Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast AmphibiCast

This week Alex Menke, Mike Novy, and I answer listener questions about dart frogs and tree frogs. We discuss husbandry, breeding, ethical topics, and we have more than a few laughs. Thanks to all the listeners who submitted questions. 

Be sure to follow

@amphibicast

https://www.facebook.com/frogdaddyllc/

https://www.facebook.com/p/Rainforestjunkys-100078666645717/

https://frogdaddy.net/

http://www.rainforestjunkys.com/

Broaden your knowledge of herpetology online or in person at the Amphibian Foundation. Register now at www.amphibianfoundation.org and use code AMPHIBICAST at checkout for 10% off 

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

NEHERP is our sponsor this week For your bioactive vivarium needs visit: https://www.neherpetoculture.com/

Are you interested in keeping dart frogs for the first time? In this episode I cover what you need to know before getting your first frog. I cover basic husbandry, feeding, supplementation, lighting, live plants, some natural history and much more.

Broaden your knowledge of herpetology online or in person at the Amphibian Foundation. Register now at www.amphibianfoundation.org and use code AMPHIBICAST at checkout for 10% off 

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

NEHERP is our sponsor this week For your bioactive vivarium needs visit: https://www.neherpetoculture.com/

Vivarium Backgrounds are an integral part of dart frog vivarium builds. They can be simple or complex, but in the right hands they can become true works of art. This week Im joined by @mikegravia and we discuss his methods for building show room quality vivarium backgrounds. We cover materials, methods, and the learning curve,  as well as how to scale a build properly to recreate a slice of nature.

Be sure to give Mike a follow @mikegravia

Broaden your knowledge of herpetology online or in person at the Amphibian Foundation. Register now at www.amphibianfoundation.org and use code AMPHIBICAST at checkout for 10% off 

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

NEHERP is our sponsor this week For your bioactive vivarium needs visit: https://www.neherpetoculture.com/

This week I'm joined by Braxton of Frog House Tropics. In this episode we discuss Braxton's barn sized  frog room(yes its an actual barn!), some new trends in the dart frog hobby, the importance that meetups have for the community, and much more.

be sure to visit https://froghousetropics.com and follow @froghousetropics

Broaden your knowledge of herpetology online or in person at the Amphibian Foundation. Register now at www.amphibianfoundation.org and use code AMPHIBICAST at checkout for 10% off 

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

NEHERP is our sponsor this week For your bioactive vivarium needs visit: https://www.neherpetoculture.com/

This week I am joined by Tim Herman. Tim is well known for his specialized vivarium and marine aquarium brand -Indoor Ecosystems-, as well as for his accomplishments as an academic, and zoo professional. In this episode, Tim and I discuss how to bring high quality vivariums and aquariums to life. We also talk about his close work with caudates, the background behind the salamander ban from a few years back, Khans spray toad, why the eastern USA has such high salamander biodiversity, and much more. 

To learn more visit: https://indoorecosystems.com/

Broaden your knowledge of herpetology online or in person at the Amphibian Foundation. Register now at www.amphibianfoundation.org and use code AMPHIBICAST at checkout for 10% off 

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

Amphibian conservation, education, and appreciation, are the three ingredients that bind the amphibian community together. And, for almost a decade now, The Amphibian Foundation has dedicated its time and resources to provide both a brick and mortar facility, as well as an online presence,  that allows the amphibian community to learn, share, and grow.... And now is the time for the community to give something back.

The AF's current facility is set to be demolished within a year. And as such, AF staff have been scrambling to find a new location, and navigate the logistics of a complicated, and costly move. This week I am joined by Mark Mandica, and we have a frank discussion about the future of the Amphibian Foundation, the new location, the challenges that go with moving over a thousand animals (many of which are endangered), the help that’s needed from the community, and some positive takeaways about what the upcoming year will bring.

To Donate / Find out more please visit:

https://www.amphibianfoundation.org/index.php/donate-to-support-af-s-emergency-fund

Broaden your knowledge of herpetology online or in person at the Amphibian Foundation. Register now at www.amphibianfoundation.org and use code AMPHIBICAST at checkout for 10% off 

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

This week I chat with Aaron Capouellez and we discuss what's going on with native Pennsylvania amphibians for Frog Week 2025. We talk about amphibian road crossings and the issues they present, how a group of young students became involved in wood frog conservation, is the northern green frog a threat to other native species??? and much more!

