Long Island Reptile Museum; Steve Kates

HI THERE,

I am looking to do some business with a man by the name of STEVE KATES, the supposed owner of the LONG ISLAND REPTILE MUSEUM. I am new to this site, and I have heard that this is the best place to place an inquiry. Hopefully you guys can help me out. Basically, I am looking to get some information on this man or his establishment. I am debating on purchasing a female lace monitor from him. Even though I live on Long Island, I have never gotten down to visit the actual Reptile Museum. What I am wondering, is this man reputable enough where I can trust that his lace monitor is healthy and properly sexed. He said that this animal is currently on exhibit. Has anyone ever been to the Long Island Reptile Museum, and seen this animal or how he and the other monitors are kept? THe pics he sent me yesterday were difficult to interpret. Any advice or help with this subject will greatly be appreciated. I would just rather do my research, than get shafted several thousand dollars. We all know that there sheisters out there. Thanks for your time,

Daniel Davis

I have had the pleasure to meet everyone at the Reptile Museum in Long Island. Steve is a great guy!

They have a wonderful set up there and all of his animals are well cared for. He's a stand up guy that will tell you exactly what you're getting. Don't hesitate one bit!!!

About 6 years ago I had the displeasure of meeting Steve Kates. I went in to the LI Reptile Museum with a few snakes I was looking to sell, a 12 ft male Jungle Amethystine Python and a 10 ft female. Steve said he was interested in them and for me to leave them and his Vet ( whom later got arrested for practicing without a license) would check them out and if they were healthy he would take them.

2 days after dropping the snakes off I went in and Steve said the animals checked out fine and asked me to come back that Wednesday to pick up the $400 dollars for the animals. I went in and Steve asked me if I could wait another week because he had a shipment of animals coming in that he needed to pick up from the airport. I agreed and was told to come back the following Wednesday.

The following Wednesday I went in and when I asked for my money Steve told me " We don't want your snakes because one of them bit one of our snakes back and broke it". Being that I was very aggitated from waiting for my money I told him to just give me my snakes so I could go.

One of his employees escorted me to the display in which the animals were in. Only the male was there. I asked where the female was and his employee told me it was upstairs in quarantine because its tail was broken. He told me to wait in the lobby and then brought the animal down to me in a bloody pillow case.

Being that the animal was flawless when I brought it in to him and that the animal was damaged while in his posession I demanded that he purchase at least the one animal that they damaged. After causing a scene in front of his customers he agreed to pay me the $200. He then went around to all his employees borrowing $10 here and $5 there until he accumulated the $200.

This man is a loser and I have also heard from people how he has ripped off other dealers and suppliers.

This man also employed a 16 kid to clean tanks in the museum. One day the kid was cleaning out the tank to a gaboon Viper and was bitten by it. He had to be airlifted to Jacoby Hospital by the Bronx Zoo, some 40 miles away, to be treated and almost died.

If I were you I would steer clear of Steve Kates!

Brett Mazimann

I live on Long Island not too far from the Long Island reptile Museum to make it an easy trip. I visited this museum once, a few years ago. After that vist I have not returned to said museum.

Personally, I always like to know who the bad guys endorse so I can stay away from them too. (*cough*)



This thread has been helpful, I was tipped off to a job opening there and am now quite happy I chose not to follow up on it. Of course, the person that tipped me off worked there and was telling me all about how superworms can very easily kill herps by chewing out of their stomachs.

I konw this is off topic a bit, but someone else brought it up, so I figued a quick question: Do you thing that really happens? I have 3 bearded dragons that eat meal worms, giant meal worms and super worms among many other things I feed them and i have yet to witness any problems.

I finally stopped by the reptile museum the other day, to find the Nassau County SPCA there, along with veterinarians, scoping out the terrible conditions and sick animals which inhabit this "museum". I overheard some of the officers mention something about an aldabra tortoise dying a week back. By the looks of the enclosures, and health of their animals, this museum is not what it is cracked up to be. I did not get a chance to meet with steve kates, but I saw him on the local news a week ago, and blamed the conditions on "donation animals" that are dumped on them. Somehow I just don't believe it. I DO NOT recommend anyone to visit and waste the twelve dollars it costs to enter this dump. Thanks for everyone's help, just curious what others have to say, or have seen the news report. Thanks again,

dino dude

sorry, I forgot to post my name

-daniel davis

In reply to Glen's question, though off topic, the answer is NO, it does not really happen. If you have further questions, drop me a line or start another thread in one of the lizard forums to discuss further, but again, NO, it's not true.

As far as this reptile museum is concerned, it doesn't sound like a quality place to see reptiles. And if what Dinodude said about his visit is true, then they might not be in business much longer anyway.

And I think Upstate's support of this Steve Kate person does more harm for him than good. Birds of a feather...

Shady place the joint

Mike Brooks
TNS Reptiles
Long Island, N.Y.
631-433-3765