Reptile Room Podcast

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Episode 15 - Jacob Bratz of JLB Morelia & The Herpetoculture Podcast Aug 20, 2020

What’s new with you? 3:30,

The Herpetoculture Podcast (53:00
- How long has it been running?
- How has the evolution been and what have you enjoyed most? (53:30
- What do you see for the future of your podcast and the future of reptile podcasting as a whole (1:03:05,
- Why do you think reptile podcasting has become so widespread these days? (1:03:45,
Your Breeding Projects
- Colubrid kick: pituophis: (5:15,
- Papuans, how many do you have? What are some of your project focuses and goals? (28:15, 30:00, 33:25,
- What have you learned along the way through trials and tribulations?
- Why Papuans? (31:00,
- What do you think has led to the resurgence in this sub-species and the search for obscure species in the hobby overall today? (39:00,
- Scrubs, I know you have your love for scrubs so tell me what it is about them that gets you excited and what you would love to accomplish with the species? (14:00, 21:00,
- What other species do you keep or would like to keep?
  - Darkhorse Herpetoculture, White Oaks Grey Rat Snakes (6:00
  - Bull snake (9:45,
  - Marathon Tx, Fork Line gopher Snakes (10:10,
  - Coastals
  - Scrub, lone male (12:00
- What are you most excited about for your future and what would you love to see happen in your personal collection as well as a hobby-wide change?
Photography
- JLB Wildlife (1:09:00
- How has that been going? (1:11:15
- Goals? Or just for fun? (1:13:40

New Guest Closing Questions:

Who do you look up to most in the reptile world? (1:24:00- EB, Christ Montros, Rob Stone)
What is your holy grail reptile to keep? (1:26:10 - Apodora)
If you could devote an entire bedroom to one species to build a massive vivarium, what would you keep and design? (1:27:30 - Apodora or Rhino Iguana)
If you could go back in time to a younger you right before you got into reptiles, what wisdom would you impart upon your younger self? (1:29:00 - don’t follow trends, do your research, and keep what keeps you passionate, and quarantine!)
If you could pass on one piece of advice to the listeners about keeping snakes/reptiles, what would it be? (1:30:00 - don’t get into bc you think you will make money, or just want to breed/make money, get into it bc you love reptiles, don’t listen to the bs you hear/read and don’t let people make fun of you for what you love, block it out)

Episode 14 - Talking Corn Snakes with Joe Phelan of Port City Pythons/Pets & FTGU Aug 05, 2020

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Welcome back to episode 14

Before we get started:

USARK
Ari Flagle and Boeleni Masks for his friends in PNG. 2nd run coming soon. www.projectblackpython.org

We are here talking to Joe Phelan from FTGU and PCP. How’s it going my friend?

Body:

How has your season been going?
How did you get into corn snakes and why are they seemingly your bread and butter?
What other species of snakes are you currently keeping?
As it pertains to corn snakes specifically, how are you achieving proper husbandry at the various life stages?
- Preferred caging/racks
- Feeding routine
- Bedding
- Environmental parameters
Breeding? How do you approach breeding?
Let’s talk about the history of Corn snakes.
- How they used to be extremely popular
- Then they fell off
- Now it feels like they are coming back around
What are your thoughts on their recent resurgence? In my opinion, your presentation of them on your various platforms seems to coincide with this resurgence and I feel like you are certainly influencing that in a positive way.
What species are you still looking to add to your population?

What are some of your favorite project goals with your animals?

What do you hope to see in the future with the species you keep hobby-wide?

Closing:

New Guest Closing Questions:

Who do you look up to most in the reptile world? Eric burke
What is your holy grail reptile to keep? Tuatara
If you could devote an entire bedroom to one species to build a massive vivarium, what would you keep and design? Iguana, rock iguana, cyclura lewisi
If you could go back in time to a younger you right before you got into reptiles, what wisdom would you impart upon your younger self? Wish i was more inquisitive, learned more, different species, stuck it out more.
If you could pass on one piece of advice to the listeners about keeping snakes/reptiles, what would it be? Don't care what others think.

Any last thoughts/shout-outs/ideas you would like to throw out there?

Check out FTGU podcast!!!
Port city pet.com
Ig, fb

How can people find you?

Social media, ig @portcitypet

Episode 13 - The O-Mac Special Jul 22, 2020

Intro:

This week we have the O-Mac Special Mr. Owen McIntrye. Arguably the wittiest SOB in reptile podcast history so take that Reptile N Chill Guys! Owen has been involved in the reptile scene for long enough and been involved in the podcast side of things for so long that likely all of my listeners know who he is and require no introduction.

