Zoos often play an integral part in amphibian conservation. This week I am joined by Audrey and Chris courtesy of Houston Zoo, and we discuss their work with the critically endangered Houston Toad. Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media…

EPISODE 200! This week I am joined by Julio Rodriguez, Troy Goldberg and Mike Tytula. We have a full blown dart frog round table discussion covering tips, observations, breeding, supplementation, zoopoxy, mystery locales, social media posts gone rogue, and oh so much more. Broaden your knowledge of herpetology online or in person at the Amphibian F…

This week I am joined by Ivan Lozano. In this episode, we discuss sustainable Colombian bio-commerce, the introduction of the first legally imported andinobates into the US amphibian community, and a new partnership between coffee farmers and conservationist aimed at saving precious frog habitat. Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amp…

Social Media has become an important facet of our ever evolving society. We find news, opinions, and information at an ever increasing pace. But how do social media posts affect our perception of extinct animals? And, are posts about extinct amphibians unique in their retention? Do posts about frogs illicit a different response than mammals? (You m…

This week I am joined by Nathan Hall. Nathan has decades of experience keeping and breeding herps, and in this episode, we discuss his decision to focus on dart frogs. We also take a deep dive into the last 35 years of the herp hobby, the early days of the internet, Nathan's involvement with numerous gecko projects, and his experiences as a photogr…

This week I am joined by Rob Mohr. Rob recently traveled to Borneo, and in this episode we discuss the incredible amphibian species he encountered, and what makes Borneo unique as an island biome. Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media.…

This week I am joined by veterinarian, Brad Wilson DVM. In addition to working with companion animals and livestock, Brad is also an accomplished amphibian vet. In this episode, we take a comprehensive deep dive into amphibian medicine from a holistic perspective. We discuss the concepts of infection vs disease, the important roles that husbandry p…

This week I am joined by Roland Knapp. Roland has studied Mountain yellow legged frogs in the Sierra Nevada for three decades. During the earliest days of his research, he witnessed the first massive amphibian die-offs in the US as a result of a new and lethal pathogen. That pathogen would come to be known as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis or Bd fo…

For decades, the reptile and amphibian hobbies have formed a sort of synergy. Collectively they constitute what many call the "Herp" hobby. However, as time passes, the communities have become more divergent- almost to the point of being mutually exclusive. But how much do we really have in common? In this episode I am joined by Phil Lietz (co-host…

This week I am joined by researcher and museum educator, Hugh Gabriel. On a recent research trip to Madagascar, Hugh made a ground breaking discovery - identifying and describing three new species of Guibemantis frog in a very specialized biome. These species of Guibemantis have a unique natural history that takes place in the axils of the pandanus…

Thanks everyone for an an amazing year! This week I'm joined by Mike Tytula for our annual AmphibiCast Holiday Fiasco. In this episode Mike and I have an open conversation about traveling to Colombia, choosing which expos to vend, reptile and amphibian industry and content trends, and long term success with a large collection. We also discuss when …

An AmphibiCast first! Live episode at American Frog Day 2024. Join me as I check out the event and interview some new people as well as some podcast favorites! We discuss everything from wild Colombian frogs, hobby trends, the value of community, chaos in Sleepy Hollow, what’s new at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, what happens when feeder insects g…

This week I’m joined by Troy Goldberg and we discuss what we’ve learned about the hobby, content creation, vivarium builds, and frog care over the past four years. Is the hobby stagnant? Is there too much content out there? Be sure to listen to this one! And thanks to everyone who supported the show for the past 4 years! This episode is sponsored b…

This week I am joined by Conservation Biologist, Blake Klocke and we discuss his work with Atelopus reintroduction, (including radio tracking!), understanding the value of amphibian natural history, amphibian plasticity, sampling salamanders in the hobby for Bsal, and much more! Be sure to follow Blake @amphibianblake This episode is sponsored by G…

This week I am joined by Jack McDermott @jibbys.jungle . In this episode, we compare and contrast frog and fisheries management strategies. We approach both amphibians and fish from a natural resources perspective, and we consider the human element, economic impact, sustainability goals, and whether or not the two strategies can overlap. We also di…

This week it is my pleasure to be joined by Logan Hope AKA That Bearded Bug Guy. Logan has a talent for elaborate custom vivarium builds and content creation, and he is involved in some very interesting amphibian, reptile, and invert projects. In this episode we discuss his journey through the animal hobby, designing and constructing custom vivariu…

Newly described as it's own species, Cruziohyla sylviae is a prime candidate for research. Captive populations are an important factor in ensuring the species' survival for a number of reasons. And as such, a proper science based understanding of their care and breeding is vital. This week I am joined by Sam Sucre of Natural Tanks. We discuss his r…

