The Ultimate UK Guide to Buying Reptile & Amphibian Food: Stores, Brands, and Smart Shopping Tips

Why the Right Food Matters for Reptiles & Amphibians

If you keep a bearded dragon, corn snake, frog, or tortoise, you already know diet can make or break their health. Reptiles and amphibians aren’t picky pets in the way dogs or cats are — they’re specialists. That means getting the right balance of proteins, vitamins, calcium, and moisture is essential. Feed the wrong thing and you risk metabolic bone disease, obesity, or digestive issues. Feed the right thing and you’ll see brighter colors, smoother sheds, and more lively behavior. Think of diet as the foundation of a good vivarium the way soil is the foundation of a garden.

Where UK Keepers Buy Reptile & Amphibian Food

Shopping for reptile food in the UK is easier than ever. Whether you prefer a quick trip to a high-street chain, ordering bulk from an online retailer, or sourcing specialist brands from a niche shop, there are options to match every keeper’s needs. Below I cover well-known stores alongside specialist suppliers so you can compare convenience, choice, and price.

Pets at Home — High Street Convenience

Pets at Home is a go-to for many UK reptile owners because it combines in-store shopping with online ordering. You’ll find pellets and mixes for tortoises, pellets and gut-loaded insects for omnivores, and a reasonable range of supplements and live foods depending on the branch. It’s perfect for last-minute top-ups like calcium powder or a quick bag of frozen rodents. If you like seeing products in person before buying, this chain is a solid option.

Amazon UK — Range and Fast Delivery

Amazon UK is unbeatable for variety and often price. From branded insect feeders to freeze-dried options and entire starter packs, it’s a one-stop shop. The trade-off is sorting through listings to find reputable brands and checking seller reviews. If you prefer subscription or regular deliveries — say, a monthly supply of crickets or a pack of repashy — Amazon often has convenient options that save time.

Zooplus & Other Online Pet Retailers

Specialist online retailers such as Zooplus offer a focused range for reptile keepers, including branded dry diets, supplements, and frozen prey. These sites usually have better stock of reptile-specific lines than general supermarkets and sometimes run promotions that make stocking up more affordable. Delivery is typically reliable and packaging tends to be reptile-friendly, especially for frozen products.

Independent Reptile Shops & Specialist Stores

Across the UK you’ll find small independent reptile shops and online specialists that cater solely to reptiles and amphibians. These businesses excel at quality control — they often breed and gut-load live insects themselves and carry a deeper range of specialist brands like Repashy, Pangea, and Arcadia. If you want tailored advice or hard-to-find items such as custom frozen feeders or species-specific gut loads, these stores are worth bookmarking.

Popular Brands & What They Offer

Knowing which brands are trusted can speed up your shopping and help you avoid trial-and-error feeding. Below are some widely respected names and what they’re best known for.

Pangea — Natural Insect Feeds

Pangea makes gut-loading diets and frozen insect diets designed with calcium and vitamins in mind. Their mixes are often praised by keepers who want to reduce the amount of extra supplementation required. Ideal for omnivores like bearded dragons and many gecko species.

Repashy — Nutrient-Dense Gels & Powders

Repashy produces complete powdered diets and gels for species like crested geckos, chameleons, and amphibians. Their formulas aim to be balanced straight from the jar, which helps if you’re chasing a consistent feeding routine or caring for picky eaters that benefit from wet foods.

Exo Terra & Arcadia — Habitat and Supplement Synergy

While Exo Terra is known for habitat products, they also stock feeding accessories and some specialist diets. Arcadia focuses more on lighting and supplements, producing calcium powders and vitamin mixes that pair well with many diets. Buying these brands from reputable UK stores ensures you’re getting legitimate, fresh products.

Live Food Suppliers: What to Look For

Live food is a staple for many reptile and amphibian diets, but quality varies. The best suppliers provide healthy, gut-loaded insects and stable shipping so feeders arrive active and nutritious. If a seller can tell you how insects were reared and what they were fed, that’s a green flag.

Local Breeders vs Online Live Food Retailers

Local insect breeders and pet shops often sell the freshest stock and are ideal for picking up crickets, mealworms, or waxworms. Online live food retailers expand your options — you can order specific species or larger quantities. Remember that shipping live food adds stress to the prey, so choose sellers known for fast dispatch and secure packaging.

Live Food Safety Tips

Always quarantine live insects if possible and use a well-aerated, escape-proof carrier. Avoid buying insects that look lethargic or moldy. Gut-loading before feeding is critical — if suppliers don’t gut-load, plan to feed the insects nutritious foods for at least 24 hours before offering them to your pet to boost calcium and vitamin levels.

