15-foot python, tortoises, sugar gliders for sale at new exotic pet store in Saginaw Township - MLive.com

SAGINAW TWP, MI — Walk into Custom Creatures, Saginaw Township's new exotic pet store, and you'll be greeted by the shop's dome-shelled mascot Tara. That is, if the surprisingly swift sulcata tortoise isn't making her rounds, scuttling around the aisles, her lips stained pink.

"She loves her raspberries and strawberries," said Kallan Hohman, Tara's owner and the proprietor of the business at 2750 Bay Road, Suite 4. Unlike the host of animals in Hohman's menagerie, though, Tara is not for sale, though younger and smaller members of her species and other tortoises are.

Hohman opened Custom Creatures on Saturday, March 5, specializing in reptiles, amphibians, unusual mammals, and fish. American alligators, sugar gliders, snakes, hedgehogs, poison dart frogs — non-toxic to humans — axolotls, ferrets, chameleons, and crayfish are just some of the companions the business is offering, along with all other amenities and accessories necessary for comfortably housing such animals.

Perhaps most striking is Khaleesi, a 15-feet long titanium reticulated python, native to the Amazon. Offered for sale for $800, the giant snake is likely to grow another 10 feet.

Hohman hails from the Thumb Area and has lived in Saginaw for about six years. Growing up, he had numerous unorthodox pets.

"Skunks, chinchillas, you name it, I had it," he said. "I just felt there was a lack of locally owned pet shops in our area, and the ones that are don't offer competitive pricing with the big box stores. I wanted to be able to do that for everybody here."

The business has four employees, all of whom are knowledgeable on the species for sale. Hohman only hires people who have experience working with animals and can teach customers how to properly care for their new pets.

"We would never send anybody home with an animal that they aren't familiar with," he said. "We encourage (customers) to come in and learn about the animal. We send them home with care packets and they're always able to contact us."

Prospective customers, however, should realize bringing an alligator, large python, or tortoise that can live 100 years or longer into their homes is a big responsibility.

"Some of the exotic animals can be a little more challenging," Hohman said. Chief among the challenges is ensuring access to a veterinarian who knows how to treat your new housemate.

Hohman and his staff also have networked with area veterinarians to ensure the species they sell can be treated.

"We offer a list of local vets who take care of all the animals we offer," he said. "In addition to that, it is important to know that each exotic animal has special needs. They're not from Michigan, so the aggressive climate changes can be imperative to their health. It's important to understand what each animal's needs are."

Tara's species, for instance, is native to Africa and cannot be outside during the winter, though she revels in sunbathing as the weather warms.

While exotic pets are expensive, Custom Creatures is price-matching all animals, merchandise, and foods.

In the short time they've been open, the store has had a rash of business, selling out sugar gliders, milk snakes, adult axolotls, ferrets, rabbits, and bearded dragons. By the afternoon of Tuesday, March 15, the store only had one of its initial 26 American alligators left in stock.

"We've had such a great turnout," Hohman said. "The sugar gliders sold out on the second day. There's been so much good feedback. I couldn't be happier."

The store's animals come from Frontier Distributing in Oxford, Michigan, and from a supplier in California, Hohman said.

As for the appeal of an atypical pet, Hohman said it comes down to their quirky and unique personalities.

"With dogs and cats, you know what you're getting in for," he said. "Who would think that with a tortoise, you'd build such a great relationship? (Tara) follows me around and does a little butt-wiggle when I pet her. The same thing with an alligator. Growing up, an alligator was my first pet. People think, 'Oh, an alligator will rip your hand off.' But she would cuddle up with you and snuggle up with you on the couch. It was really cool."

Hohman plans to have an even more diverse assortment of species soon.

"We do plan on in the next couple of months … having a two-toed sloth and getting into more exotic mammals such as spider monkeys and finger monkeys," he said.

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