Daffy's Round Table
This podcast will go in-depth on the husbandry and breeding of captive reptiles, amphibians, fish and any other exotic pets as well as discussions on conservation efforts to save these species! Follow Daffy: Instagram: @Daffysreptiles Twitter: @Daffysreptiles Facebook: Facebook.com/Daffysreptiles Tiktok: @Daffysreptiles Business: [email protected]
Glass Frogs, Dart Frogs & Building a Frog Business with Atonii Frogs
Episode #163 of Daffy's Round Table!
On this episode, I'm joined by Andrew from Atonii Frogs, with David from Club Tail Exotics joining us as co-host!
We dive into the fascinating world of amphibians, talking all about glass frogs, dart frogs, and some of the incredible species Andrew works with, including Ranitomeya and Oophaga. We also get into tropical plants, the role they play in keeping frogs, and what goes into creating the right environments for these animals.
Andrew also shares the story behind Atonii Frogs and what it's like building and running a...
What to Expect at the Ottawa Reptile Expo!
Episode #162 of Daffy’s Round Table!
On this episode, I’m joined by Mike Schade from Port Credit Pets to talk about the upcoming Ottawa Reptile Expo, happening October 24th and 25th, 2026!
With the expo just around the corner, we figured it would be a great time to sit down and talk about what people can expect from the show, the different reptiles and supplies they'll be able to find, and why reptile expos are such an important part of the hobby.
We get into what Port Credit Pets is all about, Mike's expe...
The Cult of the Plant Takes Over the Reptile Expo
Episode #161 of Daffy’s Round Table!
On this episode, I’m joined by Theo from Nature State and Abi from The Microverse. The three of us regularly vend reptile expos together under the name Cult of the Plant, and with the Ottawa Reptile Expo coming up, we figured it was the perfect time to sit down and talk about what actually goes on at these shows.
We get into the vendor side of reptile expos, what goes into preparing for a show, setting up our tables, and some of the things people don't necessarily see when...
Building a Safer Reptile Thermostat: Inside the Ectoscale 6 With Ophidian Labs
Episode #160 of Daffy’s Round Table!
On this episode, I’m joined by Yannis from Ophidian Labs to take a deep dive into the Ectoscale 6 and rethink one of the most important pieces of equipment in a reptile enclosure: the thermostat.
A thermostat might not be the most exciting piece of reptile equipment to talk about, but when you’re trusting one to control a heat source around animals that could be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars, safety and reliability become pretty important.
Yannis gives us a full walkthrough of how the Ectosc...
Garter Snakes, MMA, & Is The Reptile Hobby An Addiction?? With Adam De Freitas
Episode #159 of Daffy’s Round Table!
On this episode, I’m joined by Adam De Freitas, with David from Clubtail Exotics joining me as co-host.
Adam has a pretty unique background. He’s a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a former MMA fighter, currently competes in bare-knuckle boxing, and has also been keeping and breeding reptiles for the last 20 to 25 years.
Over that time, Adam has worked with a huge variety of reptiles, including a number of different day gecko species, but these days he’s probably best known in Canada for his work wit...
Micro Geckos: Colonies, Cohabbing & Natural Behavior
Episode #158 of Daffy’s Round Table. On this episode, I’m joined by Cristian from The Gecko Druid, with David from Clubtail Exotics joining me as co-host.
Cristian is a reptile keeper from Italy who works with some really cool and often overlooked micro gecko species, including Tropiocolotes, Stenodactylus, Saurodactylus, Trachydactylus, Pachydactylus, and more.
We get into Cristian’s collection and his approach to keeping these tiny geckos, including the differences between keeping animals individually versus in colonies. We also have a really interesting conversation about cohabbing, both keeping multiple animals of the same species togeth...
A New Mountain Horned Dragon Species: Acanthosaura syrax
Episode #157 of Daffy’s Round Table!
