Who we are
Not your average pet shop — and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Nestled in Monument Park, Pretoria, we are a specialist exotic pet destination unlike anything else in the city. No puppies. No kittens. What you will find here is a carefully curated world of reptiles, tropical fish, tarantulas, rare invertebrates, and the kind of hands-on expertise that is genuinely hard to come by.
We opened our doors on 31 May 2025 — but the journey to get here started long before that, with a bird, a small fish tank, and an obsession that simply refused to stay small.
Our Story
It started with a bird named Zazu and a 30-litre fish tank.
What began as a simple hobby quickly became something far bigger. Rufus's fish tank became two. Then five. The curiosity about water chemistry, species behaviour, and breeding took over completely. Before long, he had transitioned from hobbyist to commercial fish breeder, specialising in Corydoras — one of the most popular catfish families in the tropical fish world.
At the peak of the operation: 500 tanks. 94,000 litres of water. Running constantly from home.
Through every tank, every spawn, every water change, the passion kept expanding — beyond fish, into reptiles, invertebrates, and the broader world of exotic animal keeping. Eventually, it became clear that all of this needed a proper home. A place where passionate people could walk in, get real advice, find animals they couldn't find anywhere else, and feel genuinely welcome.
That place is Pet Oh Natix. We opened our doors on 31 May 2025 — and we haven't looked back.
Rufus Swanepoel
Co-founder & Exotic Animal Specialist
Rufus spent years as a commercial fish breeder, specialising in Corydoras — running 500 breeding tanks from home at the peak of the operation. That obsession with aquatic life expanded into reptiles, invertebrates, and the broader world of exotic animal keeping. His hands-on expertise is the backbone of everything Pet Oh Natix stands for. He knows what healthy animals look like, what thriving habitats smell like, and exactly what a nervous first-time keeper needs to hear to walk out the door feeling confident.
Jo-Anne Herselman
Co-founder & Operations
Jo-Anne brings 18 years of commercial insurance expertise to Pet Oh Natix — which means the business runs with a level of care and professionalism that most small shops can only dream of. But more than that, Jo-Anne brings warmth, patience, and a genuine love for every animal in the shop. What started as supporting Rufus's passion became a shared one. Today, Pet Oh Natix is as much her world as it is his. Together, they built something Pretoria didn't know it was missing.
Why Pet Oh Natix?
Visit Us
We'd love to meet you in person. Come find us in Monument Park, Pretoria.
Open hours
Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Friday: 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Public Holidays: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM