Yikes! So glad I don’t have snakes! I have been keeping lizards as part of my family for 34 years! I see people putting lizards in basements, in dark rooms under artificial light. I can tell you this, none of my lizards prefer their enclosures no matter how big…they want out, they want to sit by windows, interact with their human family and they want all the luxuries of domestic living. Their wild ways have reduced to..give me what you have so now each of my 24 lizards have blankets and many have actual beds and mattresses to sleep on. After doing this for decades I determined animals adjust to what their environment is..the old nature vs nurture argument. My lizards need what all lizards need and they get it BUT domestic lizards definitely behave in ways you will never see their wild lizards do.

classic “they’re not pets, but they are for me”

Cool thanks for sharing

Where is the link to Summer's video about transitioning from bin to aquarium? I can't find it!

I’ve always loved anoles in my yard in FL. But then came the agamas! I really love them! Both species are living in harmony, side by side. Wild.

breeding mutated animals has nothing to so with conservation at all

im glad he brought up the cult effect from the members of usark something we spoke about before , but hes totally right usark doesnt stop the negativity at all .

My wild caught Caninus learned to drink from a water bowl. They are very adaptable creatures!!

So the jungle dawn was enough for grass to grow?

I'm surprised that after 4 years this video has less then 200 comments. This is an issue that continues to be ignored, although I would say a great number of inexperienced hobbyists are unaware, us that have experience are obligated to help them learn. Awareness is something that needs to be spread more. Thank you for making this video 👍

This is such a helpful video! I want to make my leopard gecko’s enclosure as naturalistic as possible. She’s about 4 years old now and is really healthy, but I’m always learning more about leopard gecko care and trying to upgrade and change her setup for the better.

Massive, lol. Great info, his source must have known their stuff. How are the breedings going, any eggs? *Anything hatched?

There is some study that discovered that Burmese python eggs can withstand a few degrees cooler than what an actual snake can and when those eggs hatch, those snakes can tolerate the cooler temperature. This became a kind of cycle where the snakes are slowly adapting to cooler temps. Now granted, I don't know if that means the animals do not grow to as large of a size as animals that live in a warmer climate, but snakes evolve FAST.

Amazing podcast!

Vietnamese black breasted leaf turtle 😂 Still gonna watch to the end haha

This video is SO educational!!! I am a super-novice reptile/amphibian/fish owner, and Im determined to learn as much as possible to do the best by my pets, this video is fantastic, so useful and interesting, Im loving every moment! Absolutely worth the time to listen.

Love this podcast! So glad I found your channel! Will for sure be watching lots more.

I always thought Summer was Justin’s daughter 😂

This is one of the most beautiful set ups I have ever seen. I am absolutely in love! One like isn't enough :) The way you fastened the screen is something I never thought about. Oh, and totally loved the ASMR sound.

We got parrots in California also, SF has had flocks for a while (it's zone 10). I agree on hunting invasive, perhaps use them as pet food :/ -- I used to not, thinking they should be saved as pets if possible, but money inceptive tends to backfire in many sectors, so humans harvesting them for pet trade or eating invasive as specialty menu items can incentive letting them breeding. Well intentioned, can work, but... lot of humans are sorta sucky when money is involved. There's an articile going into the hurricane myth and concluded, iirc, that it was likely mostly a myth. Is there not species that can be imported that aren't mostly via captive breeding? (e.g. the discussion about captive bred not reducing importing) My geckos/frogs are captive bred, my impression has been that's fairly typical for frogs/geckos, but perhaps that's different for bigger animals as their harder to captive bred? Frogs produce so many babies, so my impression has been if the captive bred is done well enough that it's cheaper then importing, then it does stop the import trade? With education, people learning that import means worse off animal and poorer experience, I think that's helping those listening to that education to not get imports. Change can be slow. Getting imports banned from reptile/pet stores would probably be beneficial for that. Tho, aquarium coop guy does have a video mentioning this in fish -- his argument, iirc, is that sometimes buying import is better for the local environment because it encourages them to keep the natural environment for the animal, e.g. it's not about helping pay the people (tho... perhaps it should be more about paying a living wage if there's are these benefits to importing.) So many things aren't really studied well, and sometimes environmental stuff can be suprising (like how plastic one time use bags can be better then a cotton reusable bag). Freedom vs Right: Been thinking a lot about freedom of speech, and how it's very important for journalism and rights, but also lot of people atm obsessed with freedom of speech end up protecting hate speech, which ends up encouraging laws and activism that takes the right to life and health care and to live a okay life from other people. The sheer amount of hate I regularly see against me and my community def makes my life harder, and likely will shorter my life from the stress. As a society, absolute freedom is not good when that freedom ends up harming another person or thing, that's an issue. So, I think the talk about freedom needs to shift into something that more balanced with the harm, that acknowledges something is good and can be very important, but can also be very harmful in absolute/when poorly used. So, maybe freedom works in that as with other freedoms, it needs to be balanced to reduce harm. But harm is subjective, people can claim something as a harm that really isn't-- like arguments against lgbt is portraying lgbt folk as harmful for society, vs argument for lgbt is letting us have the freedom to be ourselves. "selfish" -- I think that's important to acknowledge, this is selfish, vast majority of people engage in a lot of selfish behaviour -- but in that selfish behaviour, we can try and do engage in it a way that minimizes harm and is hopefully net better for society (selfish hobbies can improve mental health, which can reduce the risk of harm from poor mental health, etc). Forgot what was said that triggered this thought, but does the reptile community really need big breeder operations of large animals? A lot of big reptiles need a lot of space, and that's hard to make economic and contributes to racks and poor care. If we prioritize our pets being able to engage in natural behaviour, mating, and in some case, raising young, is core/natural behaviour for nearly all animals (pandas is a bit debatable). But many hobbiest, tmk, do not provide that (outside of maybe dart frog hobbiest?). If in egg layers that don't care for their eggs, eggs can be culled or used as feeders (and so can young animals-- at least for frogs, there's debatable if any intelligence and emotional capacity difference between typical feeders and froglets, so logically if not any health concerns with using as them feeders, they could be... but emotionally, that can be hard limit to use an species of animals seen as a pet as a feeder understandably). So, if hobbiest, particular of large animals, were encouraged to have arrange breeding opportunities for their pets that egg/babies can be culled or sold/rehomed (e.g. are desirable species to have more of), could that eliminate the need for big sellers or is there too much market desire? Raising young is typically more difficult then raising adults tho, and can take more space -- tho could have have those skills and reptile shops who can take in eggs to raise.

