AmphibiCast
192 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago -AmphibiCast is the Original Amphibian Focused Podcast. Each weekly episode features informative and educational content for hobbyists, naturalists, ecologists, pet enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates frogs, toads and salamanders.
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Episodes
Episode 37. "The Isopod Episode" with Rachel Schindler of Pet Pedes and Pods
April 24, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 56.6 MBMicrofauna 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 cl...
Episode 36. Tools of the Trade - "Must Have Tools for the Frog Room"
April 17, 2021 18:00 - 38 minutes - 26.3 MBNo 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
Episode 35. A Conversation with Mike Tytula - Alpha Reptiles,Youtube, and More.
April 09, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 63.8 MBIf 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 ...
Episode 34. Everything Xenopus with Dr. Marko Horb of the National Xenopus Resource
March 27, 2021 18:00 - 1 hour - 67.6 MBHave 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 instr...
Episode 33. Top Ten Beginner Species Count Down!
March 20, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 48 MBIn 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, th...
Episode 32. Ancient Amphibian Ambulation with Dr. Julia Molnar
March 13, 2021 19:00 - 1 hour - 42.3 MBWe 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 sur...
Episode 31. The Hobby Down Under - With Dean Jansen of Viv_scape
March 06, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 60.5 MBTonight 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, th...
The Hobby Down Under - With Dean Jansen of Viv_scape
March 06, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 60.5 MBTonight 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, th...
Episode 30. Kaiser Newts and Rare Caudates in the Hobby with Jay Sommers of Sandfire Dragon Ranch
February 27, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBJay 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 a...
Episode 29. The Great Substrate Debate
February 13, 2021 17:00 - 51 minutes - 35.7 MBEarlier 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 i...
Episode 28. "Silkworms with Susan"
February 06, 2021 17:00 - 50 minutes - 34.8 MBHobbyists, 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 ...
Episode 27. Waxy Monkeys, Hobby Staples, and Supplements, with Jay Sommers of Sandfire Dragon Ranch
January 30, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 63.6 MBJay 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.
Episode 26. Kathy Wormald, CEO of Froglife
January 23, 2021 19:00 - 50 minutes - 35 MBKathy 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.
Episode 25. Amphibian Medicine with Dr. Andrew Logan DVM
January 16, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 71.4 MBFinding 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 a...
Episode 24. "Island Life in the Urban Jungle" NYC Amphibian Ecology with Dr. Jeremy Feinberg
January 09, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 65.6 MBIslands around the world are homes to amphibians that face unique challenges. Life on an island can be tough... But no place is tougher than New York... Many people don't realize that the NY Metropolitan area is comprised of several islands. In fact, The Bronx is the only Borough of NYC connected to then mainland. Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties all reside on Long Island, which is the largest island in the US. Due to dense human populations and significant habitat fragmen...
Episode 23. "Thinking Outside the Glass Box 2." All Things Chameleon -with Bill Strand of Chameleon Academy
December 19, 2020 19:00 - 1 hour - 81.9 MBIn this episode we once again venture outside the glass box, and into the world of chameleons. My guest tonight is the one and only Bill Strand. Bill is the host of the Chameleon Academy Podcast and operates the Chameleon Academy website. Bill has decades of experience keeping and breeding chameleons and in this episode we talk about some similarities in our respective hobbies, husbandry issues, the role of social media in the hobby and of course, a Bill offers plenty of sound advice on how...
Episode 22. "The Dart Frog Queen" with Stefania Fochi
December 12, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 64.6 MBStefania (AKA the Dart Frog Queen) is my guest tonight. We talk about her journey through the amphibian hobby and why she created her influential Youtube Channel. Although Stefania is not actively involved in the hobby anymore, she was kind enough to come our of retirement and share her insights with us. Some of the topics we discuss include the importance of a good mentor, mossy frogs (theleoderma corticale), streamlining a large collection and what it takes to be a responsible hobbyis...
Episode 21. Newts and Salamanders with Josh Coppola
December 05, 2020 20:00 - 1 hour - 44.7 MBIn this episode Josh Coppola joins me from the UK by way of Italy. Josh and I discuss some of his experiences keeping newts and salamanders in captivity as well as how Bsal has significantly effected European salamander populations. We also discuss Josh's website salamanderland.com. Salamanderland.com contains a wealth of quality up to date information, care sheets and husbandry insights. I encourage you to check it out if you're interested in getting into caudates. Although we didn't have...