This week I am joined by Vivarium enthusiast, and professional puppeteer and filmmaker, Benjamin Fieschi-Rose. In this episode, Ben and I discuss the many crossovers between Vivarium building and Film set design as art forms. We also talk about his frog and plant collections, some of the raw materials used both in vivarium background and set produc…

Native North American amphibian species don't often get their proper share of media attention. Thankfully though, Aaron Capouellez has created a media brand dedicated to the preservation of native Pennsylvania species. In this episode, Aaron and I catch up and discuss how the brand has grown, the value of community and media outreach, overcoming ob…

This week I am joined by longtime dart frog hobbyist Chris Miller of edgewooddarts.com and www.ranitomeya.com In this episode Chris and I discuss the advent of the US dart frog hobby in the early 1990s, Keeping Golden Mantella vs Breeding Golden Mantella, and much more. Chris is also an accomplished orchid enthusiast and we take a deep dive into or…

The Amphibian Hobby is a worldwide community, and each corner of the world has its own special niche. This week I am joined by Michaela (AKA Macs frog army on social media) and we discuss her journey into the Australian amphibian hobby, the challenges (and joys) of keeping only native species, navigating the permit system, how she cares for several…

Automated misting systems are useful way to mist vivariums on a schedule. In this episode I discuss the components, installation tips, maintenance, and benefits of using a misting system in your amphibian's vivarium This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For…

The world is a stressful place. For many of us, the amphibian hobby is a means of escape and a place where we can find peace of mind. But, the hobby does also require a great deal of commitment ,and it can also become a stressor in and of itself when we are struggling with personal issues. Managing animals when we are struggling can be a significan…

There are many stakeholders in the amphibian universe. From breeders and hobbyists, to researchers, land managers, and policymakers. -all of these groups need to be engaged as a community if trade is to be continued in a clean and responsible way. But how is this accomplished and what challenges are faced along the way? This week I am joined by res…

This week I am joined by Ivan of Tesoros de Colombia and we discuss some new projects that are underway at Tesoros and the ACA. We talk about some of the new species soon to be available through legal import, including Amereega and Andinobates, as well as how local coffee farmers are helping conservation efforts. To learn more, visit: https://tesor…

This week’s epdisode is designed with the beginner in mind. When we start out as hobbyists, it’s very common to make mistakes. Husbandry and care can be researched, but our knowledge base always grows through experience. In this episode, I discuss some common beginner mistakes and how to fix them. I cover what to do if you start out with an impulse…

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis or Bd is one of the most infamous agents of amphibian disease world wide. But did you know that there are multiple lineages other than the Global Panzootic Lineage and that the fungus can be affected by a virus? New research involving the fungus and mycoviruses has shed a fresh light on the virulence of chyrid. In thi…

The Japanese Giant Salamander (Andrias japonicus) is one of the world's most iconic amphibian species. In this episode I am joined by Director of Buishido Adventure Travel limited and CEO of Sustainable Daisen - Richard Pearce, directly from Japan. Sustainable Daisen is a not for profit organization that focuses on Japanese Giant Salamander conserv…

This week I am joined by professional vivarium specialist and long time frog hobbyist, Rob Mohr. Rob has made a career out his passion for the natural world, and in this episode we discuss his role at one of the largest private vivariums in the United States - the Seattle Spheres. We discuss plants, the logistics of maintaining massive living walls…

This week I am joined by Armen of HerpTime. In this episode we discuss what it takes to be a breeder, Armen’s new frog breeding projects, social media and more! We also take a deep dive into anoles and compare and contrast anole vs frog husbandry. This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations Exo Ter…

This week I am joined by Dayyan Saylany. Dayyan is known across Youtube and social media as Reptiliatus, and in this episode we discuss his passion for reptiles and amphibians; and his journey into content creation. We also talk about Dayyan's frog experiences including why he developed a care video for juvenile-subadult pacman frogs, and how he su…

This week I am joined by Drew Martinez. Drew is the owner of Carnivero. - a nursery that specializes in carnivorous plants. In this episode, we discuss Drew's tenure in the dart frog and plant hobbies, his fascination with carnivorous plants and how to successfully care for everything from Nepenthes pitcher plants, to Venus Fly traps and Platyceriu…

Streams are unique habitats that are home to many different species of amphibian. But, do changes in stream dynamics effect amphibian lifecycles? And if so, how? This week I am joined by researcher, Madaline Cochrane and we discuss her paper, "Individual growth rates and size at metamorphosis increase with watershed area in a stream salamander." We…

This week I am joined again by Ben Baker of Fantastic Frogs. In Episode 160, Ben and I discussed a host of topics including his tenure as a zoo keeper and frog breeder. In this week's episode we continue our conversation with a deep dive into more of Ben's career and insights. We discuss Ben's experiences tracking and studying wild Golden Mantella,…

