I went there yesterday to get some crickets & the kid behind the counter acted like I was bothering him. When I said thank you after getting my change, he grunted uughhghh. The staff is usually a little more friendly & helpful. read more

The young man who was mentioned as a "problem" employee no longer works there. I go in every week and have always found these folks to be knowledgeable and helpful. read more

Hoffman's stocks some really cool reptiles but the cleanliness of their store is deplorable. Every time I have gone in, the place STINKS, the floor looks like it's never mopped, and all the merchandise has a fine layer of dust as if it's been sitting there for ages. (Complaints I have never had at East Bay Vivarium). Staff is uneven. Some of the employees are helpful, others act surly and annoyed when you ask questions. Most appear to be under the age of 21 and show it. I have never seen an owner or manager supervising on any of my visits. It's too bad because I would really like to see a quality reptile store in Contra Costa. Hoffman's, unfortunately, is not it. Try a little harder to clean up your act, Hoffman's, and I'll be back. read more

These people are amazing...they know everything about reptiles and really put the animal first. I have just rescued an African Turtle...i know nothing about...and they are available for all my questions...I've had water turtles and we went to them for feeder fish, etc...my son had a snake and we went to them for the mice...I am so not into reptiles...but my kids are...this little guy is pretty cool...won't be little for long... anyway...they have snakes, lizards, turtles etc and all the supplies you need. read more

I got both of my pet box turtles at Hoffman's about 4.5 years ago, and they're still thriving. I have not deviated from the care instructions Hoffman's gave me, and that seems to be suiting them just fine. I bought a cage from them at the time we got the first turtle, and though the bottom rotted, Hoffman's said they'd replace the rotted board free of charge if I brought the cage back. The problem is, I live so far away now that this wasn't practical, so I just got a new cage, but I really appreciate that they were willing to stand behind their product. I wish there were a suitable equivalent to Hoffman's in the South Bay, but if there is I haven't found it. read more

Update: There was a previous post (that was removed??) that gave a negative review about Hoffman's because of the bad attitude of someone working there. I went back in and was helped by the same person I think, helpful but with an annoyed/condescending tone. It wasn't so bad that I wouldn't go back but given the option I would go to the East Bay Vivarium: http://www.yelp.com/biz/east-bay-vivarium-berkeley read more

I was in with my wife and kids to buy a turtle and we received no help. We had called ahead and was going to put down $400 on a turtle and habitat but no one even said hello or acknowledge us at all and we were the only ones in the store its a shame. read more

Hoffman's is a wonderful store to visit, with a wide variety of reptiles to view or purchase. The staff is friendly and helpful, offering good advice based on their experience. They may even offer to examine your pet if you have questions regarding feeding, shedding, etc. As far as smells, the store smells fine and it's really unrealistic to expect a store where live animals live to be 100% odor neutral. read more

I have memories of this place being so wonderful, but all that changed when i went in looking for a water turtle for my pond a few months ago. I walked in and the three young men working there didnt even acknowledge me. I walked around the store just looking until i ended up at the large water turtle pool with about 5 huge turtles and 1 very dead smaller turtle....... Now i know things die, but cant you at least keep your cages clean especially sense you dont have any customer service.....Id rather sit in traffic for 45 min to go to Berkley than the 5 min it takes to get here. read more

The lizards are abused! Males arent supposed to be housed together! Missing tails and toes. Bloody missing parts of jaws without any medical repair is not ok. The staff are friendly and helpful. They really know thier stuff they just dont put it into action. I used to shop here for my feeders all the time but I refuse to give my money to a company who mistreats thier animals. read more

If you're thinking of buying a reptile or have one and need a good place for supplies or advice then Hoffman's is the place to go. We recently purchased a lizard plus cage for our son after checking out several other stores. We found the staff at Hoffman's to be friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to help. The other thing we appreciated is that they stand by their product and looked after us every step of the way. I highly recommend Hoffman's to anyone interested in owning a reptile. read more