Episode 20. "Across the Pond" A conversation with Joe Smith of DIY Herps
November 28, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 51.3 MBJoe Smith comes to us tonight from the UK. In this episode we talk about the learning curve in the Hobby. We discuss rookie mistakes we made in our early days keeping frogs, a few DIY vivarium hacks and how Joe started his Youtube Channel as a way to connect with other frog keepers.
Episode 19. "The Atelopus Project" with Nick Stacey of the Fragile Planet Wildlife Center
November 21, 2020 21:00 - 1 hour - 56.3 MBNick Stacey is one of the cofounders of the Fragile Planet Wildlife Center in Texas. In this episode we talked about how the center started, his Atelopus Project and what ultimately lead to his successful captive breeding of Atelopus balios. If you've ever been interested in the Atelopus genus this is the episode for you.
Episode 18. "Frogs 'n Things" With Keith Tanis
November 14, 2020 19:00 - 1 hour - 53.6 MBIn tonight's episode I talk with Keith Tanis of Frogs 'n Things. We talk shop about how he started out, some of his favorite species and what he is upon to now. (Note/Disclaimer: In this episode we discuss some treatment methods that are common in the hobby. Please be aware though that our discussion is for entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Any treatment methods should always be done under the supervision of a qualified veterinarian.
Episode 17. "Mantella Madness" with Devin Edmonds
November 07, 2020 19:00 - 1 hour - 45.3 MB(Note, Tonight's episode was prerecorded) In this week's episode I sat down with Devin Edmonds. Devin has worked extensively with mantellas in their native Madagascar, has written several books about captive husbandry and is currently working towards his Phd. We talked about mantella care, conservation, and we had a nice side conversation about Africa's Goliath Frog. For more information about Devin's work visit pace.inhs.illinois.edu
Episode 16. "Boots on the Ground"- Life in Peru with Josh Allen
October 24, 2020 18:00 - 1 hour - 63.6 MBTonight's conversation spans two continents and in this episode I have the pleasure of talking with Josh Allen. Josh comes to us straight from Peru, where he has been guide for almost five years. Tonight he shares some of his fascinating encounters with local ranitomeya, how he ended up as a guide on another continent and what his thoughts are when it comes to conservation.
Episode 15. "Outside the Glass Box 1." All About Abronia w/ Nick Gordon of the Abronia Alliance
October 17, 2020 21:00 - 1 hour - 63.5 MBTonight's episode is a little bit different. Although they are not amphibians, lizard species within the Abronia genus (commonly called Mexican Alligator Lizards) face many of the same concerns faced by Central American anurans when it comes to conservation and care. Nick Gordon represents the Abronia Alliance and he was kind enough to talk to me this evening. The Abronia Alliance is an organization that promotes the conservation of Abronia species, engages the public through outreach and wo...
Episode 15. Nick Gordon of the Abronia Alliance
October 17, 2020 21:00 - 1 hour - 63.5 MBTonight's episode is a little bit different. Although they are not amphibians, lizard species within the Abronia genus (commonly called Mexican Alligator Lizards) face many of the same concerns faced by Central American anurans when it comes to conservation and care. Nick Gordon represents the Abronia Alliance and he was kind enough to talk to me this evening. The Abronia Alliance is an organization that promotes the conservation of Abronia species, engages the public through outreach and wo...
Episode 14. Amphibians in the News and Thoughts on Building a Frog Room
October 10, 2020 23:00 - 41 minutes - 28.6 MBIn tonight's episode I share a few news articles I found interesting and I go over some tips on how to plan a frog room.
Episode 13. Mike Novy of Rainforest Junkies
October 03, 2020 21:00 - 1 hour - 69.3 MBTonight I had a conversation with Mike Novy of Rainforest Junkies. We talked about the care and breeding of Redeyed Treefrogs, Lemur Frogs, and Mike's observations during a trip Costa Rica. Mike has decades of experience and shares his home with up to thousands of tree frogs at any given point. He was kind enough to share some off his experience and we had more than a few laughs along the way. For listener discounts on In Situ Vivariums visit https://insituecosystems.com/?ref=amphibicast
Episode 12. Julio Rodriguez "American Frog Day and Tesoros"
September 26, 2020 20:00 - 59 minutes - 41.2 MBTonight it was my pleasure to speak with Julio Rodriguez who has been an influential force in the dart frog hobby for years. He is one of the organizers of American Frog Day and he works closely with Tesoros de Columbia towards establishing hobby sustainability. In this episode we talked about the history of dart frogs in the hobby, once in a lifetime sightings, the challenges associated with in situ conservation and what the future holds.