Body:

How are things?
- Olive babies (2:29,
- Other season notes and production
What’s it like being the one interviewed for a change?
How’s Mort? (1:33:00)
Ok really getting into things, everyone knows your Morelia roots, but what else are you keeping? (20:00,
How many spaces or rooms does your collection inhabit?
- How is that arranged specifically? By region? By climate needs? (23:00,
What are some of the main points to focus on when dialing in spaces for such diversity of animals in your opinion and how do you accomplish that? (26:45, 28:40,
Are there any specific do’s and don'ts to point out? (1:15:20,
Have there been any species that you wanted to keep but they just didn't work out in your collection and management system? (50:30,
Were there any species that surprised you in ways you didn’t expect when bringing them into your group? (53:30,
What are some of your biggest challenges in managing such diversity? (40:00,
Do you have any pro tips for folks like us listening who need variety in their reptile keeping lives? (1:15:00, 1:16:30,

Closing:

New Guest Closing Questions:

Who do you look up to most in the reptile world? (EB, Ryan Young, Ari, Gavin)
What is your holy grail reptile to keep? (OP)
If you could devote an entire bedroom to one species to build a massive vivarium, what would you keep and design? (Merten’s, ledges, trees, etc, h20 feature)
If you could go back in time to a younger you right before you got into reptiles, what wisdom would you impart upon your younger self? (Diamonds are not to be feared)
If you could pass on one piece of advice to the listeners about keeping snakes/reptiles, what would it be? (keep what you love, regardless of what others say)

Anything else you want to throw out there? Contact info etc?

Episode 12 - Dan Mulleary of DM Exotics Jul 08, 2020

Intro:

Welcome to the Reptile Room Podcast everyone, thank you for joining me yet again for Episode 12! Tonight we are going to waste no time and jump right into this much anticipated episode. Tonight’s guest is someone who I have looked up to in the reptile world for years, admired his youtube channel and travels, intrigued by the importation business he participates in, and I have purchased several snakes from him over the years. Welcome Mr. Dan Mulleary!

…..

Q’s:

How did you get started in the hobby of keeping and breeding reptiles? (3:30,
What were your initial animal interests? (4:00, 4:45, 5:15,
How did your trajectory wind you into the import/export side of things? (31:20, 34:00, 36:00,
As someone who keeps reptiles and is constantly bringing new animals in, how do you manage the various husbandry parameters for the various species? (47:45,
- In your youtube videos I notice some of your walls/racks/tubs seem to be interchangeable for your needs at any given time. How did you come up with that design and how does that all work to your advantage? (46:00, 47:26, 49:30,
What are some of the challenges with keeping so many species in such a fluid system? (53:45, 56:00,
Moving to Thailand soon! House is essentially done, just finishing work commitments here. What are you most excited for and looking forward to? (58:30, 1:02:00
Is Apple excited to get to spend more time with you and be near her family in your future retirement? (1:03:00,
Travel channel style vlogs? Eco-tourism? (10:00, 11:20, 15:30,
What’s next for you two and DM Exotics? (21:00, 24:00, 50:00,
Who will carry your torch? (18:00,
What will be the plan? Come back? Export to the us? (13:00, 14:30,

New Guest Closing Questions: 1:05:00

Who do you look up to most in the reptile world? (Dave Barker, Mark O’Shea)
What is your holy grail reptile to keep? (sub-species of beauty rat)
If you could devote an entire bedroom to one species to build a massive vivarium, what would you keep and design? (hornbills, binturong)
If you could go back in time to a younger you right before you got into reptiles, what wisdom would you impart upon your younger self? (into one of getting everything, you should have a pair of everything, not just one)
If you could pass on one piece of advice to the listeners about keeping snakes/reptiles, what would it be? (keep what you like, don’t follow the trends, have some balls, keep what you like)

Close out:

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule and work life, animal life, home life, etc.

How can folks get ahold of you and what would you like to put out there for all of the listeners who tune into everything you do like myself?

