About

Welcome to Ely Exotics, a specialist retail facility for Exotics Pets such as Reptiles, invertebrates, amphibians, and Ornamental Fish. We are a family run business, with a huge passion for animals. Keeping and breeding various species has always been at our core and seen us working across the industry from Zoos, Pet Retail, Veterinary and plus market-leading Reptile and Aquatic Brands. This means we bring a wealth of over 20 years of experience in the advice and products we offer. All our livestock is sourced using the very best suppliers and breeders for the strongest and healthiest animals and everything is cared for as if they were our own pets. We want to give you the best experience when embarking on the journey of exotic pet keeping and enjoy every minute of it as much as we do. We have all the tools you need to be successful and look forward to welcoming keepers of all ages and experience levels either in-store or online.

A brief background of how I found myself creating the Ely Exotics you see today. My career began at a very young age, I decided quickly that animals would always be my path so the second I was old enough a Saturday job in a local pet shop was the first port of call. It was there at 14 the foundations of who I am today began and I first found Tropical Fish. I trained for a few years at Sparsholt college with the aim to go into zookeeping. My 20 year 😳 working career between then and now includes management in pet retail, zoo work, livestock management and working for some of the biggest Reptile and Aquatic brands in Europe. Alongside all of this my personal collection of my own reptiles and invertebrates was vast. I kept and bred a wide variety of species as a hobby. The idea for Ely Exotics was born over a number of years, but the deciding time came during the covid lockdown. The plans really started to take shape fast and before I knew it in November 2021 I had a set of keys in my hand.. and there was no going back. Cut to nearly 3 years later, I can genuinely say I love the job I do. I get up everyday and I can’t wait to come to work. Introducing so many of you to incredible animals, providing a place for honest advice on your own pets plus somewhere you can find species you’ll see nowhere else is just a few reasons. My passions vary quite a bit, Tropical fish is an area I’ve spent most of my career working in professionally, I really enjoy sourcing new species and offering something a bit different to the norm. Invertebrates has also long been a passion of mine, breeding a variety of species over the years. The recent addition of the ants to the shop has become my latest obsession. I just love being around and learning as much as I can about all animals. The more we can keep adding to Ely Exotics the better for me !

Jack has been here at Ely Exotics almost since the very start, joining in the July of 2021 when the shop had been open just 4 and 1/2 months. He started off working just Sundays but that quickly changed with Jack becoming a familiar face to most and a much valued member of the team. This September Jack goes full time here so you’ll get to see even more of him ! Jacks passion has always been around Planted Vivariums, Geckos and over more recent times Frogs to. His bedroom at home looks very similar to the shop with 90% of it being tanks.. I think there’s a bed and tv in there somewhere 😂 His collection includes Mossy Frogs, Electric Blue Day Geckos, Flying Geckos and much more ! Outside of work Jack is a very talented photographer, spending lots of his time out in the field looking for various wildlife and snapping some amazing pictures. This talent has certainly been utilised at the shop over the last few years.. the good photos you see on our social media pages are of course mine but.. the incredible ones we post are pretty much always his !

Jess is the newest member of our team joining us just short of 6 months ago. Starting on a few days a week, which has already increased as she has fast become an integral part of the Ely Exotics family. Jess has always been around animals but many of our species were very new to her. One part she was nervous of was the bugs and in particular the Spiders.. Ironically by throwing herself in at the deep end the spiders and inverts have become the area of the business Jess is now most passionate about. She now has a variety of Mantis, Jumping spiders and lots of snails in her collection at home which join her other animals including Tortoises, parrots and her dogs. Jess brings a methodical (some would call it female 😆) style of work to the shop helping to maintain and improve our high standards of care for our animals. She’s also a fine example of how immersing yourself with animals you’re nervous of not only rids you of any fear but how it can turn it into a real love. Outside of work Jess enjoys walks with her dogs🐶, breeding Snails 🐌 and also she’s a very talented Artist. She does fantastic Animal and Pet portraits either as pencil drawings or digital 🎨