Weekly roundup

Hey herpers! Here’s some of the coolest stuff I came across this week.

Captive breeding is playing a role in conservation, the demand for exotic pets is driving an increase in veterinary interest, an updated Spotted Python guide, and my first community spotlight is a celebration!

Science and Around the World

Captive-Bred Endangered and At-Risk Herps Released in Florida

In April 2025, 42 Eastern Indigo snakes and more than 1,200 endangered Frosted Flatwoods salamanders were released into restored habitats in Florida's panhandle.

Both programs are massive projects working to repair damaged ecosystems and restore wild populations.

Coolest part: captive breeding is playing a critical role. One of my favorite herp species in the world only exists in the wild now, thanks to private breeders. I love this stuff!

Check out these fantastic stories, and if you like this sort of news, let me know.

Community Spotlight

Congratulaions Lavender!🥳

Lavender (Lavender Super Morphs) passed the Amphibian Foundation’s Master Herpetologist Program!

I didn’t even know this existed, but it is now on my list to complete this year. So I also owe a thanks for introducing me to the foundation and their classes 😁

Please take a minute and go say congratulations to Lavender on IG!

Hobby and Industry News

Increased Interest in Exotic Pets from the Veterinary Industry

“What I want people to understand is there is a growing demand for reptile care in veterinary practice.” - JB Minter, NC Zoo

The growth in exotic pet keeping, and especially reptile keeping, is creating a demand for the care of those species. I am working on a longer report about the reptile industry and have come across some fascinating information regarding vet communities and their interest in filling this gap.

The problem?

The education and resources readily available has been lagging behind the growth.

Luckily, movements worldwide are moving to fill the void, or at least champion the cause.

This quick snippet alone should really be a positive note for everyone in the hobby.

From MHI

Updated and Expanded Spotted Python Care Guide

The handful of initial readers I had were all into Spotted Pythons, so I focused some energy on ensuring the care guide was ready to go.

I’ll work on adding a resource list and the first enclosure needs list in the future. I’m also nerding out and doing a deep dive case study on how they live in the wild. I’ll put it on the site as a white paper.🤓 (yes, I take on more projects than I should…)

That’s it for this week.

We will be back next week with some more cool stuff! Don’t forget to let me know what you think about the new layout.

Cheers,

Will

P.S.

I want to do more community spotlights. If you see something or someone that fits the bill, please send it to me!