Zoo Med Laboratories, Inc. is a manufacturer of specialty pet products for reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, birds, and small mammals.
[1] At age 19, Gary Bagnall started a live reptile import/export business called "In Cold Blood"[2] out of a one-car garage in Costa Mesa, California.
In 1978, Gary partnered with Elaphe snake breeder, Lloyd Lemke and the name changed to Orange County Zoological.
[4] In 1984, while running California Zoological Supply (i.e. Cal Zoo), Gary procured the first vitamin supplement designed specifically for reptiles under the trademark name "ReptiVite".
[7] In September 2020, PETA, a US animal rights organization, filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming that the business encourages consumers to buy enclosures that could be harmful to snakes.