Frequently Asked Questions

Hands On Exotics is a licensed exotic animal experience company based in the GTA. We bring our animal ambassadors to your event for hands-on, educational, and entertaining encounters. Whether it’s a birthday party, corporate event, school presentation, or therapeutic session, we create unforgettable experiences with professionally handled exotic animals.

Our animal ambassador family includes reptiles (snakes, lizards, turtles, geckos), amphibians, arachnids (tarantulas, scorpions), insects, small mammals (hedgehogs, chinchillas, sugar gliders), and birds. Every animal is socialized for safe guest interactions.

We've been bringing exotic animal experiences to the GTA and beyond since 2011. Over the years, we've entertained and educated tens of thousands of guests at birthday parties, schools, corporate events, weddings, and more.

Yes. We are licensed by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and carry $5,000,000 in commercial general liability insurance covering every event. Certificates of insurance are available upon request for venues or organizations that require them.

Submit an inquiry through our website or give us a call. We’ll ask about your event details — date, location, number of guests, and the type of experience you’re looking for. Within 24 hours, you’ll receive a personalized quote. Once you approve the quote, a 50% deposit secures your date.

We recommend booking at least 2–3 weeks in advance for the best availability. During peak season (May–October), 4–6 weeks is ideal. We do accommodate last-minute bookings when handler and animal availability allows.

A non-refundable deposit of 25% of the total booking value is required to confirm your date. The remaining balance is due no later than 7 days before your event. We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Interac e-Transfer.

Cancellations made more than 96 hours before the event are refunded minus the 25% non-refundable deposit. Cancellations within 96 hours forfeit the deposit, and within 24 hours forfeit the full booking amount. Reschedules are available subject to availability within 1 year.

All of our animals are extensively socialized by our animal handlers before being introduced to our programs. Many of our animals come to us from previous homes — we often tell clients that our animals are owner surrenders, so we are not raising them from a young age.

Please inform our handler of any allergies upon arrival. We avoid common allergens (nuts, sesame) while visiting; however these foods are a balanced part of some animals’ diets.

Guests must be at least 3 years old to interact with our animal ambassadors. Children under 12 must be actively supervised by a parent or guardian at all times during animal interactions. Our handlers tailor the experience to each age group.

Every event includes a trained handler who maintains full authority over all animal interactions. We provide hand sanitizer, clear handling guidelines, and a dedicated interaction area. Handlers can restrict or terminate any interaction if they determine it’s in the best interest of the animal or guests. Flash photography near sensitive species is not permitted.

Our birthday party packages are suitable for all ages. We ask that children under the age of 5 be supervised and/or assisted by a parent or guardian.

All of our presentations are designed to be 60 minutes. This includes a mix of guided animal presentations, hands-on interactions, and photo opportunities. Longer durations are available upon request, however we find that one hour is the perfect amount of time for most birthday parties.

We curate the animal lineup based on the package selected and any special requests. We do our best to accommodate any requests when available; the best way to guarantee a star appearance is to add-on your favourite animal.

We have digital invites available for your use, and we send a small party favour home with every child who attends. We bring all the animals, equipment, and handler expertise. Party supplies, decorations, food, and venue setup are the responsibility of the host family. We’re happy to coordinate on timing so the animal experience fits seamlessly into your party schedule.

We serve a wide range of corporate events including team-building activities, holiday parties, client appreciation events, grand openings, product launches, trade shows, and employee family days. Our experiences are tailored to create memorable, engaging moments for professional audiences.

We scale from intimate groups of 10 to large events with 500+ attendees. For larger events, we recommend multiple handlers and expanded animal lineups to ensure every guest gets quality interaction time. We’ll work with your event coordinator to design the right setup.

Yes. We provide certificates of insurance, risk assessments, and any other documentation your venue or organization requires. Our $5M commercial general liability policy covers all events, and we’re experienced in working with corporate compliance teams.

We offer programs for pre-kindergarten through Grade 12. Each presentation is adapted to the age group and learning objectives. Younger students enjoy sensory-focused, hands-on encounters, while older students receive more in-depth lessons on biology, ecology, and conservation.

A single handler can accommodate up to 30 students per session. For larger groups or school-wide assemblies, we recommend adding a second handler to maintain animal interaction. We recommend booking back-to-back sessions for schools that want multiple classes to participate throughout the day.

We provide therapeutic animal visits for seniors, adult day programs, persons with special needs, and mental health support programs. Our sessions are designed to promote sensory engagement, emotional comfort, and social interaction through gentle animal encounters.

Yes. The animals chosen for these visits are specifically selected for their calm temperament, gentle nature, and tolerance of extended handling. They undergo additional socialization to prepare them for quiet, sensitive environments. Our handlers are experienced in working with vulnerable populations.

Absolutely. Our handlers are experienced in bringing animals directly to residents who require accommodations. We adapt the interaction to each individual’s abilities, ensuring everyone can participate safely and comfortably.

We require all outdoor bookings to have an indoor alternative in the event of inclement weather (minimum 10×10 feet of clear floor area). We reserve the right to cancel in extreme weather for the safety of our animals if a suitable indoor option is not provided.

We need a minimum of 10×10 feet of clear floor space for the animal interaction area, plus room for guests. Indoor spaces must be temperature-controlled between 18°C and 26°C. No open flames, smoke machines, or amplified audio above 85 decibels near the animals. We bring all necessary equipment — no power or water hookups required.

We service all areas of southern and central Ontario. A travel fee always applies, even within Toronto, and varies by location.

We need convenient parking near the event entrance for our transport vehicle, which carries the animals and equipment. Please let us know about any access restrictions such as stairs, elevators, underground parking, or any parking fees. We’ll coordinate arrival and setup logistics in advance so everything runs smoothly.