Episode 11 - The Reptilian Octopus Justin Smith Jun 19, 2020

Our Guest Tonight:

Justin Smith
- Palmetto Coast Exotics
- The Herpetoculture Podcast
- The Chondrocast (4:25,
- Herpetoculture Magazine
- Snakes n stogies
How did you get started in reptiles? (6:15, 9:30
When did you take it up a notch? (12:30, 14:00, 15:45
What is your direction and focus these days? (16:35, 20:00
What do you see long term for your trajectory keeping snakes? (23:00, 27:00,
How did THP start? (30:25, 34:00,
What motivated you to start the Chondrocast? (41:00, 42:00, 49:00
How did you decide to carve out even further time to start a FREE magazine publication? (51:30, 53:15, 54:30,
Snakes N Stogies? (1:02:00, 1:03:00,

New Guest Closing Questions:

Who do you look up to most in the reptile world? (rob stone, eric burke, harlin wall,
What is your holy grail reptile to keep? (Gonyosoma janseni, ruschi’s, atheris nitchei,
If you could devote an entire bedroom to one species to build a massive vivarium, what would you keep and design? (rough scale enclosure, scrub pair enclosure (Wamena))
If you could go back in time to a younger you right before you got into reptiles, what wisdom would you impart upon your younger self? (warn myself I’m going to get hooked for life)
If you could pass on one piece of advice to the listeners about keeping snakes/reptiles, what would it be? (ignore social media, enjoy what you’re keeping, don’t get caught up in the popularity contest,

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClET9V-hDKuhHKhpRxHgDgw

Episode 10 - The Evolution of Triple B with Brian Kusko May 20, 2020

Timeline notes (all minus like 38 miunutes of an intro before we actually did the intro)
- Moose & Sheep @ 18 minutes
- Old ass Brian @34 minutes
- Remembering first meeting @36
- @53 story of first keeping snakes , neighbor “Snake” keeping snakes next door at 4 yrs old got stoked
  - Rough green snakes as first snakes
- @60 minutes or so first snake - rosy rat
- @1:06 first snakes - wanted python - bp
- @1:07:30 - 5 yrs accomplished a lot
- @1:12 - life too short
- @1:23 jimmy cruz rule breaker
- @1:35 starting triple b
- @1:46 moving into the new place and building the reptile room
- @1:50 and beyond building and reptile room specific chat
- @2:07 - income impacts for educators
- @2:26 marijuise legalana
- @2:43 can you dig it!?
- EMAIL ZOOM FOR IDEA TO FUND EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS
- @3:18 raspberry rat splat

Tonight’s guest: Brian Kusko of Triple B TV

Triple B Tv on Youtube:

Brian’s Personal Vlog Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXbwN03hrVLmWxaN7d9u3hw

Brian Kusko on Instagram: @briankusko

Triple B TV Website: https://triplebreptiles.com/triple-b-tv/

Searchable as Reptiles Podcast with Garrett Hartle

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OUTLINE:

Intro:

Andy Riley catch up banter

Lead into our topic and guest speaker

Welcome Brian

Do you even want to introduce yourself or do you think everyone knows who you are at this point haha?!
How did we meet? @ around 39-45 minutes
What were you keeping when you came back from Hawaii and how did you keep it/them? @ around 60 minutes or so and on
How long was that until you got into ball pythons and starting to build a collection? @1:09
When did your rack in the closet start and how was it convincing Hillary of your intentions of keeping and breeding snakes? @1:34 & @1:38
How long did you run your collection and videos from inside the closet?
When did you come out of the closet…...and build that beautiful snake room under your place in the garage at your new spot? @1:46

New space:

How did you build it?
Where did you learn all your carpentry and techniques etc?
What went into the room design? @1:50 and beyond
What did you learn after all said and done and what would you have done differently knowing what you know now?
Any tips for folks building their own rooms?
What species do you keep currently and how did that evolve before getting involved with Roaming Reptiles?
Where do you see your collection and reptile initiatives going in the future?
What’s next for Triple B and the growth of your reptile space?

New Guest Closing Questions:

Who do you look up to most in the reptile world? (not Andy Rea…...Kevin McCurley, Brian Barczyk, people sticking to/in love with one certain species, Lawrence Kenchington, aussie kid reptile song writer, Brian Gundy, Dav Kaufman)
What is your holy grail reptile to keep? (once indigos, now boeleni for snakes, but komodos!)
If you could devote an entire bedroom to one species to build a massive vivarium, what would you keep and design? (retic room, waterfall, jungle vines, open ceiling option, swimming pool, rainforest)
If you could go back in time to a younger you right before you got into reptiles, what wisdom would you impart upon your younger self? (start with a female! Not Carl (hypo pinstripe))
If you could pass on one piece of advice to the listeners about keeping snakes/reptiles, what would it be? (just in case, get a female)

