B.T.J.'s Jungle

's Jungle in West Islip, New York has been a Long Island fixture for decades, known for its enormous variety of animals — from freshwater and saltwater fish to birds, reptiles, turtles, ferrets, and even a resident 20-year-old crow that greeted visitors for years. The store packed an impressive amount of life under one roof, offering tanks of tropical fish alongside terrariums full of ball pythons, red-eared sliders, and lizards, plus shelves of aquarium equipment and accessories. 's legacy is complicated.

Long-time customers recall the original location fondly and praise the sheer breadth of species available — reviewers consistently note the vast selection of aquatic life as a standout. Some visitors found helpful, knowledgeable staff who could answer questions about fish care on the spot. But a significant number of reviews paint a troubling picture.

Multiple customers reported purchasing sick animals — ball pythons with mites, a red-eared slider with a respiratory infection — and described reptile enclosures with poor humidity, overcrowding, and untreated injuries. Freshwater fish tanks were described by some as dirty, with dead fish visible and others stuck to filters. Pricing drew complaints too, with reports of inconsistent and inflated prices on both livestock and equipment like filters.

's Jungle is in the process of closing its doors permanently, with discounted prices on remaining inventory and animals. The closure marks the end of an era for a store that many West Islip families grew up visiting. Some mourn the loss of a unique local institution; others feel the closure was overdue given repeated concerns about animal welfare that led to reports to local authorities and the USDA.

's in its prime — the sprawling aisles, the exotic creatures, the sense of walking into a genuine jungle of pets — the shop's final chapter carries real weight, even if its later years were marked by controversy.