https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family daily 0.75 2025-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/561c96ec-f48a-4d7c-97ee-e970d059d412/Reptile+Family https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/brazilian-rainbow-boa-care-guide-sweetie monthly 0.5 2025-10-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/a6ffcc5d-ecfb-4034-89dd-a0422b0c5c4d/Rainbow+On+Glove.jpg Reptile Family - Sweetie Joins the Family: Our Brazilian Rainbow Boa Adventure - Make it stand out Sweetie’s first hand holding session - glove came off in a matter of minutes - she is a sweetheart as Kiley would call her! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/bf63b7c1-9032-40c0-a473-9638919208e0/Rainbow+Boa+Tub+Setup.jpg Reptile Family - Sweetie Joins the Family: Our Brazilian Rainbow Boa Adventure - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/adab6ae7-705a-4552-89c9-6f2eaba20ad4/Boas+by+Beck.jpg Reptile Family - Sweetie Joins the Family: Our Brazilian Rainbow Boa Adventure - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/6e97810c-c44d-4a6e-b704-681189654856/Rainbow+Boa+Hand.jpg Reptile Family - Sweetie Joins the Family: Our Brazilian Rainbow Boa Adventure - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/66f8cde3-823a-465a-ab81-7b3566401784/Adult+Rainbow+Boa+with+Boas+By+Beck.jpg Reptile Family - Sweetie Joins the Family: Our Brazilian Rainbow Boa Adventure - An Anniversary to Remember Ever since our first expo of 2024, momma has had her eyes on Brazilian Rainbow Boas. One breeder in particular, Boa's by Beck from Massachusetts, has been a go-to table at all the local expos we have seen over the past two years. Each visit we got closer and closer, and then on October 11, 2025 – it was done. Matt, with his wicked awesome Massachusetts accent and flair, sold us within a matter of minutes. Not gonna lie, someone (momma) was browsing his stock on Morph Market a few days leading up to the show and kept talking about the Bullseye Brazilian Rainbows. Every experience with Matt from Boa's by Beck was an awesome one. During our first visit early last year, he let Kiley hold onto a very long shed. It was awesome seeing how excited he was to sell us our new baby Rainbow Boa, and knowing it was our anniversary, he gave us a very sweet deal. In fact – Kiley promptly named her Sweetie. Matt gave us a care guide, talked to us at length about how to care for the little kritters, and has even kept in contact with Dad as we have gotten her settled. The guy is the pinnacle of rainbow boa knowledge, and we are thankful he is willing to go that extra mile and check in with his clients. The picture with the Adult Rainbow really captures the iridescent rainbow effect that these snakes can display! Image Credit: Matt Boekeler holding an adult Rainbow Boa of Boas by Beck https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/dads-snake-redemption-boa-imperators-ludo-zoey monthly 0.5 2025-10-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/ce0ddb54-6c79-469b-a190-88c1bf0d96e5/Ludo+Labyrinth+Movie+Cartoon.jpg Reptile Family - Dad's Snake Redemption Arc: Meet Ludo &amp; Zoey! - Make it stand out Cartoon depiction of Ludo from the Labyrinth - an old school movie from Mom & Dad’s childhood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/e484170d-04c4-4ab3-9fad-2595be95dec1/Danger+Noodle.jpg Reptile Family - Dad's Snake Redemption Arc: Meet Ludo &amp; Zoey! - Make it stand out Affectionately known as “Danger Noodle” mode. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1761349727302-ZAUP1SAHXFR2TFQGKVWJ/Ludo+Colors.jpg Reptile Family - Dad's Snake Redemption Arc: Meet Ludo &amp; Zoey! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1761350047584-X6JCHK2GGYEEGPWSIZ9E/Ludo+Basking.jpg Reptile Family - Dad's Snake Redemption Arc: Meet Ludo &amp; Zoey! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1761349727167-Z5WD8CC9Z1ZGXB7TN43H/Zoey+Arrival.jpg Reptile Family - Dad's Snake Redemption Arc: Meet Ludo &amp; Zoey! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1761349728361-1R4KDSTM4OALAWOPSLXZ/Zoey+Basking.jpg Reptile Family - Dad's Snake Redemption Arc: Meet Ludo &amp; Zoey! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1761349728453-9EBU5IY1B2JLT4VDSEQM/Zoey+Derpy.jpg Reptile Family - Dad's Snake Redemption Arc: Meet Ludo &amp; Zoey! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1761349729452-Z8S5DZICBJNVAKWM7B9Q/Zoey+on+branch.jpg Reptile Family - Dad's Snake Redemption Arc: Meet Ludo &amp; Zoey! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/196b351b-70ef-4619-ae4e-b55dd7deaa3d/Enclosures+side+by+side.jpg Reptile Family - Dad's Snake Redemption Arc: Meet Ludo &amp; Zoey! - Make it stand out Ludos temporary 40 Gallon Terrarium (left) and Zoey’s 5×2×2 Ecoflex Mojave Terrarium (work in-progress right). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/ce976c38-5d56-40d7-968e-a5e3486605bc/Boa+Imperators+Ludo+and+Zoey.jpg Reptile Family - Dad's Snake Redemption Arc: Meet Ludo &amp; Zoey! - Make it stand out New Kiley’s Kritters - Boa Imperators Ludo and Zoey! https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/new-geckos-old-friends monthly 0.5 2025-08-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/97392e41-54b3-48ad-9e85-91e85d3e18c1/Pinky+Hero.jpg Reptile Family - New Geckos, Old Friends - A while back, Dad chatted with another local reptile enthusiast and breeder, Mendez Reptiles, who made some good points—Crested Geckos have such expressive little faces and are fun to watch leap and pounce! Their spiderman like abilities to cling to flat surfaces - another superhero like pro! Those eyelashes and goofy smiles are perfect for a storybook character. Still, that wasn’t enough - the entire family needed to embrace the idea of these silly little creatures joining the growing mini dinosaur army. Then Mom and Kiley saw them: a Pink Confetti female and a white male with ink blot–style markings. It was over. There were a few different pair to choose from with similar markings, but the Pink Confetti princess stole the show - just look at that little face and those eyelashes! We couldn’t resist. Ray offered the pair as part of an exchange for the Geyri babies. They were adults, already paired, and clearly something special. A male and female—both on the rare side in terms of pattern/traits. Oh, and here’s a fun fact: once a female Crested Gecko mates, she can lay several clutches without needing to pair again. That means eggs might already be on the way. Kiley’s eyes lit up. She begged. She pleaded. And of course—we caved. To all the Dads out there with little girls - how don’t we go broke?! Also serious, the INN IS FULL! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/8085e2f8-1c43-4893-9ef1-ba1be6954ef2/401Reptiles.jpg Reptile Family - New Geckos, Old Friends - Just a week after redoing Grogu’s setup, we packed up our baby Uromastyx Geyri lizards and made the trip to 401 Reptiles—where their story began just a year ago. Ray and his crew run a top-notch reptile shop. The second you walk in, you can tell they care. Almost every enclosure is set up bioactive, the animals are bright-eyed and alert, and the whole place just feels alive. It was a full-circle kind of moment. Ray had sold us the parent pair, Pikachu and Eevee, and now we were returning with their offspring—our first successful Uromastyx clutch. Apparently, that’s no small feat here in the U.S. There aren’t many people producing Geyri babies, and our success likely had something to do with their setup: a big enclosure, natural decor, and lots of love. Ray was thrilled to see the results—and proud of what we’d accomplished. Unfortunately, Jason wasn’t there to share in the full-circle moment—he was the one holding down the shop last year while Ray was away at a show. He gave us all the info we needed to get started, and we definitely thought of him while handing off those baby Geyri. Much appreciation Jason - thank you for being very helpful that day! Dad recalls Jason just putting one of the Uromastyx in his hand and it just sat there like a little potato - he was hooked! Jason knew what he was doing! We kept back two: Sweetie (aka “Little Petey” according to Dad), and one other for some close friends. One baby’s already off to Florida, and the rest will find great homes through 401’s network. Fingers crossed for another clutch this fall or winter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1754430721905-JI5UAG0EDC1JWKSD6GTP/Inky+Tub.jpg Reptile Family - New Geckos, Old Friends https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1754430721932-R3FONIJ8Y5RQMRYQ6MPB/Pinky+Tub.jpg Reptile Family - New Geckos, Old Friends https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1754430891611-MCCHEZZTN2USO8XRSF9T/Her+Enclosure.jpg Reptile Family - New Geckos, Old Friends https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1754430891488-JOMGJT99XAOK7LMWGOM1/His+Enclosure.jpg Reptile Family - New Geckos, Old Friends https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/surprise-expo-of-2024 monthly 0.5 2025-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/7de83d21-393b-4735-a1dd-4deffc1c8670/Albino+Snow+Salmon+Corn+Snake Reptile Family - A Slithering Surprise: Our Final Reptile Expo of 2024! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/cfd529d3-202e-4a6d-a858-27af7f55b0a6/Dakotah+Blue+Exotics.jpg Reptile Family - A Slithering Surprise: Our Final Reptile Expo of 2024! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/5ae292ed-b7ea-4bba-ac4c-8df7ba87daa6/okeetee-a.jpg Reptile Family - A Slithering Surprise: Our Final Reptile Expo of 2024! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/unexpected-scaly-puppy monthly 0.5 2025-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745113553938-RPINW4I89MP4WY0FMG9F/Extreme-CloseUp.jpg Reptile Family - Pumpkin: An Unexpected Scaly Puppy Like Companion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745113553816-NRD6DO6R9XHH7WFMBCAH/Closeup.jpg Reptile Family - Pumpkin: An Unexpected Scaly Puppy Like Companion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745113553084-10KPDAVHADX0HNKBZE53/Blue-Tongue.jpg Reptile Family - Pumpkin: An Unexpected Scaly Puppy Like Companion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745113553169-HFVEBBXNO2YW5XTG12GN/Baby-Pumpkin.jpg Reptile Family - Pumpkin: An Unexpected Scaly Puppy Like Companion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/cf30a1db-6d6c-4552-8329-028006557679/Pumpkin+Blue+Raspberry Reptile Family - Pumpkin: An Unexpected Scaly Puppy Like Companion - A Blue-Tongue Defense Mechanism When threatened, a Blue-Tongue Skink will open its mouth wide and flash its bright blue tongue. This sudden display of color startles predators, making the Skink appear more dangerous than it actually is. The contrast of the blue-tongue against the pink interior of the mouth enhances the effect. Some researchers believe the color mimics toxic or unpalatable creatures, further discouraging predators. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/06bfc00e-ed69-48d9-964e-d8e3c721bb5b/Orange+and+Black+Norther+Colors Reptile Family - Pumpkin: An Unexpected Scaly Puppy Like Companion - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/d6604304-2697-4147-be78-1ddec1719c5d/Pumpkin+Basking Reptile Family - Pumpkin: An Unexpected Scaly Puppy Like Companion - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/dd2b8b7b-b7a3-4a27-a191-e996953df562/Lap+Skink Reptile Family - Pumpkin: An Unexpected Scaly Puppy Like Companion - Pumpkin’s New Home and Life with Us When Pumpkin first arrived, she was quite shy, spending most of her time burrowed under the coconut husk and chip substrate in a 40-gallon front-opening terrarium (previously home to Pikachu and Eevee). Her enclosure featured a basking platform, a couple of hides, and a fake plant for enrichment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/3d50b733-4de4-40a9-b686-2433db94bd95/Baby+Pumpkin+Arrives Reptile Family - Pumpkin: An Unexpected Scaly Puppy Like Companion - The Great Pumpkin A few months later, we found ourselves obsessively researching Blue-Tongue Skinks and eventually caving to the idea of adding one to our family. After scouring Morph Market, we reached out to Enchanted Blueys, a breeder we had been watching closely. Fortune was on our side! They had baby Skinks available and could ship one overnight to us. Enter Pumpkin. For those who follow reptile genetics, Pumpkin is a Turner White Sunrise Classic. She got her name from her orange hues and the fact that she arrived just in time for Halloween. And we know Kiley loves naming her animals after food! At such a young age, it’s nearly impossible to determine the sex of a Blue-Tongue Skink, but based on her slender body and head shape, we are tentatively calling Pumpkin a she - a theory the breeder agreed with after reviewing some photos. https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/pancake-and-maple-syrup monthly 0.5 2025-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/b5bfe53e-415d-4bfc-a996-0c74b307251e/Maple+Syrup+in+hand Reptile Family - A Playful Q&amp;A with Pancake's New Girlfriend, Maple Syrup - Dad: Cheyene is a bird, and can fly already, how is that a superpower? Kiley: *Laughs - because I want to fly too, like a bird! Dad: If Maple Syrup could talk, what silly greeting do you think she’d say to Pancake when they meet? And can we call her Maple for short? Kiley: Yes, we can call her Maple for short, and you are crazy! Dad: Wait a minute I am crazy? Kiley: *Laughs - No dad! Maple would say Pancake is crazy not you! Well actually you sorta are for letting us get all these snakes! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/acb30772-8f2b-4ebb-abff-774b08b7a6ad/Pancake+Hugs+Cactus Reptile Family - A Playful Q&amp;A with Pancake's New Girlfriend, Maple Syrup - Dad: How do you think Pancake will react when he sees his new girlfriend for the first time? Kiley: Well, he will go crazy of course! And hiss, in a good way, uncontrollably. Like Ssssssssooo nicessssssss to meetsssssssss you! Dad: If the two of them could go on a mini adventure together, where would they go and what would they do? Kiley: They would go to the Zoo and look at the animals, Rogers Williams of course, and they would go eat my favorite Dots ice cream! Dad: On a more serious note, can you tell me what genetic morph Maple Syrup is? What is unique about her? Kiley: Maple Syrup is a Superconda, which means she has no spots, and she is Axanthic, which means she has lots of grey and black visible. She’s also het Toffee, and Pancake is a Toffee Belly! They will make super cool babies! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/f1a557d9-3f45-4ff2-a2cb-8213a4b6faca/AdriansCaptiveCreations Reptile Family - A Playful Q&amp;A with Pancake's New Girlfriend, Maple Syrup - Shout Out: Special thanks to Adrian’s Captive Creations who held onto our Maple Syrup for a few months until the weather was safe enough to ship. Adrian gave Dad week-to-week updates on the girl with pictures, but Dad and Mom kept them secret. As again, Kiley was surprised one usual Tuesday as she got off the bus! We are keeping Maple Syrup in a simple 10-gallon front opening terrarium, with aspen bedding, some hides, cork bark, tree branches, a couple of fake plants, and a rock. Simply providing the same heat as we do Pancake, which is an Arcadia 50W DHP on a dimming thermostat. As she is still a bit small, we have a while before we upgrade her to a forever home, and unlike the smaller male Western Hognose Snake, the females tend to grow a bit larger. For her we may do a 40-gallon bioactive terrarium when she’s ready! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/6a016f15-ad4c-49c0-b725-ef58d69b3a05/Baby+Female+Maple Reptile Family - A Playful Q&amp;A with Pancake's New Girlfriend, Maple Syrup - Another week, another fun surprise for Kiley’s Kritters, as she gets off the bus. No not another puppy, but holy moly is that another snake? Dad’s anti-snake protests have all but disappeared. Who would have thought he would be sharing his roof with not one, not two, not three, but five snakes! Medusa would be impressed! Join us as we sit down and run through some Q&A the day after Maple Syrup’s arrival. Dad: What fun name should we give Pancake’s new girlfriend, and why does that name fit just right? Kiley: Maple Syrup, because pancakes and maple syrup go together! Dad: If Maple Syrup had a secret superpower, what do you think it would be? Kiley: Flying like Cheyene, a Macaw, from Snake Discovery. https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/giant-gecko-muppets monthly 0.5 2025-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745109197166-R8X98XHWKKEN2ZK5IWPI/IMG_9633.JPEG Reptile Family - Discover the Muppet-Like Charm of Giant Leachianus Geckos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745109197753-4DQW5PRHDH4XV9Y1G8WE/IMG_9635.JPEG Reptile Family - Discover the Muppet-Like Charm of Giant Leachianus Geckos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745109198116-PRPTRRYHA78FVCOYXVUW/IMG_9636.JPEG Reptile Family - Discover the Muppet-Like Charm of Giant Leachianus Geckos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745109199571-N6V75H5YWNQSXRPM4X06/IMG_9641.JPEG Reptile Family - Discover the Muppet-Like Charm of Giant Leachianus Geckos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745109199714-Z8IGDXQDG73C80PFH6VP/IMG_9646.JPEG Reptile Family - Discover the Muppet-Like Charm of Giant Leachianus Geckos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745109200594-PSPKBTVW2T9U242ETPVA/IMG_9652.JPEG Reptile Family - Discover the Muppet-Like Charm of Giant Leachianus Geckos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/9bb22471-5a83-46a7-ac7f-360d3c1ea49c/Female+Dairy+Queen+Leachie Reptile Family - Discover the Muppet-Like Charm of Giant Leachianus Geckos - But why stop there? A couple of months later, summer rolled in, and so did our next addition - a stunning Grand Terre High Color baby girl. The moment we laid eyes on her, Kiley couldn’t resist naming her Dairy Queen, a sweet nod to her all-time favorite summer treat spot. And let’s not overlook the fact that she still refers to Grogu as Dairy King, so we now have a royal pair. These baby Muppets are impossibly adorable, waddling around their enclosures with their oversized eyes and squishy little bodies, like tiny puppets brought to life. When we take them out, they just perch in our hands and take in their surroundings – I am sure with a bit of apprehension as even know they are known as Giant Geckos – us Humans are the real Giants in their cute little eyes! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/e92ea929-b2c5-4565-b51a-3b2f8040fe8e/Leachianus+Gecko+Grogu Reptile Family - Discover the Muppet-Like Charm of Giant Leachianus Geckos - Make it stand out Grogu - Male Leachianus Gecko (Baby) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/6fecaaea-8ba6-468e-8510-77c0e92c0e68/Baby+DQ+Leachie Reptile Family - Discover the Muppet-Like Charm of Giant Leachianus Geckos - Make it stand out A very young Dairy Queen - Female Leachianus Gecko in her tub! https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/pizza-night-surprise monthly 0.5 2025-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/c63586ee-afa9-4bb3-91e7-72f64fc21b15/Vibrant+Green+Keeled+Lizard Reptile Family - Pizza Night Surprise: Shrek &amp; Fiona Move Up-Town! - The Mini Monitors Our sights shifted to the charming Emerald Tree Skinks we encountered at NEHERP while picking up Potato, and the supplies for his would-be Skyscraper terrarium. These little critters were cute, active, and downright attention-seeking, and Clint’s Reptiles (one of the coolest, most