We all know Hong Kong has a big population of cat and dog lovers, but did you know reptiles are the new stars and reptile lovers are growing in numbers in recent years? These extraordinary pets definitely appeal to many pet owners. Some have even made a career out of this hobby.
Having grown up with two family pet tortoises, long-time reptile lover Samuel Yam has developed a bond with reptiles since childhood. He quit his job in 2019 and invested a six-digit sum to open a pet shop with a high school friend who had just returned to Hong Kong after completing veterinarian training in Australia. They rented an upper floor shop unit not far from “Goldfish Street” in Mongkok. AOG Exotics Services opened for business.
Resident vet as a special attraction
“I was only 24 when I applied to AFCD for a license. They told me it’s been years since they had a young new applicant and even said I was courageous.” New to the game, Yam the novice pet shop owner did not know the first thing about running the business. He did not even know where to get stock and supplies. Luckily, having kept pet tortoises for years, he has friends in the business. He was not shy to ask for guidance and many were happy to help. Slowly but surely, his business got on the right track.
AOG’s main attraction is a resident vet who provides quality professional care to pet owners’ reptiles. “The reptile pet sector is relative small. There are only about 20 reptile pet shops in Hong Kong and very few offer vet consultation service like ours. Our vet can also prescribe wormers to keep every animal in good health.”
Most first-time owners are women
Yam said the resident vet was a major feature that attracted customers in the early days. As word-of-mouth played its role, the shop gradually made a name and secured a foothold in the market. Reptiles like tortoises, geckoes and lizards are AOG’s key offers, and Yam estimates a six-digit monthly turnover. On average, the shop sells 20 to 30 pet reptiles every month.
AOG has sailed through surges of COVID-19 since opening. The downturn is gradually bottoming out now and the public is becoming more acceptive of keeping reptiles as pets. Novice pet owners across all age groups are clearly growing in numbers, and young women are the majority. “With anti-pandemic measures in place, people are spending more time at home and this might have pushed up demand for pet animals that can provide company. Geckoes and tortoises appeal to novice owners because they are relatively easy to keep and start-up cost is budgetfriendly.”
Sharing knowhow to ensure pet reptiles are properly cared for
From a novice keeper to a tortoise expert with more than a dozen tortoises, Yam has come a long way. He remembers buying a grooved tortoise, his first pet reptile, from a reptile pet shop while strolling along “Goldfish Street” with a few friends. He was a F.5 student with no experience and the tortoise died three months later. “I was a beginner and relied on online tips for keeping tortoises. I overlooked that each tortoise species had its individual needs, plus the fact that my tortoise probably had health problems and its condition deteriorated quickly.” His third tortoise, a leopard tortoise, was put down at the age of six due to kidney failure. Leptospirosis was suspected. He felt really guilty for not taking good care of his pet and this sad incident brought the message home that it is vital to get information on how to raise pet reptiles properly.
“We make beginner’s guide videos regularly and post them on social media to feature different reptiles and share important caring tips. We hope to promote the pet reptile culture and help beginners to looking after their new pets properly. One of our customers wanted to keep chameleons and tortoises in the same enclosure for easy handling, not realizing they had different requirements for temperature and living environment. Fortunately, the customer listened to our advice and gave up the idea.”
Committed to promoting reptile pet culture
“Goldfish Street” was a favorite destination for Yam and his friends back in the high school days. His childhood dream of opening a reptile pet shop has now come true. He is so happy to look after his favorite animals and do what he likes every day. Indeed, it is a blessing to turn one’s interest into a lifelong career. He has many interesting stories about keeping reptiles too. “Take tortoises as an example. Signs of joyful emotion like accelerated pace are only obvious during feeding and mating. For the rest of the time, they remain very calm. They can recognize their owners and are clearly more affectionate to people who feed them on a regular basis.”
Unlike ordinary reptile pet shops, AOG is bright and clean, and the friendly shopkeepers are always ready for a good chat about how to raise reptiles. “We want to change the negative impression of reptile pet shops as being cold and dark. It’s our goal to bring pet reptiles into the mainstream pet culture so that people will see reptiles are not as creepy as they think. They are just as adorable as furry pets.”
