The Retic Lounge

The Retic Lounge #143 – Perseverance Through Tragedy w/ Sam of SSD Retics In this heartfelt episode of The Retic Lounge, Nathan and Lucas sit down with Sam of SSD Retics to talk about his journey with Reticulated Pythons and reptiles, from the early days of keeping to where he is today. Sam shares the devastating story of a tragic fire that wiped out his collection and how he’s been able to persev...

The Retic Lounge #142 – Book Club: The Complete Reticulated Python Chapters 12, 13 & 14 In this episode of The Retic Lounge Book Club, Lucas and Nathan dive deep into three packed chapters of The Complete Reticulated Python , covering Dwarf and Super Dwarf classifications, pure locality standards, size potential, and the realities of keeping these incredible snakes safely. They break down what...

The Retic Lounge #141 – Catching Up, Nido Scare, and Life Updates In this episode of The Retic Lounge, Lucas and Nathan finally sit down after a brief break to catch up on everything—life, snakes, and the podcast. From personal updates to collection changes, the hosts give listeners a behind-the-scenes look at what’s been going on and what’s coming next. Lucas also opens up about a recent scare wi...

Episode 140 – Locality Spotlight: Karompa with Jon Edwards In this episode of The Retic Lounge, Lucas and Nathan are joined by longtime locality keeper and enthusiast Jon Edwards to shine a light on one of the most obscure and intriguing island forms in the Retic world: Karompa. Tucked away in the Sulawesi region of Indonesia, the Karompa Retic has sparked curiosity and debate for years—but few ha...

In this episode of The Retic Lounge, Lucas and Nathan crack open pages 267 to 314 of The Complete Reticulated Python to uncover the wild roots of some of the rarest and most misunderstood morphs in the hobby. From jungles in Sumatra, Java, and Borneo to remote islands in the Philippines, this chapter explores the natural origins of morphs like Black Stripe, Harlequin, Lemon Glow, and Tribal—many o...

In this episode of The Retic Lounge, Lucas and Nathan sit down with Nathan Hess of [@nathan\_hess\_retics](https://www.instagram.com/nathan_hess_retics) to dive into one of the most exciting first-time breedings in recent memory. Nathan shares the story behind his debut clutch of Reticulated Pythons, the meticulous husbandry practices that got him there, and the custom enclosures he built to provi...

In this installment of The Complete Reticulated Python Book Club, we dive into one of the most iconic and complex morph categories in the hobby: Albinos. In part two of Chapter 11, Nathan and Lucas break down the origins, genetic relationships, and controversies surrounding the different Albino morphs in the Retic world. We trace the roots of the Clark Strain Albino, first imported by Bob Clark in...

Retic VS Black Dragon | Jong Chiu of JC Reptiles | The Retic Lounge #136 In this episode, Nathan sits down with Jong Chiu of [@jc_reptiles](https://www.instagram.com/jc_reptiles) for a deep dive into Jong's reptile journey. After moving from the Philippines to the United States, Jong found his way back into the reptile hobby, eventually specializing in two powerhouse species: Reticulated Pythons a...

UK vs. US Retic Keeping | Lounge Logic | The Retic Lounge #135 In this episode, Nathan brings on a panel of returning guests and new voices to talk all things retics and reptiles. Joining the Lounge are Luke of [@dagobah_exotics](https://www.instagram.com/dagobah_exotics), Jacob St. John of [@st.serpents](https://www.instagram.com/st.serpents), and Jacob Smith of [@wapiti.exotics](https://www.inst...

Jampea Specialist with Chris Schar | The Retic Lounge #134 In this episode, Nathan sits down with longtime reptile keeper and first-time breeder Chris Schar to talk about his journey in the reptile hobby, his impressive collection, and his first successful clutch of Dwarf Reticulated Pythons. Chris paired his 68.75% Jampea Het Anery female with his Pure Anery Jampea male, producing an exciting clu...

Collection Update with Spencer Vance of Coiled Retics | The Retic Lounge #133   In this episode, Nathan sits down solo with Spencer Vance of Coiled Retics for an official update—two years after his first appearance on The Retic Lounge. Spencer shares how his journey with Reticulated Pythons has evolved, from changes in his collection to new keeping and breeding practices.   Topics Covered:   - Gro...

A Tropical Paradise: South American-Themed Greenhouse w/ Zach Porritt | The Retic Lounge #131 In this episode of The Retic Lounge, we sit down with Zach Porritt of @a.life.exotic to explore his incredible South American-themed greenhouse. Zach has created a stunning, self-sustaining ecosystem filled with tropical plants, fish, and reptiles, bringing a slice of the jungle into his own backyard.   T...

