Animals at Home Network

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...

In this episode, Phil and Roy welcome Eric Haycraft back for a second round! We get into what's changed in Eric's collection since we last had him on the show, discuss the trajectory of learning a species' needs, the potential benefits of cohabitation and mixed species displays, and much more. Have a listen! And please like, subscribe, and share this episode, if you feel so inclined. To offer dire...

Zoo Med Laboratories is one of the most well-known reptile product brands on the market. In 1993, Zoo Med created and launched the first-ever reptile-specific UVB lamp and has since been an industry leader in reptile lighting, enclosures, and more. In this episode, we chat with Zoo Med’s Animal Care and Education Director, Ashley, as well as Andrew who is Zoo Med’s Research and Development – Hardw...

In this episode, Phil and Roy have a discussion with Florian Kopp, a passionate keeper out of Germany who focuses on maintaining a large naturalistic greenhouse for his lizards! We get into his background, how he built the greenhouse, his personal philosophy of keeping, and much more. Have a listen! And please like, subscribe, and share this episode, if you feel so inclined. To offer direct suppor...

I was lucky enough to have recently been a guest on Tom’s Big Spiders podcast with Tom Moran. Nearly 4 years ago, Tom was a guest on my show and he told me if I ever found myself wanting to get into tarantula keeping to reach out to him so we could record a “beginner question” focused episode for his show. The time has finally come, I have recently become fascinated with tarantulas. In this episod...

In this episode, Phil and Roy have a discussion with each other! When we set out with P:H, we initially anticipated having more of these one-on-one conversations, but that’s not exactly how it all panned out. Regardless, we’d like to make these more of a regular part of the podcast. In this one, we each share a bit of our experience so far with the podcast, before diving into some broader critique...

In this episode, Phil and Roy have a discussion with Connor Wardle! As always, we briefly discuss Connor’s origins in herpetoculture, before diving into his passion for underrepresented colubrids of the American southwest. We also talk about Connor’s interest in the outdoors and the book he’s currently working on alongside William Huntsman. Have a listen! And please like, subscribe, and share this...

Ryan Martinez is a lifelong reptile enthusiast and a current zookeeper at the Miami Zoo. In the episode, Ryan discusses his early days in the alligator-wrestling industry, how it has changed the trajectory of his life, and how he feels about the practice now. Ryan walks us through a day in the life of a Miami zoo keeper, including working on a breeding project for an endangered species of Cyclura,...

In this episode, Phil and Roy have a discussion with the one and only, Dr. Zac Loughman of West Liberty University! As always, we briefly discuss Zac’s background in herpetoculture, before getting right into it – exploring the central conflicts and tensions within herpetoculture. We also talk about the value of evidence-based husbandry and printed media in the digital age. In terms of subject matt...