Zoo-Tropic Exotics - Pet store in Palatine - 1518 W Algonquin Rd, USA

It may sound hyperbolic, but I would give Zoo-Tropics 6 stars if it was possible. I've never been to a pet store where the owner's care for their animals was so apparent. The shop is clean, and each habitat is thoughtfully designed and well-maintained. Any concerns about care are further quelled as the owner Steven seems happy to introduce you by hand to any animal it's appropriate to handle. The numerous animals that are not for sale and are there to love and be loved almost make the shop feel more like a wildlife preserve or zoo than a business. It's truly one-of-a-kind in the area. I'm no collector, but I gather that if you like the more exotic and rare species, Steven has you set. On top of the habitats are the customer service. This place goes above and beyond to make sure you're making the right choices and are equipped for success, in terms of knowledge and equipment. I saw firsthand how Steven prioritizes animal well-being (which ultimately works out for the owner too) over just "making a sale", and I think that's a rare thing these days in any business. Pics are of the Beardie I bought, as well as my toddler's adventures across a couple visits.

My son and I were checking out different reptile stores and we are new to this and when we went into Zoo-Tropic and met the owner Steven, we felt comfortable, no pressure and he answered all of our questions. My son ended up “adopting” a corn snake and Steven knew her personality, which is awesome! The next reptile will be a fat tail gecko and Steven is our guy! Highly recommend going here if you are looking for any reptiles. 😃

Great service! Great prices! I love how the owner Stephen is very personable, knowledgeable and helpful! We have 2 snakes from here! You can tell all his animals are well taken care of! We will continue to be loyal customers to purchase our reptile food from him! I recently had a bad experience at another pet store purchasing food items for my snake and the food items are not as good as this reptile store ! I won’t find any other store that cares for their customers!

Incredible selection of inverts and reptiles alike; the owner is super cool and is always fun to talk to when I come by for feeder insects. He recommended me my first tarantula (a GBB) and I have fallen in love with her. I just bought a curly hair from him as well and I'm super excited to see what else he brings into the store. Incredible place for exotic pet needs, I always find myself coming back- no other place competes with this one in the area!

This store is one of a kind. It is run by Steven alone and has some of the rarest pets in the trade. Every single cage was decorated and thought out for the species, and you can tell he cares immensely for all of his animals. The store was clean and odor free, which is hard for a reptile store! He even engaged with the kids who came in and made them balloon animals. I'm glad I stopped in when I was in town, you should do the same if you love animals!

I am so grateful to have found this place, where we adopted our newest family member, Tortellini (aka Jennifer Slopez), a Hermanns tortoise that has added so much joy to our family. We had looked at other places, but their tortoises didn't seem "happy", nor did their owners know as much about their care. Steven has such passion for the animals he cares for, and it shows. His displays are thoughtfully designed with each animal's needs in mind. He continued to take care of Tortellini while we got the supplies needed, set up the enclosure, etc. He patiently answered my numerous questions about her care as a first-time tortoise parent, wanting us to be successful. He made himself available to answer any concerns we had after we took her home. He made sure that we were prepared to give her the right care for her breed and her needs. As stated earlier, we have been to other pet stores that specialize in reptiles, but none of them compare to Zoo-Tropics. This is definitely the place that I trust to give the best advice and care for their animals, and will be a customer for years to come.

Hi! Got an adult blue tongue skink (who is doing very well) I’m so glad I found this store, every enclosure was set up perfectly. It’s clear the store is knowledgeable and gives every animal the best care. The owner was incredibly helpful and kind. I highly recommend. This would be Lulu, she’s still adjusting. Thanks for helping me find her

This is by far one of if not the best reptile store I've been to- all the animals are well cared for in enclosures that should be a staple for the industry and beautifully done at that. I'd definitely recommend making a stop if you need any supplies (or maybe a new friend!)