Episode 9 - Reptile Room Essentials Part 2 w/ Ryan Presto May 06, 2020

Closing Questions: starting around

Who do you look up to most in the reptile world? ( Eric Burke, Nick Mutton, Owen McIntyre, carpet guys, Ari Flagle, Dan Mulleary, Joe Abein?)
What is your holy grail reptile to keep? (every croc)
If you could devote an entire bedroom to one species to build a massive vivarium, what would you keep and design? (chinese alligators, broad snouted caiman, walkout greenhouse)
If you could go back in time to a younger you right before you got into reptiles, what wisdom would you impart upon your younger self? (learning patience or learning how to be content) “don’t be a dog chasing care”
If you could pass on one piece of advice to the listeners about keeping snakes/reptiles, what would it be? (be very cautious of all or nothing statements - & you don’t always have to win an argument)

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Ryan Presto - Box of Chocolates Reptiles

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Episode 8 - Rhythm of the Room & the Legacy of MPR Apr 22, 2020

Podcasting:

9 years of Morelia Python Radio

14:30 - 2012 - Blake Bower - Scrub show - left Owen on his own (LOL)
18:00 - CarpetFest - How it started from an idea!
22:00 - Owen & Travis - Long lost brothers

Learning from others

26:00 - Speaking in absolutes - Trying to steer away from being like that
34:00 - Finding Owen as a co-host
40:00 - Focusing on the guest and giving them a platform
What does your collection consist of these days?
- 1:00:00 - Space for large species
How many species have you roughly kept at any point in time?
- 1:02:00 - 32 species!!!
What has that variety taught you about your keeping style?
- 1:14:00 - Trying to be the guy for multiple species is harder than being that guy that's known for X
“Rhythm of the Room” - what does that phrase mean to you and your husbandry?
- Good show title!
- 1:20:00 - Learning to study your room, the changes in the ambients, and paying attention to your animal’s behavior
What are you looking forward to changing/upgrading/etc in your keeping? / What have you learned from your travels to Australia as far as your keeping is concerned?
- 1:40:00 - “Australia changed me.” Fundamental perspective about keeping has changed.
- 1:44:00 - Keeping snakes because we want a piece of nature.
- 1:47:00 - Go into the environment of the species you love
What advice would you give newer keepers looking to getting into snakes or Morelia in particular as far as husbandry is concerned?
- 1:55:00 - cages & racks...still a struggle within the community
- 2:02:00 - comparing keeping with cars - paint job vs looking under the hood
What are you looking forward to most for the future of your collection? / What are some of your goals?
- Moving toward caging - want to observe them better and understand them better
- 2:12:00 - Produce all the sub-species of carpets - fascinated with them!
- Documenting the Australian trips and understanding the various variabilities of carpets

Who do you look up to most in the reptile world? (Rob Stone, Nick Mutton, Keith McPeek, Matt Minnetola, Owen McIntyre)
What is your holy grail reptile to keep? (Morelia imbricata)
If you could devote an entire bedroom to one species to build a massive vivarium, what would you keep and design? (if different from the previous) (Australia slice; olives, fruit bats, carpets, some Australia slice)
If you could go back in time to a younger you right before you got into reptiles, what wisdom would you impart upon your younger self? (take your time, don’t go into business, grow into the business)
If you could pass on one piece of advice to the listeners about keeping snakes/reptiles, what would it be?
1. 2:10:00 & 2:22:00 - Do/keep what you love! It may take time to find what that is.

Shout out your contact info - moreliapythonradio.net / ebmorelia.com

______________________________________________________________

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Bull Snakes and Room Dynamics with Travis Johnson Mar 25, 2020

Meat & Potatoes:

