Backwater Reptiles Reviews 

This company sends animals that are barely alive. I have never received animals this emaciated from anyone except this company! Worst experience ever! This place should be shut down for cruelty to animals!

I was a little reluctant to purchase over the internet, I took a chance and it definitely paid off. My new babies all came well packed, healthy and all made it through shipping. I purchased 2 iguanas, 2 spiders and 1 Pac-Man frog, who is so cute!!
Great communication with the team. I will definitely buy again!

They provide what they promise! Ordered some House Geckos and the all arrived alive. Might not seem like a magical feat, but I live in Louisiana? The day of delivery it was in the upper 90’s and they had to survive several hours in an un-air conditioned UPS truck. Geckos were packed with plenty of moisture and a cold pack and are now happily policing my porch/deck munching on insects!

I ordered four hermit crabs and they arrived perfectly. They were active and happy right of the box. Always completely satisfied doing business with this company. Customer service very responsive and knowledgeable.

So I bought a sulcata tortoise from them and it was overnighted which made me very happy cuz I didn't want the little one sitting in a box for too long. She got here and is absolutely beautiful and she's been running all over the place in her tank. She's eating. I haven't seen any waste yet but I'm sure that that will come soon cuz she just ate but I am very happy with my purchase

Shop Elsewhere

I ordered a lizard on a Wednesday and paid $50 for overnight shipping, expecting it by Friday. Only after checkout did I see it wouldn’t arrive until the following Tuesday. Since we were going on vacation, I emailed immediately and was told “no worries” that it would would ship out the following Tuesday and arrive Wednesday instead.

Friday, I got a shipping confirmation saying it would arrive Tuesday—just like I asked it not to - and received an email confirmation from a live human, not an automated response. When I contacted customer service, they were extremely rude, blamed me, and showed no accountability. Their tone was passive-aggressive bordering on aggressive and extremely unprofessional.

To make matters worse, the lizard was left on my porch in the heat with no signature required—FedEx confirmed none was requested. Thankfully, the lizard survived, but I doubt I’ll get any help if something goes wrong.

Avoid this company. The customer service is awful and not worth the risk.

I purchased 2 cherry head red foot tortoises from Backwater Reptiles on May 12th & July 15th. Both arrived exceptionally packaged and healthy. Email communication is somewhat wonky, But buy with confidence!

I purchased two green Anoles, male and female. Later that evening I got a confirmation and they needed my address which I promptly sent. I was emailed that the lizards were being shipped and was given a FedEx tracking number. They arrived the very next day. Both lizards were very healthy, fiesty and ready for their new home and companions. I want to reach out to a wonderful company that cares not only about their animals but also great customer communications. Will always be my forever go to for green Anoles. Thank you again Backwater Reptiles.

Fast, efficient, and friendly customer service. When I had an issue (at no fault of theirs) and expressed concern, they were very kind and helpful. I love my alpine newts! They were well-packaged and safe. I would absolutely recommend Backwater and have already recommended them to friends.

2nd time they sent the incorrect gender yet hide behind the we don't guarantee gender 2 times in a row they fight me wanting me to pay for a replacement no dont order from them they lack any knowledge on the animals they sell or just don't care either way don't spend your money on them
...Big apple herps im using they guarantee the gender and only a whole 5$ more for what i was buying! Do your research backwater are scammers don't waste your money like i did twice and got scammed twice also why does it give them a high review when their 5 stars are equal to their 1 star reviews? Lol scam much???

Happen to surf the internet I just had to have a blue iguana and lo and behold I found these folks and 5 days later my guy or gal is here and the most beautiful blue . I own macaws but I can’t wait for this fella to grow . Anyone out there wanting quick fast service with excellent email communication look no further , I’ll def be doing more business they made it so easy . Ty

Got my baby Nile monitor is healthy. Love thus little guy thank you backwater reptiles.

Great source for reptiles and amphibians. I ordered American Green Tree Frogs (a few times), and they all arrived safe and sound. Excellent price, too, and their animals are clearly well taken care of! Still happy and healthy a few months later!

This place is amazing and is so kind. There team deserves so much love and respect. My snake arrived safe and sound with an ice pack. They put so much thought into these animals.

Backwater Reptiles are awesome! Their sales staff is very polite and answers all your inquiries in a timely manner. I ordered a GBB tarantula sling and received it 100% live arrival guaranteed. We'll packaged and safe. Lively little sling too.

I would advise people not to order spiders from Backwater. I ordered a Regal Jumping Spider and she died within a couple of months after she arrived. Based on her size and condition, she was already nearing the end of her lifespan when they shipped her to me. I set her up with a nice habitat and fed her crickets and waxworms regularly. So, I don't think the problem was at my end - they just sent me a really old spider. Since Regals only live 2 to 2 1/2 years, they would have to had known that they were sending me an old spider.

I had been looking for a Madagascar Big-Headed Turtle for a really long time and remembered seeing an email from Backwater Reptiles from last year about them having a few babies. I took a chance and emailed them asking if any were still available for $250 (the price they were advertised at last year). Within 10 minutes I received a response that they still had some, that they were the same turtles so they definitely had some wear and tear (normal cosmetic baby turtle stuff- nipped toes and tails) and because of that they were $200 instead. I JUMPED on the opportunity and was walked through how to go about a manual order via email and then pay securely on the website since the turtles were an email exclusive deal. I paid $254 after tax and shipping (the normal rate for FEDEX priority overnight) and almost immediately got an email confirming everything was put together and in order on their end. I ordered on a Sunday night, got my tracking Monday evening as planned, and today my turtle showed up healthy, looking amazing, and on time. I panicked a little because of how hot it was in my part of Florida today- and then I found the cold packs. Sweet, sweet cold packs. When I opened the box it was packed wonderfully with THOSE AMAZING COLD PACKS, foam walls, and filled with crumpled paper, and the turtle was secured in a breathable bag- the gold standard. I’d give more stars than 5 if I could for the transparency, the price, the response time, the professionalism, and the overall satisfaction I felt opening that box today.

I ordered two Uromastyx through their website. It was super straightforward, very simple and quick! They kept communication and they were very sweet. The lizards arrived healthy and happy! Highly recommend these guys! Thank you so much you guys!

The company promptly performed exactly as represented. I ordered 9 lizards which arrived healthy and ready to energetically see their new homes. They are adorable! There is a premium on shipping but worth it to ensure the animals arrive quickly and are healthy.

I wouldn’t buy from a company that number one tells you that they will only deliver an animal to your address on your drivers license when your ordering from another location and even when you present them with the receipts of where your current location is and that there records show that the current location your using is legitimate they completely ignore you on the subject all together. Number two i wouldn’t buy from a company that tells you the costumer that your a fraud with out being able to show prove of it when asked through email to show the evidence that the person is a fraud to begin with this is the first time I have ever had any issues with this company and the first time I have ever had to complain about them. It’s bad business to ingore the costumer when the customer is always right . And currently I’m still trying to get them to communicate with me.