To learn more visit:

https://woodsandforestsmedia.wixsite.com/critter-conservation

https://www.youtube.com/@WoodsandForestsMedia

Broaden your knowledge of herpetology online or in person at the Amphibian Foundation. Register now at www.amphibianfoundation.org and use code AMPHIBICAST at checkout for 10% off 

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

One of the most enigmatic extinction events in history took place only a few decades ago in a tiny section of pristine habitat near Monte Verde Costa Rica. Shorty after its discovery, the Golden Toad (Incilius periglenes) suddenly disappeared without a trace. Leaving many to wonder what happened and why.

This week I am joined by Kyle and Trevor Ritland. Enamored by the mysterious and sudden disappearance of the Golden toads, Kyle and Trevor made it their mission to investigate what the possible causes were. In their book, The Golden Toad- An Ecological Mystery and the Search for a Lost Species, Kyle and Trevor tell a riveting tale that explores the story arch behind the extinction, introduces us to the players involved, and hints as to whether or not some golden toads may still remain. 

To find out more visit:

https://kyleandtrevor.com/

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

Tesorosfrogs.com is your source for responsible, ethical, and sustainable captive bred frogs and vivarium supplies. visit tesorosfrogs.com to shop 

This week I am joined by fellow podcaster, Matt Wayne. Matt hosts the 'Not Another Reptile Podcast' and in this episode we discuss his venture into podcasting as well as his passion for fire salamanders. We discuss the care, breeding, and the hobby history of Salamandra salamandra, and we also talk about the value that the herp hobby has when we need help overcoming difficult times. 

Be sure to follow: not_another_reptile_podcast on social media and listen on your favorite podcast player

Broaden your knowledge of herpetology online or in person at the Amphibian Foundation. Register now at www.amphibianfoundation.org and use code AMPHIBICAST at checkout for 10% off 

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

Tesorosfrogs.com is your source for responsible, ethical, and sustainable captive bred frogs and vivarium supplies. visit tesorosfrogs.com to shop 

Some helpful links:

https://www.fws.gov/question-answer/salamanders-injurious-wildlife-what-it-means-owners-and-scientists-faqs

Zoos often play an integral part in amphibian conservation. This week I am joined by Audrey and Chris courtesy of Houston Zoo, and we discuss their work with the critically endangered Houston Toad. 

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

EPISODE 200! 

This week I am joined by Julio Rodriguez, Troy Goldberg and Mike Tytula. We have a full blown dart frog round table discussion covering tips, observations, breeding, supplementation, zoopoxy, mystery locales, social media posts gone rogue, and oh so much more. 

Broaden your knowledge of herpetology online or in person at the Amphibian Foundation. Register now at www.amphibianfoundation.org and use code AMPHIBICAST at checkout for 10% off 

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

Tesorosfrogs.com is your source for responsible, ethical, and sustainable captive bred frogs and vivarium supplies. visit tesorosfrogs.com to shop 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

This week I am joined by Ivan Lozano. In this episode, we discuss sustainable Colombian bio-commerce, the introduction of the first legally imported andinobates into the US amphibian community, and a new partnership between coffee farmers and conservationist aimed at saving precious frog habitat.

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

Tesorosfrogs.com is your source for responsible, ethical, and sustainable captive bred frogs and vivarium supplies. visit tesorosfrogs.com to shop 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

Social Media has become an important facet of our ever evolving society. We find news, opinions, and information at an ever increasing pace. But how do social media posts affect our perception of extinct animals? And, are posts about extinct amphibians unique in their retention? Do posts about frogs illicit a different response than mammals? (You may be surprised!) In this episode I am joined by Susan Canavan, and we discuss her research into how social media posts affect our awareness of extinction.  We discuss how social media users acted after reading a post about different extinct animals, and what role amphibians played in long term interest. 

To learn more visit:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385555085_Trending_extinctions_online_interest_in_recently_extinct_animals

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

Tesorosfrogs.com is your source for responsible, ethical, and sustainable captive bred frogs and vivarium supplies. visit tesorosfrogs.com to shop 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

This week I am joined by Nathan Hall. Nathan has decades of experience keeping and breeding herps, and in this episode, we discuss his decision to focus on dart frogs. We also take a deep dive into the last 35 years of the herp hobby, the early days of the internet, Nathan's involvement with numerous gecko projects, and his experiences as a photographer.

