Meet the Team
Tom - Owner/Director
Tom's obsession with the natural world started at a young age. At age 9 he received his first tropical fish tank, and by the time he was 12 this had become multiple aquariums, and he was trading his home bred fish for pet food at his local store. Around this time he was given his first reptile, which then in turn became more and more. With breeding successes that also went to his local reptile shop, where he was eventually offered a job.
In 2010 Tom went to Royal Holloway University of London to study Zoology. After this he did some work in the ZSL London Zoo reptile house, and was eventually offered a role in a Reptile Store with its own breeding facility located in Surrey. After this he took on a website editing role working for Maidenhead Aquatics, followed by a web management role at a veterinary drug company in London. He left this due to the corporate nature and lack of animals in the role, and eventually became ecommerce manager for an exotic pet food and livestock wholesaler.
Between his extensive home collection and previous employment Tom has successfully bred over 200 species of reptile. His personal interest is focused on Iguanids, Caribbean Boas, Australian and Southeast Asian Pythons, Australian Lizards and Asian Chelonians. Tom believes in the importance of maintaining healthy captive populations of rare animals and is a believer in the role private keepers can play in the conservation of endangered species. This has lead to him receiving animals on loan from the European Studbook Holder of the Utila Island Spiny Tail Iguana (Ctenosaura bakeri) for breeding purposes.
Tom lives with his partner and co-director Faye and their combined collection of animals exceeds 60 species and 200 individuals; including snakes, lizards, tortoises, turtles, and mammals!
Faye - Owner/Director
Faye initially started keeping invertebrates as a teenager, with Phasmid species being the favourite. After returning from university she felt she finally had the time to start keeping reptiles, and one Crested Gecko soon became Mountain Horned Dragons, Uromastyx and Garter Snakes to name a few!
Having worked freelance in the film industry Faye decided to take a permanent job working with pest insects in a laboratory. This turned into a 10 year career working with animals in various laboratory settings, including for the Animal and Plant Health Agency, caring for tiny mosquitoes all the way up to adult cattle!
Throughout this time Faye devoted the rest of her life to her animals at home, having a keen interest in breeding American, Asian and European Colubrids, concentrating on Pituophis species in particular. Iguanids and Agamids have also featured heavily in Faye's breeding successes; with Laemanctus serratus being the first reptiles she ever bred.
More recently Faye used her skills learnt working professionally with domesticated mammals to start keeping and breeding exotic mammals which, although being very time consuming and expensive, is an absolute joy.
As a keen participant in the reptile community, Faye helped run the now closed Surrey Reptile and Amphibian Society (SRAS) for a number of years, organising events and meetings for members. She currently holds the position of Secretary for the Federation of British Herpetologists, who represent the interests of reptile and amphibian keepers to Government.
Despite being new to the world of pet retail, Faye is extremely excited to be able to share her love of reptiles and other animals not only to other existing keepers and potential new keepers but also to the general public; as she truly believes that being around animals is an incredibly important part of life.
Our Commitment to Reptile Keeping
At Fathom Reptiles, we take pride in our 35+ combined years of experience breeding exotic animals. We cater to pet owners of all levels, from beginners looking for their first reptile to experienced keepers seeking rare species. Each of our animals is cared for with the utmost attention to detail, ensuring they are healthy and ready for their new homes.
Fathom wishes to promote education of these wonderful animals and both Tom and Faye have done talks for reptile societies and colleges, also previously both having been board members of the now closed Surrey Reptile & Amphibian Society (SRAS). Faye is secretary for the Federation of British Herpetologists (FBH) a group that aims to unite, represent and protect private reptile and amphibian keepers in the UK. Fathom is also a member of REPTA (Reptile and Exotic Pet Trade Association), which works to promote responsible practices, education, and the showcasing of positive aspects of keeping and caring for reptiles and exotic animals.
Fathom's private collection of Iguanids and Chelonians is focused on species whose populations are struggling in nature due to habitat loss, and we believe that by producing and maintaining genetically diverse breeding groups of these animals in captivity we are creating a foundation population that could one day be used in the conservation of the species.
Our Store
Located inside the Aquatics Section at Basingstoke Garden Centre