MM…IS scary! LOL. I actually got most of my replies from there and love it! But…. I enjoy the site toooooo much! 👍🏻😀

Peepee poopoo head got 2 of bros in trouble

Awesome! I´ve just discovered you, congrats! I´d like to talk to you some day 🙂

In Germany a cornsnake has to be kept in an enclosure that has at least a width and height of the length of the snake and a depth of half the length of the snake. Two snakes can go in there, for every additional snake there is 20% more space required. That's the official requirement, I don't know if anybody is ever checking except for some animal shelters that only give to new owners with big enough enclosures. For a ball python it's length of snake in width and half the length in height and depth. So no racks here for pet keepers, but I think breeders can get away with it.

That’s an awesome story

One of the reasons it can be hard to transition to enclosures: is that sometimes animals do better in a rack. I’ve seen calm healthy animals fail to thrive, or even die in a large enclosure.

I admire Summer's advocacy for the animals and what she is doing. Kudos. Change is always hard being the person that sticks their neck out to approach and work with people to make these changes requires someone who's not only brave, but insightful, patient and able to sympathize with many others' perspectives. I think Summer is a one in a million person able to navigate this tightrope and help make animals' lives better. Tho, I will argue, while I completely understand how using racks makes physical maintenance streamlined, and keeps the animals physically healthy and easy to monitor, I would argue, this only keeps the animals physically healthy to a minimal extent, but not mentally healthy. Because reptiles were discounted as almost inanimate objects that lacked any mental capacity or emotions, their mental well being is often barely thought of, if at all. Of course, as we learn reptiles, even snakes do have more intelligence and emotional capacity then what was previously believed, our concept of what constitutes a healthy snake should change. Also, "physically healthy" is also a misnomer with rack snakes as to me, a ball python that isn't able to climb isn't really healthy, it's just not sickly. I will say, receiving babies from a rack breeder allows me to intervene and provide enrichment and choice to my animals so they seem to adjust quite well, it's been interesting adopting a couple of animals that formally lived in racks and watching them learn behaviors later in life. I honestly feel sorry for them, even tho they always adjust and seem to really relish their new life there's just something sad about a snake, not able to be a snake and these were relatively young animals former rack animals, not a rack snake that's lived in a rack for like a decade or more. In my experience, ball pythons do take advantage of all their choices, they DO tend to get bored rather quickly tho which actually indicates a higher level of intelligence and a need for more choices, rather than less, so I do believe people just do not give ball pythons enough credit. That said, I am nocturnal so I am aware of what my animals are doing. To assume an animal is sitting in one place for 3 days can be misleading because at night, they do move around a substantial amount, it's just when no one is looking. And I don't like the idea that only animals that will be pets deserve humane treatment. I think EVEN if a snake is nervous, doesn't like people, not the best "pet" quality animal, he or she deserves a good life. Just because an animal is being used as a breeder or has been used by a breeder, does not mean it doesn't deserve the exact same humane treatment, otherwise that "love" people claim to have for these animals isn't real. You cannot only "love" individuals of a species and then treat the rest like widgets.

