Exotic pet shop snakes its way to Lincoln

A grand opening was held on Saturday, July 23, to celebrate the new branch of exotic pet shop, LA Reptiles.

The newest store, situated on St Martin’s Lane near Lincoln High Street, is an expansion following the success of its first store in Grantham, which they opened only five months ago on Valentine’s Day.

Business owners Andy Ferguson and Liam Benson have shared their love for reptiles since being friends at school.

The duo invited Lincoln locals along at the weekend to mingle with their exotic friends, including a variety of snakes, lizards, water dragons and frogs.

For those who prefer all things creepy, LA Reptiles also stock spiders and are hoping to eventually bring scorpions to the Lincoln branch in the near future, as they continue to expand.

LA Reptiles sells everything needed to care for a reptile, from heating and lighting appliances, to live food, antibacterial cleaners, housing and vivarium furniture which are things people do not often account for when purchasing an exotic pet for the first time.

Speaking of their move to the city, Ferguson said, “We knew there was already a reptile scene quite well established in Lincoln and a lot of people share an interest for them here.

“We know people will appreciate that some reptiles are sometimes harder to get hold of or might be more expensive than others, and we want to be able to give them that choice and be able to offer that bit more.”

One particular resident at the Lincoln branch of LA Reptiles is a prime example of the variety of creatures in store.

Mr Ferguson explained how their Dumeril’s Boa, a protected species of snake, needs more care than the more common snakes people are likely to have in their home.

“Our Dumeril’s Boa is a lot less common, she needs signed paperwork, to be micro chipped and is licensed because she is a rarer species.”

However, like the rest of the reptiles available to buy, the snake is captive bred and the pair go out of their way to make sure every customer is well advised when it comes to caring for any reptile.

“We aim to be as helpful as possible. We want people to feel that they can come into the store for any information or advice. We want to be loyal to the customers to ensure customers are loyal to us.

“A lot of people are unaware of what is actually needed to care for a reptile if they have never cared for one before, so we want to share our knowledge and allow easy access to what they require through our extensive range.”

The reptile lovers are keen to continue showing people that there is no need to fear the creatures, often doing so with the help of a third member of their team.

“We have Buttercup, a 14ft Albino Burmess Python who is a permanent resident at the Grantham store and somewhat of a celebrity at LA Reptiles!”

See the gallery of the store below:

Photos: Samantha Fisher for The Lincolnite