INDUSTRY REFERENCE
U.S. reptile pet ownership & retail statistics.
A practical, sourced reference for pet shops, writers, and anyone tracking the reptile category. Last updated September 29, 2026.
Reptile retail is a specialist category, and reliable public figures are scattered. This page brings together the clearest recent data points from the American Pet Products Association and U.S. Geological Survey. Each figure links to its original source and publication date.
OWNERSHIP
The U.S. reptile-owning household.
6 million
U.S. households own reptiles
APPA estimated six million U.S. households owned reptiles in its 2025 Fish & Reptile Report release.
APPA, September 24, 2025 Link to this statistic43%
of reptile owners keep turtles or tortoises
Turtles and tortoises were the most commonly kept reptile category in APPA’s 2025 release.
APPA, September 24, 2025 Link to this statistic22%
of reptile owners keep snakes
APPA reported snake ownership rose 22% from 2023, reaching 22% of reptile owners in 2025.
APPA, September 24, 2025 Link to this statistic33%
of reptile owners are Gen Z
APPA reported Gen Z represented one-third of reptile owners, up 27% from 2023.
APPA, September 24, 2025 Link to this statisticRETAIL & CARE
Where retail value is being created.
15%
bought reptiles at local specialty stores
Local specialty-store purchasing rose 15% from the previous year, while pet superstores remained the largest single source at 18%.
APPA, September 24, 2025 Link to this statistic53%
turn to the internet for reptile care information
Pet store personnel and social media were each cited by 34% of reptile owners in the same APPA release.
APPA, September 24, 2025 Link to this statistic14%
plan to buy cage furniture in the next year
That share was 56% higher than in 2018, pointing to continued interest in habitat enrichment.
APPA, September 24, 2025 Link to this statisticThese figures describe survey responses from reptile owners. They are useful signals for retail conversations, not a substitute for species-specific care guidance or current availability.
MARKET CONTEXT
The bigger pet market, plus a trade reality check.
$158 billion
in U.S. pet-industry sales during 2025
APPA projected U.S. pet-industry sales of $165 billion for 2026. This is the full pet market, not reptile-only spending.
APPA, 2026 State of the Industry Link to this statistic2.5 million+
freshwater turtles and tortoises imported to the U.S. from 2000 to 2022
A 2026 USGS study identified 172 species likely imported for pet, food, and traditional-medicine markets across that period.
U.S. Geological Survey, June 13, 2026 Link to this statisticThe turtle and tortoise import finding covers multiple end markets. It is included as context for a category where traceability, responsible care, and well-informed retail matter.
CITE THIS PAGE
Use a stable link.
Suggested citation: California Zoological Supply. “U.S. Reptile Pet Ownership & Retail Statistics.” Updated September 29, 2026. https://calzoo.com/reptile-industry-statistics.
For a specific figure, use the “Link to this statistic” link below its source.
METHODOLOGY & SOURCES
How to read this reference.
This page reports source figures as published. APPA’s consumer figures come from its National Pet Owners Survey and should be read as survey findings. USGS figures come from its published analysis of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Management Information System import records. Cal Zoo does not combine these sources into a single market estimate.
- American Pet Products Association, “From Bigger Tanks to Stronger Bonds,” September 24, 2025
- American Pet Products Association, 2026 State of the Industry
- U.S. Geological Survey, “Long lives, short futures,” June 13, 2026
Numbers and links are reviewed on a regular basis. The next planned review is October 2026, or sooner if a primary source publishes material new data.
FOR QUALIFIED PET SHOPS
Move from category signals to current supply.
Cal Zoo works directly with qualified retailers on live-animal availability and practical ordering details.