Shirley Aquatics

Shirley Aquatics is a family-run aquatic and reptile retailer based in Wythall, West Midlands, trading since 1939 and now in its third generation of family ownership. Alongside our long-standing aquatics and pond departments, we run a dedicated reptile section built around proper, honest advice rather than quick sales.

Our approach to reptile keeping follows the same philosophy we apply across the whole business: give people the full picture, including the parts that aren't convenient to hear, so they can make the right decision for the animal and for themselves. That means being upfront about adult size, specialist care needs, and ongoing costs before a sale, not after one. We'd rather talk someone out of an unsuitable pet than sell them something that ends up struggling, or being rehomed, six months down the line.

We stock a wide range of reptiles, from beginner-friendly species through to more specialist animals, alongside the equipment, substrates, and husbandry knowledge needed to keep them properly. Our reptile team is hands-on and genuinely knowledgeable, happy to talk through setups, troubleshoot problems, or just chat about the hobby, whether you're buying something or not.

Responsible keeping, to us, means accurate information, suitable housing from day one, and ongoing support rather than a one-off transaction. We regularly produce educational content under our Pragmatic Aquarist brand, built on real customer questions, to help keepers get husbandry right and avoid the misinformation that's common in the trade.

If you're new to reptile keeping, thinking about your first animal, or looking for a shop that won't just tell you what you want to hear, we're glad to help.