
This long-term love affair with “herps” evolved from keeping them (beginning in 1987), to breeding them (beginning in 1998), to creating and managing a reptile and amphibian department inside another pet store (Healthy Pet Exotics in West Linn, Oregon), to eventually owning the current store. Healthy Pet Exotics was created by Tim Criswell with the help of his oldest son in the spring of 2004. Tim then purchased that department from the store owner in the summer of 2006 and moved it to its current location in Tigard, Oregon. When the store was purchased, the decision was made to rename it “House of Reptiles” ("thank you" to good friend Germaine Sunday for the name) to reflect the change in ownership and to help establish a new identity. We also thought that it would be useful to distinguish between "reptiles" and "exotics" (to cut down on phone calls about chinchillas and pole dancing). Tim now runs the store with the help of his wife, Shawn, and several talented employees: Marshall Brooks, Isaac Miller, Paul Hoffman, and Kim Hamblin. We also have several helpful volunteers/interns.
Part of what makes this venture worthwhile is the opportunity it gives us to make a meaningful contribution to the welfare of herps. Our interests and commitments keep us quite active:
Inset: One of the store logos - this is a closeup of an alligator's eye.
Background: "Daisy", our 14' female albino Burmese python who passed away in September 2008.
Copyright © 2006 by Tim Criswell. All rights reserved for all photos and text.