What do we do?

Educate, rehabilitate, rescue, rehome.

Education - School Visits

Richmond Exotics can visit your school or college to provide an educational talk on exotic animals. We have a focus on the proper treatment of the animals in our care so these are not handling sessions - although the students are able to interact with some of the animals we bring along. Educational talks are generally about what it means to keep an exotic pet, and an in depth look at the species we bring with us. These visits are bespoke and can be tailored to age, curriculum, or even if its just a treat! For further information and pricing, please contact us.

Rescue

We understand that circumstances change and life is unpredictable. If you find you can no longer care for your lizard, snake, spider, stick insect, tortoise, or anything in between - we can help. We can talk you through what you're struggling with and help to put things in place to try and keep your pet at home with you. If that isn't an option, you can surrender your pet to us to be first checked over by a vet and rehomed to one of our pre-registered re-homers, who will give them a safe, responsible forever home.

There are lots of other reasons you may come to us with a rescue animal - we're here to give you a none judgmental space to discuss this. Don't be afraid to give us a shout.

Rehoming

Think you could give an exotic animal a safe, loving forever home? Are you committed to the correct care and husbandry that these amazing creatures require? Are you keen to rescue rather than buy? If so, we want you on our rescue team! We pre-register all of our re-homers and have a set rehoming fee to ensure responsible rescuing, and to cover the costs of caring for the animals. Please contact us to join the register or to chat in more detail. Animals currently needing a home are updated regularly on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Check out who might need YOU today!

Private Experiences

Richmond Exotics doesn't promote animals being used at funfairs, birthday parties, or big events. Noise, vibration and over handling can be hugely stressful for the animal while the human profits. We do however, understand that these creatures are fascinating and beautiful, and that people want to get up close and personal! We offer private experiences for between four and six people to visit us and meet the clan in their own environment! Although not all of are species benefit from being handled, you will get to interact with different species, learn about them and see who is currently up for adoption at our rehoming centre.

These sessions are ideal for those who are thinking of getting an exotic animal and want to get a real hands on view of what keeping them looks like. We can offer husbandry advice for your chosen species, and recommend correct enclosures, substrate, enrichment and lighting and heating.

Private experiences are also great if a member of your family is showing an interest in animals but you aren't quite ready to have one in your home. It's a perfect change of activity for the kids too!

Private experience sessions last around and hour and a half, and although we don't charge for these sessions we are always grateful for a donation to the charity. Every penny we make from these sessions goes back into the animals we care for and helps us further our education work. Get in touch and let us know when you'd like to come along!

Information and Advice

Have your kids gone off to uni and left you with a turtle? Did your friend give you a snake and you're feeling a bit lost? Is that impulse buy tarantula making you feel a bit out of your depth? Are you wondering if you're providing the correct care for your animal? We're just at the end of the phone. Richmond Exotics, is a friendly non-judgmental organisation that wants to help you care for your creature in the best possible way. No question is a silly question, and we are always on hand to help. Our information and advice is and always will be, completely free. Give us a call today.

Note - we are not and never will be a replacement for a specialist vet - but we can help you find your local one!

Animal Boarding

We know how much your animals mean to you. But we also know - everyone needs a holiday! We have set ups for a variety of species to be cared for properly while you're away. Boarding spaces depend on the animals we currently have to rehome - so spaces for certain species may be limited. If you'd prefer your friend to stay in their own space while you're away, we also offer home visits. We're fully insured and DBS checked. If you'd like to chat about the tariffs and charges for taking care of your animal while you're away, please contact us.