Austin's oldest exotic shop · Est. 1988
Zookeeper

The wild, kept well.

Austin's only full-service exotic pet & plant store — birds, reptiles, amphibians, inverts and living plants, each one well-started and backed by real keepers.

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Care guides

Care guides for every family

Everything we keep comes with a care guide — habitat, diet, temperament and how to get started. Pick a family to preview the species, then open its full guide.

A blue-tongue skink resting among cork bark and foliage

Reptiles

8 species

Snakes, geckos, chameleons and skinks.

Ball PythonLeopard GeckoCrested GeckoBearded DragonPanther ChameleonArgentine TeguWhite-Lipped PythonGiant Day Gecko
What we do

Full-service, from first habitat on

Everything an exotic keeper needs, backed by people who actually keep these animals.

A bright green eclectus parrot with an orange beak

Exotic Pets & Birds

Parrots, conures, cockatiels and more — hand-raised with care and matched to the right home.

A vivid green iguana climbing a branch

Reptiles & Amphibians

Ball pythons, chameleons, geckos, dart frogs, axolotls and tortoises — well-started and ready.

A red-knee tarantula with vivid orange leg bands

Arachnids & Inverts

Tarantulas, scorpions, isopods, springtails and mantises for the adventurous keeper.

A tray of assorted cacti and succulents

Live Plants

A full plant selection — including hard-to-find terrarium plants and orchids — to bring any space to life.

A ferret being held in a keeper's arms on the shop floor

Boarding & Care

Going out of town? We'll look after your animals like our own.

A handful of baby leopard tortoises held in cupped hands

Expert Care Advice

Real keepers on the floor — ask us anything, before and after you buy.

Sophia, our resident sloth, peeking over a ledge in her jungle enclosure
In loving memory · Austin's favorite resident

Remembering Sophia, our sloth

For two decades Sophia was an Austin icon — people drove across town just to see her through the window, and one couple even got engaged in her enclosure. She passed peacefully of old age in 2023. She's no longer at the shop, but she's asked about often and dearly missed.

“She's easy — but she's a diva. She'll throw a temper tantrum if food's not on time.”

— David, store manager
Loved by Austin

What keepers are saying

12K followers · 96% recommend (361 reviews)

★★★★★
Zookeeper has an impressive variety, and the staff are knowledgeable, welcoming, and truly passionate. My 5-year-old is obsessed with axolotls — we made the drive and it was SO worth it. They even surprised him with an axolotl toy. A day he won't forget!
Ayesha A. Vijay · Apr 2024
★★★★★
Daniel and Brandon were a delight to work with. We bought a ball python for our daughter and they spent an hour patiently answering our questions and showing us the ropes. We left confident and excited.
Krysten Tucker · Jun 2024
★★★★★
We went there for a hedgehog and found the staff knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. The love and concern they have for the animals they sell is apparent. Great place and great staff!
Stephanie Saenz · May 2024
★★★★★
Our first reptile! We worked with Steven on a few snakes and landed on 'Toothless,' our African house snake. He educated us and set us up with a terrarium, substrate, and goodies. Zookeeper earned my trust and business.
Adrian Patin · Apr 2024
★★★★★
The staff and selection are always amazing! It's a wonderful place to expose kids to all sorts of critters and bring home a loving addition to the family.
Lena Loomis · Apr 2024
★★★★★
Wonderful store with very knowledgeable staff. Our daughter was choosing her first tarantula, and Dave gave her the best advice for a beginner. Five stars for customer service — we'll definitely be repeat customers!
Nina Klein Palmer · Nov 2020
★★★★★
Zookeeper has an impressive variety, and the staff are knowledgeable, welcoming, and truly passionate. My 5-year-old is obsessed with axolotls — we made the drive and it was SO worth it. They even surprised him with an axolotl toy. A day he won't forget!
Ayesha A. Vijay · Apr 2024
★★★★★
Daniel and Brandon were a delight to work with. We bought a ball python for our daughter and they spent an hour patiently answering our questions and showing us the ropes. We left confident and excited.
Krysten Tucker · Jun 2024
★★★★★
We went there for a hedgehog and found the staff knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. The love and concern they have for the animals they sell is apparent. Great place and great staff!
Stephanie Saenz · May 2024
★★★★★
Our first reptile! We worked with Steven on a few snakes and landed on 'Toothless,' our African house snake. He educated us and set us up with a terrarium, substrate, and goodies. Zookeeper earned my trust and business.
Adrian Patin · Apr 2024
★★★★★
The staff and selection are always amazing! It's a wonderful place to expose kids to all sorts of critters and bring home a loving addition to the family.
Lena Loomis · Apr 2024
★★★★★
Wonderful store with very knowledgeable staff. Our daughter was choosing her first tarantula, and Dave gave her the best advice for a beginner. Five stars for customer service — we'll definitely be repeat customers!
Nina Klein Palmer · Nov 2020
Connect with us

Follow along

The latest arrivals and animal antics land on our socials first — give us a follow and come say hi.

Instagram

@exotics.zookeeper

New arrivals, behind-the-scenes and the occasional sloth cameo — we post here most.

Emperor scorpions glowing turquoise under a blacklight
A green-and-black dart frog on a mossy rock
A red-knee tarantula with vivid orange leg bands

Facebook

Zookeeper

Shop news, events and our 12K-strong community of Austin exotic keepers.

Three axolotls tucked under an aquarium rock
A handful of baby leopard tortoises
A young turtle basking on a rock
Come see us

Come visit in North Austin

Open seven days a week — drop by, call ahead, or get directions. There's always something new on the floor.

Store hours
  • 9012 Research Blvd, Ste C-11, Austin, TX 78758
  • Mon–Sat 10am–7pm · Sun 12pm–6pm
  • (512) 453-8800
Zookeeper's neon fly sign glowing above the shop floor