Overview

What makes a good pet shop, how do you know who to trust, well on this page we will discuss what in my opinion makes a good pet shop and what things to avoid when shopping for a new pet. Along with some other reptile shopping related stories.

Recomendations

Here’s a list of pet shops and online stores where I’ve personally purchased pets and supplies. Each of these experiences has been positive!

Reptiles and more

Scaped Nature - Norwich

Scaped Nature in Norwich stands out as an exceptional local store for exotic pet enthusiasts. Owned and operated by Joe, a passionate expert in exotic animal care, the shop offers a wide variety of unique and fascinating species. Joe’s extensive knowledge and dedication to animal welfare are evident in the store's impeccable care standards. He’s also incredibly approachable and well-connected, making it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for. What truly sets Scaped Nature apart is its modern approach to reptile husbandry. The store stocks cutting-edge lighting and care equipment, ensuring the best possible environment for your pets. While some items may be priced slightly higher, reflecting the store’s location in a larger city like Norwich, the quality and expertise you receive are well worth it. Supporting local shops like Scaped Nature is invaluable—not only do you benefit from Joe’s expertise, but you also help sustain local businesses that are vital to the community. Instead of shopping online, consider investing in your local pet stores. When you support them, they’re there to support you and your pets, you cant say the same for an online retailer.

The Pet Tank - Lowestoft

The Pet Tank is a fantastic local store with an impressive selection of live foods. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and always prioritize animal welfare. When purchasing an animal here, you’ll receive a detailed care sheet and sign a contract to ensure you fully understand the responsibilities of pet ownership—something I believe all pet shops should implement. This store is one of my top three go-to places for my weekly live food needs. They have a fantastic range of decor and substrates for extreamly good prices and we are very lucky to have this fantastic little store.

Koi Joy -  Lowestoft Gorleston

Koi Joy is a nostalgic, old-school-style shop with a strong focus on aquatics, setting it apart from other exotic pet stores. However, their offerings extend far beyond aquatics, featuring a unique range of pets you won’t easily find elsewhere, including mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and, of course, aquatic creatures. With two stores located in neighboring towns, Koi Joy provides competitive pricing on a wide variety of items. For reptile enthusiasts, this shop is a hidden gem, as they stock rare and fascinating books from the 1990s filled with valuable and intriguing information. Whether you're an aquatics lover or an exotic pet enthusiast, Koi Joy is worth a visit!

Online Equipment stores

Internet reptile - Swell reptiles - Northampton reptile centre

Throughout this website, I frequently reference these stores and include links to them. They are excellent sources for equipment and terrariums. However, I always encourage supporting your local stores first whenever possible. Shopping locally not only strengthens our community and economy but also provides the convenience of immediate access to products. While online retailers certainly have their place—especially for specialized equipment—visiting a brick-and-mortar store is often more practical and rewarding.

Morph market sellers

Chloe's Geckos UK

If you're looking for a trusted independent seller of Leopard Geckos, Chloe's Geckos UK is an excellent choice. I purchased one of my male Leopard Geckos from Chloe, and the experience was outstanding. She provided complete genetic information, including details about the sire and dam, ensuring transparency and confidence in my purchase. For a happy, healthy gecko and top-notch service, Chloe's Geckos is a seller you can rely on and support with confidence.

N&M Reptiles

N&M Reptiles is a passionate and independent hobbyist seller specializing in stunning Ackie monitors. Highly knowledgeable and dedicated, they took the time to guide me through every detail to ensure I was fully prepared. Their friendly and approachable demeanor makes them exactly what you’d hope for in a trusted reptile breeder.

Reptasia Pet Centre

Reptasia Pet Centre is a pet shop located across the country from me, where I purchased a captive-bred Berber skink. Their communication throughout the entire process was excellent. They ensured my enclosure was suitable, as every responsible seller should. The skink was delivered by a highly professional courier, and they kept me updated on its journey, including conditions, temperatures, and overall well-being. Highly recommended!

