Reptiles have been on Earth for over 300 million years. Mammals are toddlers in comparison. Every snake, lizard, and tortoise around today is the result of an absurdly long line of survival. We think that earns them respect.
We didn't start this business for the money — three kids, $600 in piggy-bank cash, no one's getting rich on Dubia roaches. We started it because the reptile community in our area was missing something. The local store that sold feeders closed. Our parents weren't going to drive 45 minutes for a cup of bugs. Online shipping was killing the bugs and the price was insane for the size of order our reptiles actually needed.
But it's bigger than that. The local store wasn't just a place to buy crickets — it was a place where reptile keepers actually met each other. New keepers got real advice from experienced ones. Kids saw animals they'd never seen before. People shared what worked and what didn't. None of that happens through a cardboard box on your doorstep.
And honestly, reptiles get a bad rap. People fear them, kill snakes in their backyards that were eating the rats they didn't want, and treat them like dinosaurs to be afraid of instead of animals to learn about. We grew up loving reptiles, and we want other kids to get the chance to love them too. That's why we run the free Reptile Club. That's why we share what we learn. That's why we take this seriously even though we're 11 and 12.
Every reptile, captive or wild, deserves respect and understanding. They were here long before us — and we want to be the kind of keepers they deserve.