Chameleon Academy Podcast with Bill Strand

A relatively new feeder to the reptile world is the Black Soldier Fly. There are many marketing names given to the larval stage of this insect. Today we are joined by Lauren from Symton, a company that breeds and sells the BSF to the reptile community. She will be giving us an introduction to the Black Soldier Fly!

Mark Scherz is a scientist who studies the chameleons, frogs, and other reptiles and amphibians of Madagascar. Today he brings us with him on his latest expedition through interviews and audio journals recorded while he was in the forest. We learn what his team does and what daily work is like in the field.

In 2017, scientist Mark Scherz led a research team to Montagne d'Ambre in the northern tip of the island to study the difference elevation makes on speciation in chameleons and other reptiles and amphibians. During that expedition, he took an audio journal so that we on the podcast could go along with him and experience what a scientific expedition was like.

At this episode 100 milestone it is time to reflect on where we have been and how we have grown over these last 99 episodes. I share my growth in the area of chameleon hydration philosophy and describe other challenges we are up against as the chameleon community.

Today we answer the question: What Chameleon Should I Get? This is for the keeper just starting out and finding themselves faced with a myriad of choices. Let’s discuss your options and get you on the right track!

Welcome to an exploration of the world that both we and chameleons live within. We are honored to have John Courteney-Smith share with us a preview of his upcoming book. It is part 1 within the new Elements series: Fire – The Sun, its use and replication within Reptile Keeping. Today, we will talk about light and its importance to us as chameleon keepers.

Today I interview Helen Kairo from Anatomika about chameleon anatomy, MBD, and what goes on under a chameleon's skin. Helen is no stranger to the chameleon or even reptile world. If you have seen postings on social media of bright pink skeletons or beautiful images that show a window into the internal organs – that is Helen Kairo. She is actively sharing her love for anatomy and teaching. Today we get to know Helen, her art, and her outreach through her online business Anatomika.

Metabolic Bone Disease is a terminal condition. But, if caught in time, the chameleon’s life can be saved.  Today we talk about living life with a special needs chameleon.

Nutritional disorders in chameleons, like Metabolic Bone Disease, are a result of us not providing natural conditions. Today, John Courteney-Smith joins me to discuss preventing illness through proper environment.

Metabolic Bone Disease, or MBD, is one of the chameleon world’s leading causes of death. And it is completely preventable. Join me in the “Scare Away MBD” campaign and let’s make MBD a story we tell from the chameleon dark ages. In this first episode we are joined by Dr. Rob Coke, the head veterinarian from the San Antonio Zoo who explains what MBD is and what is going on.

More and more chameleon breeders join our ranks every day. And you may be one of those curious about starting a chameleon breeding business. There are scores of instructional materials on how to start a business. But we have an extra twist that our product is a living creature. And with that comes added responsibility. Today we will talk about the basics of pricing your chameleon babies and how your choices affect much more than how quickly you sell the clutch.

Food and water fuel living creatures. Understanding the right fuel for your chameleon is critical to their health. Today we explore the diet of the Veiled Chameleon in the wild and how we can feed them a healthy diet in captivity.

Chameleons are energized from the sun. To keep them in captivity we must replicate the sun’s light, warmth, and UVB. Today we talk about what Veiled chameleons need from their light source.

The Veiled Chameleon is one of the most popular chameleons to keep as a pet. Their hardiness makes them an ideal first chameleon. But they are still a chameleon - and that means some special attention needs to be put to their set-up. Today I go over the basics of Veiled Chameleon husbandry to get you started in the right direction.

It is time to revisit our understanding of hydration in chameleons. We are well aware of hydration during the day, but that is only half of the story. Today we are going to talk about hydration over the entire 24 hours in the day to form a holistic approach to a captive hydration strategy.