This place is amazing! I bought two leopard geckos from a local pet store and brought them into Hoffmann's to get them aged and sexed - and to just get some care advice. They were so knowledgeable and very helpful. I will be a frequent customer from now on to get my crickets and substrate. Thank you Hoffman's! read more

I really wanted to like this place but I just couldn't. I went in to get crickets for my bearded dragon and ended up buying 30 at 12cents a pop. I wanted to buy more but when I asked if they gave a bulk discount, they don't. The lady who helped me was less than enthused and ended up shorting me a dollar when she gave me my change. Overall it is an overpriced under served establishment. Going to try Berkeley next in hopes of finding a quality food supplier. read more

Hoffman's is a great place to shop for your reptile or other small pets. Dan, the owner, is a really good guy. He's very knowledgeable and helpful. He now carries a wide variety of unusual species from all over the world. The staff is always helpful and friendly. It's obvious that they enjoy working for Dan. I just bought my daughter a baby citrus bearded dragon. He's beautiful, and very mellow. Dan and crew helped get my older cage up to standard, to provide our new pet with the best possible environment. I have been frequenting Hoffman's for around 15 years. Dan opened the store in 1980; he's been here for over 35 years, providing the community with cool pets at reasonable prices. read more

My family was recently given two red eared turtles by a friend of ours. The staff there was so helpful in getting us the supplies we needed, without the pressure to buy items that we didn't need. They worked with our budget to promote the best health for our turtles! One of the co-owners named Joyce helped us and also taught us what to do in many situations! This company far exceded our expectations and has won our business for all our reptile needs. It feels good to know they put the well being of animals first! read more

I wish there was another local shop in Oakley that offers what these guys do. Very nice and knowledgeable staff. From just quickly browsing all the animals look healthy. I came in for a med rat and it looks just as healthy. read more

Couldn't find any reptile shops closer, so I came into Hoffmann's a few times for feeders. First thing I noticed was how absolutely disgusting the owner was to his employee who looked about 40 years younger than him. Belittling him in front of customers, very loudly, for asking a question. They had a now hiring sign up and I can see why. The employees, although friendly, seemed to have very limited knowledge of reptiles and morphs, and rather than them answering my questions, I felt I was teaching them things, and I consider myself more a reptile hobbyist, rather than an expert. I don't put that them on them though, as they do seem interested in reptiles, but rather poor training and education on the owners part. I also noticed the facility seemed kind of ugly and dirty, which at the time I overlooked because aesthetic of the store doesn't necessarily equate to the upkeep and cleanliness of the store. It was also concerning because most of their snakes and animals werent even for sale due to the fact that the animals had not taken 2 meals since birth yet, and increasingly more and more reptiles were put NFS the more we came in, and for someone that keeps snakes and reptiles, I can pretty confidently say that a snakes appetite is correlative with its health. If you're looking for a store that bleeds passion and love for animals and reptiles and respect for them, this is not the place to support. I really hope the owner gets an attitude and reality check because it's a shame that the shop is not living up to its potential, especially with the low accessibility to these kind of shops in the area. read more

Mona at Hoffman's is the best!! She is sweet, professional, and really takes her time to understand your pets and their needs! You can't ask for a better person to help you!! Can't say enough for Mona and the young gal with the blond hair(so sorry I forgot your name)!!! Thanks for always helping me out!! read more

I love Dan and his team they are very knowledgeable, and are the only ones around that I can find live feeders from. Thanks hoffmans!!

Have to say I was Really Nervous when I Purchased My Russian Tortoise from Hoffmann's Reptile Store! When I went in store for first time to look for a Russian Tortoise I was not impressed! A couple of young people hanging around front desk and store not what I expected as far as cleanliness. Asked if I needed help and told them looking for a Russian Tortoise! They showed me a tank with dim lights and about 4 or five Definitely Wild caught Adult Russians. Not ideal conditions for a Russian Tortoise! Observed tank for a few minutes and saw only one tortoise trying to eat out of a almost empty food dish. I asked to see that one and when out of tank was very active on counter with no signs of being sick. I knew it was a Roll if Dice! Purchased What turned out to be a Female about 4 1/2 inches of under shell length! No idea Her age! Brought Her Home and She lives in an indoor enclosure of 3'x2' with proper lighting including UVB which wasn't provided at Hoffmann's. She has been eating Great after a short adjustment period and Absolutely Zero signs of Illness or Parasites! Turned out Very Well for Me but that said when You go into This store have idea what To look for when purchasing a Reptile from them! Love My Russian Tortoise from Hoffmann's! read more