Be sure to check out https://www.austinvivariumstudio.com/

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

This week I am joined by Rob Mohr. Rob recently traveled to Borneo, and in this episode we discuss the incredible amphibian species he encountered, and what makes Borneo unique as an island biome.

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

This week I am joined by veterinarian, Brad Wilson DVM. In addition to working with companion animals and livestock, Brad is also an accomplished amphibian vet. In this episode, we take a comprehensive deep dive into amphibian medicine from a holistic perspective. We discuss the concepts of infection vs disease, the important roles that husbandry plays, nutritional disorders, and the importance that natural history plays. We also discuss Brad's recent trip to Madagascar and some of the amazing species he observed.

follow Brad @https://www.instagram.com/bradwilson_dvm_atl/

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

This week I am joined by Roland Knapp. Roland has studied Mountain yellow legged frogs in the Sierra Nevada for three decades. During the earliest days of his research, he witnessed the first massive amphibian die-offs in the US as a result of a new and lethal pathogen. That pathogen would come to be known as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis or Bd for short. Moving forward, Roland's subsequent work over the next few decades would ultimately lead to a reintroduction plan for the species, -a plan made possible by the discovery of Bd resistant frogs!  In this episode, we discuss the full story arc of Bd -from it's mysterious beginning, the severe devastation it has caused, and how the tide is turning in favor of a few frog species with some help from both nature and humans!


This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

To Learn more about Dr. Knapp's work please visit:

https://mountainlakesresearch.com/

https://snarl.nrs.ucsb.edu/dr-roland-knapp/

https://europepmc.org/article/ppr/ppr665389

For decades, the reptile and amphibian hobbies have formed a sort of synergy. Collectively they constitute what many call the "Herp" hobby. However, as time passes, the communities have become more divergent- almost to the point of being mutually exclusive. But how much do we really have in common?

In this episode I am joined by Phil Lietz (co-host of the Project Herpetoculture Podcast), and we compare and contrast some key differences and commonalities between the reptile and amphibian communities.  We discuss value systems, and we explore some of the smaller niche communities within each hobby. We also talk about podcasting goals, and what value controversial guests may have.

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

AND BE SURE TO GIVE PROJECT HERPETOCULTURE A LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLAYER!

This week I am joined by researcher and museum educator, Hugh Gabriel. On a recent research trip to Madagascar, Hugh made a ground breaking discovery - identifying and describing three new species of Guibemantis frog in a very specialized biome. These species of Guibemantis have a unique natural history that takes place in the axils of the pandanus tree. (Somewhat similar to oophaga and bromeliads but on a much more specialized scale!). In this episode Hugh shares the methods behind holistic taxonomy, the challenges of working in situ in Madagascar, and the complexities of the closed ecosystem within the pandanus tree. 

To learn more, visit:
https://www.hughgabriel.com/assets/Gabriel_etal_2024.pdf

https://www.hughgabriel.com/science/

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

Thanks everyone for an an amazing year! This week I'm joined by Mike Tytula for our annual AmphibiCast Holiday Fiasco.  In this episode Mike and I have an open conversation about traveling to Colombia, choosing which expos to vend, reptile and amphibian industry and content trends, and long term success with a large collection. We also discuss when and how to offer husbandry advice, and we ask eachother,  what qualifies someone be a credible source of information?

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

Thanks to alpha.reptile ! 

An AmphibiCast first! Live episode at American Frog Day 2024. Join me as I check out the event and interview some new people as well as some podcast favorites! We discuss everything from wild Colombian frogs, hobby trends, the value of community, chaos in Sleepy Hollow, what’s new at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, what happens when feeder insects go rogue in a 5 start hotel, and how did a water buffalo end up getting kicked out of Animal Con!

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

This week I’m joined by Troy Goldberg and we discuss what we’ve learned about the hobby, content creation, vivarium builds, and frog care over the past four years. Is the hobby stagnant? Is there too much content out there? Be sure to listen to this one! And thanks to everyone who supported the show for the past 4 years!

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

This week I am joined by Conservation Biologist, Blake Klocke and we discuss his work with Atelopus reintroduction, (including radio tracking!), understanding the value of amphibian natural history, amphibian plasticity, sampling salamanders in the hobby for Bsal, and much more!