On this episode, I’m joined by Poramad Trivalairat and Chris to talk about the discovery and description of one of the newest species of mountain horned dragon, Acanthosaura syrax.
Por has now been involved in describing three different species of Acanthosaura, including Acanthosaura aurantiacrista in 2020, Acanthosaura meridiona in 2022, and Acanthosaura syrax in 2026.
The story behind syrax is especially cool because Por and Chris were not originally out looking for a new lizard species. Chris researches leeches and parasites associated with reptiles, and the two of them were...
Croc Monitors, White Throats & Water Monitor Morphs With Farmhouse Reptiles | Daffy's Round Table
Episode #156 of Daffy’s Round Table!
On this episode, I’m joined by Robert Balan from Farmhouse Reptiles, with Adam Wickens from Wickens Wicked Reptiles joining me as co-host.
Robert works with some seriously impressive large lizards, including Varanus cumingi, Croc Monitors, White Throat Monitors, and Asian Water Monitors, so naturally this episode turned into a full monitor nerd-out between Robert and Adam while I mostly sat back and enjoyed the conversation.
We get into Robert’s experiences keeping and breeding these animals, how the different monitor species compare in terms of behavior and in...
Mountain Horned Dragon Round Table Part 4: Care, Breeding & Wild Behavior
Episode #155 of Daffy’s Round Table. On this episode, I’m joined by Nicole from Nikki’s Nataliae, along with returning guests Eyal and Rebecca from Responsible Reptile and JF from Beauregard Reptiles, for Acanthosaura Round Table Part 4.
Nicole joins us for the first time and we get into her collection, her experiences keeping Acanthosaura nataliae, some really interesting growth charts she put together, and her trip to see nataliae in person.
We also catch up with Eyal, Rebecca, and JF and talk about what everyone has learned since the last round table. We get into A...
Skink-A-Palooza: Species, Setups & Breeding
Episode #154 of Daffy’s Round Table!
On this episode, I’m joined by Rachael and Leigha for Skink-A-Palooza, a full deep dive into keeping and breeding skinks.Between the two of them, they’ve worked with a huge variety of species, so we get into sandfish, ocellated skinks, zebra skinks, Schneider’s skinks, Greer’s earless skinks, wedge-snouted skinks, rainbow skinks, and more.
A big part of the conversation is comparing these different species: how their behaviour, enclosure setups, breeding strategies, and overall husbandry can differ even though they’re all skinks. We talk about heating, UVB...
How to Turn Your Reptile Hobby Into a Sustainable Business With Frank Payne
Episode #153 of Daffy’s Round Table.
On this episode, I’m joined by Frank Payne of Living Art by Frank Payne, with David Beetham from Clubtail Exotics joining me as co-host, and we’re talking all about how to turn your reptile hobby into a sustainable business.
Frank has successfully taken his passion for keeping and breeding reptiles and turned it into a successful business, so we get into what that transition actually looked like and what it takes to make a reptile business work long term.
We talk about how Frank selects the sp...
Breeding Hognoses & Working With Uncommon Sand Snakes
Episode #52 of Daffy's Round Table!
On this episode, I’m joined by Bree from Breeze Exotics for a deep dive into hognose snakes and what it actually takes to breed and raise them successfully.
We talk about Bree’s approach to breeding hognoses, from pairing and producing clutches to hatching babies, getting them established, and dealing with some of the feeding challenges that can come with young hognose snakes. We also get into some of the projects she’s working with and what she’s learned from breeding and raising these awesome little snakes.
Then w...
The Future Of Reptile Enclosure Design | CritterCAD
Episode #151 of Daffy's Round Table!
In this episode, I sit down with Daniel from CritterCAD to explore his innovative software that lets keepers virtually design and score terrariums before they buy. We discuss how CritterCAD helps hobbyists fine-tune their setups, ensure species-appropriate designs, and visualize their dream enclosures. We even got a live demo during the episode so listeners can get a glimpse of how it works in real-time.
