Reptile & Amphibian Forums

About a week or so ago I had the pleasure to drive down to Austin, TX to meet Tim Cole and his girlfriend Deb of Austin Reptile Services. My intention of this trip was to see Tim's set up and drive with him down to Del Rio, Tx to pick up some herps from a private collector (and boy did I hit the jackpot with this one including one of the most spectacular King Cobras I have ever had the privelege to work with). I had a very exciting road trip and greatly enjoyed my quiet time in the wilderness of Tx, Oklahoma and Missouri on my way back to Illinois.

First, I am one of the toughest guys to impress and I usually find many faults with other peoples' facilities and knowledge levels. My staff get tired of my relentless pursuit of perfection with our collection but I hope it makes them better keepers in the long run (I'm a reasonable person but I have HIGH expectations for my staff and myself). I am always looking for better ways of doing things with the resources that we have. Anyway, with that being said, I can't even begin to tell everyone here how impressed I was with Tim's facility. His house is literally the Noah's Ark of reptiles in Texas. Not a room in his house is devoid of herps....and, every cage was absolutely SPOTLESS. That's quite an achievement considering the number of high maintenance herps that they keep. Then, Tim took me to his venomous herp facility; a rehabbed garage w/modern day technology that puts many zoos to shame. The cages were spotless, no odors whatsoever (not even in his house), animals in perfect condition and everything was in perfect order. Each cage had ID cards which included common and scientific names along with the type of antivenin needed in the event of a bite. Cages were properly secured and Tim's ingenuity of creating the proper thermalclines was really impressive (I wish I had that wherewithall!).

So, if anyone is looking for a breeder in the Tx area, or anywhere in the U.S., I would highly recommend Austin Reptile Services. We purchased an albino C. atrox from him and this animal is absolutely amazing.

I don't normally make plugs for people, and, Tim has no idea I am writing this, but I think good, honest, hard working people who always have herp conservation as their highest priority like Tim and Deb should be recognized.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

It's great to hear when there are people who care this much about their passion for reptiles. I hope that someday, I can be on that level as well. It will take some time, but seeing and hearing of those who are successful at it gives me some hope. Tim if you read this, perhaps I will have an opportunity to visit your facility one of these days. If you have time or even care to, I would also LOVE to see some photos. I am ALWAYS trying to look for ways to improve the quality of life for my animals and just generally improve my husbandry practices.

Thanks for posting this Mr. Carmichael.

Chris

>>About a week or so ago I had the pleasure to drive down to Austin, TX to meet Tim Cole and his girlfriend Deb of Austin Reptile Services. My intention of this trip was to see Tim's set up and drive with him down to Del Rio, Tx to pick up some herps from a private collector (and boy did I hit the jackpot with this one including one of the most spectacular King Cobras I have ever had the privelege to work with). I had a very exciting road trip and greatly enjoyed my quiet time in the wilderness of Tx, Oklahoma and Missouri on my way back to Illinois.
>>
>>First, I am one of the toughest guys to impress and I usually find many faults with other peoples' facilities and knowledge levels. My staff get tired of my relentless pursuit of perfection with our collection but I hope it makes them better keepers in the long run (I'm a reasonable person but I have HIGH expectations for my staff and myself). I am always looking for better ways of doing things with the resources that we have. Anyway, with that being said, I can't even begin to tell everyone here how impressed I was with Tim's facility. His house is literally the Noah's Ark of reptiles in Texas. Not a room in his house is devoid of herps....and, every cage was absolutely SPOTLESS. That's quite an achievement considering the number of high maintenance herps that they keep. Then, Tim took me to his venomous herp facility; a rehabbed garage w/modern day technology that puts many zoos to shame. The cages were spotless, no odors whatsoever (not even in his house), animals in perfect condition and everything was in perfect order. Each cage had ID cards which included common and scientific names along with the type of antivenin needed in the event of a bite. Cages were properly secured and Tim's ingenuity of creating the proper thermalclines was really impressive (I wish I had that wherewithall!).
>>
>>So, if anyone is looking for a breeder in the Tx area, or anywhere in the U.S., I would highly recommend Austin Reptile Services. We purchased an albino C. atrox from him and this animal is absolutely amazing.
>>
>>I don't normally make plugs for people, and, Tim has no idea I am writing this, but I think good, honest, hard working people who always have herp conservation as their highest priority like Tim and Deb should be recognized.
>>
>>Rob Carmichael, Curator
>>The Wildlife Discovery Center
>>Lake Forest, IL
>>-----
>>Rob Carmichael, Curator
>>The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
>>Lake Forest, IL
-----
U.A.P.P.E.A.L.
Uniting A Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League

I agree with Rob.
I was a guest a Tim's house earlier this summer and was very impressed with his collection and cages.

I think I was more impressed with his fresh water turtle collection, because I always thought Tim had venomous snakes and that was it.

Well, I have a fairly large collection of venomous snakes AND fresh water turtles also, so with that being said, I realized that Tim and I had the same interests, with his slant on Crotalus and mine on Bothrops, PLUS Fresh Water Turtles!
We have a lot more in common than I thought we did, even if he did stick me with 6 canisters of dry iguana food at the ETHS auction last summer! Paybacks coming Tim! LOL!

