In tonight's episode I am joined by Dr. Matt Gray. Dr. Gray is Associate Director of the UTIA Center for Wildlife Health and has dedicated years of his career to the study of amphibian diseases such as ranavirus and chytrid (Bd and Bsal). In this episode we discuss both diseases, and some of the dynamics behind mass die offs. Dr. Gray is also an avid supporter of a clean amphibian trade and works in conjunction with organizations such as PIJAC to develop strategies that may save us from future t...
Sep 03, 2021•1 hr 35 min
In this episode I run down the basic elements essential to a successful vivarium build. This episode is perfect for beginners attempting their first build and contains the steps, materials, methods and theories behind a typical dart frog vivarium build. For listener discounts on In Situ Vivariums visit : https://insituecosystems.com?ref=amphibicast
Aug 29, 2021•1 hr 3 min
In tonight's episode, I run down the top 10 myths behind dart frogs and how they are kept.
Aug 20, 2021•37 min
In this episode I am joined once again by Troy Goldberg. We talk about how his collection has changed in the past year and how he built his massive 300 gallon paludarium. We also discuss some of his new plant preferences, the use of alternate substrates, and how to deal with criticism within the hobby. For listener discounts on In Situ Vivariums visit : https://insituecosystems.com?ref=amphibicast For AmphibiCast Merch check out: https://the-amphibicast-store.creator-spring.com/...
Aug 06, 2021•2 hr 9 min
Tonight I am joined by photographer Zac Herr, known on Instagram as IAMMAKINGART. We talk about photography techniques, equipment, and the elements that are essential to a good photograph. We also touch on some of Zac's more memorable photoshoots, how his photos were picked up by National Geographic and his personal experiences keeping dart frogs.
Jul 30, 2021•1 hr 33 min
In this episode I am once again joined by Alex Menke of Frog Daddy and we discuss the ins and outs of operating a dart frog business. We touch on the challenges of opening a brick and mortar store, managing a business during Covid, and the importance of good employees. Alex and I also discuss some of the new projects that FrogDaddy is engaged in, along with many of the new species and locales that he is working with. If you'd like to support the show visit: https://www.patreon.com/Amphibicast...
Jul 16, 2021•1 hr 38 min
Tonight my guest is Jack Schulhoff of Jack's World of Wildlife. Jack has a successful YouTube channel where he observes and interacts with various forms of wildlife across the globe, and he is also an avid dart frog enthusiast! In this episode we discuss life as a wildlife documentary presenter, the legacy of Steve Irwin, and how Jack maintains his private collection of dozens of Oophaga species and locales.
Jul 10, 2021•1 hr 31 min
Tonight I am joined by Dr. Taegan McMahon. Taegan is a Disease Ecologist and she has studied Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) (commonly known as chytrid) quite extensively. In this episode we discuss the lifecycle of the fungus, how it is spread and what the future holds. We also discuss the surprising role that non amphibian hosts, such as crayfish and birds have in spreading Bd and how a possible vaccine for the fungus may be available in the near future.
Jul 02, 2021•1 hr 25 min
There are many available options for housing amphibians in captivity these days. But how do we know which one is the best? Well, the answer isn't always straight forward, and different setups suit certain situations better than others. In this episode I provide a quick rundown of some common enclosure types along with the pros and cons of each.
Jun 26, 2021•24 min
In tonight's episode I sit down with fellow podcaster Dillon Perron of The Animals at Home Network and we discuss the concepts behind high level keeping. As the amphibian and reptile hobbies have grown over the past few decades, our attitudes towards keeping have advanced as well. It is now common practice to house animals in more naturalistic enclosures, replicate their normal lifecycles with seasonal variations, and to provide them with some form of behavioral enrichment. Dillon and I have an ...
