Scales 'N' Tails

I had a great experience at this store. The person working was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. I am new to Tarantula ownership and the guy at the store was so patient with all my questions. I had already purchased tarantulas elsewhere (which sucks cause they had them cheaper here!) and the employee offered to handle them and check their temperament for me. The selection was better than other stores I have been to. I also found the prices to be much better than reptile depot. The same tarantula was twenty bucks cheaper at Scales and Tails. This will be my pet store from now on!!!

Posted 08/24/09 | Report Abuse

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Prices are too high...If you want a really cool reptile store, visit REPTILE DEPOT in Chattsworth CA. Tons of selection, and prices are unbeatable!!!!

Posted 04/30/09 | Report Abuse

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I first went to Scales N Tails a couple of years ago looking for a bottom feeder fish. I found the fish, and the one person there seemed to be quite helpful. Unfortunately that fish died not too soon after, so I went back and told them -but they said there was no guarantee so I had to buy another one. While I was there I noticed they had some really nice looking bearded dragons. Well bad luck struck twice, and the second bottom feeder passed a few days later. I don't know why but maybe a month or so I did go back looking for a different type of bottom feeder. I had just been through a terrible ordeal with my 15 year old iguana having major medical issues, and she had passed. I had been looking for another lizard, and had been researching bearded dragons. I noticed that day a couple of very cute ones, and after holding them I really fell in love with one of them and decided to buy him. The fellow that was helping me told me it was a boy, and about 2 years old. He told me that he was healthy, and very tame. Well i took him home, and he seemed a little upset the first week or so, and then started digging which was characteristic of a female. Sure enough "he" was a "she" and she started laying eggs. OK - well I forgave them on the sexing - but then she would go through bouts of not eating for days - and then eating like crazy, but she wouldn't eat many green things. everyday I tried to get her to eat her greens with no success. I consulted a vet who gave me supplement food, and after checking her said she seemed fine. She only laid the one clutch of eggs, and seemed quite good - but then she would have these relapses. Well I got her in just before Scales N Tales closed suddenly last year, and she died yesterday. The vet told me she had bone disease - and unfortunately I had done research - but not thought anything of the bump she had on her spine when I bought, which I was told a couple of days ago was an indicator of the disease. I am very saddened by this, and I am afraid that they were knowledgeably selling sickly animals. I went to go back to speak with them and that's when I was surprised to see a note on the door, and a dark store. I hope my theory is wrong, but from other people I have spoken to this might be the case. I hope the new owners do not follow in the steps of how it was before, and I hope they only offer healthy animals from now on. It's a very hard thing to get attached to an animal only to have it suffer from medical problems, and have incur many vet bills and then lose your special friend.

Posted 03/04/09 | Report Abuse

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I knew the Kerry's very well and miss them dearly.They helped my fish for FREE after a Ammonia outbreak killing 5 out of 10...he saved the most he could.But after he sold it,it was alright,still bought seaweed.But now, this man here is so ignorant.He was incredibly rude.And in the end,that shark has NO space, and he had no right buying it.Many dead fish are in the tanks,and the tank smell is filling the whole buisness.A terrible thing happened at this place.A very bad thing.Come back Kerrys!!!

Posted 01/21/09 | Report Abuse

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I have been a frequent shopper to this store. They always offer knowledgeable answers, experienced advises, great prices, well stock merchandises and courteous service. Highly recommended to all pet owner.

Posted 09/15/08 | Report Abuse

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This store was bought by the same owners as Millennium Pets, and will be reopening in the first week of September. They're doing some serious renovating, and upgrading. They will carry new product lines, and I've heard they will have a new frag tank as well. The new official name will be "Burbank Scales N' Tails".

Posted 08/28/08 | Report Abuse

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OK here is the deal with Scales,
they were owned by the Kerrys, then sold like what a year+ ago. The new owners did ok, then the wheels fell off as soon as Josh left. Tanks started getting dirty, shelves went unstocked, bills went unpaid. THEN the owner of the place was a bad boy, and found himself in Jail facing some serious charges what would not allow him to see his store for many many many years. Then things went from bad to worse when this happened. Hector worked the place full on by himself for the most part, then said Eff this and quit. With this happening, there was no one to run the store. There was an interested buyer i guess but the owners were not really interested in selling. Being stubborn i guess as he sits in jail. So Hector left, the bills were not getting paid, the shelves went empty and vendors stopped bringing fish. So the place is closed. They took the best store in Burbank and ruined it basically. So now i have to go to Studio City and pay 20-30% more for the same crap, or u can go to Aquarium Works, they have great prices on dry goods and can usually get u what u want but they dont usually have loads of fish in stock. Millenium Pets on Victory is a dump and Peggy woods on Hollywood Way only does Fresh water fish and no reptiles. So that is the story. Good luck

Posted 07/13/08 | Report Abuse

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We were surprised to see the store closed, also! The staff was so friendly and helpful... they were always so great about answering all questions. We bought a baby corn snake and everything about the experience was great - we brought the snake in many times just to let the guys check him out as he grew. The owner had hatched the corn snakes at his home. We'd really like to know... what happened?! We miss all of you!

Posted 07/09/08 | Report Abuse

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My husband and I have been going to this store since we bought our first bearded dragon in 2000. We have seen it grwo, change hands, and thought all was going well. Two weeks ago we went on our weekly trip to get crickets and all was closed with a note on the door from Burbank Animal Control saying that animals must not be left alone for more than 12 hours. There was also a handwritten note saying that they apologized for the closure but were changing owners. We went back the next week and the note was gone but the store was still closed and all was dark inside. I called Burbank Animal Shelter and spoke with an officer who confirmed that the store was closed, probably would not reopen and that someone was taking care of the remaining animals (fish). This just shocked us as we have had nothing but good experiences there. So sorry to see it go. If anyone has more information please post. Thanks!