Normally I'm happy but today I'm not. 3 workers and a loose dog, sweet dog though. It took me longer to complete my order than when there is one worker. I asked for 20 of the biggest roaches possible and got about 16 smallest roaches I've ever seen. Also ordered one fuzzy. And when I looked at the roaches and said wow these are tiny, the third worker chimes in "sorry about that we are waiting on the big ones" so when I asked for big ones would have been nice to hear, I should have only taken the fuzzy today. read more

Disgusting poop everywhere inside and outside cages. Zero hides for any snakes. Cage sizes were inappropriate for the snakes they were housing. Very disappointed. read more

I bought a baby corn snake from another retail store. After his first shed he refused to eat. He didn't eat for three weeks. Staff at the Hoffman store were extremely helpful and were able to force feed him. They gave me so much information to make sure he would survive. Now he is eating on his own and eating every 3-4 days. read more

This place was charming with a great selection. I am not sure why other reviewers gave the place a bad review. There was no bad smell. The staff was good. In fact, the selection was better for the early to mid-range buyer than that store in Berkeley many people mentioned in their reviews. My vote is you check Hoffman's out! read more

I'm kinda sorry that this place should have to get a 2 star review from me. I've been coming on and off to them for more then 10 years. I'd have to say that they keep the place exteremly dirty and for the prices they charge for thier animal they should keep not only tthe cages but the whole place cleaner. They do have a great knowledge of what they sell, but if i can't even see the animals through the grim fill glass? Drop your prices to match your level of care. or step up the quality of your business appearance. read more

After being put "on hold" which consisted of them setting the phone on the counter and talking to other customers for a good 5 minutes they then hung up on me. Extremely unprofessional and beyond rude. I'll drive any distance to avoid these people. read more

Hoffmann is an awesome dude! Has always been more than helpful and friendly. He even goes as far as to greet customers by name as they enter. Great guy, great shop. I sold my reptiles so I probably won't be back here for a bit but I have had nothing but great experiences here. read more

My son has been begging for a crested gecko for years. This Christmas we finally caved. We took him to Hoffmann's several times to check out the cresties. My husband took him the first time where he met Dan (the owner) and Darren. I took him another time where we spent hours holding each creature and talking to several staff, Andrea and Darren again as well as seeing Dan and another young lady. My son had extensive conversations with each and really enjoyed that they let him handle the lizards. At the time we were planning to buy from EBV because Hoffmann's didn't have the gecko he wanted. After learning that EBV also did not have what he wanted we were a bit stuck. On another visit within days of Christmas, we went in just to talk and hold the lizards, and with fortune on our side, we found and fell in love with the gecko of his choice. We have appreciated all the time all the staff has spent with us on numerous occasions. They loved how interested my son was in the lizards and challenged him to learn other details. It was obvious how much they also cared for the reptiles. It was a great experience. Our gecko is home in his new environment and thriving. I agree with someone that some merchandise was dusty, but I would much rather have the employees taking care of the creatures and customers than dusting the driftwood. read more

I went the reptile store to buy something for my nephew's bearded dragon terrarium. Mark and everyone in there were so helpful as I had no clue what I was looking for and what would be appropriate. Mark even gave me a business card and invited me to call if I had any questions on how to care for the bearded dragon. Thank you for making me comfortable so I could ask questions and learn! read more

I disagree with the sparkling reviews. The store smells, the habitats are full of poop, and the clerks have always been very terse and sort of put out by helping us. One week I went in and a gecko was dead and decaying and I had to point it out to them. I go there to buy pinkies only because I have no other choice. But if I have the time to drive to Berkeley, I always go to the East Bay Vivarium. read more

