AmphibiCast

Spindly Leg Syndrome is a condition that negatively effects developing tadpoles and causes them to develop thin "spindly" legs during metamorphosis.  The condition is ultimately fatal and as such it can be a difficult challenge for hobbyists and conservationists looking to breed dendrobatid frogs to overcome. Many have theorized why spindly leg occurs, but there hasn't been much in the way of peer reviewed literature until now.

To shed light on the subject, I am joined tonight by Kathleen Higgins. Kathleen recently conducted extensive studies in Panama to discover the causes of Spindly Leg Syndrome in captive Andinobates geminisae with surprising results.  Kathleen co-authored a paper describing her findings and we discuss all of it in this week's epsiode. 

For more information and to read Kathleen's Paper visit:

https://theses.lib.sfu.ca/file/thesis/5427
Or
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/zoo.21598

For AmphibiCast Merch, Listener Discounts on In Situ Ecosystems Vivariums or to support the show by becoming a Patron Visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

Tonight I am joined by Mike Novy of Rain Forest Junkys. We discuss the care and breeding of red eyed tree frogs, and how Mike fine tuned his husbandry methods over the last thirty years. Mike and I  cover everything from tadpole care to tank cleaning to supplementation.  We also finish tonight's show with a discussion about some recent drama resulting from a recent Youtube video featuring Mike's breeding operation and some of the misinformed negative criticism in the comments.  

For more, follow Mike on Facebook or visit:
http://www.rainforestjunkys.com/

For AmphibiCast Merch, 10 % Listener Discounts on In Situ Ecosystems, and for the AmphibiCast Patreon click https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

This week I am joined by Nick Stacey of Fragile Planet Wildlife Park. You may remember Nick from Episode 19. where we discussed the beginning of his Atelopus breeding project. In this episode Nick gives us an update on his Atelopus balios and Atelopus barbotini breeding projects, and we also discuss how he successfully cares for an breeds Aneides aeneus (commonly known as the Green Salamander)

For more info visit www.fpwildlifepark.com

Follow Nick on Instagram @indicator_species

To support the show by becoming a Patron on Patreon, for cool AmphibiCast Merch, and for Listener Discounts on In Situ Ecosystems Vivariums visit https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

In this episode I am joined by Jay Sommers of Sandfire Dragon Ranch  and we discuss the history of Asian newt species in the hobby as well as the specialized care of the Laos Warty Newt. 

To Support the Show by becoming a Patron, purchase AmphibiCast Merch and to receive listener discounts on In Situ Ecosystems vivariums check out: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

Also, be sure to check out sandfiredragonranch.com

Tonight I am joined by fellow podcaster Fadi Naddeh of Daffy's Round Table and Daffy's Reptiles. We compare and discuss some different methods of rearing dart frog tadpoles, how Fadi got into podcasting, prolapses in Spanish Ribbed Newts, and we also discuss some of the worst dart frog enclosures we've ever seen on the internet!

Be sure to check out Fadi's Podcast Daffy's Round Table on all Podcast Players
Also follow Fadi on Instagram @daffysreptiles and his youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0vB5K2RXShdjvlLKWMbXAg

To support the show by becoming a Patron on Patreon, For cool AmphibiCast Merch, and for Listener Discounts on In Situ Ecosystems Vivariums click https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast 

Axoltols are renowned for their abilities to regenerate lost limbs. In tonight's episode I speak with Dr. Kate McCusker of the McCusker Lab about limb regeneration, growth rate, and the aging process in axolotls.

For more information visit or for a virtual tour of Kate's lab visit:
https://www.umb.edu/mccuskerlab/virtual_lab_tours
https://www.umb.edu/mccuskerlab/research_team/catherine_mccusker

For Amphibicast Gear visit: https://the-amphibicast-store.creator-spring.com/

For discounts on In Situ Ecosystem vivariums visit: https://insituecosystems.com/?ref=amphibicast

To support the show by becoming a Patron visit: https://www.patreon.com/Amphibicast

 As the dart frog hobby evolved over the past 50 years, many different species and locales came and went along with it.  However, for the longest time, we haven't had a clear picture of which species made it into the hobby, when they made it into the hobby and how they made it into the hobby. That is - up until now.

Tonight I am joined once again by Devin Edmonds and we discuss his new paper published in the Herpetological Review  titled, "Poison Frogs Traded and Maintained by US Private Breeders."  Devin made a painstaking effort to track the origins of hundreds of different dart frog species and locales, and in this week's episode we discuss his findings. If you've ever wanted to hear an origin story of species in the hobby - this is the episode you've been waiting for!

For more information visit: https://biodiversitygroup.org/staff-member/devin-edmonds/

To read the paper visit: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357577942_Poison_frogs_traded_and_maintained_by_US_private_breeders

For Amphibicast Gear visit: https://the-amphibicast-store.creator-spring.com/

For discounts on In Situ Ecosystem vivariums visit: https://insituecosystems.com/?ref=amphibicast

To support the show by becoming a Patron visit: https://www.patreon.com/Amphibicast

Tonight I am joined by Naturalist Robert Villa. 

In recent decades a phenomenon has developed around the Sonoran Desert Toad (AKA the Colorado River Toad) and the recreational use of its toxins for psychedelic purposes.  There is however, a great deal of misinformation out there regarding the topic.  So to set the record straight I am joined by Robert Villa.  Robert dispels many of the common myths associated with the species and we discuss how exploitation for its unique toxins is affecting its survival. We also discuss how the psychedelic phenomenon started (Hint- it's not how many of you think it started).

Robert is a naturalist and the president of the Tuscan Herp Society. He also has an intimate understanding of the Sonoran Desert Toad and has been a source of factual information for many publications including the New York Times.

For more information visit: https://tucsonherpsociety.org/

If you'd like to support the show, consider becoming a Patron and visit: https://www.patreon.com/Amphibicast

For listener discounts on In Situ Ecosystem vivariums click: https://insituecosystems.com/?ref=amphibicast

For Amphibicast Gear visit: https://the-amphibicast-store.creator-spring.com/

Tonight I am joined by Dr. Jason Hoverman and we discuss the effects of environmental stressors on amphibian populations.  We cover some of the different types of environmental contaminants, what the effects are from exposure, how combinations of different stressors effect tadpole behavior,  and some of the ways that amphibians can be successfully treated after exposure. 

For more information visit: https://ag.purdue.edu/fnr/Pages/profile.aspx?strAlias=jhoverm

If you'd like to support the show consider becoming a Patron and visit: https://www.patreon.com/Amphibicast

For listener discounts on In Situ Ecosystem Vivariums click:
https://insituecosystems.com/?ref=amphibicast and make your purchase 

For AmphibiCast merch visit: https://the-amphibicast-store.creator-spring.com/

Tonight I am joined by Sam Sucre of Natural Tanks. Sam joins to us straight  from Panama and we discuss ending wild caught trade in favor of a more sustainable captive export trade. We also discuss Sam’s new project producing sustainably sourced red eyed tree frogs in Panama for export into the USA.   

For more information about Sam and his work please visit:
http://www.natural-tanks.com/

If you'd like to support the show consider becoming a Patron and visit: https://www.patreon.com/Amphibicast

For listener discounts on In Situ Ecosystem Vivariums click:
https://insituecosystems.com/?ref=amphibicast and make your purchase 

For AmphibiCast merch visit: https://the-amphibicast-store.creator-spring.com/