Migrating a reptile and exotic pet store from WooCommerce to Shopify (2026)

Reptile and exotic pet retail serves an enthusiastic community of keepers. The market covers vivariums, heating and lighting equipment, substrate, décor, live food, dry food, supplements, and — for licensed retailers — live animals. The regulatory landscape is more complex than mainstream pet retail: CITES licensing applies to many species, and some exotic animals are controlled under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. Migrating to Shopify suits the equipment and supply side of the market; live animal sales require careful compliance management.

Product categories

• Vivariums and enclosures: Glass, wooden, PVC vivariums. Size in cm (length x depth x height).
• Heating: Heat mats, ceramic heat emitters, infrared bulbs, thermostats, temperature controllers.
• Lighting: UV-B tubes and compact bulbs (UVI rating), basking bulbs, LED lighting.
• Substrate: Coir, bark, sand, bioactive substrate mixes. Species-specific.
• Décor and enrichment: Hides, branches, cork bark, artificial and live plants.
• Live food: Crickets, locusts, mealworms, waxworms, dubia roaches. Sizes.
• Frozen food: Frozen mice, rats, chicks. Sizes and quantities.
• Supplements: Calcium, vitamin D3, multivitamin powders. Dusting frequency.
• Livestock: Bearded dragons, leopard geckos, corn snakes, ball pythons — where licensed.

Vivarium specifications

product.metafields.reptile.enclosure_type = "Vivarium / Terrarium / Paludarium"
product.metafields.reptile.material = "Glass / Wood / PVC / Screen"
product.metafields.reptile.dimensions_cm = "120x60x60"
product.metafields.reptile.volume_litres = "432"
product.metafields.reptile.ventilation = "Front / Side / Top mesh"
product.metafields.reptile.suitable_species = "Bearded dragon / Monitor / Chameleon"
product.metafields.reptile.heating_compatible = "Heat mat / CHE / Basking bulb"

UVB lighting: UVI ratings

UVB lighting is critical for most reptiles — incorrect UVB causes metabolic bone disease:

• Ferguson Zone system: reptiles are categorised into Ferguson Zones 1–4 based on UV exposure in the wild — note required zone for each species
• UV Index (UVI): measurable output of UVB lighting; Ferguson Zones correspond to UVI ranges (Zone 1: 0.6–1.4, Zone 2: 1.1–3.0, Zone 3: 2.9–7.4, Zone 4: 4.5–9.5)
• Tube vs compact bulb: T5 HO tubes provide better coverage in large enclosures; compact bulbs for smaller spaces
• Distance from basking spot: UVI drops rapidly with distance — note recommended distance from bulb to basking spot on product
• Bulb lifespan: UVB output degrades before visible light fails — note replacement schedule (typically 6–12 months for T5 HO)

product.metafields.reptile.uvb_output_uvi = "3.0"              // at 30cm distance
product.metafields.reptile.ferguson_zone = "3"
product.metafields.reptile.uvb_tube_type = "T5 HO / T8 / Compact"
product.metafields.reptile.replacement_months = "12"

CITES and licensing requirements

Many exotic species are protected under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species):

• Appendix I: trade prohibited except in exceptional circumstances — includes many chameleons, certain tortoises
• Appendix II: trade permitted but regulated with export/import permits — includes ball pythons, many popular reptile species
• Article 10 certificate: for CITES Appendix I animals bred in captivity in the UK, a CITES Article 10 certificate is required for commercial transactions
• Tortoise Article 10: tortoise species (Hermann's, spur-thighed, horsfield) require Article 10 certificates for sale in the UK — serial number must be noted on product listing
• Record keeping: all CITES transactions must be recorded; retain documentation
• Do not list CITES species without ensuring correct documentation is available per animal

Dangerous Wild Animals Act

Certain species require a DWA licence held by the keeper:

• Venomous snakes: most venomous species require a DWA licence — retailers should not sell to unlicensed keepers
• Large constrictors: reticulated pythons (over 3m), anacondas — require DWA licence
• Large monitor lizards: Nile and Savannah monitors over a threshold size may require DWA licence
• Note DWA licence requirement on product page for restricted species

Live food product structure

Live food is a regular consumable purchase — subscription or auto-replenishment is a strong fit:

• Size variants: crickets and locusts sold in small/medium/large/XL — size as primary variant
• Quantity: sold in packs of 50, 100, 250, 500 — quantity as secondary variant
• Subscription: weekly or fortnightly live food subscription reduces admin and ensures repeat revenue
• Delivery: live food requires next-day delivery; do not dispatch on Fridays

Post-migration checklist for reptile stores

• Vivarium dimensions: L x D x H in cm on all enclosures; suitable species noted
• UVB lighting: UVI output at specified distance; Ferguson Zone; replacement schedule
• CITES livestock: Article 10 certificate number noted on all CITES-listed animal listings
• DWA species: licence requirement noted on product; do not sell to unlicensed keepers
• Live food: size and quantity as variants; next-day delivery only; no Friday dispatch
• Thermostat compatibility: note thermostat type compatibility for all heating products