Posted 06/23/08 | Report Abuse

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Oh brother. Sometimes I wonder what people are carrying on about when they complain about a store. Running a small business is tough, and I can only imagine how difficult it is to deal with customers of a exotic pet store. I, for one, wouldn't want to do it. After visiting several pet stores in the area, I was referred to this one. Scales N Tails is by far the cleanest of its kind in the Glendale/Burbank area. The sales staff was very helpful, not pushy, and knowledgeable. And, most importantly, they were patient. I asked the same questions over and over again, because I was tired and too lazy to take any notes. I don't fault anyone one for trying to make a sale. They are, after all, trying to make a living. If free information is all you want, use the internet and don't waste a hard-working person's time. This place was great, and I will return tomorrow to buy what I need. Prices are competitive, and the support these guys offer is a rare commodity these days. This isn't a department store. You can't return a fish if it stops eating. Give me a break. These guys make an effort, and I applaud them for it.

Posted 03/27/08 | Report Abuse

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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I went there a month ago or so to get some fancy guppies and fake plants because Petco didn't have enough variety plants at the time, and I wanted to get guppies from a different stock (Though, who knows? Maybe all the local fish stores get their fish from the same place.) The store has the more exotic fish and sea creatures, and lots of big reptiles. The employees were nice and I found the guppies and fake plants I was looking for.

Posted 02/28/08 | Report Abuse

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Hi, I have been visiting Scales 'n' Tails since it first opened. I used to have a business that included common and exotic critters of all types. I have watched this store grow, change, and adjust. I am very pleased to recommend this store, its owner, and its employees to anyone who is looking for anything to do with anything with scales and tails! My father was a veterinarian and I have followed his love and thirst for knowledge for all living things. I would be happy to answer any concerns, questions, or whatever, I can about why I praise Scales 'n' Tails so highly.
Thank you :)

Posted 02/03/08 | Report Abuse

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You cannot believe what other people wrote because it is not true. These people are very, very helpful and not rude. And if your beta fish is not eating, so what, go spend another $5 and buy a new one. Or get a real pet instead. BTW, those guys are not carpenters, so you should not complain if they did a poor job resurfacing your fish pond. Their services include cleaning and restoring fish TANKS but nothing about resurfacing or rebuilding fish ponds. They have a great many fish and reptiles which they take very good care of. All of the reptiles that i have bought from them died from living an incredibly long life. They dont just say no to you, they try to help you with your issue even it is above their power. Prices are very descent of their animals considering they are almost all exotics. Exotic animals are very expensive and nobody can deny that. But scales 'n' tails has great preices on all of their animals. Their prices on cages and pet furniture are also descent. Keep in mind that they are not a franchise so they cannot offer the all time minimum price. But petco cannot offer their knowledge because the most educated person about animals knows that they eat, poop, and sleep. Yes im saying petco is horrible as they let their pets die and then wonder what happened. Scales 'n' tails has got to be the best pet store that i have ever had the pleasure of visiting.

Posted 10/14/07 | Report Abuse

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I had a problem related with my fishtank's fluorescent lamp. I took it to Scales n' Tails and I believed was a friendly guy called Josh that helped me with it. The electrical problem was fixed and still working fine. They do have a lot of stuff in there, everything looks very clean and well taken care. I haven't experience any rudeness as the ones I read about.

Posted 05/18/07 | Report Abuse

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I purchased a beta fish for my 5 year old son in October. Everything had been going well until now. Now, he's not eating. I have tried to research possible illnesses online, but I'm still not sure what's wrong with him. I called the store to see if I could bring him in & have someone maybe help me diagnose him, and was abruptly told, "No!". I then asked him if there was anyone in the store that could help me and got another abrupt, "No!". He said he was all alone today. He proceeded to tell me that they only live 3-4 years, and I told him that we have only had him for 4 months. He asked me if I knew how old he was when I bought him, so I asked him if it was their practice to inform customers of the age of the fish they were buying. A smartass question deserves a smartass answer, right?

Posted 02/12/07 | Report Abuse

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I had Scales N Tails resurface my fish pond. The guy did a sloppy job - splattering black resurfacing compound around the perimeter of the pond. When it dried, there were cracks. I'd already paid for the work when I called the store to complain and ask that they send someone out to patch the crack and clean up the spills left on the perimeter. It turned out the guy I complained about was the owner, and he was very angry that I had complained about him to someone else in the shop, so he got very nasty and said he wasn't going to do anything. Very unprofessional - he let his temper get in the way of doing the right thing. Yes, they do have a great selection of items, but I'll never shop there again.

Posted 01/24/07 | Report Abuse

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I read the first review, got to admit my experience with the owner was not much, just a question about if they were open or not and she was kind of rude, but no big deal. Josh. He is the one you need to talk to if you go there. He knows his animals. Helped me purchase fish, hermit crabs and a tortoise and very knowledgeable about ALL they sell. There are several pet shops in the area and their prices at Scales and Tails are much better than what I have seen at other stores. I saved $50 on a tortoise (less than the other major shop in the area) plus a 10% holiday discount, got a $15 card for future purchase. I shop around but they are always the best in every way.

Posted 12/22/06 | Report Abuse

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The owner is very knowledgable, though at times a little unfriendly. The staff there are also knowledgeable and usually friendly... however, sometimes it seems like they just want to make a sale. They sold me some fish that clearly would not work in my system... however, that's my fault for not researching enough. The good thing is that all the fish I have purchased have been very healthy.

PROS: Healthy Fish
CONS: Moody owner and pushy for sales

Posted 11/10/05 | Report Abuse

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