About Critters & Canopies

Critters & Canopies was founded from a lifelong passion for animals, plants, and the incredible ecosystems they create together.

Owned and operated by Melanie ("MsMel") Muldrow, Critters & Canopies specializes in captive-bred reptiles, quality invertebrates, live plants, bioactive setups, and the supplies needed to build thriving naturalistic habitats. Our goal is to help keepers of all experience levels create healthy, enriching environments for the animals and plants they love.

For years, Melanie has been known throughout the reptile and plant community as MsMel, building relationships through shared learning, responsible husbandry, and a genuine enthusiasm for the hobby. Critters & Canopies was created to bring together a love of animals, plants, education, and community under one brand dedicated to quality, integrity, and customer support.

Whether you're looking for your first reptile, expanding a bioactive collection, searching for clean-up crews, or creating a custom enclosure, we're committed to providing healthy animals, quality products, and honest guidance every step of the way.

As a veteran-, Black-, and woman-owned small business, Critters & Canopies is proud to bring diverse perspectives and a strong commitment to excellence to the reptile and bioactive communities. We believe that responsible animal stewardship, continuous learning, and ethical practices are the foundation of long-term success in the hobby.

At Critters & Canopies, we believe that great keeping starts with great husbandry, and we're proud to help fellow enthusiasts build thriving ecosystems, one enclosure at a time.

Meet the Founder

Melanie "MsMel" is the founder and owner of Critters & Canopies. She combines a lifelong love of animals with a passion for science, education, and animal health.

Melanie is a veterinarian with a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree and is currently pursuing a PhD in Epidemiology. Her professional background provides a strong foundation in animal health, disease prevention, population health, and evidence-based decision-making—principles that influence every aspect of Critters & Canopies.

While reptiles and invertebrates represent a newer chapter in her animal-care journey, Melanie approaches the hobby with the same dedication to learning, responsible stewardship, and continual growth that has defined her veterinary and public health career. She believes that even experienced keepers can always learn something new and that sharing knowledge strengthens the entire community.

Known throughout the reptile and plant communities as MsMel, she is dedicated to promoting responsible husbandry, ethical breeding practices, and lifelong learning. Through Critters & Canopies, her mission is to help keepers create healthy, enriching environments while providing quality animals, plants, and bioactive products backed by knowledge, integrity, and exceptional customer service.