If you’re ready to rethink how you plan for your animals, make sure you check out the CritterCAD software!
Check out CritterCAD here: ht...
Rare Gecko Round Table with Clubtail Exotics, Supreme Gecko, Ghouls N Geckos
Episode #150 of Daffy's Round Table.
On this episode, I'm joined by David Beetham from Clubtail Exotics, Wally Kern from Supreme Gecko, and Jason from Ghouls and Geckos. Between the three of them, they're working with some really incredible and uncommon gecko species, and today we're diving deep into the husbandry, breeding, and care of those animals.
We talk about everything from incubation techniques and raising babies to heating strategies, substrates, enclosure design, and how different keepers approach the same species in completely different ways. We also spend a lot of time discussing some of the...
The Future Of Automation In The Reptile Hobby!
Episode #149 of Daffy's Round Table!
On this episode, I'm joined by Kjell from Home Ecosystems, Bjurny and PlantArt and we dive into what I genuinely believe is the future of reptile and plant keeping.We talk about Home Ecosystems, a new hardware platform that allows keepers to automate and monitor virtually every aspect of their enclosures from lighting and heating to humidity, fogging, and more all through a single smart controller. We also discuss PlantArt, a beautiful living wall system that combines automation with incredible planted displays for homes, zoos, and public spaces. We also talk about...
Designer Chondros Explained With Jaffy Exotics
Episode #148 of Daffy's Round Table!
On this episode, I'm joined by Jaffy from Jaffy's Exotics for a deep dive into the world of green tree pythons.
We discuss the differences between ball python genetics and morphs versus green tree python phenotypes and localities, and break down what makes green tree pythons so fascinating to work with. Jaffy explains how designer chondros are produced, why they are so difficult to create, and what separates exceptional animals from the rest.We also talk about his recent green tree python clutch, his experiences breeding and keeping both chondros...
Savannah Monitor Care and Zebra Skink Breeding with Rachael Pan
Episode #147 of Daffy's Round Table!
On this episode, I sit down with Rachael Pan from Jabba’s Reptile Room for a full deep dive into savannah monitors. We break down the myths surrounding their care, why so many imports struggle, and how Rachael works with them to create healthy, handleable animals. We also discuss her success with zebra skinks, white-spotted geckos (Tarentola annularis), and her approach to reptile training both virtually and in person.
Huge thank you to Exo Terra for sponsoring this podcast and making this episode possible. Exo Terra makes quality products for ou...
The Ball Python Industry In 2026 With Mutation Creation
Episode #146 of Daffy's Round Table!
On this episode, I’m joined by Billy Rows off Mutation Creation, one of the most well-known names in the ball python world.We talk about how Billy first got started with ball pythons, his recent move, some of the projects he’s most excited about right now, and what he thinks is next for the ball python hobby.
We also get into the current state of the ball python industry and the pet industry as a whole — are people still buying animals, is the market still healthy in 2026, and what s...
Breeding the Uncommon: Pachydactylus & Scorpion Tailed Geckos!
Episode #145 of Daffy's Round Table!
In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with David Beettam from Clubtail Exotics for a deep dive into Pachydactylus geckos. David shares his experience keeping and breeding multiple species of Pachydactylus, detailing their care, feeding, and incubation methods. We also spotlight the scorpion-tailed gecko (Pristurus carteri) and touch on the bynoe's gecko (Heteronotia binoei).
Whether you’re into rare geckos or just want to master Pachydactylus care, this episode is for you!
Huge Thank you to Exo Terra for sponsoring this podcast and making this episode po...
Behind the Scenes of Reptile Education Shows!
Episode #144 of Daffy's Round Tables!
On this episode I'm joined by Rae from Rae’s Reptiles, and in this episode we talk all about doing reptile education shows. We get into what it’s like bringing reptiles into schools, birthday parties, and live events, what makes a good education animal, and how to create a show that’s fun, memorable, and actually teaches people something.
