held for several months to ensure they are healthy, eating well, and pest-free before being made available for sale.

Expert Care

The daily care of the reptiles is managed by Jessica, who handles feeding, cleaning, and socialization. "Travis helps when he is done with his other work at our tattoo and piercing studio upstairs," she notes. Maintaining the reptiles is a full-time job, likened to looking after a shop full of toddlers.

Reptile Supplies

The shop sells live and frozen feeders, insects, and a range of smaller-scale supplies. "We are working on a larger space to accommodate the purchase of more supplies," she reveals.

Community and Passion

Selling reptiles in Burke County has been a rewarding experience for the shop owners. "We've had some awesome people come in and look around. The children especially are amazing to watch when they see the reptiles," says Jessica. "The knowledge some of the children have about reptiles is amazing!! It's exciting to see kids interested in something other than video games." They are passionate about the reptile hobby and are thrilled to see it grow within the community. "I love knowing there is an opportunity for our love of reptiles to grow and thrive in the future of the children," she adds.

"We would love to get our name and business out there more and show Burke County and our customer base what we're about and what we have. We want to continue to be contributing members of the Burke and the Morganton area. Please come and see us, we'd love to talk to you about anything in our shop!!!" said Travis.

Thank you Travis and Jessica !!!!!

For those interested in exploring the world of reptiles, Medusa's Reptile Friends offers a wealth of knowledge, support, and a wide selection of fascinating creatures to welcome into your home.

Medusa's Reptile Friends

259 W. Fleming Dr.

Morganton, NC 28655

Phone: 828-612-6384

Written by Phoenix

phoenix@vanguardvoicesnc.com