Be sure to follow Blake @amphibianblake

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

This week I am joined by Jack McDermott @jibbys.jungle . In this episode, we compare and contrast frog and fisheries management strategies.  We approach both amphibians and fish from a natural resources perspective, and we consider the human element, economic impact, sustainability goals, and whether or not the two strategies can overlap. We also discuss Jack's recent visit to Colombia, his observations of wild oophaga, and his encounter with a uniquely patterned Oophage Anchicaya known locally as "El Corazón."

be sure to follow Jack @jibbys.jungle 

Exo Terra USA is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

This week it is my pleasure to be joined by Logan Hope AKA That Bearded Bug Guy. Logan has a talent for elaborate custom vivarium builds and content creation, and he is involved in some very interesting amphibian, reptile, and invert projects. In this episode we discuss his journey through the animal hobby, designing and constructing custom vivarium builds, his oophaga pumilio project, and content creation. We also discuss the balance between simple and complicated builds as it relates to husbandry, and choosing species based on behaviors.


Follow Logan on IG https://www.instagram.com/thatbeardedbugguy/
@Thatbeardedbugguy on all social media platforms 

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

Newly described as it's own species, Cruziohyla sylviae is a prime candidate for research. Captive populations are an important factor in ensuring the species' survival for a number of reasons.  And as such, a proper science based understanding of their care and breeding is vital. 

This week I am joined by Sam Sucre of Natural Tanks. We discuss his recently published paper documenting Cruziohyla sylviae husbandry and we have a very frank discussion about some of the successes and failures associated with conservation efforts.  Can we be critical of conservation methods? Be sure to listen and you decide!

To Read the Paper - https://journals.ku.edu/reptilesandamphibians/article/view/21317

Exo Terra USA is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

https://bio.site/NaturalTanks

https://www.instagram.com/naturaltanks/?hl=en

This week I am joined by Vivarium enthusiast, and professional puppeteer and filmmaker, Benjamin Fieschi-Rose. In this episode, Ben and I discuss the many crossovers between Vivarium building and  Film set design as art forms. We also talk about his frog and plant collections, some of the raw materials used both in vivarium background and set production, and Ben shares the story behind his film "The Lost SeaHorse." We also talk about the process behind stop motion animation, and its use as  conservation storytelling device.

To Learn More Visit:
Website: treedragon.ca
Plant/Frog Instagram: @bensgotplants
Stop-Motion/Puppetry Instagram: @treedragonfilms
The Lost Seahorse Instagram @thelostseahorsefilm
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13410664/

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterra on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

Native North American amphibian species don't often get their proper share of media attention. Thankfully though, Aaron Capouellez has created a media brand dedicated to the preservation of native Pennsylvania species. In this episode, Aaron and I catch up and discuss how the brand has grown, the value of community and media outreach, overcoming obstacles, and the complexity that goes into navigating the PA native species permitting system. We also discuss hiking, camera gear, drone footage, and all the prep work that goes into a field hike. 

To learn more, check out:
https://www.youtube.com/c/PAWoodsandForests
https://www.pawoodsandforests.com/
https://www.instagram.com/woods_and_forests_media/

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterra on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

This week I am joined by longtime dart frog hobbyist Chris Miller of edgewooddarts.com and www.ranitomeya.com In this episode Chris and I discuss the advent of the US dart frog hobby in the early 1990s, Keeping Golden Mantella vs Breeding Golden Mantella, and much more. Chris is also an accomplished orchid enthusiast and we take a deep dive into orchid care. 

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterra on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

The Amphibian Hobby is a worldwide community, and each corner of the world has its own special niche. This week I am joined by Michaela (AKA Macs frog army on social media) and we discuss her journey into the Australian amphibian hobby, the challenges (and joys) of keeping only native species, navigating the permit system, how she cares for several species in the Litorea genus, Australian Exos, and much more!

Be sure to follow macs_frog_army on IG and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/macs.frog.army

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterra on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

Automated misting systems are useful way to mist vivariums on a schedule. In this episode I discuss the components, installation tips, maintenance, and benefits of using a misting system in your amphibian's vivarium


This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterra on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

The world is a stressful place. For many of us, the amphibian hobby is a means of escape and a place where we can find peace of mind.  But, the hobby does also require a great deal of commitment ,and it can also become a stressor in and of itself when we are struggling with personal issues.  Managing animals when we are struggling can be a significant obstacle to overcome. But there is support for people in need. All we need to do is ask.

