Improving Your Reptile Care | John Courteney-Smith MRSB - The Animals at Home Podcast

[@ReptiFiles]

When I first got into the hobby, I wanted every reptile I saw. There was very little self-control, it was just about rapid expansion of my collection. But as I studied reptile husbandry for ReptiFiles and my understanding increased, and then I read John's publications, that insatiable craving for more animals significantly tapered off over time. And now I'm more focused on and enthusiastic about improving the enclosures for the animals I already have, rather than rabidly looking for my next "fix." Due to the nature of my research I do have to expose myself to new and different species, but now I'm happy to do that at a much slower pace and with better preparation.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

I know exactly how you feel! I was the same way (I think most of us were?), but it's almost a relief to not have to be in a constant state of waiting something new. I'm just as content working on improving my husbandry as I was getting a new animal!

[@Jason-fp7vi]

Definitely. Instead of getting new animals for a fix, my new fix is increasing my level of care. I thought I was a good owner because i followed all the proper guidelines when I setup my uromastyx in the early 2010s. Last year I realized that collective knowledge of uromastyx have increased significantly. People used to swear by Mega Ray MVB's, but now a T5 bulb is pretty much the exclusive recommendation by breeders. Some other things... People only fed their uros store bought stuff years ago, now everyone is growing and collecting uro food throughout the summer. I've had a great time feeding my uro various flowers and grasses from outside

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Great interview, super interesting. I always find the wild behaviour of Leopard Geckos really fascinating.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thank you for taking a listen! John is full of amazing and interesting info!

[@CustomReptileHabitats]

This is the best KZbin reptile channel for in depth conversation on how to keep pet reptiles! John brings the credibility from a leading product/research company and this discussion is a must hear for anyone wanting to provide the best possible care for their pet reptiles. Its an exciting time for reptile enthusiasts :-)

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thank you very much for saying that! Completely agree... I think any newcomers to the hobby should listen to this, John will get them started on the right foot!

[@NORTHERNEXOTICS]

What a coincidence haha I'm listening to good old John and dhillan for the 5th time at the same time you follow me on insta haha

[@snakemannn1744]

Great Cast ,,,,, keep educating us animal lovers of the world ,,,,

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thanks :)

[@jamesterhouse]

I’m only a year deep into this hobby and my mindset has transformed rapidly, much of it thanks to this channel and its guests. Something that I’ve been curious about which was discussed here is how some snakes are just pet rocks, specifically Kenyan Sand Boas. While I have now seen keepers of ball pythons demonstrate how active and beautiful to watch they could be if given the right environment, I would love to hear you or a guest show how they’ve successfully encouraged natural behavior in Kenyan Sand Boas!

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Glad you found the channel, thank you very much for watching the videos! I will definitely look for somebody who keeps sand boas, I know people who keep rosy boas with plenty of enrichment and see them out and about all the time 👌🏼

[@theupturnedsnout1254]

I'm rewatching some old podcast, but I really love when you guys are talking about ball pythons. When I got my ball python, I didnt understand what people were talking about when they call them pet rocks. He has been active since day one, and though my first enclosure which was tub, which was a little small for him Id let him out daily to let him explore. When I upgraded him to a PVC enclosure, it was so obvious how much he loved the extra room, I could find him sleeping anywhere in that enclosure. He constantly move to different spots to sleep and bask. Also unless hes digesting food or in shed, he comes to the front of his enclosure every evening so I can let him out to explore. His enclosure is currently 3x2 and its sufficient, but I'm hoping to get him a 6ft or more enclosure in the near future.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Exactly! If you give them the space, they will use it! It's no wonder they don't move around in tiny tubs... there's no where for them to go!

[@coopsreptiles2588]

Very good talk guys! Always striving to move forward

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thanks for listening! Glad you enjoyed the chat!

[@nathansee7306]

I hate to be so repetitive, but I enjoy these podcasts so much and get so much out of them. Great interview. The theme you have of trying to get everyone in the hobby to vastly improve their husbandry is so important and not promoted enough. I think if you can move your Rainbow boa to a larger enclosure if possible and make it bioactive, I think you will love it. I have always thought about that as I have wanted to get another Rainbow boa for some time. Keep up the great work.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Great to hear, Nathan! Thank you for your continued support! I can’t take much credit for this interview though... John is an incredible fascinating guy and is full of amazing insight! You are totally right in regards to my BRB. Once I move to a house rather than apartment (hopefully within a year or so) I will upgrade all three of my big snakes to much larger enclosure with live plants. The BRB might be tricky due to the incredibly dry climate I live in.... I suspect maintaining humidity in a large enclosure might be a challenge but I’m up for it!!

