Animals at Home Network

BeardieVet is the worlds leading expert in bearded dragons, both in the wild and in captivity. BeardieVet spent years researching bearded dragons in the wild covering an area equalling Switzerland and Austria combined! BeardieVet's research is the real deal! He also has been an exotic vet in practice seeing many bearded dragons for years. If you watch any bearded dragon content this year, Bear...

In this episode, Roy and Phil have a discussion with Ben of Unseen. Diversity! Ben is an incredibly passionate keeper who specializes in greenhouse systems for both herpetofauna and small mammals. In this episode we discuss his backstory, including his past experience of being involved with illicit wildlife trade, why he utilizes greenhouse systems, where he sees potential for innovation in herpet...

Thomas Griffiths is the owner of Tomaskas Ltd. which is an animal husbandry and lighting consultancy out of the UK. Thomas mainly focuses on implementing proper lighting protocols for both private keepers and zoos. In this episode, Thomas breaks down the fundamental light information that will allow you to have a firmer grasp on providing the appropriate lighting for your reptile. We discuss, the...

Thomas Griffiths joins us to tell us how to set up bearded dragon lights in the best way possible. We cover the bearded dragon lights needed and what kind of configuration is best to replicate sunlight for the prime basking spot for bearded dragons. This is not exclusive to bearded dragons, in fact, it's just how to replicate the sun for any reptile's basking spot. But for those of you who wondere...

In this episode, Roy and Phil have a discussion with Jason Hood of Snakes Unlimited! Jason needs little introduction to those who have paid attention within herpetoculture for the past many years. He’s been a major contributor to the discipline for decades now, helping to establish several species within the US, including blackheaded pythons, neotropical bird snakes, tiger rat snakes, and Amazon p...

Danielle Inman is the owner and founder of TheOtherPets.com which is a consulting agency for both private pet keepers and professionals. Danielle has an incredible amount of experience working with exotics, she was a consistent fixture on National Geographic’s Animal ER and led the Avian and Exotics team at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists for 13 years. In my opinion, Danielle has revolutionized...

Dave Laux joins us to talk about developing as a keeper, some of the attitudes in reptile keeping over the years, and how they have changed/have not changed. We cover how Dave discovered happiness in his battle with himself over collecting. How his collection grew and shrank, and grew and on and on, how did Dave break out of that cycle? Dave pours over life in New Zealand in fine detail working wi...

In this episode, Roy and Phil have a discussion with Jamie Woods! Jamie is an experienced snake and dart frog keeper who has also been heavily involved with fish keeping and breeding since childhood. In this discussion we explore a lot of what herpetoculture might have to learn from the field of aquaculture, define some important and commonly misunderstood terms and concepts that apply to both dis...

Tony Wigley is the founder of Responsible Reptile Keeping which is a worldwide membership organization that aims to promote, support, and protect responsible reptile keeping. In this episode, Tony breaks down the tension between herpetoculture and animal rights groups. We discuss the importance of promoting ethical keeping (rather than keeping for the sake of it), the tactics used by animal rights...

AronRa joins us to talk taxonomy and a history lesson on the evolutionary history of snakes and reptiles in general. We talk in depth about how and when snakes diverged. The talk about varanids, mosasuars and dolichosaus surrounding the origin of snakes. Enjoy. SHOW NOTES: https://www.animalsathomenetwork.com/19-aronra/ LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/c/aronra https://www.aronra.co...

In this episode, Brad Gerke of Brad’s BioActive Builds is our guest. Brad’s channel focuses on DIY step-by-step tutorials for creating naturalistic reptile and amphibian vivaria, paludaria, and enclosures using PVC panels, spray foam, silicone, drylok, and more. In this episode, Brad talks us through several of his tutorials including building your own enclosure, foam backgrounds and decor, custom...

Victoria Teague is one of the admins of the facebook group Advancing Herpetological Husbandry and has a very refined skillset that she uses to communicate and educate with effectively to guide new keepers on their way to being the best keepers they can possibly be. Today we pick her brain and learn from her and how she goes the extra mile to communicate in the best way possible. She gave Liam a lo...

