APPLETON – West College Avenue simply obtained a bit of wilder.
Wild Habitats, a pet retailer for lizards, fish and reptiles, opened Aug. 16 at 1350B W. College Ave. Co-owners Brady Bartel, Choi Schake and Yvonne Stapleton-Polack purpose to assist these sorts of pets thrive in additional pure environments, or “clean, healthy, lively, vibrant displays,” as Schake put it.
Bartel, a reptile and fish fanatic who has labored in pet retailers for over a decade, says Wild Habitats is supposed to assist prospects set up bioactive pet habitats and wholesome aquarium tanks, in addition to educate others tips on how to hold their pets thriving.
For instance, Bartel mentioned lizard and amphibian tanks are “more self-sustaining and self-sufficient” and more healthy for the pets after they embrace extra plants and smaller bugs like isopods.
This give attention to training is mirrored in how the store is laid out, too, with wider aisles and more room between the shows. Bartel hopes it will enable prospects to extra simply focus on their pet care questions and considerations.
Ultimately, the store’s objective is to “ensure everybody’s got the proper care,” Bartel mentioned, “and making sure everybody’s not as lost as I was when I was a kid.”
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Wild Habitats has South American and African freshwater fish, together with some reptiles and tarantulas. The store additionally carries houseplants, fish ponds with fountains, and driftwood and stones for pet habitats.
As Wild Habitats grows, the store plans so as to add to its choice of pets — saltwater fish and Asian freshwater fish in addition to extra bugs, lizards and amphibians.
Wild Habitats is open from 10 a.m. to eight p.m. Tuesday by way of Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Find out extra by emailing wildhabitats12@gmail.com or calling 920-939-2089.
Rebecca Loroff is a breaking information reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK – Wisconsin. Contact her at rloroff@gannett.com or 920-907-7801. Follow her on Twitter at @RebeccaLoroff.
