- Store Visit Date
- March 3, 2024
- Store Condition
- Variety
- Employee Knowledge
- Price
- Would you purchase from again?
- Yes
As a NorCal resident, the East Bay Vivarium is my go-to place for inverts. They have a good variety for a store, depending on the season.
On my trip there a week ago, I bought an amblypygid, Phrynus marginemaculatus, which I have been waiting to come back in stock for a long time.
I called the store to ask for their current invertebrate stock, since their website is extremely unreliable and almost never gets updated. Upon being informed of the amblypygids' availability, I headed over.
Most of the other invertebrates were kept in appropriate tanks; unfortunately, this was not the case for the amblypygids. They were kept in small flat boxes with several individuals each. Even as a temporary tank, this was not acceptable. Regardless, I bought the largest individual.
At the checkout, an employee started asking me questions about my purchase. I was fine with that and went with the flow. However, they then began pushing incorrect knowledge on me that was completely incorrect for this species/genus. The caresheet they provided was no better.
Despite this slightly confusing and jarring experience, I will be ordering from this store again due to its convenience and the fact that the majority of its animals are relatively well kept. Just beware of the website-- don't trust it, and make a call instead. And don't expect the best care for some of the more exotic/seasonal invertebrates-- the East Bay Vivarium is primarily a reptile store, after all.
On my trip there a week ago, I bought an amblypygid, Phrynus marginemaculatus, which I have been waiting to come back in stock for a long time.
I called the store to ask for their current invertebrate stock, since their website is extremely unreliable and almost never gets updated. Upon being informed of the amblypygids' availability, I headed over.
Most of the other invertebrates were kept in appropriate tanks; unfortunately, this was not the case for the amblypygids. They were kept in small flat boxes with several individuals each. Even as a temporary tank, this was not acceptable. Regardless, I bought the largest individual.
At the checkout, an employee started asking me questions about my purchase. I was fine with that and went with the flow. However, they then began pushing incorrect knowledge on me that was completely incorrect for this species/genus. The caresheet they provided was no better.
Despite this slightly confusing and jarring experience, I will be ordering from this store again due to its convenience and the fact that the majority of its animals are relatively well kept. Just beware of the website-- don't trust it, and make a call instead. And don't expect the best care for some of the more exotic/seasonal invertebrates-- the East Bay Vivarium is primarily a reptile store, after all.