This week I am joined by Zach Porritt. Zach has built one of the largest and most impressive dart frog enclosures in the hobby - A full sized greenhouse! Join us for our discussion into how the greenhouse was constructed, planted and stocked, and how his Phyllobates terribilis behave, feed and breed in such a large environment. This week's episode …

This week I am joined by Chris Buttermore. Chris is the Curator of Amphibians at Dallas World Aquarium and in this episode we discuss his work with large Oophaga. Our discussion covers a host of topics including what we know about the genus from the published literature, metabolism as a means of understanding egg production, extending female fecund…

This week I am joined by Shareef of A Bunch of Tanks. In this episode we discuss in how to incorporate cork panels into a vivarium background, the infamous viral atelopus photo, and what it was like moving a large dart frog collection across the US. This week's episode is sponsored by the frog breeder merch store, https://the-frog-breeder-merch.mys…

This week I am joined by Dutch Ecologist and Amphibian Hobbyist, David Brouwer. David has a life long passion passion for the Majorcan midwife toad (Alytes muletensis), and in this episode we take a deep dive into the natural history, conservation, captive breeding, and husbandry of one of the world's most unique amphibians. David and I begin our c…

This week I am joined by Roberto Marquez and Rachael Arkin . In this episode, we discuss new phyllobates research that includes Roberto's work with phenotypic evolution in poison frogs, and how poison frogs evolved to avoid the harmful effects associated with consuming and accumulating toxic alkaloids. We also discuss Rachael's work with Phyllobate…

This week I am joined by Alex Menke of Frog Daddy. We begin our discussion by talking about breeder ethics, and the frog and plant market. Then, we take a deep dive into how to properly care for five species of intermendiate level to advanced level vivarium plants. Specifically, we cover Begonia, selaginella, margravia, anthurium and sonarilla, alo…

This week I am joined by hobbyist and breeder Sean Twohy. Sean breeds several amphibian species but his true passion is Cynops Cyanurus (AKA the blue tailed fire belly newt) and in this episode we discuss aquatic newt care, raising daphnia, UV lighting for newts, managing aquatic substrate, and we compare and contrast aquatic vs terrestrial amphibi…

This week it is my pleasure to be joined by Ben Baker of Fantastic Frogs. Ben has decades of experience working in British Zoos and in this episode we discuss his work breeding frogs in the private sector, his work with Bristol and Chester Zoos, and his world travels and in situ observations. We also talk about how brexit has effected the hobby in …

This week I'm joined by Roy Arthur Blodgett. Roy co-hosts the Project Herpeteculture podcast and in this episode we discuss some controversial issues in the greater herp community including peer pressure, and what constitutes a reliable information source. We also discuss Roy's museum quality vivarium builds, his Pilotes sulphureus and Xenodon pulc…

As 2023 comes to a close I would like to thank all my guests and listeners for making it a great year. And to celebrate the end of 2023, I'm joined by Mike Tytula. In this episode, Mike and I discuss his Oophaga histrionica "fuego" project, the state of pumilio in the Canadian amphibian hobby, and some of his new projects with his partner Bree that…

Oophaga sylvatica comes in a wide variety of morphs-including the vividly colored "koi" morph, which is soon to be legally exported out of Colombia for the first time. My guest this week is Julio Rodriguez, and we discuss his recent trip to Colombia and what it was like seeing them in the wild. We also discuss some of the wild variations, what goes…

Herpeteculture is a broad banner with many different disciplines under it. Much can be learned from the different niche communities within it, if we are willing and open minded enough to do so. This week I am joined by Phil Lietz ,of the Project Herpeteculture podcast, and we compare and contrast different issues within herpeteculture. We talk abou…

This week I am joined by Natt of @NattAttackss and we discuss her Atelopus barbotini and Phylomedusa sauvagii breeding projects. We talk about the time and dedication that goes into working with these species, as well as a step by step rundown of how she got her atelopus barbotini to produce hundreds of healthy offspring. Follow Natt @nattattackss …

The Toronto Reptile Expo is one of the biggest reptile expos in North America. But what makes an expo happen? Well to answer this question I am joined by Fadi of Daffy's reptiles and we discuss his new role as videographer and social media director for the expo. We talk about what goes into planning and promoting the brand, how the plant community …

As reptile expos become more popular around the world, there is a greater demand for healthy captive bred reptiles and amphibians. In Canada, one of the biggest expos in the country now employs a full time vet to ensure the health and wellbeing of animals on display and being sold. It's my pleasure to sit down with Dr. Alec Brown this week and disc…

It's that time of year again. And, just in time for Halloween, I get to sit down this week with Richard Stewart of The Tarantula Collective. In this episode, Richard and I discuss some commonalities between the amphibian and invertebrate hobby, how public perception of tarantulas is evolving, what goes into hosting his podcast -The Exotic Pet Colle…