We also talk about how to present reptiles in a way that helps people connect with them instead of being afraid of them, and of course we talk about what goes i...
Raising The Next Generation Of Zoo Keepers With Jungle Jordan
Episode #143 of Daffy's Round Table!
In this episode, I’m joined by Jordan Veasley, better known as Jungle Jordan, and we’re stepping outside the reptile world! We dive into Jordan’s journey as a zookeeper and educator, breaking down what it really takes to get into the zoo industry, as a keeper or in other vital roles. We explore how he inspires the next generation to care about wildlife and we discuss the power of social media in amplifying the conservation work that zoos do. Through Jungle Jordan’s platform, he’s reshaping perspectives and getting more peopl...
Building Worlds And Ecosystems With Goat's Wildlife!
Episode #142 of Daffy's Round Table!
In this episode, I’m joined by Malik from Goat’s Wildlife for a fascinating dive into the world of giant monitors. Malik shares his experience keeping croc monitors, Nile monitors, Mertens monitors, and more. We break down his enclosure setups, from creating ideal spaces for notoriously challenging species to the innovative use of “grow tents” and walk-in designs.
Plus, Malik explains how he’s crafting realistic rock hides with concrete mixes. If you’re into monitors or just love creative reptile keeping, this one’s packed with insight!
Huge Thank y...
Why Monitor Keepers Love The Indicus Complex!
Episode #142 of Daffy's Round Table!
On this episode, I’m joined by Nick Lillis from Unlimited Exotics, who is also one of the co-hosts of the Monitor Brains Podcast. I’m also joined by Adam Wickens from Wickens Wicked Reptiles as co-host for this one, because we’re going deep into the world of monitor lizards.
We spend a lot of time talking about crocodile monitors, what makes them so unique, Nick’s experience working with them, and what it actually takes to set them up properly and keep them well. We also get into the impo...
Morelia Masterclass: Cooling, Breeding Strategies & Building A Snake Room
Episode #140 of Daffy's Round Table!
On this episode, I’m joined by Shan Melanson, a very well respected breeder in the Morelia world.
Shan works with an awesome lineup of species including inland pythons, diamond pythons, Bredl’s pythons, and carpet pythons, and in this episode we take a deep dive into how he approaches breeding them. We talk about breeding strategies, cooling snakes down for winter, the importance of seasonal cycling, and how Shan built a cold room to help dial in his animals for breeding season.
We also get into how he h...
What Better Reptile Care Actually Looks Like With Mariah Of Reptifiles
Episode #139 of Daffy's Round Table!
On this episode, I’m beyond excited to welcome Mariah from Reptifiles! If you’ve ever Googled a reptile care guide, chances are you’ve landed on her incredibly detailed work.
We chat about how she first got into the reptile hobby, her path to becoming a reptile husbandry specialist, and how Reptifiles came to life. Of course, we dive deep into her famous care guides, how she creates them and why they’re so trusted. And we tackle reptile lighting, breaking down the mysteries of UVA, UVB, heat, and bulb typ...
Reptile OGs & Industry Evolution | A Hangout With Mike Of Port Credit Pets
Episode #138 of Daffy's Round Table!
On this laid-back episode, I’m joined by the man Mike Schade from Port Credit Pets. This was recorded the night before the reptile expo, we were just hanging out, and we decided to hit record for a no-holds-barred conversation about the reptile industry. We’re talking about how the scene’s evolved over the last decade, sharing stories about the OGs who’ve shaped the reptile world, and just nerding out about reptiles!
Use the code Daffy10 for 10% off at Port Credit Pets: https://portcreditpets.com/
Get tickets...
Breeding Feeders At Home & Mangrove Monitors with Khai Phan!
Episode #137 of Daffy's Round Table!