PET SHOP DISTRIBUTORS

Peregrine Livefoods

Peregrine Livefoods is one of the largest pet shop distributors in the United Kingdom, supplying a significant portion of the live food available in pet stores. Their products are known for their exceptional quality and longevity. In addition to live food, they also provide livestock to pet stores, with the majority of their animals being captive-bred, which is fantastic for ethical and sustainable pet care. If you're interested in any of their livestock, most pet shops affiliated with Peregrine Livefoods can place an order for you. Simply visit your local pet store and inquire about the animal you're looking for.

Monkfield reptile -

Monkfield stands out as a leading pet shop distributor in the UK, offering a wide variety of reptile species. While they do provide some wild-caught specimens—an approach that has sparked mixed opinions—they remain an invaluable resource for breeders and enthusiasts, especially for rarer species not commonly available as captive-bred. Over the years, I have purchased a few specimens through pet stores for breeding projects, and their selection has consistently impressed me. Additionally, Monkfield is renowned for being one of the largest distributors of live food and livestock in the UK, making them a trusted name in the industry.

Invertibrates and more

The Spider Shop

A must-visit destination for enthusiasts of the invertebrate hobby. While they specialize in spiders, their offerings extend far beyond. You'll find a wide variety of invertebrates, including scorpions, mantises, woodlice, beetles, millipedes, centipedes, and more.

Their livestock is always shipped with exceptional professionalism, arriving carefully packaged to ensure the utmost safety. Over the years, I’ve spent a significant amount with them and have never encountered a single issue. This is another website I can wholeheartedly recommend.

Spa Spiders

Spa Spiders is an excellent destination for acquiring tarantulas. They consistently offer rare and sought-after species, providing a unique selection for enthusiasts. Their team is friendly and laid-back at events, allowing you to browse at your own pace without any pushy sales tactics. The tarantulas they display are always in outstanding condition, reflecting their dedication to quality. Overall, Spa Spiders is truly one of the UK's standout tarantula shops, and we're fortunate to have them.

Ants Davey - A Hidden Gem for Ant Enthusiasts

Ants Davey is a fantastic small business, seemingly operated by a dedicated individual with a true passion for ants. They consistently offer an impressive selection of species, paired with professional branding and reliable delivery. Currently, I have one colony left—my Natal Droptail Ants. This species is truly fascinating, highly underrated, and incredibly easy to care for.

If you're looking to support Ants Davey, I wholeheartedly recommend them. They also boast an extensive range of leafcutter ants and provide full support to help you care for these incredible creatures. It's a go-to destination for any ant enthusiast!

Ant Antics -

A couple of years ago, I went through a phase where I became completely fascinated with ants. I spent hours listening to podcasts, and to this day, I still have an ant colony in my house. Even as a child, I was captivated by ants and their behaviors. I remember creating small clay island habitats in my bedroom, surrounding them with water to keep the ants from escaping. I’d feed them sugar and other things I’d seen ants eating outside. These little colonies would last about three months at a time, and I loved observing their fascinating behaviors.

Ant Antics is one of those companies I wish had existed during my childhood. Based in Wales, they’re an incredible little business with a mission to educate people about these amazing creatures. They even offer free ant colonies to educational institutions to promote learning and appreciation for ants across the country.

Over the past few years, I’ve purchased several ant colonies from Ant Antics, and I’ve been consistently impressed by their professionalism. Their packaging is top-notch, featuring clean, well-thought-out branding. Each colony comes in a custom-fit box containing a test tube with the ants, along with a certificate that includes the species, the location where the queen was caught, and a unique identifier. This attention to detail allows you to seek advice about the specific species if needed. In my opinion, Ant Antics sets the gold standard for all invertebrate sellers.

Bugzuk

I live quite close to the Invert Zoo and have visited multiple times. I highly recommend stopping by if you’re in the area. It’s a fantastic day out for any invertebrate enthusiast and an excellent place to bring children during school holidays. The exhibits are fascinating, and they even offer handling sessions with various species, guided by knowledgeable experts.