[@tiffyspetlife2500]

I’m honestly sad I’m starting to finish this episode. I’ve made it my goal this summer vacation to, A, save up lots of money, B, use that money to redo/upgrade all my enclosures, C, educate people of what I did, about the revolution going on in the hobby, and contribute to educating the public/novice pet keepers on wild recreation.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Those are perfect goals! Thanks for listening, Tiffy :)

[@NORTHERNEXOTICS]

Can I share this video in my card section on my next video. Talking about this interview inspiring me and for others to watch it. John is a ledgend in the uk

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Yes, you bet! Every reptile owner needs to hear John talk about care, so they more sharing the better!

[@NORTHERNEXOTICS]

This has been finished. In my video I've told people about this podcast and told viewers it's in the YT cards where I've linked it and added it in the endscreen . I would really apreciate your feedback on the video I've done. It's called scientifically Developed lizard food. I'd really love for you to share it if you like it. I shared my video on Facebook groups and one of the admin of a Savannah monitor group with over 20k people in it has attached your video to her files. If you get a Serge in views you know why. Have you got social media where I can contact you on a personal level?

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

@@NORTHERNEXOTICS Thanks for doing that! Really enjoyed your video... InsectiGold is a fantastic product! I have shared the video on FB and my Instagram story. I am most easily reached via Instagram DM. Cheers!

[@Op-wj8bw]

Just got my leopard gecko not long ago and I’m constantly researching about bio active keeping and this was a very good talk on how to better the care for you gecko and other species of reptiles very knowledgeable love it!

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for listening, Nathan

[@LetsTalkHerps]

This is a really great interview. I found it quite... illuminating.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thanks for listening, yes, John is very illuminating! 😀

[@richcorbett6491]

This sounds great thank you for your time and knowledge

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thanks for listening, man! Enjoy. I recorded a more recent interview with John as well here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3K3dpSQpaeMo9k

[@LonghornInOmaha]

Can't wait to watch this one. Love the Arcadia books and their lighting products.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

You’re going to love it! John is a wealth of information!

[@LonghornInOmaha]

@@AnimalsatHomePodcast Awesome video. I think I could listen to you and John discuss reptile keeping all day long. All our enclosures are bioactive, including our 6x2x2 ball python set up, and it's probably the most rewarding part of the hobby. Getting to see our reptiles act as they would in their natural habitat is definitely worth the effort. 🦎👍

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thanks for listening, Cole! 👍🏼 glad you enjoyed it and glad your animals are in such great hands!

[@robhutchanimation]

Great talk! Lots of good knowledge that far too many keepers ignore. Getting my 6x3x2 delivered tomorrow. So excited to set it up for my snake!

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Oh awesome! So exciting!

[@carlscanlan4550]

Great show again.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thank you, Carl 😁

[@fabled-pilgrim]

Really great interview. You covered quite a diverse range of topics in the time you had so well done. John's replied to me countless times over the last decade and always has time for helping reptile keepers progress their own husbandry skills. I can't speak more highly of him!

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thank you for listening! Yes, John is an amazing resource and extremely generous with his time. You’ll have to check out our more recent episode that we recorded together last summer

[@fabled-pilgrim]

@@AnimalsatHomePodcast Thanks ... I'll look out for it.

[@distaff2935]

Hedera Helix, English ivy is pretty tough - stems are more wirey than brittle. Mine grow well in both soil and a hydroponic set-ut (gravel, solution, stout tub). I have a small locality boa. He hasn't killed the ivy or potos yet.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

I haven't used that plant yet, but I like the way it looks! I might try some in my carpet python enclosure, he's fairly delicate on plants so far

[@mactire5103]

I am so incredibly glad I found this channel!! I have a beardie and I love him to bits, and over the last few months I have been upping my game big time as a keeper, and this channel has given me so much good information. But more importantly so many different sources to go and learn from and gather more info. I've already enlarged my little guys habitat and given him more places to hide and climb, and replicated the natural habitat as best I currently can. But this channel makes me want to keep going and to keep adjusting and improving my care. And its stuff like this that's helped me start to advance my care and make his life better and more enriched.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

I am so glad to hear this! This is exactly what I want this channel to be about 😊. Sounds like your beardie is in great hands!

[@JBVG1978]

Very interesting! Thanks for the tip!

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@JBVG1978]

@@AnimalsatHomePodcast I enjoyed every second of it and I will provide my 3 snakes with UV light soon. I was thinking about it sometimes but now I'm 100% convinced that I should do it.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Awesome! John was the one who convinced me to had UV for my snakes as well! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKDFoqmYn9t2e9E

[@pinkPIGSandCUPCAKES]

I want his bioactivity book so badly but I haven't been able to find it anywhere in the US! I will have to get it next time I'm in the UK but given the pandemic no idea when that'll be and I just can't wait to read it!