In today’s episode, we’re hanging out with the one and only Khai Phan a.k.a. Big_Lizard1o3 or the mastermind behind Mangrove Mecca. Kai is a wizard with monitor lizards especially mangroves monitors and he’s also got the whole feeder insect breeding game down to a science. We get into the details of how he raises everything from grasshoppers to roaches, crickets and mealworms and we nerd out about reptile nutrition.
We also dive into the world of breeding mangrove monitors and chat about why Khai p...
Breeding Rare Pygmy Lizards & Chameleons With The Chameleon Collective
Episode #136 of Daffy's Round Table!
On this episode, I’m joined by Tyler from The Chameleon Collective. We start off talking about how he first got into reptile keeping (spoiler: mountain horn dragons had a big role) and then talk about Tyler’s current collection and some of the species he’s working with, including the Knuckles Mountain Pygmy Lizard (Cophotis dumbara) that he’s currently breeding. It’s a really cool species that I think more people should be working with, so we spend some time diving into those.
Tyler is also an 8th grade biol...
From Rescue To Co-op: How Apollo Reptiles Co-op is Changing Breeding Standards!
Episode #135 of Daffy's Round Table!
On this episode, I’m joined by Nathaniel Gibson, CEO and founder of the Apollo Reptiles Co-op. We dive into the story behind the co-op, why it exists, how it originally started as a rescue, and what led to the transition into a cooperative model focused on accountability and ethical breeding standards. Nathaniel breaks down what “ethical standards” actually mean in practice and how the co-op is working to raise the bar for breeders.
We also get into Nathaniel’s personal collection, including chondros, carpet pythons, blood pythons, tortoises, and more. He...
From Pairing To Hatchling: The Antaresia Playbook With Slithering Oddities
Episode #134 of Daffy's Round Table!
In this episode, we’re welcoming back JD from Slithering Oddities for round two of our Antaresia deep dive! If you’re into Children’s pythons or any of the Antaresia species this episode is for you! This time around, JD’s talks about his upcoming breeding projects, how he manages temperatures and fine-tunes the breeding cycle, plus his go-to tips for incubation and getting the best clutch viability. And since this is JD’s second time on the show, we’re building on everything we talked about last time so if you missed t...
Strophurus, Crytodactylus, Pachydactylus And More Uncommon Geckos With Jason Of Geckos N Ghouls!
Episode #133 of Daffy's Round Table!
On this episode, I sit down with Jason from Ghouls and Geckos and the Gecko Exchange Podcast Network to dive into some of the more uncommon species he’s keeping with a big focus on Strophurus geckos.
Jason keeps several species of Strophurus, and we break down what makes them so interesting to work with, how he sets them up, and what he’s learned from breeding and maintaining them. We talk through enclosure design, seasonal cycling, and how he structures his reptile room around natural temperature and humidity fluctuations to k...
Rat Snakes, Pine Snakes & Uncommon Boas, Why They Deserve More Attention With Michael Gillon
Episode #132 Of Daffy's Round Table!
On this episode I sit down with Michael Gillian, co-host of the Reptile Rejects Podcast, to talk snakes, setups, and everything in between.
Michael keeps a wide range of species, and in this conversation we dive into some of the more unique and underrated snakes he’s working with including Trans-Pecos rat snakes, pine snakes, and lesser-seen boas.
We also get into how Michael sets up and manages his reptile room, including his approach to brumation and preparing animals for the 2026 breeding season. Michael also shares his experiences he...
Kicking Off 2026 - We're Back!!
Hello everyone! We're back!!
This is not an official episode but more of an update on where I was in December, why no new episodes were released and plans moving forward. New episodes starting again this week!
Get 15% off your first appointment with Swiftail Exotic Vet Services: SwiftTailVet.com
Get 10% off the IncogInverts website with code Daffy10: IncogInvertsCanada.com
Support the podcast, check out the new Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/cw/DaffysReptiles
Check out the new merch store: https://daffys-reptiles-co.creator-spring.com
Check out my...