informative reptile enthusiast on the planet) had even ranked them as one of the best pet lizards. But fate had another twist in store for us as the pair at NEHERP were not for sale at this time. Enter the Green Keeled Belly Lizard - another stellar recommendation from Clint’s Reptiles. Dad had long been intrigued by the sleek Green Tree Monitors, but let’s be honest: they require a bit more space, and some more research – we don’t think he’s given up on that dream. Clint suggested these little lizards were like mini monitors, boasting a long, prehensile tail that accounts for nearly 70% of their body length and giving them an uncanny resemblance to their larger cousins. Native to the lush coastal forests of Kenya and Tanzania, these vibrant reptiles are as striking as they are agile. With their bright green (or sometimes bluish green) hue and a dash of turquoise along their limbs, they immediately captured our eyes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/2e9d935c-84c9-488d-bfca-f5f598e23516/Shrek+and+Fiona+Basking Reptile Family - Pizza Night Surprise: Shrek &amp; Fiona Move Up-Town! - The Surprise Arrival After a bit of research and a lot of excited chatter, we decided that a pair - a male and a female - would be the perfect duo for our Skyscraper terrarium, with hopes that someday we might even incubate a batch of tiny lizards ourselves. One early afternoon, Dad made a mad dash to the nearest FedEx hub, grabbed our new arrivals, and raced home. His mission? To introduce our new pets into the terrarium before Kiley returned from school. And what a day it turned out to be! The terrarium is situated right next to Kiley’s desk - a prime spot during our special Pizza Night. Picture this: Mom and Dad, armed with slices of pizza and our best undercover skills, sat down as Kiley munched on her pie and tuned into her favorite episode of Snake Discovery. All the while, our two new residents were exploring their new domain just a foot away from her. Keeping a secret in our household is nearly impossible. Dad tried every trick in the book - like casually pointing at a “spider on the wall” - to get Kiley to glance at the terrarium. Sure enough, her eyes widened in shock and amazement when she finally spotted them. Dad, with his best poker face, insisted it was just a couple of leaves moving about in our growing terrarium. Kiley wasn’t buying it for one second, and within minutes, she had named the pair Shrek and Fiona. And honestly, for these colorful green lizards with their long, monitor-esque tails, the names couldn’t be more fitting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/ea376ba1-837b-4b24-97eb-2466cf3c7d02/Green+Keeled+Belly+Lizards Reptile Family - Pizza Night Surprise: Shrek &amp; Fiona Move Up-Town! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/snake-called-wanda monthly 0.5 2025-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/42961764-a36b-4599-bb6b-ee2f1db56cd5/Mystic+Potion+Mojave Reptile Family - Wanda the Ball Python: A Fairly OddParent Duo Complete - Make it stand out Mystic Potion Mojave Ball Python https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/a4660107-ddfc-4b03-b986-dbe034840d39/Wanda+Log+Chillng Reptile Family - Wanda the Ball Python: A Fairly OddParent Duo Complete - What’s even more surprising? Dad, the former “No Thanks!” snake skeptic, has developed an unexpected bond with Wanda. Her enclosure is positioned just a few feet away from his heat-and-massage-powered recliner, and every night, like clockwork, she emerges to silently watch him binge his favorite reptile YouTube channels. We’re convinced he’s handled Wanda more than any other snake in our collection, what a transformation! And guess what? Our reptile journey doesn’t stop here. We still have two mystery reptiles to introduce! Stay tuned for more adventures from our ever-growing reptilian family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/6684d4f6-86c2-46d7-a8fe-cbbcf07dd4e0/Wanda+Breeder+Pic Reptile Family - Wanda the Ball Python: A Fairly OddParent Duo Complete - Make it stand out Mythical Exotics - Mojave Piebald Ball Python - Wanda https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/hatching-tales-adventure monthly 0.5 2025-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/eaaf1bdc-3b14-4a9b-8e08-22534c5bafbe/Show+Me+Reptiles+Show Reptile Family - Chasing Scales and Hatching Tales: Our Uromastyx Adventure - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/5cf2d0da-b9a2-4396-93ae-1fe39945358a/Ornate-Uro.jpg Reptile Family - Chasing Scales and Hatching Tales: Our Uromastyx Adventure - Make it stand out The Fabled Ornate Uromastyx - So Dad Says https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745099478124-8G10P7TBM3S6KTJG5WOL/Pika+and+Eve Reptile Family - Chasing Scales and Hatching Tales: Our Uromastyx Adventure - Make it stand out Eevee female on left and Pikachu the male on the right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745100756031-CTRIJDKT55JY1K73OUMR/chillin.jpg Reptile Family - Chasing Scales and Hatching Tales: Our Uromastyx Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745100756083-HWM5VSF5U0G9UDSIF4H5/evee-zoom.jpg Reptile Family - Chasing Scales and Hatching Tales: Our Uromastyx Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745100756788-B3QJ17JHZBTQECIRXPD6/Gravid-Evee.jpg Reptile Family - Chasing Scales and Hatching Tales: Our Uromastyx Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745100756889-NT9MMU8OTWA29Z3PK6KG/Love-Birds-Uro.jpg Reptile Family - Chasing Scales and Hatching Tales: Our Uromastyx Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745100757658-5Y8V7413OQG1ZVC43T2X/Multi-Basking.jpg Reptile Family - Chasing Scales and Hatching Tales: Our Uromastyx Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745100757772-D6SFB41JUN73IMP3F4Y4/Over-50-1.jpg Reptile Family - Chasing Scales and Hatching Tales: Our Uromastyx Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745100758518-JQIDFGKDI2ZWNSKR90IV/Over-50-2.jpg Reptile Family - Chasing Scales and Hatching Tales: Our Uromastyx Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745100758595-TF5PYKYPNA0TDGHFZO4Y/pika-zoom.jpg Reptile Family - Chasing Scales and Hatching Tales: Our Uromastyx Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/651623f5-faf7-4437-8f52-2289304addb8/Uromastyx+Geyri+Basking Reptile Family - Chasing Scales and Hatching Tales: Our Uromastyx Adventure - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/145c3b05-95d5-4697-9371-4947784c8a9d/Uromastyx+Lock Reptile Family - Chasing Scales and Hatching Tales: Our Uromastyx Adventure - Make it stand out Uromastyx Mating - Cue the Barry White.. https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/pancake-another-snake monthly 0.5 2025-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/bc13a918-727c-456e-98b1-e20747e55ce5/Kiley+and+Pancake.jpg Reptile Family - Pancake The Hogsnose Snake! Wait... Another Snake? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745097231306-NMPXLUJ7Y4FU1DQP25FU/Pancake+Western+Hognose Reptile Family - Pancake The Hogsnose Snake! Wait... Another Snake? - Dad: Well, I’ll admit, Pancake is pretty cute. What morph is he again? Kiley: He’s a mix of Toffee Belly and Toxic, which is a combination of Axanthic and Toffee. His belly has the coolest toffee-like pattern! Can we get a Heath Bar Blizzard? Dad: Kiley - it's the middle of Winter; Dairy Queen is closed. Speaking of food, why did you name him Pancake? Kiley: Because when he coils up, he flattens out and looks just like a pancake! It’s the perfect name for him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/acb30772-8f2b-4ebb-abff-774b08b7a6ad/pancake+cactus+perch Reptile Family - Pancake The Hogsnose Snake! Wait... Another Snake? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/0d20b393-5e1c-4874-8dd6-f0ca5ffd84f9/Pancake+Flattened Reptile Family - Pancake The Hogsnose Snake! Wait... Another Snake? - Dad: That does make sense! What makes Pancake so special to you? Kiley: Besides his amazing belly pattern, he just has such a fun personality. He’s like a little mystery noodle with a playful side. Always wiggling around - like me! Dad: A mystery noodle? That’s a new one! What does Pancake do that makes you smile or laugh? Kiley: Oh, definitely when he plays dead! It’s his defense mechanism, but he looks so dramatic, like a tiny, scaly drama queen Dad: Ha! I must admit, after ensuring he isn't really dead, its hilarious to see. So, what does a fun day in the life of Pancake look like? Kiley: I think he spends his time exploring his enclosure, slithering through his tunnels, and investigating all the little hiding spots. He probably thinks he’s on a grand adventure every day! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/0956b2ce-1fc4-4422-8db2-0ab3395fb54f/Pancake+Glass+Surfing Reptile Family - Pancake The Hogsnose Snake! Wait... Another Snake? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/spud-of-a-gargoyle monthly 0.5 2025-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/214833c9-74bc-4541-9f5f-f1f89b3b981c/Fired+Up+Gargoyle Reptile Family - Meet Potato: The Adorable Spud of a Gargoyle Gecko - A Word About “Firing Up”! In gecko behavior, “firing up” is a term used to describe a sudden burst of activity and heightened alertness. This behavior is observed when a gecko reacts to stimuli - whether due to excitement, agitation, or preparing for action - with rapid movements and an increase in energy. Often, enthusiasts note that these behavioral shifts can be accompanied by subtle changes in coloration or posture, serving as a natural display of the gecko’s responsive state. Potato goes from a light greyish color to a dark mossy – bark like color when “firing up”. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/09f9be8e-bbd7-41a2-bb43-e5ba45d51f5f/Gargoyle+Gecko+Potato Reptile Family - Meet Potato: The Adorable Spud of a Gargoyle Gecko - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/feb20f45-ee94-4c3b-9e3d-c7974286d414/Gargoyle+Potato+In+Cover.jpg Reptile Family - Meet Potato: The Adorable Spud of a Gargoyle Gecko - Meet Potato: A Spud Among Geckos We held strong, as cute as the little fella was, we were after a Chahou after all and decided to wrap up and pay for the supplies and head out the door for lunch. BUT before we could even exit, Dad decided we couldn’t leave without it and went back in to inquire about cost. Within a few minutes Mike handed us our newest family member: a tiny New Caledonian gecko we lovingly named Potato complete with his own little glass bioactive terrarium. Why the name Potato? Well, Kiley thought our new friend looked like a little spud, and the name just stuck! Here’s a fun tidbit: while Potato, like many New Caledonian geckos, can drop its tail if threatened, the cool part is that Gargoyle gecko can eventually grow it back. (It might look a bit different the second time around.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/877cca5c-adcb-4fa3-805b-648a48798dd7/Leachie+Gecko Reptile Family - Meet Potato: The Adorable Spud of a Gargoyle Gecko - Make it stand out Giant Leachianus Gecko https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/life-with-a-slinky monthly 0.5 2025-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/93dbebf1-271e-472e-b4cc-f09f568534f9/Cosmo+Starter+Tub Reptile Family - The Journey of Overcoming Fear: A Ball Python Tale - From Snake Skeptic to Snake Dad Bringing Cosmo home was a big deal for all of us, especially Dad. What started as a childhood fear turned into a journey of discovery, patience, and maybe even a little bravery. Cosmo isn’t just a snake; he’s a symbol of overcoming fears and embracing the unknown. And while Dad might never love the idea of snakes darting out from behind Monopoly boards, he’s become surprisingly fond of his new, slithery family member. Who knew? In making it his mission to upkeep all the reptile’s husbandry, Dad has often picked up Cosmo to move things around in his enclosure without even realizing he’s holding what he used to consider a “Danger Noodle”. In the meantime, Cosmo’s content being the center of attention—and maybe, just maybe, the rock-solid pet Dad always wanted. Get it? Pet Rock, rock solid pet? Yea Dad also has horrible dad jokes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/d18dce0e-2100-4f08-bea4-c7468913b10e/Ball+Python+Bioactive+Terrarium Reptile Family - The Journey of Overcoming Fear: A Ball Python Tale - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/3b8f3afe-4899-405c-9a06-e2d7ae72aec5/Python+and+Kiley.jpg Reptile Family - The Journey of Overcoming Fear: A Ball Python Tale - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/7e382e07-6873-4772-95d9-7a8c16f17a75/Cosmo+Ball+Python.jpg Reptile Family - The Journey of Overcoming Fear: A Ball Python Tale - Meeting Cosmo Picture this: it’s Mom’s birthday, and instead of the usual dinner-and-a-cake routine, we’re in a room filled with colorful, slithery creatures. To Dad’s credit, he didn’t bolt. In fact, it was here that we found the one. A piebald, enchi, mystic (with a possible orange dream) ball python who immediately stole our hearts. If you’re scratching your head