About Buddha Bugs
Nick and Ziqian with an undescribed Selenocosmiinae sp. female tarantula
encountered in Sabah, Malaysia, in 2024.
Buddha Bugs is a family-owned invertebrate and reptile business based in Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas. We founded the business in 2020, but our experience with these animals began much earlier. Ziqian began keeping invertebrates in 2009, while Nick began keeping them in 2012 and has kept reptiles since 1998. Together, we have maintained hundreds of species. That experience guides how we select, house, breed, document, and care for the animals we offer.
Nick holds a B.S. in Wildlife Conservation and Ecology from the College of William and Mary, and Ziqian holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Beijing Forestry University. Our academic backgrounds, together with our hands-on experience, contribute to the careful, evidence-based approach we bring to our work.
Husbandry and Field Experience
Our experience extends beyond captive care. We have collectively spent thousands of hours searching for, observing, and photographing reptiles and invertebrates in their native habitats. These field observations provide valuable context for interpreting behavior in captivity and inform the husbandry guidance we share.
Captive Breeding and Transparent Sourcing
We focus primarily on captive-bred animals, including species produced here at Buddha Bugs. We also obtain captive-bred animals from reputable breeders in the United States and abroad.
We occasionally offer field-collected animals, particularly true spiders and centipedes. We obtain these specimens through legal imports or lawful domestic collection. We do not represent field-collected animals as captive-bred, and we describe their known origin as accurately and transparently as possible.
Accuracy Before Assumption
Accurate identification and honest product information are central to our work. Invertebrate taxonomy changes frequently, and animals within the hobby sometimes circulate under unresolved, outdated, or incorrect names. When an animal’s identity, locality, or taxonomic status is uncertain, we state that clearly instead of presenting a hobby label or assumption as established fact.
Every animal listed as a confirmed female or confirmed male has been sexed through examination of that individual’s molts. We do not confirm sex based solely on ventral appearance.
Most photographs throughout our website are our own original images. When a photograph shows a representative mature specimen, the product title or description identifies the size or life stage of the animal currently being offered.
Animal Care and Customer Support
We monitor animals in our care routinely and maintain them according to their individual needs. We adjust feeding, moisture, cleaning, enclosure setup, and rehousing as needed based on the species and the animal’s size and condition.
We welcome questions before or after a purchase. If you need help choosing an animal, understanding a listing, arranging shipping or pickup, or preparing for your new arrival, please contact us or consult our Frequently Asked Questions.