Strength In Leos Podcast

Welcome to part two of this two part series with Chris Charlton. By the end of the episode, you'll be able to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges that lie ahead and are encouraged to take proactive steps to ensure the continued well-being of the Leopard Geckos hobby for generations to come.  

As the episode unfolds, we embark on a deep exploration of the challenges and potential threats that leopard geckos might face in the coming years. Chris draws from his extensive knowledge and experience within the leopard gecko community to shed light on the various factors that contribute to the uncertainty surrounding the future of this hobby. 

In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Stephen and Ashley Haude, the founders of Focused Cubed Habitats, renowned experts in reptile habitat design and enthusiasts. Join us as we delve into the secrets of creating exceptional reptile habitats that prioritize both the animal's well-being and aesthetic appeal. Stephen and Ashley provide invaluable insights into their journey as reptile enthusiasts and their passion for fostering naturalistic environments. The episode kicks off with an introduction to Stephen and Ashley Haude, who share their personal connection to reptiles and their motivation behind establishing Focused Cubed Habitats. Their commitment to enhancing the lives of reptiles through functional and visually appealing habitats shines throughout the discussion. 

In this episode, we sit down with Garrick Demeyer, owner of Royal Constrictor Designs, a leading breeder of ball pythons. But before he became an expert in ball pythons, Garrick got his start breeding many other species including leopard geckos. In our conversation, he shares his experiences and insights gained during his time breeding these popular reptiles. Garrick also discusses his journey into the world of ball pythons, including the challenges and rewards of running a successful breeding business. He shares his knowledge of ball python genetics and the different morphs that he works with. 

Seth shares his expertise on the care, behavior, and breeding of African Fat Tail geckos. He discusses the various morphs of African Fat Tails and what to look for when selecting a gecko as a pet. Seth also shares tips on creating the ideal care for these geckos, temperature, humidity, and how they differ from Leopard Geckos. 

Jim has been working in the reptile industry for over many years and has developed a reputation for his innovative designs and commitment to animal welfare. Next Level Displays a company that specializes in designing and manufacturing custom enclosures for reptiles and other exotic pets. Jim shares his insights into the latest trends in reptile enclosure design, including the use of advanced materials, automation, and other cutting-edge technologies.

We hope you enjoy this episode with Owen McIntyre and Eric Burke of Morelia Python Radio!

This episode is all about the Black Night Craze! The Black Nights are the most popular of the melanistic lines and Jay of Eco Geckos has done a great job with theses bloodlines. For this episode we go across the pond to hear his perspectives on the hobby and learn more about his projects.

As you guys know, I love hearing different perspectives from breeders across collection sizes, locations, and the amount of experience that they've had in the hobby. Leo is the owner of 130 Exotics and is a newer breeder on the Leopard Gecko scene. His desire for breeding ethics and gaining knowledge has caught my attention, especially as a newer breeder. In this episode, Leo gives advice for a newer breeder and discusses the things that have helped him along the way. 

Dr. Travis Wyman is a geneticist and microbiologist who is joining us on the podcast today to teach us about everything genetics. Dr. Wyman is an avid keeper of rare snake species and is a huge part of our herp hobby. Tune in to hear about why genetics terminology is essential, which we dive in deep about, and many of the common mistakes that are made in the realm of reptile genetics.  

Welcome to Session Eleven of the Strength In Leos Podcast! We brought back the legend in the Leopard Gecko hobby, Ron Tremper!! Ron has made many appearances on the podcast before, but this was an excellent opportunity to have an update since his retirement. In this episode, we caught up from where we left off last time and discussed the future of Leopard Geckos.

We have an awesome episode for you guys lined up today. This episode is all about the Lemon Frost gene and regeneration research. Dr. Longhu Guo is a researcher at part of the Institute of Gerontology and the Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology at the University of Michigan. Lab: https://guolabagingreg.com/ Paper: https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1009580  

Welcome back to Strength In Leos! This is the second part of the two-part roundtable, so make sure to check out the first part of this episode before listening through this one. This episode continues on some of the things we discussed in the first part but also builds on more topics. We discussed breeding tactics, sales, and shipping in depth from a breeder's perspective. Seth and Heidi have a lot of experience and stories to share in this episode, so enjoy!

Welcome back to Strength In Leos! We're glad to bring you another Roundtable episode, this time featuring Heidi Nielsen and Seth Hoffpauir. This episode is more focused on social media, groups, proper education, and staying focused in the hobby. With so much negativity infiltrating the Leopard Gecko scene, how are we supposed to stay positive? This episode touches on these subjects and more.   

Welcome back to the podcast! In this episode, we brought back Kevin Baron, whose been on the podcast a few times now. This time we're catching up on where he started with his projects, where he is now, and where he's headed. The evolution of where Kevin has taken his projects and how he's gotten people to buy into them because of his excitement.  

Welcome back to Strength In Leos! We're glad to bring you another Roundtable episode, this time featuring Miles Schwartz and Gary Orner. Getting different perspectives is key, which is why we talked about different breeding approaches, dealing with the drama that often comes with the hobby, and how to separate yourself as a breeder. Enjoy! 

Enjoy this episode with Brian Butler of Altitude Exotics! Brian is a Crested Gecko breeder who specialized in high-end Crested Geckos. In this episode, we discussed his projects, photography, the reptile business, and common mistakes to avoid.

Welcome to Session Four! We're back at it with a first-time guest of the podcast, Dylan Konitzer of DAB Exotics, who has been building an awesome collection over the past. Listen in to hear more about Albey Snows and what it's like being a breeder who also is a show promoter for one of the biggest shows in Wisconsin.  

Gary Orner of Orner Exotics joins us on this podcast episode as a first-time guest! Gary has a breeding career of over a decade in Leopard Geckos alone and many more in the reptile hobby. Gary has a vast knowledge of Leopard Gecko history and experience. In this episode, we discussed his breeding operation, business expansion, reptile shows, and collaboration in the hobby. 

Just like every episode that we do with Chirs, this is another classic! In this episode, we catch up with Chris to discuss some must needed updates on breeding and his personal life. We also receive some great gecko advice and amazing motivation as always.