Tinley Build Off + Building Your Own Enclosures With Preston Of Natures In A Nutshell
Episode #130 of Daffy's Round Table!
On this episode of Daffy’s Round Table, I’m joined by Preston from @Natures_in_a_nutshell one of the talented competitors at the Tinley NARBC Enclosure Build-Off hosted by Chewy & Wickens Wicked Reptiles. We chat all about what it takes to prepare for a high-stakes build like that, from the initial vision to the finishing touches. Preston walks us through the thinking behind his entry, shares the lessons he’s learned from building his own enclosures, and gives us a glimpse into his personal collection. From Schneider skinks to other underr...
Pictus Gecko Breeding Masterclass With Supreme Gecko
Episode #129 Of Daffy's Round Table!
In this episode, I sit down with Wally Kern, the creator behind Supreme Gecko, for a deep dive into one of the most underrated species in the hobby: Pictus Geckos (Paroedura picta).
Wally has been working with pictus for years and brings a TON of experience to the table. We break down everything you need to know about this species from husbandry and feeding to morphs, breeding strategies, egg incubation, and why pictus geckos are such an amazing project for both new and advanced keepers.
<...
The Carpet Python Blueprint: Species, Husbandry & Breeding Season Prep With Dom's Reptiles
Episode #128 Of Daffy's Round Table!
On this episode of Daffy’s Round Table, I’m joined by Dominic Carbonneau from Dom’s Reptiles, a highly respected breeder in the Morelia world. We talk all things Carpet Pythons, from species and locales to morphs and breeding strategies.
Dom gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how he manages his animals, including his quarantine setup, nidovirus protocols, and how he handles common issues like mites without compromising the health of his snakes.
Big thanks to Dom for coming on and sharing so much valuab...
Croc Talk With Dan Carvalho
In this episode, I sit down with Dan Carvalho, Senior Reptile Keeper at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park — This zoo houses more crocodilian species there anywhere else in the world.
Dan shares what it’s like to work closely with 25 of those species, how crocodilian care and research has evolved over the years, and what the process looks like when new species are split and described by taxonomists. We talk about Indian gharials, enclosure building, breeding behind the scenes, behavioral observations, and the responsibilities of working in such a high-profile zoo.
We a...
Inside The Mind Of SerpaDesign
Episode #126 of Daffy’s Round Table!
In this episode, I’m joined by a guest who truly needs no introduction—Tanner Serpa of SerpaDesign. Tanner has been inspiring keepers, creators, and nature lovers for over a decade with his beautifully crafted vivariums, aquascapes, and naturalistic builds. I’ve personally been watching his content for nearly 10 years now, so it was a real honor to finally have him on the podcast to chat. We talked about how he approaches each build from concept to completion, how he balances aesthetics with function, where he draws inspiration, and the philosophy behind b...
GTP Vs ATB: What's The Better Arboreal??
Episode #125 of Daffy's Round Table!
In this episode, I sit down with Jen from Cigar City Exotics to talk about two of the most stunning arboreal snakes in the hobby: Green Tree Pythons and Amazon Tree Boas. We dive deep into husbandry tips, enclosure setups, and the differences (and similarities) between the two species. Jen shares her personal experience working with both GTPs and ATBs, the learning curve involved, and what she’s found works best for long-term success.
Huge thank you to Exo Terra for sponsoring this podcast and making this ep...
Meet The Man Behind A Backyard Turtle Army!
Episode #124 of Daffy's Round Table.
On this episode, I sit down with Eric from the Reptiverse to talk about his awesome reptile collection and how he keeps turtles outdoors year-round. We get into his setups, the species he keeps, and how he manages everything from water quality to predators. We also touch on Carpet Pythons, some fun future projects he's working on, and then we wrap things up with a look at his day job at Wild Florida Safari—where, yes, he literally trains giraffes and works with everything from zebra to antelope.
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