HPF 8 - Breeding Reptiles In Enriched Environments

Thumbnail courtesy of Chelsea Isdaner of Smoldering Serpents

My guests:
Chelsea Isdaner - Smoldering Serpents
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXu2kVNUyjBjbozQmCjS26w

Phil Leitz - Arids Only
aridsonly.com

TC Houston - Reptile Mountain
https://www.youtube.com/c/ReptileMountainTV

I had a great time chatting with Chelsea, Phil, and TC about breeding reptiles.


Welcome everyone to our 8th Herp Panel Forum. The origin of this panel came from a conversation amongst reptile friends and an overall dissatisfaction with not only what we see portrayed on YouTube as proper keeping, but also the advice being given out on popular reptile support pages like Facebook. There are so many experts out there. Field biologists, researchers, experts in lighting, nutrition, behavior, and yet, In my opinion, too often the hobby looks to one measurement to define success - How many reptiles does a person breed? And often that means that we’re idolizing folks who are definitely providing a lot of animals to the hobby, but are typically promoting an absolute bare minimum standard of care as the norm. Because Prehistoric pets or New England Reptile is breeding reticulated pythons or anacondas in 8’ enclosures with nothing but a water bowl that they don’t fit into, and paper substrate, it leads the amateur hobbyist or small scale breeder to think that’s the only appropriate way to keep them.
Well, I hope this panel will put that notion to bed. I have three innovative breeders who do produce a lot of reptiles, but don’t feel it’s necessary to skimp when it comes to the standards of care for their breeding stock.