Animals at Home Network
Animals at Home Network

Animals at Home Network

AAHN

Overview
Episodes

Details

Exploring ethical captive management of reptiles & amphibians through the lens of biological science, conservation, and human nature. The Animals at Home Network is a herpetoculture-based podcast network that hosts: Animals at Home Podcast by Dillon Perron, Project Herpetoculture by Phillip Lietz and Roy Arthur Blodgett, Reptiles & Research Podcast by Liam Sinclair and Ellie Hills, and Animals Everywhere by Bryce Broom. Each show on the network brings all members of the reptile community together to discuss reptile husbandry, scientific research, breeding, wildlife conservation, and more!

Recent Episodes

251: The Risks of Keeping Snakes Outdoors | Adam Sehy - AAH
MAY 15, 2026
251: The Risks of Keeping Snakes Outdoors | Adam Sehy - AAH
In this episode of the Animals at Home Podcast, I’m joined by reptile keeper and podcast host Adam Sehy for a wide-ranging conversation about reptile keeping, outdoor husbandry, podcasting, breeding decisions, and balancing reptiles with real life.We discuss Adam’s journey into reptiles and podcasting, how his show evolved from a curiosity-driven learning project into a successful reptile media platform, and why he recently decided to scale back recording frequency to focus more on family and avoiding burnout.We also take a deep dive into Adam’s current collection, including Argentine boas, jungle carpet pythons, diamond pythons, blood pythons, Timor pythons, and Texas indigos. Adam shares his philosophy on keeping a smaller, more intentional collection, his preference for natural-looking animals over morphs, and how he evaluates whether or not an animal should be bred.One of the most fascinating parts of the episode centers around Adam’s outdoor reptile enclosures in Florida.We discuss:Keeping diamond pythons outdoors through winter cold snapsNatural temperature cycling and fasting periodsEnclosure construction and insulationPredator and parasite preventionMonitoring temperatures with sensorsThe risks and rewards of outdoor reptile keepingWe also touch on:The evolution of reptile husbandry over the yearsLessons learned from old reptile forumsPodcasting in the reptile spaceSocial media and reptile content creationHealth, fitness, and balancing hobbies with life responsibilitiesSHOW NOTES: https://www.animalsathomenetwork.com/251-adam-sehy/SPONSORS: Visit The BioDude: https://www.thebiodude.com/ Visit Zoo Med Labs here: https://zoomed.com/JOIN US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/animalsathomeLINKS FROM THE EPISODE:https://www.youtube.com/@Snake_Boihttps://www.instagram.com/official_snake_boi/https://www.facebook.com/adam.sehy/00:00 Intro02:27 Adam’s podcast journey & reducing episode frequency9:55 How reptile podcasting changed his husbandry philosophy34:52 Growing up with reptiles & early keeping experiences52:40 Adam's Collection 1:01:08 Why Adam Won't Breed His Jungle Carpet Python1:08:20 Why Argentine Boas are Amazing1:21:45 Diamond pythons outdoors in Florida & Sub Zero Cold Snap1:43:42 Texas indigo snakes & feeding challenges1:49:20 Social media, reptile content & podcasting culture1:55:25 Where to find Adam & closing thoughts
play-circle icon
117 MIN
250: You’re Handling Reptiles Wrong (Do This Instead) | Nick Campbell - AAH
APR 22, 2026
250: You’re Handling Reptiles Wrong (Do This Instead) | Nick Campbell - AAH
What if the key to working with reptiles isn’t control… but trust?In this episode, I sit down with Nick Campbell to break down a completely different approach to reptile keeping—one built on trust, confidence, and curiosity rather than force or compliance.Nick shares his journey back into the reptile world after years away, starting with an emerald tree boa and quickly expanding into more advanced species like green tree monitors. From there, the conversation dives deep into how he approaches building trust with even the most nervous animals.We explore his unique “backwards design” method—starting interactions outside the enclosure to establish safety before ever attempting handling—and why this mindset shift can completely change your relationship with your animals.We also get into:How to work with high-strung species like monitor lizardsThe importance of water systems and enclosure designCreative enrichment strategies (including outdoor “catio” setups)Nail care, lighting, and environmental controlWhy patience and observation are the most underrated tools in reptile keepingIf you’ve ever struggled with a defensive reptile—or want to take your husbandry and interaction to the next level—this episode will challenge the way you think about handling and care.SHOW NOTES: https://www.animalsathomenetwork.com/250-lizard-lounge/SPONSORS: Visit Zoo Med Labs here: https://zoomed.com/JOIN US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/animalsathomeLINKS FROM THE