Urban menagerie

Zhao Yanting, a Shanghai native in her 30s, opens her two-story apartment to students every week to share her passion for exotic pets.

She has over 50 lizards along with an extensive collection of more than 100 other species including bird-eating spiders, scorpions and centipedes.

To manage this growing menagerie, she has recruited young enthusiasts who regularly assist with feeding, breeding and packing the pets for shipment.

She fell into the world of exotic pets shortly after graduating in 2012, when a friend gifted her a bird-eating spider.

"I was never afraid of it. Instead, I found watching it go about its business — building its habitat, adapting to its environment — surprisingly fascinating. Creating the right conditions for it became a great source of distraction and fulfillment," she recalled.

As time passed, she realized that caring for the spider gave her a deeper connection with nature, inspiring her to expand her collection and increase her knowledge of reptile habits as well.

"Their care routine is relatively simple — feeding and maintenance are needed only once or twice a week. The biggest advantage of keeping exotic pets is their convenience and low upkeep costs," Zhao explained.

"As long as their environment is properly maintained, minimal intervention is needed."

In 2017, she married a man who specializes in breeding bird-eating spiders. Zhao then began breeding and selling pet reptiles through Taobao, a major online marketplace.

She believes that successfully breeding a reptile in captivity is the highest reward for a pet owner. "If it can reproduce in front of you, it means it has fully adapted to its environment — you've done everything right," she said.

Her online shop handles around 3,000 orders annually. "Most of my customers are students, and I can tell they truly love animals," she said, adding that she has witnessed a growing interest in exotic pets.

As pet ownership rises in China, Zhao believes more people will come to appreciate the unique charm of reptiles and arachnids. "Those who love cats and dogs are very likely to love exotic pet — once they get to know them better," she said.

Zhao has also created several documentaries about reptiles to challenge common misconceptions. Her efforts have earned her a strong following, with more than 100,000 subscribers across social media platforms like Bilibili and Xiaohongshu.

Bi has also witnessed firsthand the rapid growth of the reptile pet industry.

Over time, he has built a close-knit network with breeders, agents and sellers. Together, they actively promote one another's products and coordinate supply to meet market demand. "Overall, the reptile pet industry is experiencing strong, positive growth, with demand consistently outpacing supply," Bi said.

He added that while keeping reptiles was once considered an unconventional hobby, society's perceptions have shifted. More people now recognize the special charm and companionship that reptiles can offer.