The store is very dirty and the cages are really so messy that I don't know how the animals can live well. The customer service is good but when I asked about getting a digital hygrometer they didn't know what I was talking about. They called the owner up to help me and he said that I didn't need one and proceeded to show me how to tell if the humidity was right by placing my hand in a cage and going off of that. Needless to say I was less then enthused about using that to make sure my Ball Python was in a cage with the right humidity. I recently purchased a Ball Python, Jake, from the Reptile Room in Hayward and went here to get a rat and a mouse for him. I had him for a week before I fed him again. I wanted to feed him a live rat first since he had been raised on mice and read that it might take a bit to get him to switch over so I also purchased the mouse as a back up. The feeding went very well but a few days after I fed him he stared to soak in his water dish. Sure enough he's got mites now. Given that the store is filthy I bet that he got the mites from the mouse or rat that I fed him. Mites have been known to hitch a ride on rats and mice. I'm not going to this place again until they get it cleaned up. read more

These guys are the absolute best. I have a sick chameleon requiring eye drops, liquid calcium, force feeding, AND an injectable antibiotic every few days. I was so scared to leave him with anyone that I almost cancelled my entire trip to stay home and make sure he got the treatment he needed. Luckily I had know this shop as well as most of the employees for some years now and I felt completely age and secure leaving my baby in their care. They are vastly knowledgeable and care very much about all creatures they sell or care for while their owners are away. If only I could find a dog sitter as amazing as them I would be comfortable traveling more often! Thank you so much for taking such good care of my boy. He looks happier and fatter than when I left him :) read more

This place is a very good reptile shop. The employees are super friendly and answered all my questions about cornsnakes vrs. Ball pythons. They have all the supplies I would need, and their prices are perfect. I recommend this place to purchase reptiles plus supplies, or to visit with your kids. read more

My first time coming here, was great. The employee who was a young man was very helpful and knowledgeable. He answered my questions and we chatted about reptiles for a bit. I was interested in a blue tongue skink that they had. I was ready to drop 400+ at this store, until the owner came along. I have never been talked to or treated so poorly at a reptile shop. Right off the bat the owner of this store didn't bother to say anything to me after I shook his hand and asked to talk about the skink they have. I asked him if he could possibly lower the price of the skink, (since they say its captive bred yet dont even know the age or locale where the animal is from). He wouldn't budge. After i tried to ask about his cages he would only say that i needed useless things for the skink that wouldnt even be good for the animal. After he refused to even slightly budge and downright refuse to talk about anything related to the skink, i had enough. I heard an employee ask if the owner was mad, and he said " i didnt eat, you would be mad too" then laughs. If the owner of this reptile shop thinks its ok to treat his potential customers like garbage then laugh about it because he hasnt eaten, then he is seriously delusional. Ive owned reptiles for years so to be disrespected like this is very upsetting. Not to mention all of the cages are extremely dirty and have adult mealworms crawling all over and under the terrain they have.(which wasnt even right for the skink, he had nowhere to burrow, it was rock like). The ground looks like its moving. Disgusting and sad for the poor mistreated reptiles. read more

Rude rude rude. The bald man who was working the counter gave us a price, couldn't break a hundred (LOL I'm sorry but when you sell 300$ reptiles you should be able to break $100 bill..) Asked us to go to the bank for change. We waited for 20 min at the bank, drove back, waited for help again just to have him raise the price $15 more than the price he told us. He then said that price didn't include $10 for tax..The man was going to accidentally charge us $35 instead of $39 for the pair of geckos we wanted. Easy mistake! And Sir, That's fine if you want to fix the mistake and charge us the price you have on their cage. We are happy to pay for the price it is at. But do not deny with irritation when a customer tells you that wasn't the price you said at first. We had also asked for $2 in crickets....but the price wound up being 46$ total without tax......then another $10 on that for tax?! Either that guy didn't like us or he doesn't know proper math. 39+2=41...just incase you didn't know, sir...Not to mention how simple it is to respond to people politely and realize your mistake with less of an attitude to the customer. I'm so confused as to how people can run a business and be so rude. I will never ever come back here. Everyone should just take the time to visit the reptile store at the mall in Tracy, don't even waste your time here. read more

