Rose City Reptiles

No, this is not a zoo - but they do have a big and cool collection of snakes to take a gander at. Even if you have ophidiophobia (fear of snakes).

I can't really describe the power that owner/proprietor/insane snake guy Thuyn has over animals...and people. I once saw him pick up a huge monitor lizard, whisper something to it, and place it gently upside-down on the floor, where it proceeded to take a 20 minute nap.

Another time, to our absolute horror, he placed a scorpion in his mouth (for a larf, I guess) and then handed it over to my girlfriend, who is not a known handler of poisonous arachnids. He also used the same weird mind-control thing on me and I ended up with a tarantula in my hand, which is something I would not normally agree to do on any other plane of existence.

So yeah. I guess it's safe to assume we aren't dealing with your average 'Petco' here.

The shop is small and it smells like the floor of the goddamned Amazon basin, but Rose City Reptiles has a fairly incredible assortment of snakes, lizards, frogs, tortoises and other creepy things that normal people don't tend to keep as pets. It's a specialized shop for specialized humans, who have either grown up in the woods with no friends, or perhaps grown up as a drama-club person (also with no friends).

**At this juncture, I'd like to point out that I grew up in the woods with no friends.

The animals look healthy and well-cared for and obsessed over, except for the very small lizards that have escaped their cages and skitter around on the walls. They actually might be doing just fine, but it's kind of hard to tell because they are pretty fast.

So this place gets 5 stars because there is no possible other rating for such a unique display of characters and critters. I guess it may knock them down a point or two if they kept the animals in, like, old 7-Eleven cups and empty Dorito's bags, but even then I'd probably just give them points for being thrifty.

Thuyn is the Vietnamese man who has built himself a reputation as a reptile man, and to me he is magical.

Thuyn instantly fascinated me with his exotic collection of chameleons, snakes, tarantulas, and other creatures of nightmares. Thuyn himself is of small stature and huge personality and his contagious and booming laugh punctuates his jokes and stories. To me, Thuyn is a character in a magical realist novel in which his unbelievable stories of Vietnam, snakes, and Portland are real and the creatures of his reptile store are the back drop.

Thuyn convinced me to discard my fear of snakes and when I my cat got lost I left him a note asking him to use his magical powers to will my cat back to his rightful place; Hermano returned within a few hours.

The reptiles and snakes are amazing, but chatting with Thuyn is the real draw to Rose City Reptiles.

Rose City Reptiles is a great store to walk into if you have the time and aren't squeamish. Inside, in addition to all the geckos and ball pythons, you find huge sakes, bizarre-looking rare lizards, colorful frogs and lots of spiders, including palm-sized tarantulas and other manner of creepy things. It's basically a free trip to the zoo's reptile house, except the selection here is much, much better.
And if you have a reptile, amphibian, or crawly at home, look no further for all the supplies you need to take care of them, as it's all here.

5 Stars!!!

Thuyn (pronounced Twin) owns the place and he is adorableeeee.

The prices are very affordable and I got a super super deal on the whole set up for my lizard! You can always bring back your pet for a lil check-up! And to maintain my lil new friend barely cost anything! Thuyn knows everything there is to know about all the snakes, lizards, spiders that there is to know.

Here's the thing: Thuyn really cares about the safety and happiness of all his lil creepy, crawly friends. I really dig that.

Even if you don't want to buy a pet right now, go in and hold a couple of them! Thuyn is like the reptile whisperer!!! Don't be scaredddddd :]

I'm so sad. I went there today and the store is gone. Empty. You will be missed Thuyn!

Love Rose City Reptiles!!!!

Yep, all the positive reviews are absolutely true. I've honestly been to just about every reptile shop/pet store in the Portland area and THIS is the place I come to now exclusively for pets and supplies. It's really true what you read about the conditions at many pet stores: appalling and born of ignorance (and dare I say, a lack of caring/interest? There, I said it). While not all are like that, certainly, there is yet more that Rose City has to offer than just "humane" animal conditions. Here's a guy, Twin, who knows his stuff and loves his work. He's fair, honest, informative, helpful, even if he doesn't stand to make a buck in the process (and for me, that's good for business!). My kids also love to go there because he spends time sharing his passion. They look forward to going to see what he has recently hatched, rescued, or received from KNOWN sources. He's not located close to my home, but I make the trip once a week anyway to get supplies or bring one of my creatures in for advice. Please, try this wonderful local, independent place first.

(My dependents: ball python, snow corn snake, versicolor tarantula, Chilean rose tarantula, 2 emperor scorpions, a wild aquarium, and soon to have hundreds of mantid nymphs!)

This is THE place to get a new family member. My son and I wondered in to Thuyn's shop when my son was about 4 years old. He instantly fell in love with all of the wonderful creatures. I think he wanted Thuyn to be his best friend, especially when he got to hold these creatures. Years later we decided to embark on bringing one of the scaly ones home. We could have gone to one of the local large pet shops and bought a lizard right away, but we did the responsible thing by letting Thuyn know what we were wanting (albino leopard gecko- I did an extensive amount of research to pick the lizard that would be best for us). He kept us updated on when they were born and when they would arrive at the shop, ready to go to new homes. Our little buddy is part of our family! We have had him for over a year now and I am so glad that we got him from Rose City- he is healthy and friendly. We still love hanging around in Thuyn's wonderland, 4 years later, but now we have to pick up a couple of crickets when we go visit.