Episode 11. "All Things Pacman" with Pat Klein of Frog Depot
September 19, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 49.6 MBIn tonight's episode I chat with Pat Klein about his experiences breeding and caring for various members of the Ceratophrys genus. In addition to being the owner/operator of The Frog depot, Pat is also certified veterinary technician with years of experience working with veterinarians in a zoo environment.
Episode 10. Oophaga and More with Troy Goldberg
September 12, 2020 15:00 - 1 hour - 57 MBIn this episode I had a chance to talk with the one and only Troy Goldberg. We talked about how his art background influences his vivarium builds, why he started what would be come a successful YouTube channel and some of the nuances associated with keeping oophaga.
Episode 9. Bill of In Situ Ecosystems "Engineering the Vivarium"
September 05, 2020 22:00 - 1 hour - 47.8 MBIn this episode I had the pleasure of sitting down with Bill Rodman of In Situ Ecosystems. We talked about how his experiences as an aerospace engineer and how his love for frogs evolved into into a successful vivarium business. We also discussed the finer points of vivarium construction, common beginner mistakes and how to create a captive environmental dynamic that models nature as closely as possible. For listener discounts on In Situ Vivariums visit https://insituecosystems.com/?ref=am...
Episode 8. "The Last Rabbs' Fringe Limbed Tree Frog" with Mark Mandica Co-Founder of The Amphibian Foundation
August 29, 2020 18:00 - 57 minutes - 39.3 MBIn tonight's episode I had the pleasure of sitting down with Mark Mandica -cofounder of The Amphibian Foundation. Mark and I discussed our thoughts on conservation, the role of community outreach and Mark's personal and professional experiences with Toughie -the last Rabbs' Fringe Limbed Tree Frog on Earth.
Episode 8. "The Last Rabb's Tree Frog" with Mark Mandica Co-Founder of The Amphibian Foundation
August 29, 2020 18:00 - 57 minutes - 39.3 MBIn tonight's episode I had the pleasure of sitting down with Mark Mandica -cofounder of The Amphibian Foundation. Mark and I discussed our thoughts on conservation, the role of community outreach and Mark's personal and professional experiences with Toughie -the last Rabb's Treefrog on Earth.
Episode 7. Alex Menke Part 2. Bridging the Gap
August 23, 2020 17:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBAs we continue the second part of our conversation, Alex and I discuss his efforts to bridge the gap between hobbyists and conservation groups.
Episode 6. Alex of Frog Daddy Part 1. Making it in the Hobby
August 15, 2020 21:00 - 50 minutes - 34.6 MBI had a long discussion the other day with Alex Menke of Frog Daddy. We talked about so many things that I had to break it up into two episodes. Tonight's episode is Part 1. In this episode we focused our discussion on how Alex became involved with dart frogs and how he grew his business.
Episode 6. Alex of Frog Daddy Part 1. "Making it in the Hobby"
August 15, 2020 21:00 - 50 minutes - 34.6 MBI had a long discussion the other day with Alex Menke of Frog Daddy. We talked about so many things that I had to break it up into two episodes. Tonight's episode is Part 1. In this episode we focused our discussion on how Alex became involved with dart frogs and how he grew his business.
Episode 5. Some Thoughts on Cohabitation
August 07, 2020 20:00 - 31 minutes - 21.9 MBIn this episode I discuss my stance on the practice of mixing species.
Episode 4. Some Notes on Microfauna in the Vivarium
July 31, 2020 21:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MBIn this episode I share some of my personal experiences with microfauna.
Episode 3. "Axolotls in the Classroom" with Breann Ross
July 25, 2020 21:00 - 40 minutes - 28.1 MBTonight my guest is research scientist and teacher Breann Ross. We discussed the role of axolotls in the classroom and the important role conservation has in education.
Episode 2. Travis of TCS Dart Frogs
July 25, 2020 21:00 - 57 minutes - 39.6 MBTonight I sat down with Travis of TCS dart frogs. We had a long discussion about dart frogs and what it is like owning a small business. For listener discounts on In Situ Vivariums visit https://insituecosystems.com/?ref=amphibicast If you'd like to support the show please check out the Patreon page https://www.patreon.com/Amphibicast
Episode 3. Breann Ross
July 25, 2020 21:00 - 40 minutes - 28.1 MBTonight my guest is research scientist and teacher Breann Ross. We discussed the role of axolotls in the classroom and the important role conservation has in education.
Episode 1. An Introduction
July 11, 2020 20:00 - 2 minutes - 1.77 MBThis Episode is a very brief introduction. It explains who I am any why I decided to create an amphibian focused podcast