Tell us about your connection to Bull Snakes
The care for Bull snakes (40 min +)
All other fascinating info about bulls etc
How do you feel they are best kept?
- Average keeper vs. breeder (39:40 min)
- Pet style or breeder efficient style
What climate do they prefer? (40:45)
How do you achieve that in consideration with the various other species you keep?
- Ambient
- 85 in peak summer (43:00)
- 80 regularly
Genetics & Locality (52:00)
- Double hets (54:00)
- Simple recessive exclusively (57:00) - Inbreeding
- Wild type multi hets (58:00)
- Locality phenotypes - color & size (59:00)
Pros
- Great pets
- Setup nice in naturalistic enclosures
- Humidity is not normally an issue
- Don’t need a lot of heat
- They are good eaters
- Active during the morning and early evening (crepuscular)
- Can be very handleable with patience
- Awesome personalities
Cons
- Generally can be high strung/nervous
- Too much heat can make that nervousness worse
- They don’t like a lot of activity or movement (visual stimuli)
- Poop! They can be messy
Etc.
- Wild type win (55:40)
- Coachwhips (1:12:00)
- Snake size and maximum sizes versus adult sizes
- Freedom breeder tubs
Breeding (1:30:00)
- Stop feeding in November and then start brumation on Black Friday
- Pull them out of brumation in 12 weeks - wait 5 days for 1st feeding
- Keep feeding until the first shed out of brumation (a couple of weeks) - Pre-ovulation shed and then pair them up
- 2nd shed after is the pre-lay shed
- 10-14 days they lay eggs - they almost never use a nest box
  PRO TIP! Pull the water bowl before the 10th day
- Pull eggs and place into egg boxes - 6qt tote with 2 air holes - perlite (drier than you would expect) - 80°
- Hatch date is typically 56-60 days (depends on temp)
  - Too hot can cause deformities
What's coming down the pipe for your bulls and the rest of your projects?
- Prove out poss hets
- Stillwater Hypo Patternless het Miami Axanthic poss het albino x Trumbower Hibino (Hypo Albino) het Patternless and Bullum Axanthic !!!
- Whitesided, albino, patternless, hypos, axanthics
What do you see for the future of bull snakes and do you think more people should be keeping them?
- The future is bright for bullsnakes! More morphs...more localities
- Plan ahead and contact bullsnakes breeders now! Don’t wait!
- Their popularity is on the rise!

Closing comments/wrapping up/ throwing out contact info and the season's production for people to watch out for

Carpet Fest 2020 - Facebook Group Link Here

Final remarks. plugging for the next episode. etc.

Find Travis Here:
Living Legless Reptile Website
LLR on Facebook

LLR on Instagram

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Scott Borden’s Blog Post About Racks & Cages

Episode 6 - The Tired Debate: Racks vs. Cages Mar 11, 2020

Two opposing sides have emerged in this debate; pro racks and anti racks. However, could there be a middle ground? Andy and Riley brainstorm, discuss their experiences, visit some of the pervasive hypotheses, and conjecture about the future of reptile keeping techniques as a result of this ongoing debate.

Intro:

Catching up
Forrest Fanning

Body:

GH calling out FB on arboreal rack
- Starting the question
Looking at natural history of normal rack system animals
UVB blood testing
The history of rack systems
- When they were first implemented
- How they changed the hobby/industry
Pros
- Efficiency
- Sterilization
- Observation
- Organization
Cons
- Visibility
- Esthetics
- Argument
- Negative
Various species benefits and detriments
- Beardies
Applications
- How they’ve made positive differences
- How people are utilizing and refining them today
- Current trends towards the future
What do each of us use
- What types
- For what species
- Experiences
  - Good and bad
- Future plans and thoughts

Outro:

Wrapping up mentioning the ongoing lists of suggestions and hopefully not the audio issues
How the Australia trip may or may not impact my responses etc and please be flexible and understandable
Next!

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Intro Music: Old Blue by Chris Haugen

Outro Music: Cats Searching for the Truth by Nat Keefe and Hot Buttered Rum

@30:10 rack quote from Andy

@34:20 some keepers dedicating time to animals in the sun….

@37:00 UVB lighting talk

@46:00 being critical of others

@49:00 debate vs discussion

@52:00 great example of a tub helping a pituophis

@58:00 asking why

Episode 5: Low vs. High Maintenance Reptiles Feb 26, 2020

Maybe you are happy with low maintenance animals but have a large quantity of them. Suddenly you have a high maintenance collection!

Low Maintenance vs High Maintenance and what that means

Amount of work
- Daily vs. every few days
- Knowing your limits
Cleaning, watering, lighting, feeding, etc
Cage space and species considerations for future growth
Environmental challenges/ease
- Easy for anyone to accomplish vs. specific requirements i.e. “advanced”
- Technology & sensors

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Intro Music “Dirty Hands” by Jeremy Korpas

Outro Music “The Big Guns” by Silent Partner

Episode 4: Riley Flies Solo Feb 12, 2020

Florida Trip

Morelia Breeding Season

Timeline
Clues to watch for
Ovulatory swelling vs ovulation
Interest between animals
Missexed males and combat
Spring breeders vs winter breeders

Coming down the line:

Guests soon!

Continued topics

Tools of the room

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Episode 3: Anaheim Recap and Importance of Reptile Shows Jan 29, 2020

It has been a couple of weeks since we last recorded. We caught up a little on what has been happening in our lives. This show is all about the Anaheim Reptile Super Show that happened back at the beginning of January and its impact on the west coast reptile shows. We also talk about all the great things reptile shows do for our hobby and what we can do as buyers and vendors to improve on the impact they have.

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