DoBer | Female Director from Shanghai Theatre Academy Dives into the World of "Snakes, Lizards, and Spiders"
Inside a glass enclosure, a blue-tongued skink lazily crawls, while outside, Yueyue and Daxiong—a director couple who graduated from the Shanghai Theatre Academy—are directing their most unique work yet, "The Crawling Universe", within the DoBe park.
"We don't feel like we're starting a business, but more like creating a piece of art," says Yueyue, the founder of The Crawling Universe, her words carrying a deep passion and dedication to this venture.
When their lens shifted from stage performances to niche pets like lizards and geckos, and scripts were replaced with explorations of reptile culture, this director couple channeled their passion into a new direction. In 2023, they brought their enthusiasm for reptiles to the DoBe park, starting with a 50㎡ space that served as both a "secret base" for breeding reptiles and the starting point of turning their hobby into a career. At the time, The Crawling Universe was just a small husband-and-wife shop focused solely on reptile breeding and retail, yet this niche interest already held the potential for industrial growth.
In the exhibition area of The Crawling Universe, glass enclosures simulating natural ecosystems are the center of attention. Inside, plant landscaping is paired with temperature-controlled lighting systems to recreate native environments like rainforests and deserts, where colorful exotic pets display their unique postures. This level of professionalism in scene design stems from the couple's background in directing, giving their passion for reptiles a more tangible expression.
From 50㎡ to 546㎡: The Formation of a "Pet Economy" Industrial Blueprint
In 2025, The Crawling Universe underwent a transformative expansion—its space grew to 546㎡, divided into functional zones for display, retail, education, reception, crafts, breeding, and live streaming. This established a full-chain service system encompassing "headquarters office + pet wholesale/retail + interactive experiences + handmade cultural products + live-stream sales + breeding and reproduction + educational programs". Today, The Crawling Universe has evolved far beyond a small family shop, with a professional team and business covering multiple segments of the reptile industry. From live supply chains and supporting products to standardized service SOPs, a mature system has been formed, providing B2B franchisees with one-stop solutions for store setup and operations. Branches have now expanded to eight cities, including Xi'an, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Nanjing. This transition from a "passion project" to an "industry" is the result of the founders' unwavering dedication and continuous innovation.
As one seasoned enthusiast noted, "Reptiles allow me to directly experience the wonders of nature!" The process of scientific care is, in itself, an exploration and respect for the diversity of life.
The founders also emphasize the importance of professional care: "Precise control of temperature and humidity is essential, and we must avoid projecting human emotions onto them—only by recreating their native environment can we truly appreciate the charm of life itself."
Incubation Ecosystem + Market Trends: Niche Hobbies Become Mainstream Industries
Once labeled as "niche", creatures like snakes, lizards, and spiders are now entering mainstream life as "adorable pets". The rapid growth of The Crawling Universe is a vivid reflection of the booming exotic pet market—China's reptile market is growing at an annual rate of 12%, higher than international levels, opening vast prospects for such specialized projects. Why are exotic pets gaining popularity among young people?
"They don't require the constant companionship of cats or dogs—just a terrarium and regular feeding," explained one exhibitor. Snakes, for instance, only need to be fed every 7-10 days, with monthly care costs as low as ¥6, making low maintenance a core advantage. More importantly, exotic pets provide unique emotional value for people in high-pressure urban environments. One enthusiast admitted, "Every time I come home and see them in their glass enclosures, the anxiety from fast-paced life melts away."
Today, stepping into the 546㎡ space of The Crawling Universe, visitors can see colorful reptiles moving freely in carefully crafted ecosystems, children engrossed in educational sessions, young people sharing their hobbies and interests, and more individuals transitioning from curiosity about reptiles to acceptance. Stepping into the 546㎡ "Crawling Universe", vividly colored reptiles thrive freely within meticulously crafted ecological displays. Children listen attentively to educational explanations in the learning zone, while young people gather here to share interests and exchange insights. More and more people are transitioning from unfamiliarity with reptiles to acceptance.
DoBe Empowerment: Comprehensive Support for Leapfrog Growth
The rapid rise of The Crawling Universe owes much to the support of DoBe Group and its park. As a leading full-value-chain service provider for China's cultural and tech innovation industries, DoBe focuses on entrepreneurs' needs and offers end-to-end empowerment. The DoBe Yulangqiaobang park, recognized as a "Municipal-Level Entrepreneurship Incubation Base", adheres to the philosophy of "guiding and supporting all the way", clearing obstacles for such dedicated ventures.
Cost Reduction · Lightened Burden
Special rental subsidies significantly lower operational pressure, allowing the team to focus on their passion and deepen their core business.
- Resource Integration · Connection Empowerment
Connecting with government support policies and collaborating with DoBe PINK, a female entrepreneurs club, to synergize resources across the industrial chain.
Traffic Services · Full-Cycle Support
Leveraging influencer visits and official media promotions to expand exposure, while providing 24/7 services and spatial planning assistance.
The growth story of The Crawling Universe is a living example of DoBe's commitment to transforming "niche hobbies into mainstream industries". Whether it's emerging projects like The Crawling Universe in the "pet economy" or traditional sectors such as travel photography, coffee shops, bars, and catering, all can find fertile ground for growth here.
If you encounter any issues or have valuable suggestions within the DoBe park, please feel free to contact us via:
Official Complaint and Suggestion Email for the Chairman: jack@dobechina.com
All verified complaints or suggestions will be rewarded with at least ¥500 per submission.
Author: Xinze Editor: Xixi Reviewer: Bobo
