Proprietors of all reptiles exotic and scary and all things for all reptiles exotic and scary, Neon Gecko is situated in disconcertingly small premises in a particularly unexotic stretch of London Road.
On my visit, I encountered a parrot the size of a small country (or perhaps more accurately, the size of a big parrot) and a gruff member of staff who seemed like he would not think twice about setting a box load of pythons on me if I asked him a silly question.
But then again, this is not an exhibition but rather a genuinely well-respected stockist in a retail area which requires knowledge and sensitivity.
With a wide range of marine livestock, snakes, lizards, tortoises and basically everything I, personally, don't want in my house, I'm sure staff are more than willing to deal with genuine exotic reptile enthusiasts and less willing to deal with "gonna make the parrot talk mister" time wasters, which must be a regular occurrence.
The shop itself has a little of that ramshackle, thrown-together feel which runs through many of the businesses in London Road but I guess that's part of its charm. Indeed it can perhaps be best summed up by the photo on its website of the 475 quid Green Tree Python...
....sitting on top of a Daily Record. Well it is the Glasgow take on exotic after all. read more