Spider Shoppe Exotic Pets & Supplies — Local services in Tacoma

I really can’t say enough about how fantastic our experience here was!

My husband and I went in on a Sunday interested in purchasing a curly hair tarantula. We were greeted by two friendly staff members who were happy to grab two curly hairs from the back and show them to us. The employees explained all the basic care and showed us their best recommendations for setup/care products. They were super helpful but also very respectful in letting my husband and I take our time to decide what was right for us. After about 45 minutes of deliberation the staff were still ready and happy to assist us.

When we went to pay there was a tip option, which I actually appreciated because we felt that a tip was well earned for all the knowledge shared by the staff. The employee we were talking to probably answered at least 30 questions for us. Additionally, the prices of the animals and other products were extremely reasonable and lower than other stores we had been to.

We are beyond happy with our curly hair tarantula and it’s setup. The spider is super active and absolutely beautiful. I want to add that we were not completely decided on buying a tarantula that day - we had done our research but were in no rush to buy an animal. But after talking to the employees and having our questions answered, we felt much more confident in our choice and the staff made us feel fully equipped to properly care for a tarantula. The staff are not trying to be salespeople and push for sales - instead they are trying to provide the customer with knowledge which is so much more valuable to everyone involved, especially the animals. We did not feel rushed or pressured to buy anything.

If you are looking for people with a passion for the hobby, a place where beginner owners are not judged, and stellar customer service, you need to visit the...

I've been wanting a tarantula for over a decade, and thank goodness for this place. I went down there on a whim after I found them online just to see what they had. I was impressed with how broad the selection was in such a tidy little shop. The critters were in good shape and well taken care of. Like I said, I didn't plan to buy, but I saw a juvenile Chaco Golden Knee and my lil heart soared. I had to do it.

I feel like a got a good deal on him, which also covered a nice well-appointed acrylic enclosure with substrate and hide (that may not be the norm, and it wasn't free, but it was a fair price for all included). I am very very happy, even though my spouse is less enthusiastic.

I was a little scared when my boy molted two days after I brought him home, which means he had a bumpy/stressful car ride during deep premolt. I wasn't happy about that, but I chalk that up mostly to being a nervous new keeper. I stayed up late watching him molt and he made it through without a hitch and looks beautiful. I think that speaks to his care before I brought him home. I wish I would have known, but it's not like these little guys spin a little webbed sign that says "I'm about to molt!"

Glad to have a specialty shop within a half hour from home, and will definitely be back. I'm already thinking about finding a nextdoor neighbor for my little guy!

Edit: Just to add, the staff was very friendly. I didn't know they were closing early that day, and I showed up not long before closing time. Doesn't matter what business you're in, it's annoying when customers show up right before closing, and I really try not to be that guy. They didn't bat an eye and seemed happy to set me up....

Spider Shoppe is by far the best purchasing experience I have had in the tarantula hobby. Tyler is a professional who not only cares about the well-being of the animals they sell, but also their customers by providing fair pricing. I have purchased over 15 tarantulas from Spider Shoppe, and every single one of them have been in top notch shape upon purchase.

The store itself is pristine; practically every care or husbandry item that a reptile or arachnid keeper could need, and then some. They have an entire wall of substrate to fit all of the species they sell, as well as different live and artificial decor to fill up your enclosure as desired. Their enclosure selection is immense, from Exo Terra's in all shapes and sizes down to small AMAC boxes. I even saw the beginnings of a live plant selection. Beginners looking to enter the hobby can rely on the information provided by the individuals working in the store without having to worry about being taken advantage of. The cleanliness of the store is appreciated, and I think it is a sign of the health of the animals.

There is truly nothing better than a business that isn't just trying to make a quick buck. Big-box pet stores profit off of inexperience by providing extremely overpriced and malnourished animals while pushing the most expensive care tools. Spider Shoppe is the opposite; customer satisfaction is their #1 priority, and you can tell they genuinely want to see the hobby grow...