“That’s the thing about keeping; I don’t listen to people anymore” Sounds like an open minded guy.

Please have someone on to defend rack systems. Not all systems are created equal, and some species do very well. We can’t just alienate good breeders because there are bad ones.

All the videos of them I've seen they do not have teeth like this..?

Most reptile species are not bred in tubs, but in terraria. This works perfectly fine with cleaning and costs, as long as you don't try to breed 2000+ individuals. Stop the pokemon morph breeding, focus on quality rather than quantity. Diverge people to other species, there are enough to choose from. This conversation was just a set of poor justifications for a symptom, not the problem itself.

The problem start with the ball python demand in general. We should stop buying morphs for the sake of collecting them in tubs. Build mega enclosures and put your ball python in there, that way you'll buy 10x less the amount of snakes. Thus breeders have to breed less and can focus on quality (not rack keeping/sterile keeping) and not quantity. This industry needs to change, no way to justify it.

I have 24 lizards. Every single one has deep emotions and strong feelings! I have kept lizards since 1990. Reality is people use racks, people stick their animals in basements under artificial lights in rooms with no outside windows. They think because the animal is surviving its fine, its not. Majority of my current lizards are special needs, and I have seen them traumatized by their pasts. Some examples of this is I have an old breeder and I know she was upset that she was forced to breed. I have never bred lizards but after I got her, I introduced her to her new brother who is the same species as her and she looked up at me in panic. Her expression was obvious, she immediately thought I brought her to my family for that. When she realized that we brought her home to have a family and for her just to be loved, to just live her life she began to change and got very relaxed and happy. We took in her biological baby too who was born with no back legs and she would get stressed when she saw her. It was obvious she remembered her life having babies and she didn’t want that reminder. Once she got that her baby wasn’t going to be with her, that she could just be herself, not a Mom…she began to show genuine affection for her baby. Every time a lizard struggles, the rest of the lizards grieve. I had a room full of grief when 3 of our eldest lizards passed away. Tears in eyes were visible and each one waited frantically wanting to say goodbye. Once they got the opportunity to grieve after losing a lizard sibling, we then had days of needing to hold and comfort each lizard. Lizards are not stupid and after having fur type animals And lizards, I can say this with confidence, lizards are smarter, more emotional and have complex emotions. Lizards don’t seem intelligent because people don’t stimulate them, give them no opportunity to be outside, in real sun, they shove them in an enclosure and thats that. Heres the thing…many videos show the plights of cats and dogs in abusive situations, in puppy mills…IN crates and cages! Those animals suffer, they have developmental issues, physical issues, mental issues YET we do the same to our lizards and call It good. We call it good for our lizards, but we call it abuse for fur animals. Crazy. I say this, treat every animal with the respect it deserves. After 35 of this life I have lived with my lizards I tell people this… Dogs have your backyard…they run and play Cats have the inside of your house…they sit by the window and roam your house Lizards…they have YOU! Their stimulation is YOU. Every animal needs to have experiences, needs to be stimulated with you taking to it, loving it. You want any animal pet you have in your life to do well…its simple…ask yourself the question, would I be happy living how I am making my animal live? My lizards see my bed and you know what…they want the same…so they each have blankets and a soft place to sleep. Everyone wants to eat when they see me eat. Their eyes change and they develop incredibly when we take them out on trips. They seek out places they can look out windows, so each now have their own place to sit by the windows! Don’t ever assume lizards aren’t emotionally there, they are! BTW…everything talked about here is reality. I have biological and adopted children. My daughter I adopted was kept 20 hours a day in a crib, she is a teenager today and has the developmental brain of a a toddler due to not being stimulated. My daughter deserved better, our reptiles do too!

My reticulated python is still a baby, he will probably get to around 11-14 feet the breeder estimated, based on his lineage. I have a room that is 16x14 that will be used for a 16x7 enclosure, 8 feet tall with a shelf 5 feet off the ground, 4 feet long across the 7 foot span. Then, the wall behind the enclosure will have a 4x6 rectangle cut into the next room, where a 6x6 pond about 10 inches deep will go, with easy access to it from the other room.

