In this episode, we discuss how to train and tame your pet lizard or snake to improve their well-being. We discuss establishing trust with lizards and snakes, positive/negative reinforcement, and how to target-train your pet reptile. Ellie Hills, an animal welfare specialist joins the podcast to discuss her experience in animal welfare and what welfare means for reptile keepers. She discusses her viewpoints on controversial topics such as euthanasia, reinforcement training, and incorrect ways to enrich an animal in captivity. Ellie highlights her work in a ball python study that she and her co ..read more

Tanner Serpa of SerpaDesigns and Dayyan Saylany of Reptiliatus discuss the ins and outs of building a paludarium for amphibians, reptiles, and other critters. They each share details of their experiences over the years in building paludariums, their successes and mistakes, as well as the details in building these types of enclosures – step by step. From types of enclosures you can build a paludarium in, filtration systems and equipment, hardscape materials and leaf litter, to managing waste from animals is discussed at length. Tanner and Dayyan also individually offer many different species of ..read more

DESCRIPTION: In this episode, Phil and Roy welcome Lucas Lee of Centralian Exotics to the show! We hear about his background in herpetoculture, his primary interests in terms of keeping and breeding, his work as a field biologist and how it informs his keeping, his visions for the future, and a whole lot more. Please like, subscribe, and share this episode, if you feel so inclined. To offer direct support to the show with a tip or donation, consider subscribing to our Patreon ( www.patreon.com/projectherpetoculture ) and have a look at our generous sponsors at the affiliate links below! SHOW ..read more

Til, Flo, Ben, & Stefan of The European Herpetoculture Podcast discuss the differences between European reptile keeping and American reptile keeping - in the differences in equipment, DIY enclosure builds, viewpoints, and willingness to experiment with enclosures. They each highlight the benefit of experimenting with reptile enclosures outside of social media, in order to develop a thought process on what works best for your individual reptile. Til and Ben dive into topics about native plants and how they can best suit a reptile from that native habitat, emphasizing the need for a naturali ..read more

DESCRIPTION: In this episode, Phil and Roy welcome Bill Strand of The Chameleon Academy to the show! We hear about his background in herpetoculture, how he has built a strong community within herpetoculture, the value of education, his visions for the future of our shared discipline, and a whole lot more. This is one of our most moving episodes to date! Please like, subscribe, and share this episode, if you feel so inclined. To offer direct support to the show with a tip or donation, consider subscribing to our Patreon (www.patreon.com/projectherpetoculture ) and have a look at our generous sp ..read more

Harvey Tweats and Tom Whitehurst are the founders of Celtic Rewilding (formally known as Celtic Reptile & Amphibian). In this episode, we are joined by Harvey to discuss the prospect of rewilding in the English landscape with a focus on their current project aimed at reintroducing the European Pond Turtle to the wild after being locally extinct over 2000 years ago. Harvey walks us through thousands of years of ecological change and extinction, the ethics of rewilding, creating a world where both humans and nature thrive, and much more! SHOW NOTES: https://www.animalsathomenetwork.com/183-c ..read more

Rebecca Hassler is the owner of Dragoon Gecko, an EU-based leopard gecko morph breeding facility. In this episode, Rebecca discusses the use of the term "pure", and if it is appropriate to use in relation to morphs. We cover some of the differences between leopard gecko and ball python breeding, specifically highlighting the difference between working with simple vs. complex genetic traits. Rebecca explains the value genetic testing would bring to the breeding community and we wrap up the episode discussing domestication. SHOW NOTES: https://www.animalsathomenetwork.com/189-dragoon-gecko/ WE D ..read more

Luke Nettheim from the YouTube Channel  @BeachesScalyBeasts  joins me on the podcast today to discuss the process he used to optimize his reptile collection down to a more manageable size. Luke gives insight on how to determine if your collection is too large, and the steps to take to ethically reduce the quantity of animals in your care. Luke also walks us through a few new exciting projects he has in the works and we wrap up the episode with a chat about his enclosure background business From Bus to Box. SHOW NOTES: https://www.animalsathomenetwork.com/199-beaches-scaly-beasts/ WE ..read more

Paul Barclay is the owner and founder of Custom Reptile Habitats. In the episode, Paul discusses his background in the pet industry and the inspiration behind starting his own business. He talks about the lack of quality reptile enclosures and how he saw an opportunity to create something better. Paul also emphasizes the importance of big box pet stores in the industry and the need for better understanding and collaboration among different segments of the industry. He addresses the controversy surrounding the treatment of animals in breeding facilities and the importance of giving animals time ..read more

Damian Mckay is a long-time reptile keeper out of Australia and the owner of Copperhead Customs, which is an enclosure design company that specializes in custom-built backgrounds and decor that not only look amazing but are functional and specific to the animal they are made for. In this episode, we cover the fundamentals of building reptile habitats, including enclosure size, basking and heat, hydration, security, and sanitation. We discuss how to design habitats with function in mind, rather than aesthetics. Damian also walks us through the step-by-step process he uses to build backgrounds a ..read more