THE TENNESSEAN (Nashville, Tennessea) 29 November 06 Surprise: Many exotic animal owners are female (Nicole Young)
Looking for a new hobby to dive into over the Christmas holidays? Bellevue Center Mall may have what you're looking for — that is, if your tastes tend to run on the exotic side.
Deep Forest Exotics and its owner, Robert White, have been at the mall for about a year and a half. White has been in the exotic animal business for about 20 years. The store carries everything from snakes to frogs to tropical fish. Prices on the animals range anywhere from $50 to $15,000. Here's what he has to say about his livelihood:
What Makes Your Store Different?
We are not a pet store. I am here for the hobbyist and the investor. People who are simply pet keepers do not need to come here because these animals make lousy pets. Raising exotic animals has virtually the same elements as tending a rose garden. The person who does it has to be patient and detail oriented. This can be a very big investment for some people, much like buying a car.
Why Did You Decide To Sell Exotic Animals?
Before this all became mainstream on the Internet, it was very unique and profitable way to make a living. Now it is really hard to compete with the Internet. The people who sell online usually don't have the overhead costs associated with running a real store somewhere.
Have You Met A Lot Of Interesting People?
I've sold snakes to Buddy Jewell, (Tennessee) Titans football stars and country music stars in the past. Amy Grant once came in ... and she said she was afraid of snakes. I got her over her fear by letting her handle a snake in the store.
What Kinds Of People Do You Usually See?
It's funny because most people would think that this is a very male store, but believe it or not, my average customer is female. The most enthusiastic breeders or hobbyists I come across tend to be grandmothers.
Where Do The Animals You Sell Come From?
Most of them are bred in captivity. We order them from wholesalers in Florida and California. But there are a lot of local breeders around here as well.

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