Jun 19, 2021•1 hr 39 min
Many of us are aware of global amphibian decline on some level. But have you ever wanted to know about the real causes behind it? -If so, this is the episode you have been waiting for! Tonight I am joined by Dr. Jacob Kerby. Dr. Kerby is Associate Chair of Biology at the University of South Dakota and he is also a leading expert on global amphibian decline. In this episode we talk about everything from amphibian diseases, the effects of pollution and tile drainage, Dr. Kerby's role as a member o...
Jun 12, 2021•1 hr 28 min
In last week's episode I was joined by professional zoo keeper, Mason Kleist and we discussed animal husbandry from a zoo keeper's perspective. However, a few days after our discussion, there was an incident at the El Paso zoo involving a woman who unlawfully entered a primate exhibit. The story made international news, she was subsequently arrested after her video went viral, and she is now facing charges. In this Bonus Episode, Mason joins us again to discuss the event as well as the ramificat...
Jun 05, 2021•44 min
In this episode I'm joined by Mason Kleist of the El Paso Zoo. Mason is a professional zoo keeper and we discuss animal husbandry and care from a zoo keeper's perspective. Mason is also an avid dart frog hobbyist and we discuss his experiences with keeping amphibians both personally and professionally.
May 30, 2021•1 hr 31 min
In this episode I discuss the care and breeding of Epipedobates anthonyi, commonly known and the Phantasmal Dart Frog
May 21, 2021•23 min
When we think of vivariums we almost immediately think of plants. Well planted vivariums are not only visually appealing, but in many situations plants are a vital part of amphibian husbandry. In this episode I am joined by Zach Goodnow of Equatorial Ecosystems and we discuss some of the finer points of keeping plants successfully in a vivarium setting. We cover topics that include lighting, water quality, substrate choices, plant selection and placement, and how to best plant a vivarium to acco...
May 14, 2021•1 hr 44 min
Have you ever been curious about the tarantula hobby? Well, in this episode of Thinking Outside the Glass Box I am joined by Richard of the Exotic Pet Collective Podcast and we talk about all things tarantula. Richard has been keeping tarantulas for over 2 decades, he hosts the Exotic Pet Collective Podcast and he runs the successful Tarantula Collective YouTube Channel. We discuss the hobby, tarantula care, enclosure builds and overcoming arachnophobia. In fact, if you are an arachnophobe, I hi...
May 07, 2021•1 hr 46 min
In this episode I'm joined once again by Mike Novy of Rainforest Junkys. We talk all about the care and breeding of the highly coveted Cruziohyla crasoedopus , and later into the episode we talk about members of the Glass Frog Complex and some current issues involving legislation in the hobby.
May 03, 2021•1 hr 53 min
Microfauna are an integral part of naturalistic vivariums. Many keepers are utilizing isopods as supplemental cleanup crews and, as the hobby develops, they are becoming more and more popular. Rachel Schindler of Pet Pedes and Pods was kind enough to sit down with me tonight and share some of her insights into isopod keeping. Rachel breeds and works with dozens of different varieties of isopods and millipedes; and in this episode we not only talk about how to keep isopods successfully as cleanup...
Apr 24, 2021•1 hr 22 min
No hobby is complete without a set of tools to go along with it and in this episode I share some of my experiences with some of my favorite husbandry tools. From day-to-day maintenance tools, to emergency necessities, these are all must have items for any frog room. For listener discounts on In Situ Vivariums visit https://insituecosystems.com/?ref=amphibicast
Apr 17, 2021•38 min
If you've ever spent some time on YouTube looking for dart frog videos you've definitely come across Mike Tytula's channel. Mike keeps a wide variety of herps and his channel is a great place to go for top quality content. In tonight's episode Mike and I talk about his channel, what makes for good care advice, the exotics hobby in Canada and much more. We also share some of our personal insights with each other in terms of how the hobby has grown, how to advise beginners and Mike gives us an upd...
Apr 09, 2021•1 hr 33 min
Have you ever wanted to know everything there is to know about the Xenopus genus? Well, this is the episode you have been waiting for. Tonight my guest is Dr. Marko Horb of the National Xenopus Resource and we discuss the genus from top to bottom. Xenopus (commonly known as African clawed frogs) have been model organisms in labs for almost a century and are also an extremely popular genus among hobbyists. Our understating of them has grown tremendously over the years and they have been instrumen...
