HerpHaven Reptile Rescue and Sanctuary

06/16/2026

ADOPTABLE PYTHONS OF THE WEEK: Meet Ganache, Orion, Clark, Cassi, King Ghidorah, Az**el, Tootsie, Shin-Godzilla, and Baby!

Whether you’re a beginner with no experience looking for a sweet pea, a seasoned keeper looking for a little extra challenge, or somewhere in between, we have the ball python for you!

Some of these sweet snakes have waited for their forever families for years- Baby, King Ghidorah, and Shin-Godzilla are all hoping this could be their year. Others have just recently been posted for adoption, like Orion and Tootsie, and aren’t expected to stay long!

Explore and learn more about each of our adoptable pythons today (and other critters!) and see who would fit your family best: https://herphaven.org/new-best-friend

Most snakes can be adopted with or without their basic setups and are fostered in Maine.

06/15/2026

ADOPTABLE DRAGONS OF THE WEEK: Meet Megan Thee Dragon and Weach!

Megan Thee Dragon is a 3-4 year old female bearded dragon with a big personality. She is active, engaging, and will never stand for being bored! She is great about eating her bugs and salads, enjoys daily roaming time, and has made progress with handling (though she still keeps things on her terms only!). This beardie will happily run around your home and make it her own, so don’t expect her to tone herself down for nothing! Megan is looking for a beardie-savvy home that can give her all the attention she craves.

Weach is a 3 year old male beardie that is searching for a loving home for a second time after being returned to the rescue at no fault of his own. He is a very good eater, is handleable, and is happy to come out and hang out with you! Just give him time to roam and do his “inspections” before he settles down. Weach is a homebody- no outside time for him, please! This big boy has beautiful yellow scales and a uniquely crooked tail that doesn’t slow him down one bit. A home with beardie experience may understand his quirky personality a bit more, but Weach could also thrive with a family that has done thorough research.

Both of these dragons can be adopted with or without basic setups. Megan Thee Dragon is being fostered in Yarmouth, ME and Weach is fostered in Bangor, ME.

APPLY TO ADOPT: https://herphaven.org/new-best-friend

06/14/2026

If you’re near Waterville today, stop and and say Hi to Dr Ian and the Fishtails crew!

06/12/2026

Hermann’s tortoise found walking down a sidewalk in Brunswick. A Good Samaritan stopped and picked him/her up and brought him/her to us. We will do a 3 day stray hold before placing with a foster. Stray hold will end on Sunday, June 14th. If this is your tortoise, please reach out. You will need to show proof of ownership. We would also like to go over steps you can take to keep this from happening in the future.

06/06/2026

Important PSA for the upcoming warmer months here in New England. Every year we get several calls about either reptiles that have been lost while outside or reptiles that have been found by good samaritans (the found ones are the lucky ones - most reptiles species won’t survive long in New England). While outside time is good enrichment, proper steps need to be taken to keep your pet safe.

With hot, summery weather here this week, many reptile keepers will be tempted to bring their pets outside to soak up some natural warmth and those essential UVB rays. But before you do, we want to remind everyone of a few key safety considerations to keep your animals healthy, comfortable, and stress‑free.

• #1: NEVER place your reptile outside in a glass or plastic terrarium.
These enclosures act like ovens in direct sunlight - temperatures can skyrocket within minutes, even on days that don’t feel “that hot” to us. If you’re using any kind of containment outdoors, choose something breathable and shaded.

• Reptiles love the sun, but too much can be dangerous.
Always provide access to shade and fresh water so your pet can cool down as needed. Heat stress can happen fast, especially for species not adapted to prolonged direct sunlight.

• Remember: the outdoors is a brand‑new world to your pet.
Even the calmest, most handleable animals can spook when faced with new sights, sounds, and smells. Keep your reptile safely tethered or in a secure, ventilated enclosure whenever they’re outside (and again - avoid glass or plastic tanks).

• Take it slow if your pet isn’t used to outdoor time.
Start with just a few minutes and gradually increase the duration over several sessions. This helps them acclimate safely without overwhelming their system.

Reptiles thrive when they’re given opportunities to express natural behaviors. With a little bit of preparation, supervised outdoor time can be a wonderful opportunity for enrichment and enhance the health of captive reptiles. By following these simple precautions, you can make sure your pet enjoys the sunshine safely all summer long.

06/03/2026

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT: The rambunctious rat snake!
Rat snakes are loved dearly by keepers all over the world. They’re known for their active lifestyles, strong appetites, and spunky personalities. There are various species of rat snake from all over the world, including popular individuals like the everglades rat snake, the corn snake, and the fox snake. If you’re looking to add some excitement to your life in the form of a slithery friend, check out more details below!

NATURAL HISTORY:
Rat snakes are found throughout the northern hemisphere, especially North America, Europe, and Asia. They are medium-sized harmless constrictor snakes that typically are around 4 feet long (though some species can reach 7-9 feet). Various species exist with strong diversity in coloration, patterns, and behaviors (such as being more ground-dwelling or arboreal). All are carnivorous and typically not picky with their prey, with most of their diet consisting of rodents like rats and mice. Many are crepuscular (most active at dawn/dusk) and found in habitats like forests, grasslands, abandoned buildings, farmland, rocky hillsides, and even backyards.

A healthy rat snake will have a boxy body shape with rounded edges. There are over 50 species of rat snake currently known, with all being harmless to humans and serving important roles in their ecosystems as both predators and prey. They are often found basking on rocks and roads, climbing short distances in trees and bushes, and hiding under logs or debris.

