Our story
Animals first. Always.
Tails & Scales grew from a simple conviction: that the animals and ecosystems we keep deserve more than a shelf and a price tag.
How it started
Tails & Scales was born from a love that started young. At 18, Elle Jordaan turned her lifelong passion for animals into something real — a specialist shop where the person behind the counter genuinely cares about every creature in it.
Elle kept finding the same gap — shops with stock but no depth, advice that contradicted itself, and animals that arrived stressed and left the same way. So she built the shop she always wanted: one where knowledge and animal welfare come before everything else.
Tails & Scales opened in Protea Valley, Cape Town, and has grown steadily on word of mouth — from hobbyists, breeders, and first-time keepers who found something different here.
What we believe
Animals first
Every stocking, sourcing, and care decision starts with the animal's welfare — not the margin.
Depth over breadth
We'd rather stock fewer things and know them deeply than carry everything and understand nothing.
Honest advice
If something isn't right for your setup, we'll tell you. Even if it means you leave empty-handed today.
The craft of keeping
Aquascaping, terrarium design, and animal husbandry are skills worth developing. We're here to help you develop them.
The person behind the counter
Elle Jordaan, Founder & Owner
Elle started Tails & Scales at 18, driven by a lifelong love for animals. From reptiles to planted aquariums, she has hands-on experience with everything in the shop — and she's always happy to talk through your setup, no matter how basic or advanced the question.
Find us in Protea Valley
40 Ranksuikerbos Street, Protea Valley, Cape Town, 7530
066 101 5288 · info@tailsscales.com
Monday to Friday 9:00 to 17:30 · Saturday 9:00 to 14:00 · Sunday closed