About
Tucked beneath the I-70 overpass on Sterling Avenue, John's Exotic Pet Store is a small, owner-run shop that has become a Kansas City fixture for keepers who want something the big chains don't stock. Owner John is the heart of the place — a hands-on proprietor who answers care questions over the phone, walks customers through taming a new cockatiel, and has been known to stay late to take in a rescued bearded dragon. Regulars describe a man who clearly cares about every animal that passes through his door.
While the name says "exotic," the store also serves local aquarium keepers: as a neighborhood fish store it carries freshwater fish, fish food, and the tanks, bowls, hides, and supplies to set them up, generally priced below PetSmart or Petco. The deepest draw, though, is the livestock. Snake and reptile owners keep coming back for dependable, affordable feeders — feeder rats, mice, and crickets for sale in Kansas City, MO — while the reptile room turns over bearded dragons, ball pythons, and, lately, crested geckos and a white tree frog that recent visitors went home thrilled with.
The bird section stays busy with parakeets, cockatiels, and conures, and the small-mammal side rounds things out with rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, hedgehogs, and de-scented ferrets that run about $100 less than the chains. One recent customer walked out with a pink toe tarantula for her dad and praised how clean and well cared for the animals looked; another picked up a hedgehog and called the help kind and knowledgeable. John's is admittedly a polarizing little shop.
9 rating reflects. For Kansas City pet owners who value a locally owned alternative and an owner who remembers your name and your snake's feeding schedule, John's offers a personal, in-person experience worth the trip.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at John’s Exotic Pet Store in Kansas City, MO
John’s Exotic Pet Store stocks freshwater fish for sale in Kansas City, MO. As a fish store serving Kansas City, MO, it also carries dry goods and fish food and offers aquarium consultations.
- Livestock & products
- Dry GoodsFish Food
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Owner-run exotic pet and fish store under the I-70 overpass on Sterling Avenue, with John known for personal service and phone advice
- Dependable, affordable feeders — feeder rats, mice, and crickets — for snake and reptile keepers
- Reptiles including bearded dragons, ball pythons, crested geckos, and a white tree frog
- Exotic birds (parakeets, cockatiels, conures), small mammals (rabbits, hamsters, hedgehogs, de-scented ferrets ~$100 below chains), and tarantulas like the pink toe
- Carries freshwater fish, fish food, and pet supplies (hides, bowls, cages, toys) priced below big-box stores
From keepers
Customer reviews
“It is what it is which I dont know what that is but my man's got a vision. There's stuff in there, and heat”
— Astro Noob2.02 weeks ago“I'm not too impressive, extremely overpriced. Just about a geico, and was looking for stuff for him. And it looks more like they're getting rid of the pent part and turning into one of those amazon stores.Good luck”
— Debby Bailey2.03 weeks ago“I always get what I need from there for my brothers pet snake. I think it's like an Amazon store also, well now it is”
— Roberto Liera5.04 weeks ago“Only has one size for crickets.”
— Mitchel Rhodes2.0a month ago“I absolutely love this store. I’ve visited many times just to look and he was always kind to me. I ended up buying a spider for my dad (he lives over an hour away) so John was kind enough to let me send my dad a picture of the spiders in question. I walked away with a beautiful pink toes tarantula and happy dad that day. His store is clean and his animals seem happy and well taken care of. I would highly recommend this store to anyone looking for an exotic pet.”
— Hydie Kauffman5.0a month ago“I see a lot of great reviews and a lot of poop ones! I just went in there Sunday and I had a great experience. I didn’t notice it smelling bad. I only saw a few of his animals bc I only went in certain areas. But the birds all looked great and they seemed happy. And then I saw his geckos and his white tree frog. Those all seemed great. We held two crested geckos. He said they were about 3-4 mos old. One was jumpy (as babies should be bc everything is danger) and the other was super sweet! So I got him/her (can’t tell yet) and then we looked at the frog. My bf held him and the frog just kinda hung out in his hand! So we got him! We were quite excited for our new babies!! We are excited to go back! Oh and John seemed quite knowledgeable!”
— VERONICA BENNETT5.03 months ago“Purchased a new hedgehog today, and the guy who helped was very kind and knowledgeable!”
— Brit Leonard5.03 months ago“Not friendly”
— Dustin Hays1.04 months ago“This place has a horrible odor and it was very dirty. The animals are kept in dirty enclosures, some of them appear ill. The ball pythons looked really stressed out due to a lack of hides.”
— North Bond1.04 months ago“Clean and well organized. I was unsure because of other reviews but there was virtually no odor and Im super sensitive. Animals all looked well cared for and the few who were sick had signs explaining they were rescues being nursed.”
— Jamie Richardson4.0a week ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (816) 265-0028 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting John’s Exotic Pet Store.