CAPTIVE CARE
Rat snakes are curious and cunning, requiring an enriching, secure enclosure to live in. Most can live happily in an enclosure no smaller than 36x18x18 inches, but larger individuals should be provided with an enclosure that can allow them to fully stretch out (some long individuals may require something closer to a 4x2x2 foot enclosure or larger). As long as the space has plenty of enrichment though, a rat snake will be happy in a much larger space if a keeper can provide it. They do need a basking area where the surface temp is in the upper 80s to low 90s, and ambient temps in the 70s. Recommended decor includes branches, hides, burrow-friendly loose substrate, leaf litter, safe live/artificial plants, a soak-friendly water bowl, and other naturalistic materials. Humidity can range from 45% to 70% depending on your specific species, but most do well with a 50% average humidity with a moist humid hide to aid in shedding.

Most rat snakes do well on a varied diet of frozen/thawed/warmed feeders such as mice, small rats, chicks, eggs, lizards, frogs, gerbils, and hamsters. Adults are usually fed every 10 days, while juveniles are fed weekly. Most rat snakes are handleable with perhaps a bit of sassy behavior initially, and then calming down once out of the enclosure. They tend to be active both while in the enclosure and while being handled, making them engaging, interesting pets. With good care, most rat snakes can live 20-30 years on average.

Looking to add a rat snake to your family? Apply for Kuiper today!

https://herphaven.org/new-best-friend

06/02/2026

Best pet shop in the state!

Gene and Jenn take pet care seriously and really know their stuff.

We simply can't believe it's been 5 years since we took a giant leap of faith and followed a dream to open our little pet store! We have learned so much, made amazing friendships, and continued to grow the size of the store from 3,000 square feet to 6,000. We want to share this milestone with all of you! We have many special events planned over the next two weeks so stay tuned.
We are starting the celebration with a raffle for a $100 gift certificate! How to enter: SHARE this post or SHARE our page. Be sure to make it a public share so I can put your name in the raffle.

05/31/2026

ADOPTABLE CRITTER OF THE WEEK: Izzy the Russian tortoise!

Meet Izzy, a sweet little tortoise who is ready to relax with you for the rest of her lengthy life. Early retirement- everyone’s dream!

She’s a docile, curious girl who enjoys basking, quietly exploring, and finding cozy hidden spots to tuck herself into at night. Izzy has a calm personality and is perfectly content spending her day alternating between snacks, naps, and casual wandering.

Izzy has a great appetite and enjoys a variety of leafy greens, weeds, and flowers. Her foster family describes her as "adorably precious and perfect in every way".

If your ideal vibe is “tiny sun-loving roommate who enjoys snacks and minding her business,” Izzy might be your girl!

Izzy is fostered in Waterford, ME and can be adopted with or without her tortoise table and basic necessities. Apply here: https://herphaven.org/new-best-friend

05/30/2026

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: “Why is my leopard gecko getting stuck shed skin?”

Stuck shed is a common issue caused by common mistakes! Stuck shed skin can cause several symptoms, as well as be just one symptom of a larger issue. When shed is stuck on the toes and tail and is never addressed, it can eventually lead to blood flow being cut off, the tissues becoming necrotic, and loss of the appendage. This can also grow into a larger infection. When coupled with stuck shed elsewhere on the body, goopy eyes, difficulty seeing, lack of appetite and scabby skin, it can be a sign of vitamin A deficiency, which is serious and can be fatal if untreated.

Here’s what keepers should do to help keep their gecko’s skin healthy:

1. Provide a HUMID HIDE. In the wild, when a gecko is preparing to shed, they will retreat into something called a “humid microclimate.” This is a space that is damper and more humid than the general area. It could include a burrow under a rock, under or in a fallen tree, under leaf litter, and more. In captivity, we can provide this with specialty cave hides filled with damp coco fiber, moss, paper towel, or even sponges. You can also use something as simple as a tupperware with a hole cut out (with the edges sanded/melted for safety) for an entrance and with the lid on. Your gecko now has the perfect place to get ready to shed!

2. Provide a MULTIVITAMIN with RETINOL. Leopard geckos (and nearly every other reptile/amphibian) need a multivitamin supplement sprinkled on their bugs about once a week, specifically one containing retinol or preformed vitamin A. This is the animal-derived version of vit. a, and the only one leopard geckos are able to process properly as insectivores. Some great options are Repashy’s Calcium Plus and Zoo Med’s Reptivite. Vitamins degrade over time, so make sure to replace your stash every 6-12 months!

3. Schedule regular wellness exams with your vet. This is a great way to provide preventative care and catch abnormalities early! If you are able to have blood work performed, this is another great way to make sure your gecko’s body is performing in top shape.

4. Perform regular body checks. You can catch issues early at home as well! Weekly body checks can help you spot stuck shed, scrapes, and other issues before they develop into a more serious problem. Your gecko isn’t able to speak and tell you that something is wrong, so you will need to thoroughly check them over regularly.

We consistently see leopard geckos surrendered to the rescue with missing toes, stuck shed, and serious vitamin A deficiency. This can look like extremely stubborn and repetitive stuck shed, goopy eyes, scabby skin, weight loss, poor appetite, difficulty seeing, and scabs or redness around the mouth. Luckily, most make full recoveries with humid hides and proper vitamin supplementation! Please make sure to always do thorough research on an animal’s care, especially the details of their diet.

Below is an example of a gecko, Lúnda, who had a successful rehabilitation from vitamin A deficiency and has been adopted!