This week I am joined by Dave Mickulas of VivaVivariums. Dave and I have a very frank discussion about the positive and negative effects that the hobby can have on our mental and emotional wellbeing.  We discuss how important it is to have a support system in place,  accepting help when needed, and how members of the community can support each other. We also talk about Daves Coqui  and Solomon Island Leaf Frog breeding projects, dart frogs in Hawaii, and much more.

Be sure to follow Dave @vivavivariums on social media

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterra on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

If you find yourself in crisis, remember you are not alone. There is help available.  If you are in need please reach out to your local  or national crisis hotline. 

https://www.nami.org/advocacy/policy-priorities/responding-to-crises/national-hotline-for-mental-health-crises-and-suicide-prevention/

There are many stakeholders in the amphibian universe. From breeders and hobbyists, to researchers, land managers, and policymakers. -all  of these groups need to be engaged as a community if trade is to be continued in a clean and responsible way. But how is this accomplished and what challenges are faced along the way?  This week I am joined by researcher and wildlife engagement specialist, Alexa Warwick.  We discuss Alexa's role in an ongoing project that examines disease mitigation strategies aimed ad minimizing the risk of amphibian pathogens spreading from captive pet populations to wild populations; her background in wildlife engagement, her work with the Pine Barrens Treefrog, and much more!

To Learn More, Visit:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/msu-researchers-receive-2-75-million-grant-to-investigate-movement-of-amphibian-pathogens-in-wildlife-trade-networks

http://www.arwarwick.org/wildlife-research.html

healthyamphibiantrade.org

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterra on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

This week I am joined by Ivan of Tesoros de Colombia and we discuss some new projects that are underway at Tesoros and the ACA. We talk about some of the new species soon to be available through legal import, including Amereega and Andinobates, as well as how local coffee farmers are helping conservation efforts.

To learn more, visit:

https://tesorosdecolombia.com/

https://activeconservationalliance.org

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterra on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

This week’s epdisode is designed with the beginner in mind.  When we start out as hobbyists, it’s very common to make mistakes. Husbandry and care can be researched, but our knowledge  base always grows through experience. In this episode, I discuss some common beginner mistakes and how to fix them. 
I cover what to do  if you start out with an impulse purchase frog, how to to positively engage the community for help, and how to manage negative criticism. 



This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterra on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis or Bd is one of the most infamous agents of amphibian disease world wide. But did you know that there are multiple lineages other than the Global Panzootic Lineage and that the fungus can be affected by a virus?  New research involving the fungus and mycoviruses has shed a fresh light on the virulence of chyrid. In this episode I am joined by researchers Mark Yacoub  and  Jason Stajich  to discuss it.  We talk about mycology (the study of fungi) in general, as well as the specifics of what we have learned from the  mapping of the Bd genome. We also go on to discuss what can be learned about fungi and other microfauna living within the guts of wild and captive amphibians and how it can potentially help with their survival.

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com and visit your local dealer. Follow @exoterra on all social media platforms!

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

To learn more, visit:
https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2024/04/03/discovery-could-end-global-amphibian-pandemic

https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(24)00244-6

https://herptilemicrobiomes.org/

https://lab.stajich.org/

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mark-Yacoub

https://www.chytrids.org/

The Japanese Giant Salamander (Andrias japonicus) is one of the world's most iconic amphibian species. In this episode I am joined by Director of Buishido Adventure Travel limited and CEO of Sustainable Daisen -  Richard Pearce, directly from Japan.  Sustainable Daisen is a not for profit organization that focuses on Japanese Giant Salamander conservation through habitat preservation,  conservation initiatives, and global engagement. Through his decades of guiding experience, Richard has a developed an intimate understanding of the natural history and lifecycle of one of the world's largest amphibians. 

In this episode we discuss Richard's background as a guide, and the efforts made by Sustainable Daisen. Richard also gives us a full master class in the Japanese Giant Salamander's natural history,  breeding habits, diet, reproduction, and behavior. We also talk about Richard's philosophy towards nature, how he became an honorary monk, the threat that hybridization poses, and the unique region surrounding Mt Daisen. 

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterra on social media. 

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

Shout out to our new $5 Patron - Drew Martinez!

