Today we’d like to introduce you to Colleen Hopkins.
Hi Colleen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It is a funny story about how Coastal Reptiles came to be. My husband has been a lifelong reptile enthusiast. Ever since he was a little kid, he would have iguanas, poison dart frogs, boas and a variety of different reptiles as pets. As our 2 children started to get older, he started to pick up again on his love for reptiles. We suddenly saw ourselves with about 10 snakes and a bearded dragon. My cousin said to me, you guys should start a business doing reptile shows for parties and events. After that, the idea was born. Coastal Reptiles started in March of 2025. Over the past year, we have done over 60 reptile encounters around Broward and Palm Beach County. We have been to schools, daycares, camps, birthday parties, home schools and even a few adult parties. We now have over 17 snakes including, blood pythons, ball pythons, Chinese king rat snakes, Vietnamese blue beauty rat snakes, and Everglades rat snakes. We also have 3 sulcata tortoises (African spur foot), 2 bearded dragons and 2 Panther chameleons! Our number one focus is on the animals and educating people on the true nature of reptiles and not to fear these beautiful unique animals. This is truly a family business as my kids help out with the encounters and have been learning about running a business while having fun. It has been such a blessing to be able to center our business around our family while doing something that we love, and teaching others about these fascinating animals.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would say one of the main obstacles in owning this type of business is the work involved in caring for the animals. This is our private collection of reptiles, and we are responsible for the care, feedings, cleaning and enrichment. It is a full-time job in itself. Snakes have to be held daily so they can be handled by children and others at our encounters, so it is a big job to hold 17 snakes daily! Also, many animal businesses have the potential to exploit the animals for profit. We are very selective in the types of venues we bring our animals to. We want to be sure that at all times they are handled and cared for humanely during our encounters. To do this we limit the size attendance, duration and climate to make sure that none of the reptiles are stressed or mishandled.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Coastal Reptiles offers mobile reptile encounters featuring a variety of snakes, lizards, and turtles. We bring the wonders of the reptile world directly to you, providing educational, interactive and hands on experiences that inspire awe and fascination in people of all ages. Our knowledgeable team is dedicated to sharing their passion for these incredible creatures and promoting responsible reptile ownership and conservation. Our packages are fully customizable to the customers wants and needs. At Coastal Reptiles we are most proud of our commitment to share the beauty and knowledge of these largely feared and misunderstood animals. It makes us so happy to see kids and adults that were once scared of these animal’s, smile, touch and by the end of the encounter put them around their necks for pictures!
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I actually own a few businesses and, in my opinion, to be successful you need to always research and ask questions. Most people are generous with their knowledge. It is up to you to ask. Through my businesses, I am always learning new things and always open to expand to acquire new better ways to improve.
Pricing:
- Our prices start at $250 for a 1-hour Reptile Encounter
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coastalreptilesfl.com
- Instagram: @coastal_reptiles_fl
- Facebook: Coastal Reptiles
- Twitter: Phone (407) 923-0181
- Youtube: @coastalreptiles
