Hi, I'm Ashleigh!
People usually call me Ash or Asho. Originally from Hampshire, I love to explore new places and have lived in several cities over the years! After finishing college in 2018, I moved from Southampton to Newport Isle of Wight, then to Ryde in a tiny room in a shared house, back to the mainland in Bishopstoke/Eastleigh, Titchfield Fareham, Portsmouth/Southsea—and this year, I’ll be making the big move to Newcastle!

I’m moving up north because the rent is much cheaper, which means I can get a bigger place. In other words, more room to expand my invertebrate collection! I plan to collect millipedes, snails, stick insects, leaf insects, and of course, plenty more isopods.

A Little About My Journey
Ever since I was a toddler, I’ve known I wanted to work with animals. I originally dreamt of working at an animal sanctuary or doing marine biology. Unfortunately, due to my health, I had to let that dream go during college. I live with fibromyalgia (chronic pain) and chronic fatigue syndrome, which makes shift work impossible due to my health being unpredictable.

However, starting my business has been an amazing way for me to stay connected with animals in a way that works for me. I’m now managing things much better, and I feel incredibly passionate about what I do. Even though I'm working with inverts now, I still feel like I’m living my dream. Plus, inverts are some of the most fascinating creatures, so I’m not complaining!

My Invertebrate Journey

I’ve been keeping inverts since I was 10 years old. I started off with a giant African land snail called Jimbob who lived for 9 years! I then started collecting isopods in 2020 and started selling them in 2022. I began on eBay (where I’ve got 100% positive feedback on over 500 orders) and now I’ve decided to expand to my own website. I also currently have 4 giant African land snails, 2 giant prickly stick insects and 4 species of millipede. I also run a WhatsApp group where I host raffles, auctions, weekly discounts for members, and fun games for members to get some great deals. We’ve got chats for pet pics, gaming, arts & crafts, and even mental health support. It’s a super friendly community. Come join us and be part of the crazy bug-loving family!