Free Roaming Retics?! | Out-of-the-Box Keeping w/ Nikki of Ladytis Exotics | The Retic Lounge #130  In this episode of The Retic Lounge, we sit down with Nikki of @ladytis_exotics to explore her unique and unconventional approach to keeping Reticulated Pythons. Nikki is known for thinking outside the box when it comes to husbandry, and she shares her experiences with free-roaming retics, creating...

Reticulated Python Nutrition | TRL Book Club: The Complete Reticulated Python Chapter 10 | The Retic Lounge #129   In this episode of The Retic Lounge Book Club, Lucas and Nathan break down Chapter 10 of *The Complete Reticulated Python*, diving deep into the nutrition and feeding habits of these incredible animals. They discuss how Reticulated Pythons hunt and consume prey in the wild, the import...

The Resurgence of Bali Locality Reticulated Pythons w/ MayRay Exotics | The Retic Lounge #128   In this episode of The Retic Lounge, Lucas holds down the fort solo while Nathan attends a funeral, sitting down with MayRay Exotics for a deep dive into the resurgence of Bali Locality Reticulated Pythons.   This conversation highlights the importance of preserving locality-specific genetics, the uniqu...

Episode 127: Species Spotlight – Peacock Monitors w/ Ryan McVeigh This week on The Retic Lounge, Lucas takes the helm solo to bring you a special Species Spotlight on Peacock Monitors with guest Ryan McVeigh! These stunning, arboreal monitors are as fascinating as they are elusive, and Ryan breaks down everything from their natural history and husbandry requirements to the challenges and rewards o...

Episode 126: The Ins and Outs of Breeder Loans w/ Eric Lee | The Snow King Returns   In this episode of The Retic Lounge, we welcome back Eric Lee, the Snow King of Super Dwarfs, to break down the ins and outs of breeder loans. After first appearing on Episode 9, Eric returns to share his expertise on what makes a successful and appealing breeder loan, how he decides who to collaborate with, and t...

Episode 124: Troubleshooting Reticulated Python Behavior w/ Alex Carr of Carr Reptiles In this episode of The Retic Lounge, we sit down with Alex Carr of Carr Reptiles to discuss his journey into the world of Reticulated Pythons. As a new keeper, Alex has embraced the challenge of working with two very different snakes: a confident and curious female and a flighty, defensive male.   Alex shares hi...

Episode 123: New Breeder Spotlight | MOD Exotics w/ Jennifer Jean   In this exciting episode of The Retic Lounge, we shine the spotlight on Jennifer Jean of MOD Exotics, a passionate new breeder making waves in the Super Dwarf Reticulated Python community.   Jennifer shares her journey into the world of reticulated pythons, from her first experiences with these majestic animals to curating an incr...

Episode 122: Make Retics Great Again | The Retic Market and Will It Stabilize? After a month-long break, The Retic Lounge is back and kicking off 2025 with a thought-provoking discussion on the future of the reticulated python market!   We start by reflecting on the highlights and achievements of 2024 for The Retic Lounge—what a year it’s been! From groundbreaking interviews to our TRL Book Club s...

Episode 121: Captive Husbandry of Reticulated Pythons | TRL Book Club Chapter 8   Lucas and Nathan close out 2024 with a bang in the final episode of the year! Join us for another insightful installment of The Retic Lounge Book Club as we dive into Chapter 8 of *The Complete Reticulated Python by Glen McClellan: *Captive Husbandry.   This chapter is a treasure trove of knowledge, covering every as...

Episode 120: Acquiring Adult Reticulated Pythons – With Alex Koppa   In this episode, we sit down with our friend Alex Koppa to dive into his unique journey in the reptile hobby. From his early experiences with wildlife to his growing passion for reptiles, Alex shares the story of what led him to work with large adult reticulated pythons.   We explore the challenges and rewards of acquiring mature...

Episode 119: Sponsorship Spotlight – Desiree Monnot of Cold Blooded Cafe In this episode, we talk with Desiree Monnot, the powerhouse behind Cold Blooded Cafe, to explore what it takes to be a leader in the reptile feeder industry. Known for providing some of the cleanest and best-quality feeders, Cold Blooded Cafe offers mice, rats, rabbits, quail, chicks, crawfish, quail eggs, and more—making it...

Episode 118: TRL Book Club – The Complete Reticulated Python* Chapter 7, The Importation Process This week, Lucas and Nathan return to the TRL Book Club series, diving into Chapter 7 of *The Complete Reticulated Python* by Glen McClellan. In this episode, they explore the fascinating and complex history of legally importing Reticulated Pythons into the United States, leading up to the eventual Lac...

Episode 117: Colorado Legislation Awareness with Aaron Lee Ingalls of DNA Slithers and Critters In this episode of *The Retic Lounge*, Lucas and Nathan sit down with Aaron Lee Ingalls of DNA Slithers and Critters to discuss a critical topic impacting the reptile community: upcoming legislation in Colorado that could significantly change the standards for reptile keeping and breeding in the state....