About
Upscale Exotics in Sherrill, New York is primarily a reptile and exotic animal store rather than a fish shop, but it has carved out a devoted following in the central New York area for its impressive selection of snakes, lizards, chameleons, turtles, spiders, and birds. Owner Tim and staff member Jeff are frequently praised by name for their deep knowledge of reptile husbandry, with customers noting they'll happily field endless questions about care, enclosures, and feeding. The store draws visitors from hours away — one reviewer called their three-hour drive "well worth it" — and the shop also makes appearances at reptile expos like Rexpo, where customers have purchased boas and connected with the team in person.
The shop floor is consistently described as clean and well-organized, with enclosures that are well-maintained. Customers highlight the variety of snakes — from juvenile corn snakes to boas — alongside more unusual exotics that surprise even seasoned hobbyists. Feeder insects, including crickets priced below chain-store rates, keep regulars coming back weekly.
Supplies and enclosure accessories round out the inventory, making it possible to set up a complete habitat in a single visit. The atmosphere leans personal and community-oriented. One cashier handed out a handmade keychain with a purchase.
Grandparents bring grandchildren to browse the animals as a weekly outing. Pricing is generally considered fair and reasonable across both animals and supplies, though one reviewer recounted a frustrating miscommunication over a reserved reptile that resulted in it being sold to another customer. The shop offered partial compensation, and the reviewer noted the experience seemed like an outlier given the otherwise glowing feedback.
For anyone in the Sherrill area — or within driving distance — looking for a well-stocked, passionately run exotic animal shop with knowledgeable staff and a wide variety of reptiles and unusual pets, Upscale Exotics delivers a shopping experience that chain pet stores simply cannot match.
Highlights
What makes them special
- Extensive selection of snakes, lizards, chameleons, turtles, and spiders
- Feeder insects priced below chain store rates
- Knowledgeable owner Tim and staff praised for answering detailed care questions
- Consistently clean and well-organized store environment
- Presence at reptile expos like Rexpo for in-person purchases
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Made a setup for a cornsnake and went here to get the snake and a couple final odds and ends. They had everything that I needed and ended up with a gorgeous juvenile cornsnake who's currently settling into her new home. Nice staff, clean store, and a decent variety of animals. They only had 2 cornsnakes when I got there, but I'm pretty sure they were between clutches. Tons of other snakes, turtles, spiders, lizards, and a good selection of feeders along with everything else you need for your new scaley family member. Prices on everything was reasonable. Here's Jörmungandr settling into her new home.”
— Brian Williams5.03 weeks ago“Amazing guy and team ive bought a mangrove thats doing amazing and just came and got the chameleon which is also doing great 10 out of 10 this guy knows his stuff”
— Papa Leaked5.03 weeks ago“The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. They are always well stocked with new and exciting pets. I recommend this as a 10 out of 10!!!”
— sue lanz5.06 months ago“Very clean, owner is extremely knowledgeable about the animals, quick to answer questions or concerns. Staff is always friendly. Never had one problem, my grandchildren love going every week to look when we go to get feeder insects.”
— Erin5.06 months ago“Great store!”
— TV35.08 months ago“EXCELLENT service! animals are well taken care of, the store is very clean and organized, and the staff was the absolute best. prices were great, and animals were priced fairly. cashier gave me a free keychain that she made herself! will most definitely be coming back for all of my reptile needs!”
— Mikaela Walsh5.08 months ago“What an awesome place. This is the absolute go to when it comes to exotics. Thank you Tim!!!”
— Peter Ferretti5.09 months ago“My experience with this reptile store initially was awesome. The only complaint I initially could say I had with the place is that the larger reptiles definitely needed larger enclosures to sit in. It was hard to look at them and come to terms with how very crowded some of them were. Usually a pet store can get away with things like this because they’re on the market and shouldn’t be there for long. After talking with staff however, I learned that these particular reptiles had been there for a longer while. I kept my thoughts to myself as I knew it wouldn’t help any. Now onto the main issue at hand. There was a miscommunication with the team at Upscale Exotics. We purchased a reptile and made an agreement to come back the next day for him. After coming back, we learned that they had sold our reptile to someone else! I was heartbroken and infuriated. I watched the staff member take the price tag off the tank. How does that even happen? I couldn’t even get my money back, I had to have store credit. Except, the reptile I purchased was the cheapest of his kind at the shop by a couple hundred dollars. I felt like it was a classic bait and switch, being sort of bottlenecked into purchasing a much more expensive reptile. It was such a horrible experience and I felt it warranted at least 100$ off the other reptile. They did give us 50$ off, which is something and I do still appreciate that. (Hence the 3 star review and not a 2 star.) I don’t see any other bad experiences on the reviews for this shop. Perhaps my experience was a fluke, perhaps not. You never really know one’s true intentions and I have trust issues when it comes to money. I will just say, perhaps be wary and perhaps if you purchase a reptile here, maybe bring them home the same day. Otherwise, the shop is very clean, the enclosures are clean and the people working were kind.”
— Elizabeth Carney3.011 months ago“Very good customer service. And dog is cute! I love dog.”
— Deanna Raysor5.0a year ago“Good place to buy birdies and exotic animals”
— Nonna Vassilieva5.0a year ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (315) 367-5002 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Upscale Exotics.