Welcome to our page dedicated to ranking the online reptile stores that we recommend. Our goal is to provide accurate and up-to-date information about various online stores that specialize in selling reptiles and related supplies. We understand that finding a reputable online reptile store can be a daunting task, which is why we have put together this ranking system to help you make an informed decision.
At our core, animal safety and integrity are our top priorities. We want to ensure that every reptile purchased through one of the online stores we recommend is in good health and has been treated with the utmost care.
We believe that by working with online vendors that prioritize animal welfare, we can help promote a culture of responsible pet ownership and contribute to the well-being of the reptile community. In this way, our ranking system is not only a tool to help you find the best online reptile stores, but also a way to support those stores that are committed to ethical and responsible business practices.
How We Rank The Places That Sell Reptiles Online
When recommending places that sell reptiles online, we take a long, hard look at those sites beforehand. Some of the factors that we take into consideration include:
- Shipping Practices
- Reptile Care
- Reptile Variety
- Prices
Here is an in-depth look at the criteria each reptile supplier must meet before we recommend them to our viewers.
Shipping
Shipping is probably the most important part of buying a reptile online. When you order a product on Amazon, chances are it’s something they can throw in a cardboard box or a bubble-wrap mailer and send out within a few hours.
But there’s far more consideration that goes into shipping live reptiles. You have to think about the security of the container (will the reptile be safe? Can they escape?), as well as the speed of delivery and the interior conditions of the container.
When it comes to shipping live reptiles, here’s what you should be looking for in a supplier:
Attention to Temperature – If the outside temperature is too hot or too cold, the reptile supplier will wait to ship your reptile until there’s a cooler or warmer day to avoid harming the reptile.
Container Insulation – Because reptiles are incredibly sensitive to temperature and humidity changes, good reptile suppliers will integrate the best kinds of insulation to protect your pet from fluctuating temperatures. Plus, they’ll also add heating or cooling packs to help maintain a constant temperature.
Picking Only The Best Couriers – Anyone who has had to ship a package before knows there are a lot of routes you can take. These include the USPS, FedEx, UPS, or DHL. The best reptile suppliers will ship your reptile using the most reputable shipping companies, often choosing between FedEx and UPS. Containers are also marked as Fragile or Live Reptile, so carriers know to be careful. Because of the nature of your package, you’ll almost always have to sign for your reptile upon delivery.
Live Arrival Guarantee – All of the reptile suppliers we recommend have a live arrival guarantee. This means that you have a certain amount of time after the animal arrives to file a complaint. Usually, you have an hour to report a dead reptile to the supplier, and many companies encourage you to check the contents of your package before the freight carrier even leaves.
Reptile Care
One of the most important things to us is animal care, be it a family cat or a bearded dragon. Reptiles are wonderful creatures, and they deserve the very best care.
Now, you might be wholly dedicated to caring for your new reptile friends, but it’s also critical that the place you bought them from is also caring for them as they should be.
We check each of our recommended reptile suppliers carefully to make sure that they’re giving their reptiles the care they need.
How do we gauge this, you might be wondering? Well, if an online reptile supplier has an in-house biologist–like CB Reptiles–they score extra points. We also like to take a close look at the images of each reptile for sale. If we see any signs of illness or scale abnormalities, we tread cautiously when recommending them.
Prices
Owning reptiles can be an expensive hobby, so don’t be shocked by the prices you see when preparing to buy a reptile online.
As much as we love a good deal, a lower price on a reptile doesn’t always indicate a good deal. There’s a lot of overhead that goes into breeding, housing, feeding, and caring for reptiles, so the price has to reflect that.
And if you’re looking for a specific breed or coloration, you can expect to pay more. For example, a regular leopard gecko might run you around $50, while a Tangerine leopard gecko can range anywhere from $80 to $300!
If you’re a first time reptile owner with money burning in your pocket, we suggest you purchase a reptile that’s around $100. It can be tempting to spend a lot on a rare bearded dragon morph, but a lot of these reptiles require specialized care, which you might not be equipped to give them.
Be wary of suppliers that are selling reptiles for insanely low prices. This often indicates that they’re not investing much into the care or housing of the animals, and are just trying to turn a profit. These places exist, and it’s terrible, and the best way to end their business is to shop elsewhere.
Variety
Obviously, some reptile suppliers have breeding specialties, which can make choosing where you buy your reptile easy. If you’re looking for a specific breed or morph, there are probably only a few places to purchase from!
For example, Imperial Reptiles has a much wider selection of leopard geckos than XYZ reptiles, even though their prices are a bit higher. And CB Reptiles has a good selection of chameleons compared to other suppliers. What kind of reptile you want will impact where you should be shopping
If you already have a specific breed of reptile and need to get your pet a friend, knowing which suppliers are likely to carry each kind of lizard is key.
Why You Can Trust Our Recommendations
As a reputable source for information and recommendations for online reptile stores, we understand the importance of earning and maintaining the trust of our readers. Our team has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the reptile market, including the various species, their care requirements, and the different online stores that specialize in selling reptiles and related supplies. We have worked hard to build a reputation for providing accurate and reliable information that our readers can trust.
When it comes to recommending online reptile vendors, we take our responsibility seriously. We understand that there are many risks involved when purchasing living animals online, including the potential for fraud, scams, and unethical practices. That’s why we work hard to ensure that every store we recommend meets our strict criteria for animal welfare, business practices, and customer service.
In addition, we use a variety of methods to verify the legitimacy of the online reptile vendors that we recommend. We conduct thorough research on each store, including reading customer reviews, contacting the store directly, and reviewing their business practices and policies. We also take into account the store’s reputation in the reptile community and any feedback we have received from our readers.
Ultimately, our goal is to provide our readers with the most accurate and reliable information possible so that they can make informed and responsible purchasing decisions. We take pride in our dedication to ensuring that transactions are as safe and legit as possible, and we work hard to maintain our reputation as a trusted source for online reptile store recommendations. When you use our recommended vendors, you can trust that you are getting the best quality and service possible.
Check Out Our Reviews
If you’re looking for honest and straightforward reviews about some of the more popular online reptile vendors, then be sure to check out our collection of reviews.
Let Us Know Your Experiences
We value the feedback of our readers and believe that your input can help us provide the most accurate and up-to-date information about online reptile stores. If you have had experience with any of the online stores mentioned on our site, we encourage you to send us your personal reviews. Your reviews can help us to maintain our high standards for animal welfare, business practices, and customer service.
We understand that not every experience with an online store is perfect, and we always encourage direct feedback. If you have had a negative experience with a store we have recommended, please let us know. We take all complaints seriously and will investigate any issues that you bring to our attention.
Your feedback can help us to improve our recommendations and ensure that we continue to provide the best information possible.
Ultimately, our goal is to provide our readers with the most accurate and reliable information possible so that they can make informed and responsible purchasing decisions. Your personal reviews can help us to achieve this goal and ensure that we are always providing the best recommendations for our readers.
So if you have any feedback or personal reviews to share, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!
Email: thereptilehabitat@gmail.com