--- type: store name: "Ectothermic Nirvana" city: "Brainerd" state: "MN" rating: 4.8 reviews: 52 url: https://www.fishstores.org/minnesota/brainerd/ectothermic-nirvana --- # Ectothermic Nirvana Fish store in Brainerd, Minnesota - **Address**: 708 Laurel St, Brainerd, MN 56401, Brainerd, MN, 56401 - **Phone**: (218) 454-2002 - **Website**: [www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100074224608900](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100074224608900) - **Rating**: 4.8/5 (52 reviews) ## Hours | Day | Hours | | --- | --- | | Monday | Closed | | Tuesday | 12:00 – 7:00 PM | | Wednesday | 12:00 – 7:00 PM | | Thursday | 12:00 – 7:00 PM | | Friday | 12:00 – 7:00 PM | | Saturday | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | | Sunday | Closed | ## About Note: Ectothermic Nirvana in Brainerd, Minnesota is primarily a reptile and exotic pet store rather than a fish store. While it doesn't specialize in aquatic life, it serves the local Brainerd pet-keeping community with a focus on cold-blooded creatures and their care needs. Walk into Ectothermic Nirvana and you'll find yourself surrounded by bearded dragons, ball pythons, geckos, mantises, anoles, and an ever-rotating cast of scaly and six-legged residents. Owner Cassie and her team have built a loyal following in central Minnesota for their genuine passion for reptile care and their willingness to take in rescues — including the occasional hitchhiking anole that rode north in someone's van from down south. The store earns consistent praise for the quality and variety of its feeder insects. Customers rave about the condition of the crickets and hornworms, which is no small thing for reptile keepers who know that healthy feeders mean healthy pets. Live food is available at prices that keep locals coming back rather than ordering online. Budget-minded keepers will appreciate the selection of used enclosures at reasonable prices — 40-gallon tanks and other setups that make expanding a collection or starting a new one more accessible. The store regularly brings in new animals and supplies, giving repeat visitors something fresh to discover on each trip. Staff interactions stand out in the reviews. Customers describe the team as patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in matching animals with appropriate homes. The rescue-and-adoption program adds a community-minded dimension, giving displaced reptiles a second chance. Some visitors have raised concerns about humidity management in certain bioactive enclosures and overall air quality, so prospective buyers should inspect animals carefully — as with any pet purchase. That said, the overwhelming majority of Brainerd-area reptile enthusiasts count Ectothermic Nirvana as their go-to destination for feeders, affordable enclosures, and a rotating selection of captivating cold-blooded companions. ## Specializations - **Known For**: Reptiles & Amphibians, Premium Equipment, Knowledgeable Staff, Beginner Friendly, Good Prices ## Highlights - Wide variety of reptiles including bearded dragons, ball pythons, geckos, and mantises - High-quality feeder insects — crickets and hornworms in excellent condition - Affordable used enclosures and equipment - Rescue animals available for adoption - Knowledgeable and patient staff led by owner Cassie ## Customer Reviews **"Nicole Smith"** - 5/5 - a week ago > Great store!!! We will be back again!!! ☺️ **"Love Bug"** - 5/5 - 2 weeks ago > This place is such a breath of fresh air. Wonderful owners who take great care of the creatures here. Seeing all the different creatures in their clean and appropriate habitats makes me so happy. They always have new items and creatures, along with fresh / live food at an affordable price. **"Angie Dziedzic"** - 5/5 - 3 weeks ago > I got the most beautiful mantis❤️ **"Sabrina Dunham"** - 5/5 - a month ago > They take exceptional good care of their animals. There crickets are alive and in amazing condition. They have hornworms in wonderful condition. I am so happy I stopped here!!! They have a beautiful selection of different reptiles. **"Jason Hall"** - 5/5 - 2 months ago > do they have tiger salamanders **"Mister Jones"** - 5/5 - 2 months ago > I dropped off an anole that hitched a ride in my van from down south. Cassie received the lizard graciously, and I am am assured that it will be well homed and cared for. Thank you. 5 stars!!!! **"Nick Simmonds"** - 4/5 - 5 months ago > Amazing number of reptiles! Very knowledgeable, and helpful! **"Thank You"** - 3/5 - 5 months ago > Concerning conditions, when you open the door a wave of urea hits you (no this is not normal for a reptile shop or bioactive). The set ups are an attempt at bioactive with dying plants and unregulated moisture levels. Geckos i saw were missing tips of their tails which is an indication of poor shedding due to humidity issues, no indication that they were rescues. They had some cute rescues for adoption also, and good deals on used enclosures but it's not a place I would recommend someone make a special trip for unless you wanted a deal on a 40 gal or really needed feeders locally. ## Nearby Stores - [Deez Fish Co](https://www.fishstores.org/minnesota/detroit-lakes/deez-fish-co) - Detroit Lakes, MN - 5.0/5 - [Aqualand Aquarium Center](https://www.fishstores.org/minnesota/cannon-falls/aqualand-aquarium-center) - Cannon Falls, MN - 4.9/5 - [Granite City Aquaria](https://www.fishstores.org/minnesota/st-cloud/granite-city-aquaria) - St Cloud, MN - 4.9/5 - [Joes shrimp shack](https://www.fishstores.org/minnesota/plymouth/joes-shrimp-shack) - Plymouth, MN - 4.9/5 - [MN Aquatics](https://www.fishstores.org/minnesota/east-bethel/mn-aquatics) - East Bethel, MN - 4.9/5 - [Rivershore Aquariums](https://www.fishstores.org/minnesota/minneapolis/rivershore-aquariums) - Minneapolis, MN - 4.9/5 --- *Source: [FishStores.org](https://www.fishstores.org/minnesota/brainerd/ectothermic-nirvana)* *Last updated: February 7, 2026*