Man it’s funny some of the stuff he’s saying because I felt the same exact way , like why not have a huge vivarium display like a fish tank ? So I now have a 6.5 ft x 4.5 ft x 2ft vivarium with anoles and tree frogs in it , I built it into a window seat area that I wasn’t using and everytime someone comes over it draws a ton of attention very beautiful display, I find myself sitting in front of it just watching the reptiles wonder around and interact , the only downside is sometimes it keeps me from getting things done 🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️ lmao

We are a breeder. We do not use sanitized racks. If these reptile mills would offer enrichment to their animals, the transition would be easier, we know, we do it. "We are all doing the best with what we have."Risk our animals' health." This just isn't true. If you can't handle the snakes, you have to scale down or scale up your staff and facility. If the reptile mills stopped chasing worlds 1st combos the number of animals required would be less. This video did show that Justin is all about chasing the morphs, not the animals, in my opinion. If breeders changed their habits like we did, you would have better animals suited for pet trade, not rack life. The breeders don't want to do it because volume equals money, just like she said. It also takes a lot more time and more staff, which breeders don't like because that takes money out of their pockets. Breeders, do better, make improvements, it can be done, we do it.

There are great breeders out there that use racks but not in the sterile manner. Bioactive racks are not hard to make, yes they take up more space but the animals are worth it. Breeders across the board need to take one thing from keepers... never stop improving your care. If you don't well, then you might want to look around at your facility, and reality might set in that you are a reptile mill.

you have the tools n the know how !amazing job

“Your peers are your customers and your competitors.” That is a trip. Sumer is so smart, I think it was really a great occasion that her and Justin joined forces.

I love youre podcasts but almost never listen because id hate to support your editor in any way

As a keeper who has been providing a stumulating enriched environment my snakes for over a decade I think breeders should be listening to the experienced pet keepers about how to properly care for snakes instead of the other way around. It begs the question if Kinova knows that a spacious enclosure with plenty of enrichment and hides is the best way to keep snakes why are they not keeping all their snakes that way? Why are most of their snakes in barren dark racks? Do as I say and not as I do is not the most effective way to create change in the hobby. And imo that change needs to start with the breeders. Most pet keepers are already going above what breeders are doing for their snakes. Talk is cheap. The owner of Kinova has made a ton of off these snakes. He needs to invest some of it in the mental health of the snakes that make him so much money.

Im still on the hunt for the best kind of enclosure for a large number of Ball Pythons

I have a three and a half year old male Asian water monitor. I got him at a month old and 15 inches long. Now hes 63 inches long, 14 pounds and still growing. I converted my largest of 3 walk in showers to be his house. Its 6 feet by 3 feet and 8 feet tall. More than large enough for most monitors.... But absolutely nothing for even a smallush asian water monitor whos 80% grown......Let alone a full griwn large 7 or 8 foit male... Do now Im converting a 12x15 foot bedroom to be his new home...As a 6x3 for any monitor over 5.5 feet is jyst cruel.. The whole room must be water proofed and sealed for easy clean up and no leaks. A deducated water line mush be installed...flooring will be redone....the walls will have rockwork ect. Im hoping every single thing can be completed in the 5 to 8k range and give him a beautiful forever home Again mines smallush...likely maxing out at inly 6 feet and 35 pounds Whereas normal is 6 and a half feet and 44 pounds and massive is 9 feet and 100 pounds Thats what it takes........Even an 8 by 4 set up is cruel for a 7 foot water monitor The black thriats as well xan be 50 pounds and need a minimum 8x8 foot room

Great job bro ,,,,,, yes summer is great ,, keep those speakers knocking on my end ,,,, Keep emmm rolling '

This was so helpful, Dillon, thank you. And I already feel like I learned from you just by being a guest! But as I’ve started doing interviews myself, I’ve struggled a bit and this helped me with some of those. Especially nodding instead of talking!! And I’ve felt so stressed about releasing every week, and so down on myself when I haven’t been able to, so it’s nice to hear that you found a rhythm and it can be fluid. Do you record your video separately from the local zoom recording? One thing I don’t like about zoom is that you can either do a gallery view or speaker view but not just separate speakers, and the quality is not awesome either way.

What would happen if you brought a crazy morph to the island lol

A transition room for pet owners to make sure they are ready for living outside a tub is such a great idea that will benefit the snake and the new owners appreciation of their new pet.

I can’t thank you for this enough Dylan! This is more helpful to me than any reptile tip 🤣 great information! I’m literally going to try some of this stuff with our podcast 🙏🏻🙏🏻🫡

Breeding or not, keeping an animal in a small container where they can't move or only see light ounce a week isn't correct. If space is an issue or having too many animals to be able to care for properly you should scale back. If these racks were properly sized I wouldn't see too much issues with it. The animals are probably messed up in the head like a person would be after they are kept in prison.

Nodding instead of verbal encouragement is gold! Tip for us reptile podcasters: If you put an audio podcast on KZfaq, just film your reptile enclosure and record for the length of your episode. Your reptile may not move much, but it will be an engaging visual for your episode. I was beyond surprised how people loved watching a chameleon do nothing for 30 minutes. It may have been almost the same as a still image, but people loved that it was a real chameleon being still! Loved this video!