Reptiles are among the most vulnerable organisms to the impacts of habitat destruction, climate change, overexploitation, and invasive species introduction. With an alarming 21% of reptile species currently threatened, urgent conservation efforts are necessary to prevent further reptile biodiversity loss. Continue Reading
Recently I was honored with an invitation to make an appearance on the Project: Herpetoculture podcast with Roy Arthur Blodgett (Wellspring Herpetoculture) and Phillip Lietz (Arids Only). I was SO excited to get this opportunity, and they did not disappoint!… Continue Reading
In this guest post, Thomas Griffiths, professional exotic animal lighting consultant, discusses the dangers of oversimplification when educating new reptile keepers. Plus, get his opinion on the minimum acceptable lighting arrangement for pet bearded dragons! Continue Reading
So, you want a pet reptile. Maybe you want a snake, or lizard, or gecko, or turtle, but you haven’t decided on the perfect species yet. Or maybe something’s already caught your eye. Whichever situation applies to you, it’s still… Continue Reading
Reptiles are severely misunderstood animals, so it should come as no surprise that there are a LOT of myths about them, from how to tell whether they’re venomous, to man-eating tendencies, to even their personalities. There are also lots of… Continue Reading
Just because a reptile is labeled as “good for beginners” doesn’t mean that it’s cheap or a good idea to give to a child as a birthday present. Reptiles are exotic pets, and that means they have very specific needs in order to thrive (or even stay alive, for that matter) in captivity. Continue Reading
Far too many reptile owners use the term “animal welfare” as if it’s a subjective descriptive word much like “quality of life,” rather than what it is: a field of science. So here is a document to help keepers truly understand what animal welfare is, and how we can use it to provide better reptile welfare. Continue Reading
Impaction — also known as a blockage of the gastrointestinal tract — is often attributed to the use of loose substrates such as sand. Does this mean that loose substrate be avoided at all costs? Or is there a different, sneakier cause that most of us don’t consider? Continue Reading