EPISODE:https://www.instagram.com/lizardloungecrew/https://www.facebook.com/stevediamondelementsPhotos and Video in Episode:https://www.instagram.com/lizardloungecrew/00:00 – Intro: Why Your Reptile Doesn’t Trust You02:46 – Meet Nick Campbell (Lizard Lounge)03:30 – Reptile Keeping in the 90s 08:12 – Leaving the Hobby & Career Shift12:51 – Human Behavior → Reptile Behavior14:17 – The Framework: Trust → Confidence → Curiosity21:54 – Returning to Reptiles (Emerald Tree Boa)27:25 – What “Trust” Really Means33:32 – Step-by-Step Trust Building (Tree Monitor Example)44:38 – Why Food Reward Isn't Enough, Other Better Tools52:21 – Applying This to Snakes (Retic Example)56:18 – Signs of a Comfortable Reptile1:08:52 Enrichment (In & Out of the Enclosure)1:14:09 – Keeping Large Monitors Properly1:16:28 – Water & Waste Management1:23:44 – Nail Maintenance (Critical Tip)1:29:07 – Final Advice1:30:51 – Outro
play-circle icon
91 MIN
249: When Does Reptile Collecting Go Too Far? | Dillon Perron - AAH
APR 14, 2026
249: When Does Reptile Collecting Go Too Far? | Dillon Perron - AAH
In this solo episode, I dive into two topics that constantly spark debate in the reptile community:👉 Do you actually have the right to own reptiles?👉 And when does collecting animals cross the line into hoarding?We explore the idea of reptile ownership through the lens of public safety, personal responsibility, and what it means to be part of a structured society. If you benefit from living in a community, do you also have to accept the rules that come with it?Then we shift into the concept of “collecting” reptiles—a term that often gets criticized. Is collecting really a bad thing, or is it just human nature? And more importantly… how do you know when a collection becomes something unhealthy?This episode is all about challenging assumptions, defining ethical boundaries, and giving you tools to reflect on your own role as a keeper.Let me know your thoughts in the comments 👇🎧 Listen to more episodes:Animal Control Officer Perspective w/ Brendan Hettinger: https://youtu.be/lVbbC_v4juIZookeeping: https://youtu.be/BgYyK81g7FUThe Dark Side of the Oddities Market: https://youtu.be/Oii0Mf_vjlgCrested Gecko Habitat Deep Dive: https://youtu.be/3kD0Wjzyl7wReptile Heating & Enclosure Size Explained: https://youtu.be/ZgJJ_MiFSnsSHOW NOTES: https://www.animalsathomenetwork.com/249-dillon-perron/JOIN US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/animalsathome00:00 – Intro & Episode Overview00:40 – Why This Is a Solo Episode01:57 – Stepping Away From Social Media04:37 – Do You Have the “Right” to Own Reptiles?11:20 – The Idea of “Collecting” Reptiles17:50 – The “Buying High”, Hedonic Cycle & Hoarding26:35 – Recent Episodes Recap34:10 – Upcoming Episode Tease (Lizard Lounge)
play-circle icon
36 MIN
248: What Animal Control Really Thinks of Reptile Keepers | Brendan Hettinger - AAH
APR 8, 2026
248: What Animal Control Really Thinks of Reptile Keepers | Brendan Hettinger - AAH
In this episode, I’m joined by Brendan Hettinger, an animal protection officer who has seen the worst cases of reptile keeping firsthand. We break down the dark reality behind reptile rescues, hoarding situations, and how well-intentioned keepers can unintentionally cause serious harm.We also discuss what animal control actually sees, why bad cases shape legislation, and what responsible keepers can do to protect the future of the hobby.⚠️ This episode contains some disturbing content.SHOW NOTES: https://www.animalsathomenetwork.com/248-brendan-hettinger/SPONSORS: Visit The BioDude: https://www.thebiodude.com/ Visit Zoo Med Labs here: https://zoomed.com/JOIN US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/animalsathomeLINKS FROM THE EPISODE:https://kdvr.com/news/local/114-cats-rescued-some-found-dead-in-arvada-home-owners-face-cruelty-charges/https://www.instagram.com/brendan_hettinger/Photos and Video in Episode:https://www.instagram.com/brendan_hettinger/00:00 – Introduction & warning01:10 – What this episode is about02:05 – Meet Brendan Hettinger04:10 – Early passion for reptiles & zoo experience08:30 – Becoming an animal protection officer12:10 – What animal control actually does (disease, euthanasia, etc.)16:20 – Fear of dogs vs reptiles19:30 – Cat hoarding case (100+ cats, biohazard conditions)25:00 – Psychology behind hoarding29:10 – How reptile keepers are perceived by law enforcement33:00 – Reptile neglect cases (bearded dragons, sliders, etc.)36:40 – Why reptile rescues often fail41:20 – Reptile hoarding case walkthrough (the “rescue”)47:00 – Why bad cases drive legislation51:00 – The problem with “rescuing” animals you can’t afford55:10 – Should reptiles be regulated more?59:30 – Breeding, oversupply, and future laws1:05:00 – Can the reptile hobby fix itself?1:09:30 – Ethical takeaways for keepers1:13:00 – Brendan’s personal collection1:16:30 – Long-term responsibility & animal lifespan1:19:00 – Final thoughts
play-circle icon
71 MIN