About
Tucked into Ambridge, Pennsylvania, Off The Hook Exotics Pet Shop is primarily a reptile and exotic animal destination that also maintains a solid freshwater fish operation worth knowing about. The shop is run by owners George and Nina, along with staff member Mike, and their passion for animals is palpable the moment you walk in. Visitors consistently describe the experience of simply browsing the store as something special — display tanks line the space, volunteers socialize the reptiles, and customers are encouraged to handle animals before purchasing.
On the aquatic side, the shop stocks freshwater fish including cichlids — blue-eyed cichlids have been spotted in their tanks — and carries a selection of live water plants. Regular fish buyers note that George and Nina treat them well and are happy to spend time catching stubborn fish from display tanks. The store also carries supplies and enclosures, making it possible to walk out fully equipped for a new setup, as one bearded dragon owner did with everything needed for their new pet Dennis.
The reptile selection is where Off The Hook truly earns its name. The shop carries an impressive range of snakes (including venomous species), bearded dragons, geckos, iguanas, chameleons, tortoises, and frogs — from dart frogs to red-eyed tree frogs. Spiders and arachnids round out the exotic offerings, alongside birds like parakeets and other exotic species.
Feeders are a real strength here; the shop stocks live mice, rats, and harder-to-find options like flies, making it a reliable stop for reptile owners who struggle to source food elsewhere. One notable service: they'll board your reptile while you're on vacation, a rare offering that reptile keepers will appreciate. The staff leans heavily into education, taking time with kids and newcomers to teach proper handling techniques.
Nina in particular draws repeat praise for her role in revamping and improving the shop over time. While the store skews toward terrarium and vivarium pets, freshwater fishkeepers in the Ambridge area will find a welcoming, knowledgeable crew ready to help stock their tanks.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- CichlidsLive Plants
- Services
- Fish BoardingConsultation
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Freshwater cichlids including blue-eyed cichlids available
- Live aquatic plants in stock
- Reptile boarding service for vacationing pet owners
- Massive selection of exotic reptiles, snakes, frogs, and birds
- Hard-to-find feeder insects and rodents reliably available
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Very clean and friendly people!”
— Joy Mcneil5.0a week ago“My beloved and healthiest bearded dragon came from these folks. All of their passion to care for their pets in the best captivity possible is more than trustworthy. I’m so happy to be a loyal and local customer.”
— Em Lovv5.0a month ago“Very very nice exotic place. Loved looking at the reptiles and birds. Carry a lot of different exotics”
— Kai Yarnot5.0a month ago“Love, love, LOVE this place. Employees are dynamic and so knowledgeable”
— Dawn Cziczin5.0a month ago“I wanted to edit my review because there’s been a lot of changes over the past year. We’ve stopped many times over the past year as well as seeing them at the reptile expos. Nina has done a great job at revamping the place and making the place even better! The animals are well cared for and most have great personalities! Every time we stop in there’s groups of volunteers (kids and adults) helping care for the reptiles and socializing them. We stopped yesterday spent a few hours playing with all the snakes and even brought two home! If you’re looking for a an experience to learn or get comfortable with a certain reptile I’d definitely recommend stopping in! We stopped in for the first time. We were able to look around the store and enjoy the animals at our own pace. I believe his name was Mike, was very knowledgeable and friendly. He followed my son (8) around the store allowing him to hold snakes, geckos, and bearded dragons. He was VERY good with handling the reptiles and he helped my son hold them properly. He also really just took time to talk to my son, and help fuel his love for reptiles. It’s was a very personal experience, one that you wouldn’t receive in a big chain store. It was definitely a cool experience for both of my kids. We will be back !”
— Johnell Lewis5.0Edited 2 months ago“A great place for all kinds of reptiles turtles Bearded dragons. And much more. We found our Bearded Dragon at off the hook. His name is Dennis. We came home with everything we needed for Dennis.”
— Robert Ferrey Jr.5.03 months ago“Great selection of exotic animals, including many species of snakes, frogs, tortoise, fish and many more. Always very helpful to answer questions. Many supplies also available for animals and enclosures.”
— E Moore5.03 months ago“We went to this store to get a spider for our daughter and it was such a lovely experience! Everyone was so welcoming and shared so much information with us about all the animals. We got to pet and see various critters, some that we would probably never get to encounter on the day to day. I love when people are passionate about animals and want to share their knowledge with you. It makes for such a core memory experience. Its also really wonderful to support local businesses. I will definitely be going back again!”
— Loree5.03 months ago“Awesome place. The iguana is definitely a spicy guy ha!”
— Brittany Mae Miller5.06 months ago“George and Nina are amazing folks! We buy fish from them whenever we get a new tank, and absolutely are treated with kindness and respect.”
— Lyndy Kelley5.07 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (724) 777-7688 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Off The Hook Exotics Pet Shop.