To learn more visit: 
https://www.sustainabledaisen.org/en/home
https://www.bushidojapan.com/
https://www.lifegate.com/longform/saving-japanese-giant-salamanders-from-extinction

This week I am joined by professional vivarium specialist and long time frog hobbyist, Rob Mohr. Rob has made a career out his passion for the natural world, and in this episode we discuss his role at one of the largest private vivariums in the United States - the Seattle Spheres. We discuss plants, the logistics of maintaining massive living walls, water parameters, and how a massive full grown tree was lowered into the spheres.  We also talk about that value that community has within the dart frog and plant  hobbies, Rob's collection of large oophaga and so much more! 

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com and visit your local dealer. Follow @exoterra on all social media platforms!

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

Follow Rob @_frogfish_

To learn more - https://www.seattlespheres.com/

This week I am joined by Armen of HerpTime.  In this episode we discuss what it takes to be a breeder, Armen’s new frog breeding projects, social media and more! We also take a deep dive into anoles and compare and contrast anole vs frog husbandry. 

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com and visit your local dealer

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

Special shout out to our new $5 Patron - Michael Steffen!

This week I am joined by Dayyan Saylany. Dayyan is known across Youtube and social media as Reptiliatus, and in this episode we discuss his passion for reptiles and amphibians; and his journey into content creation. We also talk about Dayyan's frog  experiences including why he developed a care video for juvenile-subadult pacman frogs, and how he successfully raised a  Cruziohyla craspedopus, (commonly known as the fringed leaf frog) from a tadpole!

Follow @reptiliatus on Youtube, Instagram and all your favorite social media platforms!
https://www.youtube.com/@Reptiliatus

To Support AmphibiCast by becoming a Patron, for Merch and more visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

Exo-Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian and reptile needs visit exo-terra.com or your local dealer

This week I am joined by Drew Martinez. Drew is the owner of Carnivero. - a nursery that specializes in carnivorous plants. In this episode, we discuss Drew's tenure in the dart frog and plant hobbies, his fascination with carnivorous plants and how to successfully care for everything from Nepenthes pitcher plants, to Venus Fly traps and Platycerium! Drew also shares a few stories and observations from his trips to borneo, including one where a species of rainbow toad was rediscovered!

To learn more, visit: https://www.carnivero.com

Some of the research discussed: 
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jzs.12465
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228439802

 This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com and visit your local dealer

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

Streams are unique habitats that are home to many different species of amphibian. But,  do changes in stream dynamics effect amphibian lifecycles? And if so, how?  This week I am joined by researcher, Madaline Cochrane and we discuss her paper, "Individual growth rates and size at metamorphosis increase with watershed area in a stream salamander." We focus our discussion on her work with Gyrinophilus porphyriticus (AKA the Spring Salamander) and how growth rate, behavior, and reproduction are all affected by variations in a stream biome.

To read the paper please check out:
https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ecy.4217

Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian husbandry needs, visit https://exo-terra.com/ or your local dealer. 

To support the show by becoming a patron, for merch, In Situ Ecosystems discounts and more visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

This week I am joined again by Ben Baker of Fantastic Frogs. In Episode 160, Ben and I discussed a host of topics including his tenure as a zoo keeper and frog breeder. In this week's episode we continue our conversation with a deep dive into more of Ben's career and insights. We discuss Ben's experiences tracking and studying wild Golden Mantella, the long term sustainability of captive frog genetics, tuataras in a zoo setting,  and is there a positive aspect to importing wild caught amphibians under the right circumstances.

Be sure to check out https://fantasticfrogs.co.uk/

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

This week I am joined by Zach Porritt.  Zach has built one of the largest and most impressive dart frog enclosures in the hobby - A full sized greenhouse! Join us for our discussion into how the greenhouse was constructed, planted and stocked, and how his  Phyllobates terribilis behave, feed and breed in such a large environment.

This week's episode is sponsored by the frog breeder merch store, https://the-frog-breeder-merch.myspreadshop.com/ 
 
Exo-Terra is a proud sponsor of this week's show. Visit exo-terra.com or your local dealer for all your reptile and amphibian needs.