Frozen & Pre-Killed Prey: Rodents and Insects

For carnivorous snakes and many amphibians, frozen thawed prey is a hygienic, practical option. UK retailers sell frozen mice, rats, chicks, and a variety of frozen insects. Buying frozen reduces the risk of injury to your pet and is often more convenient for keepers who don’t want live feeders in the home.

Thawing and Feeding Safely

Thaw frozen prey completely before offering it to your pet. Warm thawed mice until they reach roughly body-temperature — about 98 to 100 °F is a good target — to trigger natural feeding instincts in snakes. Never refreeze thawed prey and discard leftovers to avoid bacterial growth. Store frozen food at 0 °F or colder to keep it safe long-term.

Portioning and Storage

Buy frozen prey in sizes that match your animal’s needs. A ball python might need small mice, while larger pythons need adult rats. Buy in bulk if you have enough freezer space, but portion meals into single feeds so you only defrost what you need. Use airtight containers or freezer bags to avoid freezer burn and label everything with purchase dates.

Feeding Different Species: A Quick Buying Guide

Different species have very different food needs. Here’s a shopper’s checklist that helps you pick the right products for common pet reptiles and amphibians.

Bearded Dragons

Bearded dragons need a mix of vegetables, dried or fresh greens, gut-loaded insects, and occasional commercial pellets. For younger dragons, insects can be the main course; adults shift toward more vegetables. Look for reptile-specific pellets branded as “complete” and always calcium-dust live prey for juveniles.

Snakes (Corn, Ball, Royal, etc.)

Snakes are primarily fed on frozen thawed rodents. Shops and online suppliers list prey by weight and size, so match the prey’s girth to your snake’s mid-body width. Frozen options include mice and rats in sizes measured in ounces or fractions of a pound — choose the correct size to avoid underfeeding or overfeeding.

Geckos & Small Insectivores

Leopard geckos, crested geckos, and many arboreal species benefit from a combination of live insects and formulated diets. Crested geckos do well on powdered complete diets that are mixed with water, while insectivores need a steady supply of crickets, dubia roaches, or mealworms, always dusted with calcium and vitamin D3 when required.

Tortoises

Tortoises are largely herbivores and need high-fiber, low-protein diets. Specialist tortoise pellets exist, but the bulk of their diet should be a variety of grasses and leafy greens. Some stores sell dried herb mixes to add variety when fresh forage isn’t available.

How to Compare Prices & Get the Best Value

Price is important, but value matters more. Cheaper insect mixes or pellets might save money upfront but cost more if your pet refuses them. Consider cost per feeding and the nutritional density of the product. Bulk buying perks typically kick in when you can store food safely — frozen stocks in a chest freezer or dry pellets in airtight containers.

Subscription Boxes and Bulk Deals

Many online retailers offer subscriptions for live insects or frozen prey, which can lower costs and ensure steady supply. If you buy staples like crickets monthly, a subscription can save time and often money. Just be certain you can store deliveries properly and that your pet will accept the brand you choose over the long term.

Shopping Checklist: What to Look for Before Buying

Before you hit buy, run through this checklist: Is the product species-appropriate? What size or weight is the prey? Are supplements required? Is the seller reputable with fresh stock? Does the product list guaranteed analysis for proteins, fats, and fiber? These simple checks help you avoid returns and make feeding smoother.

Packaging, Shelf Life, and Freshness

Check expiration dates on pellets and powders. For live feeders, ask about breeding conditions and dispatch times. For frozen prey, inspect by weight and packaging integrity upon receipt. Freshness matters for both safety and nutrition, so don’t compromise when buying budget options with vague provenance.

Final Thoughts: Matching Store Choice to Your Routine

Your ideal store depends on your priorities. If convenience and availability are top, a high-street chain or Amazon might be best. If quality, specialist diets, and expert advice matter most, independent reptile shops and specialist online retailers are worth the extra click. Many keepers mix and match: buy supplements and basics from chains, but source specialist brands and live food from trusted indie suppliers. When in doubt, seek out product reviews and community forums to learn from other UK keepers’ experiences.

Whichever route you take, the goal is simple: consistent, nutritionally complete food that keeps your reptile or amphibian active and thriving. With the range of UK retailers and brands available today, it’s easier than ever to find the right option for your pet’s species, age, and lifestyle.

Conclusion

Buying reptile and amphibian food in the UK is an exercise in matching needs to options. From big-name retailers that offer convenience to specialist stores that offer expertise and specific brands, you have the power to select diets that support long, healthy lives for your animals. Focus on species-appropriate nutrition, vet reputable sellers, and don’t hesitate to ask for help from specialist shops when you’re trying something new. A well-fed reptile is a happy, curious pet — and that’s exactly what most of us want.