Store of the Month – November 2024

Tails and Scales

Website: https://tailsandscales.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tailsandscales.toronto/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tailsandscales.ca
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tailsandscalestoronto

(416) 766-7387
3466 Dundas St West
Toronto, Ontario M6S 2S1, Canada

Our annual Canadian feature for store of the month is Tails and Scales, located in Toronto, Ontario.  In recent years, the store has grown into a premier destination for all live plant enthusiasts.  When the store opened in 2009, it was a reptile specialty store that catered to the Greater Toronto Area for all their reptile needs.  Growing out of space at the original location, Nelson moved into a much larger retail space in 2014 and ventured into the aquatic world, followed by the addition of rare and unusual live plants from all parts of the globe.  As the industry continues to grow and evolve, Tails and Scales is also evolving and continues to grow its presence at reptile and plant expos throughout Canada.  Recent trends in the reptile hobby, such as Bioactive live planted terrariums and paludariums, are featured in the store to show consumers how to set these up at home for their pet companions.  From expert to beginner hobbyists, Tails and Scales is a destination for reptiles, amphibians, live plants, and freshwater aquarium fish.    

Owner Nelson Cardoso has been keeping and breeding reptiles since he was very young and has always had a passion for all living things. One of his personal favorites is the Banded Uromastyx (Uromastyx dispar flavifasciata) due to its personality and incredible appearance. One of the main inspirations for Nelson to open his store was his breeding and keeping of many reptile species. He enjoys Monitor lizards due to their intelligence and size. When he is not working, Nelson enjoys spending time with his family, friends, and dog.Harold Slater is a long-term team member and an icon in the pet industry.  He specializes in aquatics, reptiles, birds, and live plants of all varieties.  He has spent his entire career in the pet industry and is a wealth of knowledge.  He enjoys working with amphibians due to the sensitivity and beauty of their living environment.  Household pets (dogs, cats, small animals, birds, fish) were a big part of his upbringing, and his favorite was Magic, the Mynah bird.  When he is not working, Harold enjoys spending time at the cottage in Northern Ontario and relaxing in nature.

The newest team member of the Tails & Scales team is Jonathan Reid.  Jonathan is a long-time animal enthusiast and has loved the fascinating world of reptiles from a very young age. Growing up in different countries, Jonathan was exposed to reptiles from different regions, including Lebanon and Australia. While he’s not mountain biking, hiking, herping, or working, he enjoys the company of his three cats at home.  Jonathan brings a lot of expertise with many species of colubrid snakes (his personal favorite to work with), bearded dragons, chameleon geckos, leaf tail geckos, cribos, egernia, chahoua geckos, leachianus geckos and more.

Feeder insects/worms and rodents are a staple at Tails and Scales and are available in different sizes.  These include feeder crickets, waxworms, mealworms, superworms, silkworms, hornworms, and black soldier fly larvae.  Feeder mice and rats are available live and frozen.  Other feeder items, including quail, chicks, and rabbits, are available to fulfill any feeding requirements.  Other feeder items include Peanut beetles, confused flour beetles, two varieties of fruit flies, three types of springtails, and over 20 varieties of isopod species.  Animal boarding is available to their clients.

Tails and Scales is one of the best dry goods stores in the GTA. It carries a selection of Zoo Med items, including heat bulbs, UVB bulbs and fixtures, glass terrariums, heat-related items, canned and dried foods, supplements, cage decorations, and substrates. Customers can find a wide variety of quality Zoo Med products to suit everyone’s needs, from beginners to expert hobbyists. Shipping is available Canada-wide for products, live plants, and animals.

From the owner to the staff, the entire team is very knowledgeable and passionate hobbyists who keep and breed reptiles, live plants, and fish at home and, therefore, can offer excellent customer service to their loyal clientele.  The newest Zoo Med items are always in stock and displayed in their display terrariums throughout the store.  From beginners to expert hobbyists, one can find everything they need for their pets.  Tails and Scales uses and recommends Zoo Med products.  With their passionate and knowledgeable team, it’s easy to see why Tails and Scales is a Zoo Med Preferred dealer.  Check out their custom-built Zoo Med display terrariums throughout the store.
If you are visiting Toronto or are a resident, be sure to visit Tails and Scales and check out all their incredible animals, staff members, products, display terrariums, and plant room.  Tails and Scales is truly an amazing destination for anyone who has a love and passion for fish, reptiles, and live plants.