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Fang & Claw anyone remember it????

Glenn Bartley

Glenn Bartley

Herper & Shootist
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I wonder if anyone out there ever visited a very small herp shop located on West 14th Street in New York City back in either the late sixties or early to mid seventies? If you do know of this place, do you know what became of the owner? As I remember, I owe him a debt of thanks, and if anyone can get him in touch with me I would appreciate it.

He really helped get me started in the right direction with herps, especially snakes. He also talked me into making the best non-animal herp related purchase I have ever made: my first copy of Snakes The Keeper and the Kept by Carl Kaufeld. For that I am forever grateful to him. As I recall he told me he had worked either at the Bronx Zoo or the Staten Island Zoo in the herp house. I believe he said he may have been one of the curators.

I sure would like to be able to say thanks because when I think of it, even though he did not get me started in the hobby, he got me going in the right direction to be able to keep healthy herps; and because I read that one book he in essence fanned the flames that were to become a life long love of field collecting!

Thanks

Best regards,
Glenn Bartley
 
Fang and Claw owner

Glenn,

I read semi-recently that the owner of the old Fang & Claw in NYC is running a huge new exotic pet shop in Miami, Fl. The story was in one of the Reptile Mags, but unfortunately I odn't remember which one.
I know it's not nuch, but I hope this helps.

VinnyButch
 
Well, that is a start. I may track him down that way. What reptile mags do you read; or do you mean Reptiles Magazine? If it is Reptiles MAgazine, that should be kind of easy to find the article if the wife has not thrown out my old issues (I may be out of luck there).

I would be happy to find him to send him my well wishes and thanks. Thanks for the help.

Best regards,
Glenn
 
HELLO

His name is Aldo Pessara, and when I saw him last, at Orlando several years ago, he looked good. I understand he lives in a boat house somewhere in Miami. I dont think he is in the business any longer. Jerry Tresser
 
Thanks. If you ever run across him please let him know I send my best regards. He would not remember me, I was one of his many customers, but he sure made a good impression on me. In fact he continues to do so - I am still into breeding my herps. Thanks again

Best regards,
Glenn B
 
What A Flashback!!!

Now, this post is a flashback. I had become interested in Reptiles at a very young age. Mineola Reptiles, Hughes as well as Fang and Claw were my first sources for many herps. There was a shop in Flushing Queens that was primarily a fish place that kept some reptiles in stock as well.

I know there were others in Manhattan ,during this period, of which I can not recall their names offhand. They were primarily petshops that kept reptiles in stock as well.

I felt very fortunate to see, up close, so many different herps at such a young age.

These guys were definitely pioneers in the field of retailing herps in NY that had set the idea and stage for many to follow.

Thanks for the memory boost, Rich Hebron
 
deja vu

Glenn,
aldos shop was the defining moment at the beginning of my interest in herps. my story matches your's so closely it's uncanny. i used to go there after school when he was open. as i recall he was only open 2 or 3 days a week for a couple of hours a day. he also sent me to the library to read kauffelds book. i've probably read it 3 times since. he had the largest snakes outside of a zoo that i had ever seen. my best memory was one day while he indulged my curiosity and answered all my questions. a father and son came in and wanted to buy a burmese python that he had in the shop. after talking to them for a while he refused to sell them the snake. he told them that they weren't prepared to own a huge snake and recommended they go elsewhere and start with something smaller. i think about that conversation every time i'm selling at a rep show. i see breeders selling baby burms and telling the buyer get a 20 gal.tank and a light and sending them on there way. another snake for the toilet bowl or euthanasia. well heres an oppurtunity for me to say THANKs aldo for starting me on the right path.you're kind are sorely missed in this hobby.
 
I remember Fang & Claw

Oh yes. 14th and 8th in NYC. Owned by Aldo Passera. What a great store. The first time I went there I told him I felt like a kid in a toy store.

I bought a c.b. baby Burm from him and traded him a Florida king and cash for a c.b. baby water monitor -- the water monitor was from a guy who bred them in a loft in the city.

I used to visit F&C about once a month -- remember the rhino igs in the window? Aldo had a great collection packed into that small shop. I was thrilled to find that place (I found it because there was an article about it in the NY Daily News.).

If anyone ever sees Aldo Passera, please tell him that the guy who made the brown Fang & Claw tee shirts for him says hello and best wishes.

Great Memories.