So I hate to talk badly about small, local businesses but I think the owner her needs a reality check. I was thinking about going back into his location to avoid going to the East Bay Vivarium, but then I read the reviews on Yelp. I used to be a regular customer about 15 years ago and the place was not too impressive back then. I see these reviews now and notice not much has changed. The store smelled back then, so I can only imagine how bad it is now. The owner was a total dick back then too. I gave this location 2 stars ONLY because the owner is very knowledgeable about reptiles. He's definitely someone to ask questions to about reptiles....if you are buying. If not, he doesn't really want to waste the time. I bought 2 snakes, 2 of their homemade box homes for those snakes and countless mice and rabbits for food. I never could get a good attitude from him. I never felt appreciated. He would ONLY sell you a reptile if you were buying their products for it. He would also only sell you the size home he felt appropriate for the reptile. I bought a 12" snake and needed to by a 4' box! Insane! He refused to sell to me if I wanted to buy the smaller home. I told him I was limited on funds and would buy a larger box in a couple years when the snake got larger and needed it....makes sense right? Saves me money at the time and gives him ore business down the road with a long term customer....no brainer! He wasn't having it. I only caved in because I didn't know about the East Bay Vivarium at the time. Oh, and I had to buy THEIR bedding for the snakes home as well. Whatever that corn crap is. After kicking around the idea of trying them out again and then reading these reviews, I won't be going there again. Eat Bay Vivarium here I come! They have a positive attitude with their customers. read more

I feel shameful even by giving one start to this place. The reptile cages were awful and the animal I was looking for the plumed basilisk was in a cage full of frogs which didn't seem humane at all. I ended up purchasing her and within a month she started acting sick. I called up the place and asked if they could take her back and get my money back. She had the worst attitude and I could hardly get to my point. If you want to get a reptile look elsewhere, try east bay vivarium. read more

My son caught a blue belly lizard and we went to Hoffman's to see about buying it a home. Dan Hoffman was excellent, he and one of his employee's spent over an hour assisting us. They were knowledgeable and helpful. I am so glad we went there. My son's lizard is thriving and they have been awesome when I go in to buy crickets read more

I have been traveling on vacation with my mom and my brother for 11 days, and considering I'm a huge reptile fanatic, we visited some stores to see if anything was worth picking up. When walking into the store, someone immediately asked to help us. After we said no, we were free to look around. At first, I had a great feeling. There were only a few people in the store at the time, so it was pretty comfortable. We started with walking toward the register, putting us by most of the lizards. The second column of cages is where I first got disappointed. The biggest beardie had a sore, and it didn't even looked cleaned. Not to mention the sweetheart was extremely unhappy, its beard being completely black and puffed out. Moving along was okay. And then we arrived at the dwarf beardies. First thing I noticed was the Cohab wasn't going well. I am unsure if these beardies had been rescued, but it's sad to see them still together, considering one was missing its front foot, a few toes, and all of its tail; and the other beardie was missing part of its tail and a few toes. My heart broken. I moved on, content with the different reptiles they had there, and that the feeders were even pretty happy. My next issue was when we reached the Rosy Boa. It had a frozen thawed rat simply sitting in its cage, not even being looked at by the snake. The rest of my complaints are mostly about the best cared for animals not being for sale, seems kind of selfish considering you're selling people something worse than what you're advertising with your own critters. The last bummer is the hognose, I'm not sure if they had simply sold it, or had taken it out for the time being, but it simply wasn't in the tank. Now this isn't really an issue with the shop, but it does suck for me seeing as I've traveled from Wisconsin to California by car and haven't seen a hognose in any shop (keep in mind most didn't even advertise they had one) so when they said they had one, I was sort of bummed out. Definitely would not recommend this to anyone. read more

Dan and his team know their stuff and take great care of those animals. Within the local reticle field, few people know how to better care for reptiles than Dan. He is usually believing in teenagers and hiring them so you have to cut them some slack as they learn, but if you buy an animal there, you know it will be healthy and Dan will stand by his sale. read more