Reptile & Amphibian Forums

the East Bay Vivarium in Berkeley, CA? I live about an hour away from them and have been to their retail location many times and I love them. I have purchased many snakes/supplies and have never been dissatisfied. I'd like to know if anyone lives near them and has been to them and what your opinions of them were.

I have not been to their place in quite a few years, as I no longer live in Calif. I can say this though. They are one of if not the OLDEST reptile store in the nation. I used to go there every day back in the early 70's. They are one of the few stores that has been around longer than mine. I would think that going to east bay vivarium would be anything BUT a waste of time.
Bruce Delles c/o Twin Cities Reptiles
CELEBRATING OUR 29TH YEAR IN THE RETAIL REPTILE BUSINESS

I have to agree with them being the oldest reptile store. I know the owner personally and have for quite some time. He is a great guy. It's weird but he was actually going to go into the world of being a musician but he said he didn't because an extreme lack of talent, lol The place is awesome and I wouldn't go anywhere else. I got a pair of het albino ball pythons for $350. They were a yearling female and a couple months old male. I told a lot of people and they didn't believe they were true hets but I knew that the EBV wouldn't screw me over like that. I know them too well and I just really trust them. Plus I have never heard of them ripping somebody off like that...I hope

Started going there 20 years ago when I kept king snakes. Bought all my snakes there and supplies. They don't seem to sell as many BPs -- some normals, few pastels, once in awhile an albino. At least that's all they ever have out front; there may be more in the back. I still drive over every w/e for rats. Bit of a trek but I wouldn't go anywhere else. Owen and John are two of three owners, I think, and they know tons of stuff about tons of stuff. Almost always mobbed on the weekends but a good deal calmer if you can get there during the week. Place is a Bay Area institution really.

I love the EBV and I am 90% sure that Owen is now the only owner. He may have bought out the other two or they justed parted their own ways. You're right about it being swamped on weekends though. It'll take you close to an hour somtimes to get help because it is so busy. However, once you get helped and start talking to them, you realize it was well worth the wait. I would love a job there but I would have to commute about an hour and 15 minutes but that is do-able.
They don't have a ton of BP's though. They have normals, pastels, albinos, and het albinos and it stops right about there. It is perhaps the coolest place ever. My parents gave me the choice to either go to the EBV for the day or go to some amusement park(I can't remember which one)and I totally chose the EBV over an amusement park. I would have been a fool not to.

East Bay Vivarium...wow does that conjure up memories!

I lived in Berkeley in the 70's while attending UC Berkeley. We used to visit the East Bay Vivarium when it was in the old location (the building was destroyed in the earthquake of 1989?) for the entertainment value...looking at tarantulas and snakes! Obviously this was before I kept any snakes.

Now I chat with the guys when I see them here in Florida at the Expo in Daytona. Great people who have been in the business for a long time!

Susan
SSNAKES Reptiles
Tallahassee, Florida

Yes, their original location was destroyed by the earthquake. I was speaking with Owen, the owner, a while back and he told me about that fateful day. About 85-90% of his animals were killed. He was pulling out people on the big freeway that collapsed as well as reptile bodies. They rebuilt the store and he made a very quick comeback. He is a very nice guy and everyone that works there is very professional. As a previous person said, it truly is a bay area institution.

Never been to them but I thought everyone has heard of them.
-----
Chris Farmer
Explicit Reptiles

Just a quick comment. Some people refer to the original location as being the one that was destroyed in the quake. They were in one or two previous locations before that. I used to hang out there when it was first opened on MacArthur Blvd and owned by the original owner Ron Cauble. Talk about a variety of stuff. This was pre CITIES days (early 70's). Fresh imported true red tail boas, indian pythons, madagascar day geckos, bengal monitors, etc, etc. Man, i'm getting older as I write this.
Bruce Delles c/o Twin Cities Reptiles
CELEBRATING OUR 29TH YEAR IN THE RETAIL REPTILE BUSINESS

LoL its ok I wont tell if you wont tell LoL.
-----
Chris Farmer
Explicit Reptiles