Strictly Exotics | About Us

Qualified to serve you

Established 3 years ago, we are a professional herpetology centre, providing the very Best Quality Reptiles, Amphibians and invertebrates at sensible prices, as well as strongly promoting the correct welfare and captive breeding of specific Reptile, Amphibian and invertebrates species.

We also have an online service that will provide you with sensible care sheets for a wide variety of related animals. We aim to ensure that you can find the newest ideas that are all reptile related and if you are still looking, we will also be providing a forum there for you can contact others for advice and help.

We are different from most animals shops/Pet shops as we care for the animals as if they are our own. we are constantly in contact with welfare organizations, local Veterinary Surgeries as well as Suitably Qualified UK Renowned Herpetologists and Qualified Specialists. This ensures that you receive the correct advice at all times. What also makes us totally different from all our competitors is that we don't just make false statements of being Qualified Herpetologists with no qualifications to back these statements up. At Strictly Exotics all our staff are not only hand picked for a position within the company, but we insist that our staff are very knowledgeable in various areas of there own specialized preferred animals, this ensures a vast range of ability and experience that can be passed onto all our customers.

in June 2011 we have been recognized for our commitment and have been nominated for *Pet Specialist outlet" of 2011" and we came 2nd which we are all pleased with. This is a national award and independently judged by specialist and knowledgeable panel of judges. This is the very first time a Scottish company has ever been considered for this award and we are very proud to be in this position. To be one of the TOP 2 companies within the UK is an amazing achievement, and we now are not only being recognized nationally for our hard work, but also even more committed to push our standards ever higher and above the basics required by legislation. This will not only benefit our animals, but also to the standards that we insist upon and can relate to all our customers at all times.

We believe that we are in the forefront of setting the highest standards in this field and with the fact that we are now constantly selling all our products and animals Nationally is proving that we are definitely heading in the right direction.

Being in this position, we as a company recognize this is only due to the loyalty & commitment from all our customers and friends, and we will never forget that fact by appreciating every customer and ensuring our individual attention on every visit by them to our premises and our website.

Earlier this year the majority of our staff attended a course held by Mark Amey one of the UK's top herpetologists/Zoologists. These type of courses are central to the continued success of our business.

On top of this, we have Qualified staff who can overlook our business as a whole on a daily basis and make themselves available so the business can use there knowledge, qualifications and experience. Staff are all encouraged to gain professional qualifications and some have already gained them or currently sitting their preferred courses as we speak.

Below is currently the qualifications held by our Staff

Ewan Melville (Business Owner) over 20 years experience and was one of the associated parties to open the very first dedicated reptile centre ever in Scotland a good few years ago, on top of this he personally was also one of the first people within Scotland to ever import reptiles direct. but now, apart from the day to day running of the whole business his specific interests include Chameleons, Boas, Royal Pythons, and various smaller lizards.

Institute for animal care & education "Keeping Exotics" in captivity –DISTINCTION

(One of the only specific reptile qualifications available within the Uk)

City & Guilds Health and Hygiene,

City & Guilds General Catering certificate, 1 x Pass, 2 x Credit

City & Guilds, Certificate for the Catering industry, 1 x Distinction, 1 x Credit

Dietary Nutrition NHS Course, pass

Although some of the above Certificates may not seem generally reptile related, they are essential and a benefit to ensure all our animals within our care receive the proper Dietary requirements and we find this important for our animals general health as well as the information we pass onto our customers.

More Qualifications will added in the future.

Elaine Glen (Manageress) over !!!!!!!years experience (best not say how many years, haa haa) specializing in breeding Royal Morphs at the moment but also experienced in Various Lizard breeding. Elaine has also been a veterinary assistant for a number of years and this experience alone is essential to our business ensuring the correct care and attention within all our premises is kept to the highest standards at all times.

Donna Glen (Assistant) Donna has an amazing knowledge in reptiles as has kept for most of her life. Currently she is at college and studying hard, her specific knowledge and experiences include Leopard Gecko morphs, Breeding Hognose Morphs and Rosy Boa morphs and so much more.

Fagan (Kirkcaldy shop NEW mascot) hobbies include being centre of attention (if he wakes up), sitting on the counter getting as many kisses as he can, and eating all the treats customers bring him as well as all the crickets he can find!!!!

