Astra's Exotics and Aquatic has opened in downtown Big Rapids, Michigan, offering reptiles, tropical fish and more.

Miss Dixon said incidents of theft from exotic pet shops were frequent in other parts of the country but this was the first time she had experienced an incident. "I'm annoyed, upset and hurt.

The new store has shipped more than 16,000 tarantulas around the United States in the first half of the year alone, said owner Tyler Kirk.