Mar 27, 2021•1 hr 38 min
In honor of World Frog Day I thought it would be fun to do a top-ten beginner species count down. In this episode I share some of my experiences and insight regarding ten species that I have personally kept. Bear in mind, this episode is just for fun, and there are many other beginner species out there that could easily be in a top ten list. Many of the species that I cover have their own dedicated episodes, so I encourage you to go back and check those out if you haven't already. Also, there ar...
Mar 20, 2021•1 hr 10 min
We often think of amphibians as simple creatures who crawled out of of the primordial oceans millions of years ago and ultimately evolved into what we humans see in the mirror each morning. However, this example is clearly not the case and there is a great deal more to the story of amphibian evolution. Before amphibians even existed, early tetrapods evolved into limbed creatures capable of moving on land. This crucial development took millions of years to achieve and you may be quite surprised a...
Mar 13, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Tonight I had a unique opportunity to talk with Dean Jansen directly from Victoria Australia. Dean is an avid vivarium enthusiast, and showcases many of his builds on his Youtube Channel Viv_scape. We start off discussing some of the nuances that go along with successful vivarium and paludarium builds, why Dean enjoys horizontal to vertical conversions, and all the usual elements including lighting, plant selection and more. We then move on to discuss the state of the hobby in Australia, the lic...
Mar 06, 2021•1 hr 28 min
Jay Sommers of Sandfire Dragon Ranch is my guest tonight and in this episode we talk about the Neurergus genus of newts, their care and the current status of caudates in the hobby. Kaiser newts are arguably one of the most beautiful species in the hobby. But there are many more incredible species in the Neurergus genus and Jay has worked with them all. Many of you may remember Jay from Episode 27 where we talked about Phyllomedusa sauvagii and his experiences with some of the more commonly avail...
Feb 27, 2021•1 hr 20 min
Earlier this month a listener asked me which substate was best for a certain species. I started thinking about the different substrates that I have used over the past thirty years and rather than choose one, I thought it would be interesting to discuss some of the pros and cons associated with various substrates. When choosing a proper substate it is important that we consider the animal's natural history and whether or not we are looking to go naturalistic or utilitarian. Each species has its o...
Feb 13, 2021•52 min
Hobbyists, zoo keepers and breeders all understand the value that quality prey items have in a captive diet. As our understanding of amphibians increases, so does our concern for their well-being. There are many different prey items to choose from, yet there is one that's always had a bit of mystery surrounding it. Of course I am referring to... -the silkworm. Silkworms have been in the trade for a long time yet they always seem to be unavailable for purchase and information on their care is oft...
Feb 06, 2021•51 min
Jay Sommers has successfully kept and bred hundreds of species in his 30 year tenure working with herps. He is currently heading operations at Sandfire Dragon Ranch and in tonight's episode we discuss a variety of topics including his work with Phyllomedusa sauvagii (commonly known as the waxy monkey tree frog), his attitudes towards hobby staples vs. uncommon species, and his thoughts on the importance of supplementation.
Jan 30, 2021•1 hr 33 min
Kathy Wormald is the CEO of Froglife, a UK based charitable organization that works towards the conservation of native UK species. In this episode we talk about the goals of Froglife, concerns unique to UK herps, engaging the public and much more.
Jan 23, 2021•51 min
Finding a veterinarian familiar with amphibians can often be a challenge. As amphibians continue to become more popular, both experienced and new keepers will in all likelihood need access to veterinary care at some point. As such, it is my pleasure to have Dr. Andrew Logan DVM and my guest tonight. Dr. Logan is a veterinarian committed to furthering veterinary concerns unique to amphibians. He also operates his own consulting business and offers treatment and husbandry advice to zoos and medica...
Jan 16, 2021•1 hr 44 min