In this episode, Liam Sinclair of Reptiles & Research breaks down the Ball Python Deep Dive, which is a massive project he and his partner Ellie Hills have recently taken on. This project is a community-wide collaboration that is seeking to answer fundamental questions about ball pythons. How do they behave in the wild? How do they behave in captivity? What does the current scientific literature s...

In this episode we are joined by Linnea Vargen Saphia. A varanid keeper out of Sweden with a special focus on savannah monitors or bosc monitors. Linnea talks about her experience getting into monitor lizards and the journey to going to Ghana to study savannah monitors in the wild, and how she uses this knowledge to breed savannah monitors time and time again! SHOW NOTES: https://www.animalsathome...

In this episode, Roy and Phil have a discussion with Rob Stone! Rob is one who needs little introduction, and has been instrumental in the establishment of several species of Old World ratsnakes in US herpetoculture (among other ongoing achievements). This discussion is all about the nuance inherent in herpetoculture and field herping, and the value of approaching these disciplines with an open mi...

Rebecca Bentley is an ichthyologist (Fish Biologist), Fish and reptile keeper and PhD student. Her studies focus on the evolution of Loricariidae (plecos) in the United Kingdom, UK. Rebecca runs the YouTube Channel “ Freshwater Ichthyology ” which promotes ethical, progressive and scientific advances in Freshwater Fishkeeping. In this episode, we discuss how the aquarium hobby is often sugarcoated...

Dr. Zac Loughman joins us to talk about herpetoculture and how to navigate the swirling vortex of conflicting information, tribalism and dogma by utilising a scientific approach to herpetoculture. With a special interest in snakes. Show Notes: https://www.animalsathomenetwork.com/16-dr-zac-loughman/   LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: Follow Zac on Instagram: @dr_crawdad Support, Subscribe  & Follow: CHECK...

In this episode, Roy and Phil have a discussion with David Ian Howe! David is an archaeologist, artist, comedian, content creator, and educator who is particularly passionate about ethnocynology – the study of the relationship between humans and dogs. We discuss everything from the process of the domestication of dogs, to the value of interspecies interactions, to some of David’s influences as a c...

Paul Burrows is a monitor keeper out of the UK and runs the YouTube Channel and Instagram page  @paulsmonitors . This episode is for those who are fascinated with monitor lizards, and potentially would like to keep them one day but do not know where to start. Paul tells us what type of person has success with monitors, and what species are ideal for beginners, including a few dwarf options, and we...

In this episode, Roy and Phil have a discussion with Lisa Farinha! We get into how it all began for Lisa with herpetoculture, the species she's currently focused on, troubleshooting husbandry problems, lots of natural history nerdery, and much more. Have a listen! And please like, subscribe, and share this episode, if you feel so inclined. To offer direct support to the show, please consider subsc...

Francis Cosquieri joins us to talk about Dione's, Twin-Spotted & Red-backed Rat Snakes! This delves into their natural history and taxonomy before going into how Francis keeps and breeds each of these species.

Darien Drollinger is the owner and founder of the popular reptile feeder and supplies store,  www.dubia.com and he is also the recent purchaser of the very popular animal sales platform, www.morphmarket.com. On top of that, Darien also owns to brick and mortar pet stores and is currently in the planning phase of building a reptarium and aquarium in his home city of Wichita. In this episode, Darien...

In this episode, Roy has a discussion with Bill Stewart! We get into the origins of Bill’s herpetoculture journey, the many hats he wears within the trade, the benefits and implications of herpetoculture for mental health, neurodiversity in the community, and much more. Have a listen! And please like, subscribe, and share this episode, if you feel so inclined. To offer direct support to the show,...

Jana Bell is the founder & president of the Amazon Rainforest Conservancy. In this episode, we discuss how and why she started the conservation, the types of ecosystems ARC is currently protecting in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest, and how their protected land was invaded and burglarized during COVID. Jana explains the damage illegal gold mining poses to the environment as well as future projects...

In this episode, Phil and Roy have a discussion with Bryan Suson of Sundown Reptiles! We get into the origins of Bryan’s herpetoculture journey, the species he’s currently focused on producing, specialized versus generalized keeping, the value of field herping, and much more. Have a listen! And please like, subscribe, and share this episode, if you feel so inclined. To offer direct support to the...