Their online shop is also impressive, offering a wide selection of beginner and advanced species that are often hard to find elsewhere. While their prices may be slightly higher, the quality and care they provide are worth it. With onsite experts dedicated to looking after the animals, you can trust that you’re getting healthy, well-cared-for specimens. You can even purchase online stock directly at the zoo. I had the chance to speak with the owner during one of my visits, and his passion for the business is truly inspiring. It’s clear that he runs Bugzuk for all the right reasons, making every visit and purchase feel worthwhile.

eBay (If You're Lucky)

eBay can be a decent place to find reptile supplies and occasionally invertebrates. However, it’s important to note that selling live animals is against eBay's policies. While I’m not encouraging you to try, I’ve personally purchased some fascinating scorpion species through eBay. They were always healthy and arrived in impressively professional packaging with reliable shipping. If you’re willing to take the risk, go ahead—but just remember, you won’t have any buyer protection from eBay if something goes wrong.

The Positives

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to have some truly amazing experiences with my local pet shops. It’s a privilege to have such knowledgeable and passionate individuals right in my community.

When I visit a pet store, these are the key qualities I look for:

• Exceptional standards of care
• Friendly and helpful customer service
• Comprehensive knowledge of the animals they sell
• High-quality equipment and products
• Support for rescue and charity initiatives
• Fair pricing and good value for money

The stores and sellers listed above consistently demonstrate these important qualities.

The Bad

I’ve had my fair share of unpleasant experiences when buying equipment—not from pet shops, but through local Facebook Marketplace deals and even at invertebrate events I’ve attended. Let’s start with the latter. I genuinely enjoy a good bargain and, for the most part, my experience with Facebook Marketplace has been positive. I’ve met and purchased items from people from all walks of life, and many have been incredibly kind and accommodating. That said, there’s one thing I absolutely can’t stand: the lack of effort some sellers put into cleaning their equipment before selling it.

For instance, a while ago, I was on the hunt for a 2-foot terrarium. I decided to browse Facebook Marketplace to see if I could find one, and I did. I messaged the seller, and they promptly replied, saying I could pick it up that evening. When I arrived in the area, I struggled to locate the house and had to message the seller again. Their response, while quick, was curt—they said they had a large tree in their garden. Eventually, I found the house, knocked on the door, and was greeted by a friendly enough guy who confirmed I was there for the terrarium. I gave it a quick look in the dimly lit doorway; it seemed alright at first glance, so I loaded it into my car and headed home.

On the way back, I noticed a strange smell coming from the back seat. Initially, I didn’t think much of it, as I had driven past a sewage works. However, when I brought the terrarium into my home and inspected it more closely, I was horrified. The enclosure was filthy and reeked terribly. I ended up spending over an hour and a half deep-cleaning the terrarium, dismantling it, and disinfecting every part. While the enclosure was inexpensive, I was shocked that someone would sell it in such a state. It made me feel terrible for whatever animal had been living in it before. This kind of negligence not only tarnishes the hobby but also risks spreading harmful viral and bacterial infections. Here's a simple rule: clean your equipment before selling it. It costs you nothing, and doing so helps protect both animals and the people who care for them.

Now, let’s talk about invertebrate events. I love these events—they’re fantastic opportunities to meet amazing individuals and see some incredible creatures from all over the world. I’ve attended quite a few in recent years and always look forward to them with excitement. However, my first experience at one of these events was a learning moment. Back then, I was relatively new to keeping invertebrates. I had cared for six or seven species of mantises and decided to branch out by getting some tailless whip scorpions. After extensive research and careful preparation, I set up two enclosures, ensuring they were perfect for these creatures.

At the event, I found a stall selling tailless whip scorpions and decided to buy two. I was thrilled—they looked incredible. I named them Saul and Kim, after characters from Better Call Saul. Once I got home, I double-checked the temperatures and humidity levels in both enclosures before introducing them. Everything seemed perfect, and I was so excited to watch them settle into their new homes. The next morning, both were hiding, which I took as a good sign. However, I noticed Saul seemed a bit sluggish, so I re-checked all the enclosure conditions. Everything appeared to be within the correct parameters. Feeling confident, I left for the day.

Unfortunately, when I returned later that evening, I found that Saul had passed away. I was devastated and couldn’t figure out what I might have done wrong. I emailed the seller—not to ask for a refund, but simply to inform them of what had happened and to make them aware in case other buyers were experiencing similar issues. I didn’t receive a response, which was disappointing, especially coming from a well-known distributor. It left a sour taste in my mouth and taught me to be much more vigilant and cautious in the future when purchasing live animals.