Today is #MarketFriday, a project initiated by 
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Last weekend, we decided to do something out of the ordinary. When we considered various options, it was my wife's idea to visit Creatures and Critters, a pet shop in Botha's Hill, just outside of Hillcrest in the Outer West Area of Durban, South Africa.
This is not what I would regard as your everyday, average pet shop.
They are unique in operating as a breeding facility for various indigenous and exotic reptiles.
According to their website, creaturesandcritterscaptivebred.com, they have three aspects to their business:
Firstly it operates as a breeding facility for various indigenous and exotic reptiles in order to supply quality captive bred animals to the pet trade
Secondly the shop Creatures & Critters acts as a point of sale to the public for reptiles, birds, fish and mammals as well as all the associated caging and accessories necessary to maintain them optimally in captivity
Thirdly we supply wholesale to other pet shops and dealers. Trade enquiries welcome
With that in mind, let me mention here, at the beginning of this post, that we will start with some nice, friendly feathered friends, but towards the end of this post, we will be looking at some really dangerous, grizzly creatures.
We met a friendly guy outside the store and first had a nice conversation with him. He introduced us to his 17-year-old feathered friend (unfortunately I can't remember her name), roaming freely outside.
She came down to sit on his shoulder and greeted us with a friendly "helloooo"...LOL.
From there we went inside, where we met the next feathered friend, still a youngster...
Also not confined to any cage, he didn't need a second invitation to get onto my hand, then my arm...then all the way up to my shoulder where he showed a lot of interest in my beard...hahaha.
It took some convincing to convince him to stay behind so that I could explore the rest of the shop as he was cuddling up nicely on my shoulder...
It's a nice, quite large and spacious area.
At the back of the shop, you can go up a staircase to see some poultry. From there you also have a nice view, looking out over the shop below you.
These two guys were running the never-ending race, going nowhere fast...
We didn't come here with the intent of spending any money though. We heard of them and we have seen them while driving by on numerous occasions, so we were more curious than anything else. As I mentioned before, it's not your ordinary, everyday pet shop, so it was a bit of an adventure to see creatures you would not see every day...
But seeing that this is #MarketFriday, let's look at some of the prices that these creatures and critters are going for.
To begin with, at the time of writing this post, the exchange rate is R17.81 for $1.00.
Let's go upstairs first, looking at some poultry.
These Easter Eggers (as they were described on the tag), are going at R200.00 ($11.23) each.
Just a little further down, we found these "Silver Hy-lines" (Layer chickens) at R280.00 ($15.72) each.
From there, we went downstairs where we found this "Veiled Cameleon", going at R1500.00 ($84.22).
We then entered the snake area. In all honesty, not my idea of a pet, but if you like them as pets, you're welcome...
I wouldn't say I have a fear of snakes, but I do respect them. Having grown up in a small farm environment with snakes in the area, I am familiar with snakes and let's just say, I know how to react/respond when you encounter a snake out in its own territory.
But I believe they stay (and remain) in their territory and I in mine...then we can all remain happy and relaxed...lol.
The first one was a rat snake from Texas, North America. It was not for sale.
Next, we saw a Brazilian Rainbow Boa from South America (also not for sale).
Next up were two Reticulated Pythons from South/S.E. Asia. The "normal" one goes at R1900.00 ($106.68) and the "Tiger" at R2900.00 ($162.83) (apologies for all the reflections in the glass).
Two Green Mambas. They are not for sale.
This guy got curious when he saw me taking photos and decided to give me some movement. Watch the video below to see him moving around...
My wife came closer when she saw the movement...but you'll hear her getting the "jitters" in the background watching this guy moving around...lol!
We then saw this Prairie Rattle Snake from Western USA/N Mexico, at R3000.00 ($168.44).
He was also a bit curious...
He then gave me this "cold stare"...
Okay...and that was enough snakes for the day...lol.
On our way out, we saw this guy enjoying the heat of the mid-morning sun.
And that's all for today, folks.
Thank you for reading my post! I do appreciate it!
Note: All photos in this post were taken with my mobile phone.