The Best Ball Python Alternatives - Ep. 215

Ep. 215 - Chad Steffen of Golden Coast Exotics discusses his reptile keeping and breeding hobby with a variety of very interesting and rarer snake species, as well as his passion in breeding high-quality, healthy snakes. He shares details of how he first got started in the reptile keeping hobby, starting in keeping Eastern Indigo Snakes, and the enrichment that he provides those species. Chad highlights the other species that he keeps such as bearded dragons, species of tree boas, Dominican Red Boas, Royal Snakes, and more, diving into the behaviors, diets, and breeding of each. He also discusses the interest in these kind of “left-of-center” species in comparison to the Ball python breeding obsession in the last fifteen years, saying that the diversity of the species we keep in the reptile hobby makes it all so much more fun and interesting. Chad also discusses his adventures in herping in Southern California, as well as aspects of loving the mundane chores involved in reptile keeping. SHOW NOTES: https://www.animalsathomenetwork.com/215-golden-coast-exotics/ #215 #animalsathomepodcast SHOW SPONSORS: Visit Zoo Med Labs here: https://zoomed.com/ @ZooMed Amazon Affiliate Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/animalsathomepodcast PLEASE READ DISCLAIMER: More information here: https://www.animalsathome.ca/affiliate-disclaimer/ JOIN US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/animalsathome LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: Golden Coast Exotics Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldencoastexotics/ Golden Coast Exotics Morph Market: https://www.morphmarket.com/stores/goldencoastexotics/ Golden Coast Exotics YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEM0FGo4IQyTDQ91doyZCNQ Video Clips and Photos Used in Episode: https://www.instagram.com/goldencoastexotics/ 0:00 Introducing Chad Steffen - Golden Coast Exotics 2:00 Zoo Med Labs 2:25 Welcome Chad + His Start in Reptile Keeping and Breeding 13:18 Getting into Eastern Indigos 15:03 Magic Mind Shot 16:58 Eastern Indigo Enclosures + Enrichment 20:44 Outdoor Bearded Dragon Enclosures + Feeding 24:06 Chad’s Collection Over the Years 27:30 Species of Tree Boa, Sanzinia + Breeding 35:18 Zoo Med Tortoise Diet 36:24 Tree Boa Behaviors and Size 38:27 Diversity in Snake Species + Ball Python Market Crash 46:00 Dominican Red Boas - Diets, Breeding + Colors 57:44 Boa Enclosures + Hides 59:04 Royal Snakes - Behavior, Breeding + Diets 1:05:20 Other Left-of-Center Species 1:08:51 Number of Adult Species + Drive to Keep Snakes 1:11:23 Herping in California 1:14:03 Loving the Process of Keeping Reptiles 1:18:15 Future Species 1:20:48 Closing Thoughts SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: APPLE► https://apple.co/347PjSO SPOTIFY► https://spoti.fi/2UG5NOI _________________________________________ WEBSITE► https://www.animalsathome.ca EMAIL►hello@animalsathome.ca FACEBOOK► https://www.facebook.com/AnimalsatHome.ca/ INSTAGRAM► https://www.instagram.com/animalsathomeca/ DONATE TO AMAZON RAINFOREST CONSERVANCY (ARC): http://amazonrainforestconservancy.com/ ABOUT DILLON: Welcome to my channel, Animals at Home! Here you will find the reptile videos I have made as well as video versions of The Animals at Home Podcast! The podcast mainly focuses on the pet reptile industry. My mission with Animals at Home is simple: To inspire others to push the limits of their reptile husbandry by promoting the importance of high-level, creative husbandry individualized for each reptile.