Regards,

Bill Szymanski
 
Whereabouts of Aldo Passera

I have been friends with Aldo for the past 30 years. I still talk to him
about 2x a month. He is 65 now and is well and living in North Miami.
He is no longer in the business although his wealth of knowledge still
amazes me. His store was on 9th ave and 14 st, not 8th. It was my second
home. I remember seeing a brazilian rainbow boa for the first time in his store. It was nice to read all the comments about fang and claw. It took me
right back there. Those were the good old days. Wonderful memories.


Marc S
 
Hi Folks,

I, too, remember the shop and Aldo -- if for no other reason than I worked there. It was my first job! It was on the South side of 14th Street just west of 8th Ave and was only open Monday-Friday from noon-6. (What's really scary is I even remember the phone #!)

Sadly, I no longer have any herps as pets (family problems with that) but I miss those days. Ah, to be 12 again and cleaning the cages, having Aldo drop one of the big Burmese from the top shelf on me for fun (damn thing knocked me to the floor -- LOL), learning about how to feed, care for, and understand almost everything. Aldo was great on so many levels.

Marc, if you see Aldo anytime soon, please forward my regards and fond memories.

Rob Kohn.
 
I remember it. I miss it too. It was an incredible store and Aldo was really cool. That's a long time ago. You're showing your age my friend!
 
Aldo Passera

To all the people who knew Aldo Passera.
Our friend Aldo Passera passed away yesterday at his daughters home
in NYC. He died from complications of ALS.
Aldo was a pioneer in the field of reptiles. He traveled the world collecting reptiles and in the late 1960's, opened Fang & Claw on 14th St. in NY.
It was my home away from home as it was for many young people who loved reptiles. His knowledge was vast. He was breeding snakes long before anyone.
He will be sorely missed.

Marc
 
Hello,

Just noticed this, thanks for posting. I'm recently retired from the Reptile Dept at the Bronx Zoo. Aldo was a good friend; I was lucky....remained in touch, saw him when he came to NYC to see his family. I visited the week before his passing; we'll not see another like him anytime soon, but he left a great legacy. Frank
 
Hi Frank
I remember you. I think I talked to you at the herp show in
Florida many years ago. Maybe decades ago.
I feel honored knowing Aldo all these years. He spoke well of you.
I went to a party in his honor in july that his family had.
it was what he wanted. I wish you could have been there.
I saw pete brazaites there and a lot of reptile friends.
I didn't get to see him and didn't know he was sick.
the memories we share are unique. Hope you're well.
marc schansinger
 
Marc S said:
Hi Frank
I remember you. I think I talked to you at the herp show in
Florida many years ago. Maybe decades ago.
I feel honored knowing Aldo all these years. He spoke well of you.
I went to a party in his honor in july that his family had.
it was what he wanted. I wish you could have been there.
I saw pete brazaites there and a lot of reptile friends.
I didn't get to see him and didn't know he was sick.
the memories we share are unique. Hope you're well.
marc schansinger
Click to expand...


Yes Mark, ..I haven't been lately, but did get there a few times in the past. Have you gone lately...heard the show was slowing down a bit...

I regret missing the get together.

Stay well, Frank
 
Your memory serves you well.
no fish or primates anymore.
Too much work. Funny how it wasn't a lot
of work when I was younger.
went to the reptile show in white plains
a couple of weeks ago. Bought a jungle carpet python.
screaming yellow and black.
I have to say I really miss aldo although im glad he grew up
at a time when no one knew anything about keeping reptiles.
it was all new and exciting. Its a different world now.
it wss good to catch up with you. Hope retirement
fits you. Marc
 
Marc S said:
Your memory serves you well.
no fish or primates anymore.
Too much work. Funny how it wasn't a lot
of work when I was younger.
went to the reptile show in white plains
a couple of weeks ago. Bought a jungle carpet python.
screaming yellow and black.
I have to say I really miss aldo although im glad he grew up
at a time when no one knew anything about keeping reptiles.
it was all new and exciting. Its a different world now.
it wss good to catch up with you. Hope retirement
fits you. Marc
Click to expand...

Wow, good to hear, I remember you well, Mark. I know what you mean about the works and all, but I'm caring for my 5 year old nephew often, which keeps me slogging through swamps and such in north Jersey, where he lives. Yes, our field is so different now; I left Bx Zoo after 21 years, but before actual retirement date...too many changes for me, some good younger people of course, but not there at least when I left. Doing some freelance...consulted on the renovation of the Staten Is Zoo's reptile house (I preferred the huge old cages, but out of my hands. I write articles here...mostly captive care, but some old zoo stories, etc. Let me know if you'll be at an upcoming show, or in Manhattan, maybe we can meet. I have an Aldo story that you'd enjoy, along with the actual Ditmars books that he continually checked out in high school. Stay well, Frank
 
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