Danny Threapleton: He has had a massive experience with various reptiles and fish including certificate in Fish Quality, Fish Biology, Filtration and reptile Husbandry. More courses are to follow as he is very keen to advance his knowledge. he is a fantastic advantage to our Dundee store and customers already feel confident they are receiving the correct information about any animals.

We use the following parties for consulting and information purposes on a regular basis:

Mark Amey (Amey Zoological), Mark is one of the top and very respected Zoologists within the UK now specializing in Reptiles. He also Runs his own company providing the correct care for reptiles in captivity, as well as this he provides animals for TV productions, and his animals have appeared on "Life In Cold Blood" with Sir David Attenbourgh, "I'm a celebrity get me out of here" to name a few. Mark also works with St Tiddywinkle rescue centre and a consultant for Government issues.

Alistair Lawrie (Lawrie Veternary Group, Falkirk & Cumbernauld) Alistair, although know for his experience in Parrots has now taken a serious interest in reptiles. He not only runs his own practice but also occasionally lectures at the veterinary college. He is one of the top consultants for reptiles within Scotland and we recommend him for any serious issues you may have with your reptiles. Alistair is also currently the chairman for the SSPCA.

Barbara Barnard (Blackness Veternary Practice, Dundee) Due to the fact when we initially launched our company there were no vets for reptiles within Dundee, we approached Barbara and she decided to make a specific interest in these. from that point on the practice has never looked back and constantly having reptiles in the surgery.

Chris Allison (The Golf Veterinary Practice, Arbroath, Carnoustie and Montrose) Chris also is a person to visit if you require help with reptile issues, he has specialist animals including various snakes, Pigmy Chameleons etc. He tries to avoid our shops as much as possible due to our Selection, Quality & Choice, hes always tempted. haa haa.

Other Consultants include: Wallace Veterinary Practice Carnoustie, Pet Care Trust,Kingdom Veterinary Centre Glenrothes, Chris Newman (REPTA. Reptile Exotic Pet Trade Association)  to name a few.

Over the past few years Strictly Exotics have been constantly providing a professional & exceptional service for the up keep of all Reptiles & Amphibians. And due to our superb reputation, we are also constantly continuing to ensure we are upgrading our services to a superior level and knowledge at all times. We know our customers appreciate this, but recently there has been a campaign by a minority of certain individuals slating and slandering us for their own personal gains and enjoyment, this in particular has not only been aimed at our Dundee Premises, but Kirkcaldy as well. Both these outlets are at the same high standards that we expect at “Strictly”, and we constantly monitor and resolve any issues that may arise. There for ensuring we can sell with confidence to all our customers.

In the years we have been trading NONE of our premises have ever had any issues on any “on the spot” inspections, these include:

Annual council inspections

SSPCA inspections

DEFRA (Animal health Inspections (Government))

Trading Standards Inspections

The reason for this is due to the constant care and attention to details of animal care which takes priority at all times within our company. Due to the hard work of our staff they DO actually have qualifications and constant training and are knowledgeable in all aspects of what they are selling.These details alone make us proud of what we have achieved in 4 years as a company and we were congratulated by being nominated (and was runner up) in a national award this year for “Best Specialist Outlet 2011”, the 1st Scottish company ever to be a finalist in this national competition.

We take seriously and investigate any accusations, complaints and comments thoroughly and are persistent in resolving these fully. Normally, we would not reply in public to any of these but certain parties seem to think it is fun to constantly make false allegations and post false information online about our business. Due to this fact, we have summoned an independent vet survey on our Dundee premises and we have PUBLICY published these results below.

We will protect the hard work by our staff at all times in keeping our standards higher than most outlets of the similar nature, but after the same recycled nonsense has been constantly been posted and alleged over a number of years we have taken steps to stop this once and for all.

We apologies to all our customers for this approach but we have had no other option. We always welcome customers and again appreciate your constant support and custom.

Here, you can find a copy of our latest Veterinary Report showing that we STILL hold high standards of quality and maintenance of all out animals at all times. You can find it here.

On going project:

We are always committed to advancing not only our knowledge but also our facilities. Now nearly finished below is a few pictures of our Breeding/Quarantine area. this will ensure all our customers can receive only the best quality animals at all times. With this facility in place we have created an fantastic interest for our company to be involved with Vets for them to do studies on various aspects of reptiles. Eventually, this will hopefully create a written paper on the subjects studied. The is amazing for our company as enables us to go from strength to strength and be personally involved with the advancement in the Professional studies in reptile husbandry.