Randal

Yeah, I have the pleasure of owning an amel atrox Tim produced. Not only is my albino gorgeous but his service and knowledge was hands down some of the best since getting back into the hobby and having dealt with a bunch of different folks. Taking the time to talk to me and work with me was greatly appreciated. I look forward to the day I get to meet Tim and see the collection.

Here's my amel Tim produced. Getting big and certainly one of my favorites.

Thanks Rob. We enjoyed the brief visit. But next time don't make me work so hard! LOL

Randall, you thought those were water turtles but I think the beer clouded your vision because they were actually land tortoises! Just kidding. About the turtles not your beer drinking! I should set the record straight though, most of the Chelonians belong to my girlfriend Deb. She lets me build the enclosures for them though!

Chris, ironically I was just talking to Randall yesterday about doing a PowerPoint Presentation for the IHS Meeting in San Antonio this June. I will show how I took a detached two car garage and made it into a herp building. We also took an attached garage and made it into a turtle room. I will show some of the automatic electrical features I built into the building such as photocells turning on/off overhead lights to mimic natural light cycles. Timed outlets for additional lights or heattape. Double entry doors. On call tankless water heater. Drop down ceiling outlets. Thermostatically controlled exhaust fan used for airing out the building and/or cooling for easy brumation.

Come to the IHS meeting and check it out.

Brett, the snake is looking good. Resist the urge to handle such a nice looking animal!
-----
Tim Cole
www.Designeratrox.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<
Conservation through Education

It seems you deserve the envy and respect of everyone here, Rob's a great endorsement in his own. Consider this a cyber handshake, and I for one, look forward to the day where we do so in the flesh

Ian

Ian,
TRUST ME, you DON"T want to shake hands with Tim!
Not until he finishes all of his antibiotics he's taking for his flesh eating bacteria!
LOL!

Randal

But Randall, you asked me not to tell who I got it from! LOL
-----
Tim Cole
www.Designeratrox.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<
Conservation through Education

I would LOVE to attend the meeting, but that would be quite a trip (not that I dont want to visit Texas). Here in Ohio we are looking at an exotic animal ban, which we are hoping to beat or at the very least get some FAIR legislation through here. I would certainly love to see the powerpoint presentation because it sounds like it has the PERFECT advice that I really need.

Chris

>>Thanks Rob. We enjoyed the brief visit. But next time don't make me work so hard! LOL
>>
>>Randall, you thought those were water turtles but I think the beer clouded your vision because they were actually land tortoises! Just kidding. About the turtles not your beer drinking! I should set the record straight though, most of the Chelonians belong to my girlfriend Deb. She lets me build the enclosures for them though!
>>
>>Chris, ironically I was just talking to Randall yesterday about doing a PowerPoint Presentation for the IHS Meeting in San Antonio this June. I will show how I took a detached two car garage and made it into a herp building. We also took an attached garage and made it into a turtle room. I will show some of the automatic electrical features I built into the building such as photocells turning on/off overhead lights to mimic natural light cycles. Timed outlets for additional lights or heattape. Double entry doors. On call tankless water heater. Drop down ceiling outlets. Thermostatically controlled exhaust fan used for airing out the building and/or cooling for easy brumation.
>>
>>Come to the IHS meeting and check it out.
>>
>>Brett, the snake is looking good. Resist the urge to handle such a nice looking animal!
>>-----
>>Tim Cole
>>www.Designeratrox.com/
>>www.AustinReptileService.net
>>www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<
>>Conservation through Education
-----
U.A.P.P.E.A.L.
Uniting A Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League

Chris,
I moved from Illinois 21 years ago for that very reason!
Combine a trip to the IHS meeting and throw some good herping into the mix, how can you go wrong?
-----
Tim Cole
www.Designeratrox.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<
Conservation through Education

I'll be down in Texas from Canada next summer, should I swing by and pick you up in Ohio! j/k, I don't think you want to here my two year old for that many hours alternating between crying and chattering

Don't think I'll be able to time it for the IHS though, as my wife want's to see the 4th down there.

Ian

Be careful where we would take you herping tho...we went on Jan 1, and most of us have a nice red rash from the ivy.

Tim is the reason we are getting into hots now. Currently only have two, Trimeresurus albolabris that Tim gave me for my birthday, and the only female in our entire snake collection, Crotalus cerastes. Very thankful we have ol Tim around.

Any trouble with local ordinances(residential or commercial) in remodeling the garage?

I'm curious as we have to register our hots with local town clerks in NY and even though thus far, I've had no problems, I could see where someone with a beef against keeping hots( even legally permitted) may raise a stink.

or is it a "Mums the word" scenario?

MCH

(For what its worth, I can vouch that it was probably the beer that was causing Randal to admire your 'Aquatics'! LOL!)

Matt,
It's a combination of both.

We actually live in the county
and as long as I am doing the work myself, permits are not required. I know the basics with electrical wiring so I was able to do it. I have a herper friend that is an Electrician and he helped me with the more complicated overides switches and such. He also inspected the wiring before we sheet rocked. Even though I saved a lot by doing it myself I didn't want to cut any corners and risk a fire or other issues with the building and collection.

We live on 2 acres with a 6.5 ft privacy fence so the neighbors cannot see our activities. The building has warning signs in english and spanish but they are only visible from within the yard. The state and county do not have any laws pertaining to the venomous reptiles and I have a good working relationship with all of the area agencies.
-----
Tim Cole
www.Designeratrox.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<
Conservation through Education