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

For Zach's content checkout  https://www.instagram.com/a.life.exotic and 
https://www.youtube.com/@ALifeExotic

This week I am joined by Chris Buttermore. Chris is the Curator of Amphibians at Dallas World Aquarium and in this episode we discuss his work with large Oophaga. Our discussion covers a host of topics including what we know about the genus from the published literature, metabolism as a means of understanding egg production, extending female fecundity, how to accurately sex large obligates, and fostering techniques using pumilio eggs. We also talk about the important role that private individuals and hobbyists and whether or not zoos should distance themselves from them. 

This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

This week I am joined by Shareef of A Bunch of Tanks. In this episode we discuss in how to incorporate cork panels into a vivarium background, the infamous viral atelopus photo, and what it was like moving a large dart frog collection across the US.

This week's episode is sponsored by the frog breeder merch store, https://the-frog-breeder-merch.myspreadshop.com/ 
 
Exo-Terra is a proud sponsor of this week's show. Visit exo-terra.com or your local dealer for all your reptile and amphibian needs.

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

This week I am joined by Dutch Ecologist and Amphibian Hobbyist, David Brouwer. David has a life long  passion passion for the Majorcan midwife toad (Alytes muletensis), and in this episode we take a deep dive into the natural history, conservation, captive breeding, and husbandry of one of the world's most unique amphibians. David and I begin our chat with a discussion about the value of natural spaces in an urban environment, and we go on to talk about the amphibian hobby in Continental Europe.  We then discuss the history and proper care of  Alytes muletensis.

 This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

To learn more about  Alytes muletensis visit:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNsYGoDe3TisOva5UF1cL-g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVv3CO08X2k 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H01JAJ_OCFA 

https://www.chimaira.de/herpetology/midwife-toads.html 

To support the podcast by becoming a patron, for merch and more visit https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast?fbclid=PAAabbJ2n-pUsB82s3JVRpZMDjf8q5A1tuyFA-TUZC3E2Jy1TnOnGVQahbc3s_aem_ATKpEMfdfdOybrvTe07y5zN1RMDLhR6P3GzabogE3jq0Xa4opUEWBj0D4pF1RFTX6Ws

This week I am joined by Roberto Marquez and Rachael Arkin . In this episode, we discuss new  phyllobates research that includes Roberto's work with phenotypic evolution in poison frogs,  and how poison frogs evolved to avoid the harmful effects associated with consuming and accumulating toxic alkaloids. We also discuss Rachael's work with Phyllobates tadpoles and carotenoid supplementation.

Part of our discussion also focuses on Phyllobates bicolor genetics and whether or not it is actually more than just one species. There may be more to the Uraba and GreenLeg locales than we thought!

To Learn more visit:
https://sites.google.com/view/robertomarquez
https://lsa.umich.edu/eeb/people/faculty/marquezr.html
https://ecoevorxiv.org/repository/view/5094/

This week's episode is sponsored by the frog breeder merch store, https://the-frog-breeder-merch.myspreadshop.com/ 
 
Exo-Terra is a proud sponsor of this week's show. Visit exo-terra.com or your local dealer for all your reptile and amphibian needs.

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

This week I am joined by Alex Menke of Frog Daddy. We begin our discussion by talking about breeder ethics, and the frog and plant market. Then, we take a deep dive into how to properly care for  five species of intermendiate level to advanced level vivarium plants. Specifically, we cover Begonia, selaginella, margravia, anthurium and sonarilla, along with all the issues that they may have and how to overcome them. We also talk about fungal infections in plants, and why we should lever use commercial potting mix!

 This episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

Be sure to check out https://frogdaddy.net and follow Frogdaddy on social media 

A special shout out goes to our newest $5 patron, Jake Rayapati

This week I am joined by hobbyist and breeder Sean Twohy.  Sean breeds several amphibian species but his true passion is Cynops Cyanurus (AKA the blue tailed fire belly newt)  and in this episode we discuss aquatic newt care, raising daphnia, UV lighting for newts, managing aquatic substrate, and we compare and contrast aquatic vs terrestrial amphibian husbandry. We also take a dive into cynops care and we finish with a discussion about the breeder vs keeper market.  


This week's episode is sponsored by the frog breeder merch store, https://the-frog-breeder-merch.myspreadshop.com/ 
 
Exo-Terra is a proud sponsor of this week's show. Visit exo-terra.com or your local dealer for all your reptile and amphibian needs.

To Support the Podcast, for merch, and vivarium discounts please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

Be sure to follow Sean @seantwoy