[@pinkPIGSandCUPCAKES]

just got to the end where he mentions some suppliers, looks like the only website it's not out of stock on is lightyourreptiles.com, i just have to hype myself up to pay 15 bucks of shipping lol

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

You can also try ReptilesRUS.ca, They are Canadian but will ship to the states. The shipping might be a little bit cheaper than trying to ship it from the UK

[@blakemartin2481]

That was excellent 👏

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thanks for listening! We recorded a second on last August. You’ll enjoy that one as well if you haven’t listened to it already

[@nightinggale6470]

Hey Dillan! I heard that in one of your podcasts with John, he discusses a 100% tile substrate causing joint problems over time. I know it’s been a few years so you might not remember, but do you know know which podcast it was and approximately when in the podcast he discusses it? If not, no worries. I definitely plan on listening to the podcasts with John in their entirety at some point in the future, I’m just hoping for a timestamp I can share with people who are skeptical that tile can cause joint problems. Thanks!

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Hmmm… off the top of my head I’m not sure. I want to say he mentioned that in the first episode we recorded together back in 2019 but I’m not 100% sure. Hopefully you can find it! 👍🏼

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Oh… I just realized this comment was left on the original episode we recorded. I think we talk about it in this episode

[@johnschlesinger2009]

Thanks for such an interesting conversation.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@listenmorespeakless]

Thank you so much for this.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thank you for listening!

[@ZoesRescueZoo]

About to binge watch podcast episodes 1-110 lmao

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

😂 enjoy!!

[@jimmypickle6557]

Where can we see the leopard gecko project where they are setting up the large area for a bunch of them to live naturally?!?!

[@deushache]

Are any of these books still available or available in an electronic formatt? I can't seem to find them.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

They are only available in physical copies but you should be able to find them at www.lightyourreptiles.com/search.php?search_query=books&Search=

[@feral7094]

1:02:48 People who fall asleep at the beach know this all too well. But in all seriousness I am slowly converting all my animals over to having uvb

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Haha yep exactly! And glad to hear you are slowly converting... it took be probably 12-18 months to get UV for everyone. There is no rush, as long as the plan to do so it there!

[@joelpatenaude7125]

Just discovered your podcast and this is the first and only ep I've listened to so far. Very informative discussion and exactly what people in the hobby need to je talking about more. But now I want to read Mr. Courtney-Smith's, but where can I buy copies? I'm in the U.S., if that helps. Any help would be appreciated. Again, great ep and I will definately be digging deeper into your other previous eps.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thanks for listening, Joel! You picked a great episode to be your first, John is a wealth of information! Try Reptile Basics, they usually are the ones who import John’s books in the US. You may have to email them to ask because I’m not sure if you can find the books on the website. Depending on where you live you could look at ReptilesRUS.ca too, they’re Canadian but I believe they ship to the US. I hope you enjoy the other episodes you listen to!

[@ArcadiaReptile]

HI, J C-S here. Glad you enjoyed the episode and that you found some inspiration. A slight correction, it is www.lightyourreptiles.com that stocks the books in the USA at the moment. Plus, as has been said ReptilesRus in Canada.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

@@ArcadiaReptile Thanks for the correction John!

[@Chopingporky]

I am working on a naturalistic setup for a savannah monitor. And I wonder, how far does it go? I've been looking at soil compositions from the savannah in Togo Africa. Should I try and replicate that soil type? Do I make soil with local components wich come close to those found in the wild? I'm curious what your idea is on this matter.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

I would say- only spend time replicated the natural soil composition if you truly enjoy the process. In other words, if you are having a blast researching the soil in Togo / figuring out a way to replicate it, then spend as much time on it as you like! If it's becoming tedious (and stressful) because you are becoming overly obsessed with making it perfect, then you should let it go and just create a mix that is "close enough". I am speaking from experience here haha I have needlessly gone down MANY rabbit holes just to learn that it doesn't make a huge difference to the animal. As long as the animal can act out natural behaviors with the enrichment (soil) you have provided it, you are good to go!

[@Chopingporky]

@@AnimalsatHomePodcast haha another thing I hadn't thought through 😅 I do enjoy taking my time in replicating soil compositions and researching it but it makes me want to learn more and more. Wich is of course not a bad thing. I just don't know any sources except for google (wich has a lot of information but you have to dig a lot to find the things you're looking for). People always say, "get a book on the subject" but then you'd have to know what books are about that specific subject. That entire journey of finding sources is the whole storm for me. I don't mind reading and learning a lot. I just need it to be accessible without searching for hours.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

@@Chopingporky Yeha there is nothing more frustrating than an endless quest to find proper sources! Obviously the more info gather the better, but don't let it stress you out to the point of no longer enjoying the proces :)

[@nathansee7306]

I hate to be so repetitive, but I enjoy these podcasts so much and get so much out of them. Great interview. The theme you have of trying to get everyone in the hobby to vastly improve their husbandry is so important and not promoted enough. I think if you can move your Rainbow boa to a larger enclosure if possible and make it bioactive, I think you will love it. I have always thought about that as I have wanted to get another Rainbow boa for some time. Keep up the great work.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Hey Nathan! I am just scroling through my old comments and realized I missed this one! Thanks a lot for listening ( as always), I am glad you enjoyed this episode. John is fantastic. As for the BRB-that is certainly my plan! I can't wait to have her in a larger enclosure, and I will attempt to go bio-active for sure.