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 !

Meet Jess – A Key Member of the Ely Exotics Team Jess joined Ely Exotics a few years ago, originally starting part-time. It didn’t take long for her dedication, enthusiasm, and natural rapport with animals to shine through—she quickly became an essential part of the team and is now with us full-time. Although she’s always had a love for animals, many of our exotic species were completely new to her. In the beginning, she was admittedly nervous around bugs—especially spiders! But by diving in headfirst and challenging herself, Jess has turned that initial fear into a true passion. Today, she’s our invertebrate enthusiast, caring for a range of fascinating creatures and building an impressive personal collection that includes mantises, jumping spiders, snails, tortoises, parrots, and dogs. Jess brings a methodical approach to her work-helping us maintain and elevate our standards of animal care every day. Her journey is a perfect example of how hands-on experience and open-mindedness can transform fear into fascination. Outside of the shop, Jess enjoys long walks with her dogs, breeding snails, and showcasing her talent as an artist. She creates beautiful, detailed animal portraits—both hand-drawn and digital—that truly capture the personality of each subject.