at all those fancy words, you’re not alone. Ball python genetics have become something of a science experiment over the years. Originally, ball pythons were just a variation black or dark brown with light brown or tan blotches on their sides and back. These are the snakes you might see in the wild. But thanks to breeders experimenting with genetics, they now come in a kaleidoscope of patterns and colors, ranging from the high-contrast piebald (think mostly white with “paint splatters”) to the vibrant, dreamlike hues of morphs like orange dream and enchi. Cosmo is basically a Picasso painting wrapped up in a snake body. Oh, and the name? Kiley wasted no time in dubbing him Cosmo, inspired by the whimsical “Fairly OddParents” cartoon. It was fitting—he’s colorful, quirky, and magical to look at. https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/there-and-back-again monthly 0.5 2025-04-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745018281495-S7GKTCLET8B5YADZA6QD/Bibo-Showing-Off-Thighs.jpg Reptile Family - PetSmart – There and back again, and again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745018281547-E6ZAZ0HK43YSAICKTGT6/Bilbo-Hides.jpg Reptile Family - PetSmart – There and back again, and again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745018282342-MWY6L2D41NH7D6KW6LRA/Bilbo-In-Bioactive.jpg Reptile Family - PetSmart – There and back again, and again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745018282400-48OXZ4KOT209XX3EXPI5/Bilbo-Perch.jpg Reptile Family - PetSmart – There and back again, and again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/d3aaea20-7824-4b71-8be1-ed17122f6720/Juvenile-Bilbo-Closeup2.jpg Reptile Family - PetSmart – There and back again, and again. - Determined not to give up, Dad dove deep into the world of online reptile breeders after finally doing some research. That’s when we discovered Morph Market, a haven for well-bred reptiles. It was there that we found our final dragon, our hero—Bilbo Draggins. He was a robust little guy with a spark of personality that practically screamed, “I’m ready for adventure!” From this point on we started do to research first, and reptile purchase second, after we were well enough informed. We suggest the same to anyone interested in this pet hobby. Unlike his predecessors, Bilbo Draggins (the third) wasted no time settling in. Just an hour after emerging from his shipping box, he dove headfirst into his food dish like a hobbit at a feast. And he hasn’t stopped eating since. Kiley affectionately calls him “Beastboy” (because, she has an affinity for Teen Titans Go and the little dude who can turn into reptiles), but Dad’s epic naming skills have made "Bilbo Draggins" his official title. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/dfa803a5-7878-4e2a-b0fd-3115c0831732/Bilbo-Chonker.jpg Reptile Family - PetSmart – There and back again, and again. - Fun Facts About Bearded Dragons Native to the arid regions of Australia, bearded dragons are masters of adaptation. In the wild, they can be found lounging on rocks, basking in the sun, or climbing trees. Their “beard” (a spiky throat pouch) isn’t just for show—it darkens and puffs up when they’re feeling threatened or trying to assert dominance. To keep Bilbo healthy and happy, we’ve created a little slice of Australia in his tank. He is on his second iteration of the 4x2x2 enclosure, and it's now fully bioactive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/fb159be2-bc23-4cb4-84ee-4b3bd39acd90/Kileys+Kritters+Books.jpg Reptile Family - PetSmart – There and back again, and again. - Bilbo Draggin’s Zoo Adventure Books! Bilbo has his very own set of children’s books sold on Amazon! Kiley and Daddy decided one day to sit down and write a story about how Bilbo decided to visit a zoo. We jot down various scenes, came up with a story line, with rhymes, and then put it together! We utilized some AI to scan a photo of our boy Bilbo and turn him into a cartoon! From there it was just a matter of creating images and putting the book together! To accompany the book we crafted a coloring book! There is also puzzles based off various scenes and he even has his own clothing merch! Head on over to Kiley’s Kritters World to check out the merch! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/3c8a78ab-2a7c-4a1e-979d-b9235794625e/Bilbo-Ducky.jpg Reptile Family - PetSmart – There and back again, and again. - It all started innocently enough— with a cute little leopard gecko. Mom and Kiley had their reptile, Lizzie the leopard gecko, we brought home this tiny, spotted queen in early February. Lizzie’s charm was undeniable, and she quickly became the reigning monarch of her cozy terrarium. But little did we know, this would spark a chain reaction that would forever change the dynamic of our family... and our bedroom, computer room, living room, art room, and entertainment room! Enter a fire breathing dragon, well I mean Dads can dream right? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/de837bdc-199c-4ddb-9b87-c88bb2e001d3/New-Bilbo-Bioactive.jpg Reptile Family - PetSmart – There and back again, and again. - Our Growing Reptile Family With Lizzie ruling her leopard gecko 40-gallon kingdom and Bilbo Draggins (aka Beastboy) dominating his larger 120-gallon desert domain, our home has turned into a reptile Jurassic Park. Every day is an adventure—whether it’s watching Lizzie scale her hideaway like a slow-moving ninja or marveling at Bilbo’s voracious appetite (seriously, we think he’s part dragon, part vacuum cleaner). So, here’s to Lizzie, Bilbo Draggins, and the wild, scaly journey they’ve taken us on. Because sometimes, the best adventures don’t require a trip to Mordor—just a trip to the Morph Market or a local reptile expo – more about that later! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/f15e3808-857b-4409-a41b-5e96c32ed397/Pet-Smart-Bilbo.jpg Reptile Family - PetSmart – There and back again, and again. - The Quest for Bilbo Draggins Just one week after Lizzie’s arrival, Dad—our resident fantasy fanatic—decided it was time to claim his stake in the reptile game. With his video library stacked with Game of Thrones, The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings, there was only one logical choice: a dragon. Okay, maybe not a fire-breathing Smaug, but the next best thing—a bearded dragon. The journey to find Dad’s perfect dragon wasn’t without its bumps in the road. Armed with excitement (and not enough research), we first turned to the local PetSmart. The first two bearded dragons we brought home didn’t quite fit the bill—one was lethargic, the other even more so, they both had some health concerns. As much as we wanted to make it work, each dragon had to be returned—first one after 30 days, and the second after just 14 days. https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/lizzie monthly 0.5 2025-04-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/0cfabaee-04fc-477b-9c03-f93c11962ad8/Lizzie+Calcium.jpg Reptile Family - Lizzie's Royal Transformation: From Shy to Sassy Gecko - Here are some basic facts on how we keep her and hopefully they may help you if you decide a cute leopard lizard is for you! Tank Size: 40 Gallon Thrive (Front opening is best!) Heat: 50 Watt Arcadia Deep Heat Projector. UVB: 12” - Arcadia Shadedweller 7% (Check and replace once per year or so!) Light: 15” – Repti Zoo 6500 Lumens LED. Substrate: 40% Organic Topsoil, 40% Play Sand, 20% Excavator Clay. Drainage Layer: Exo Terra Sub Stratum Plants: Aloe, Non-Spiny Cactus, Spider Plant, Rubber Plant, Snake Plant, Golden Pothos, and Elephant Feed. Hides: Various from cork bark to dug out burrows. Humid Hide (Helps with shed): 3 in 1 Hide cave with detachable base and humidity dish. Temperatures: Warm side (80-90 degrees), Basking Surface Slate (92-95 degrees), Cool side (75-80 degrees) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/2f0616f7-1838-429f-b3a5-df2eb254067a/Lizzie-Explores-Bioactive.jpg Reptile Family - Lizzie's Royal Transformation: From Shy to Sassy Gecko - Fast forward to today, and Lizzie is living her best life in a palatial 40-gallon bioactive setup, complete with all the trimmings a gecko could dream of. Her shyness has given way to what I can only describe as attention-seeking diva behavior. She no longer hides when someone enters the room—in fact, she seems to enjoy coming out to say hi, possibly angling for her next treat. From fumbling gecko newbies to proud reptile parents, we’ve grown just as much as Lizzie has. It’s safe to say she’s no longer just a pet; Lizzie is a part of the family and the reigning queen of her lush, leafy kingdom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/aa6fdeac-1ce7-4b86-b3f1-2209ac33ae83/Lizzie-Enclosure-Take1.jpg Reptile Family - Lizzie's Royal Transformation: From Shy to Sassy Gecko - When we picked up Lizzie from Petco, armed with a 10-gallon tank and a kit that seemed like a good idea at the time, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Lizzie, tiny and timid, came with big expectations we weren’t prepared for. That reptile carpet? Turns out it’s a no-go for her delicate toes. The 10-gallon tank? An absolute starter home that didn’t match her queenly aspirations. And Lizzie herself? She was more "introverted artist in hiding" than "reptilian social butterfly." For two months, I practiced what’s called choice-based handling, coaxing her to climb onto my hand on her terms. Pair that with some gourmet tong-fed insects, and Lizzie started warming up—slowly but surely. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/007f1186-3aa9-4141-b5ab-ea3f03092ef5/Lizzie-Happy.jpg Reptile Family - Lizzie's Royal Transformation: From Shy to Sassy Gecko - A journey from shy to sassy. Meet Lizzie our first pet reptile. In this post we will give her backstory along with how we care for her along the way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/06f9c0dc-1a7d-4aeb-8dd0-c514cbb8b663/Lizze+Stalking.jpg Reptile Family - Lizzie's Royal Transformation: From Shy to Sassy Gecko - Key things to note: Leopard Geckos come from arid environments. You want to make sure you mimic that and ensure the plants you get can survive. Leopard Geckos aren’t typically plant eaters but ensure you do your research and get reptile safe plants when purchasing. If I had to do this again, and I will sometime in the near future, I would not utilize a drainage layer as with arid environments the substrate should not be very wet, but moist to the touch about midway down or so, and drier on the top. Leopard Geckos can drop their tail if they feel like they are in danger, but they will regrow it fully, it will just look a little different. We were told by Petco that Lizzie most likely dropped her tail as a baby. Today she has a full tail, and it doesn’t look odd or anything. A good sign of health is a nice full Leopard Gecko tail, as that is where they store their fat reserves! Too fat of a tail can be a sign of obesity and you want to avoid that. https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/category/Reptile+Family monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Reptiles monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Leachianus+Gecko monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Boas monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/western+hognose monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Gargoyle+Gecko monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Blue-Tongue+Skink monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Snakes monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Ball+Python monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Corn+Snake monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Leachie monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Bearded+Dragon monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Lizards monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Reptile+Family monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Uromastyx monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Crested monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Central+Bearded+Dragon monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Gecko monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Uromastyx+Geyri monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Green+Keeled+Bellied+Lizards monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-family/tag/Leopard+Gecko monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/community-spotlight daily 0.75 2026-01-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/07d415d2-e60f-407c-9f46-6eb856e77a33/Community-Spotlight.jpg https://www.kileyskritters.com/community-spotlight/supreme-gecko-community-spotlight monthly 0.5 2026-01-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/75f8d27c-ffa5-4ec2-8cd5-32a3961a703a/Wally+and+Nanette.jpg Community Spotlight - Geckos and Good Cheer: Hanging Out With Supreme Gecko - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1767819239187-MTTZDP43TWBKQ1CEOKDX/Fun.jpg Community Spotlight - Geckos and Good Cheer: Hanging Out With Supreme Gecko - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/fbd8772c-5733-4cbc-b097-c03215f269d6/Supreme.png Community Spotlight - Geckos and Good Cheer: Hanging Out With Supreme Gecko - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kileyskritters.com/community-spotlight/adam-wickens-wwr-spotlight monthly 0.5 2025-09-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/820f50e1-0e22-4483-8383-6fbaeafdb748/Diamond.jpg Community Spotlight - Meet Adam Wickens - The Comedy Club Keeper Turned Reptile Educator - Make it stand out Courtesy of Wickens Wicked Reptiles Facebook Page - Meet Diamond! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/c8890359-742d-4d08-86f9-8810e0d247d9/Top+5+Chameleons.jpg Community Spotlight - Meet Adam Wickens - The Comedy Club Keeper Turned Reptile Educator - The WWR Family Adventure Courtesy of Wickens Wicked Reptiles Facebook Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/6f1e1736-f647-4060-9351-8a226b216ff9/Adam+and+Canadians.jpg Community Spotlight - Meet Adam Wickens - The Comedy Club Keeper Turned Reptile Educator - Friends and Fun One of the most enjoyable parts of following Adam is watching his friendships with other reptile YouTubers. His adventures with Dāv Kaufman (who he playfully calls a "sasquatch") are hilarious, especially when Dāv pokes fun at Adam's height and bald head. Their travel vlogs and expo visits show the fun side of the reptile community - it's like watching a pair of brothers who happen to love the same hobby. Adam also collaborates with other Canadian reptile keepers like Mike Tytula and Reptiliatus, and you can see how much these creators support each other. It's the kind of community spirit that makes the reptile world feel welcoming for families just starting out. Adam with fellow Canadian Reptile Influencers pictured here with smiles that show how much they love their role in the community and hanging out! Photo Credit: Wickens Wicked Reptiles Facebook Page https://www.kileyskritters.com/community-spotlight/ocean-ramsey-conservation-spotlight monthly 0.5 2025-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1f8bd17b-6693-45c1-8b63-a1aa423c450b/Ocean+Ramsay+Great+White+Ride+Along.jpg Community Spotlight - Ocean Ramsey - The Shark Whisperer Making Waves - Make it stand out Image credit: Red Bull Media House https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/367f9e69-5077-4077-85d8-d627c1292c66/Ocean+Ramsay+Grandma+Great+White.jpg Community Spotlight - Ocean Ramsey - The Shark Whisperer Making Waves - Make it stand out Image credit: Ocean Ramsey via oceanramsey.org https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/51370b27-6e20-453b-8ede-6cd565d45e74/Ocean+Ramsay+Tiger+Shark+Up+Close.jpg Community Spotlight - Ocean Ramsey - The Shark Whisperer Making Waves - Why We're Celebrating Her Watching her story gets us so excited about our own mission in the animal world. We're always trying to show people that bearded dragons aren't mini dinosaurs waiting to attack, or that ball pythons are actually super gentle. Remember Dad once referred to snakes as “Nope Ropes”. Ocean's doing the same thing with sharks, and she's proving it works. She's shown us that passionate advocates can make real change happen. Her genuine love for these animals shines through everything she does, and the results speak for themselves - legal protections, changed minds, and a whole generation growing up seeing sharks differently. Our Take We absolutely admire what Ocean's accomplished. She's taken one of the most feared animals on the planet and helped people see their true beauty and importance. That takes incredible courage and dedication. What really impresses us is how she's built a sustainable model - her tours fund research and conservation work while educating people. It's brilliant, and it's making a real difference. Image credit: Ocean Ramsey via oceanramsey.org https://www.kileyskritters.com/community-spotlight/team-barczyk-legacy monthly 0.5 2025-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745527678540-FV0STRDCA7H9NWZYE5CM/Lori+Barczyk+2025.jpg Community Spotlight - Following Lori Barczyk to Brian’s Reptile Legacy - Lori Barczyk Reptile Matriarch At first, we were drawn in by Brian's wife, Lori, and her incredible team as they showed off life at The Reptarium and gave behind-the-scenes looks at the new LegaSea Aquarium being built across the street. Lori Barczyk isn’t just continuing Brian’s dream—she’s redefining what it means to lead with heart. Stepping into the spotlight after decades of supporting Brian’s mission behind the scenes, Lori has become the face and force behind both The Reptarium and the newly opened LegaSea Aquarium. Whether she’s wielding a drill, wrangling an animal, or sharing an emotional moment with the team, her determination and spirit are hard to miss. You can feel how deeply she believes in what they’re building - not just for the animals, but for the people who come to learn, laugh, and leave inspired. Lori’s strength, warmth, and no-nonsense grit are what hold this whole operation together, and it’s clear the entire crew rallies around her as they carry forward a legacy that’s now just as much hers as it was Brian’s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/bc8f87b2-6588-4c07-ba35-65e809111dc2/LegaSea+Aquarium+and+The+Reptarium+2025.jpg Community Spotlight - Following Lori Barczyk to Brian’s Reptile Legacy - Make it stand out The New Reptarium and LegaSea Aquarium! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/960c75d4-d17e-4445-974d-c1d48d2308d0/Melissa+Sweet Community Spotlight - Following Lori Barczyk to Brian’s Reptile Legacy - Melissa Sweet - Melissa serves as the Director of Community Relations and brings a wealth of knowledge and a nurturing approach to animal care, ensuring the well-being of the animals in her care. Her dedication to animal welfare and her engaging presence makes her an integral part of the team. She also puts time and energy into creating enriching, reptile-friendly habitats that reflect her thoughtfulness and care. Her interactions with the adorable and cuddly Sloth are our favorite! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/0c6e1372-fb57-48fa-818f-43066abf5139/Mike+Wilson Community Spotlight - Following Lori Barczyk to Brian’s Reptile Legacy - Mike Wilson - Serving as the Head Zookeeper at both The Reptarium and the LegaSea Aquarium, Mike plays a pivotal role in overseeing animal care and ensuring the well-being of the diverse species housed at the facilities. His extensive experience and deep knowledge of reptiles make him an invaluable asset to the team. Beyond his professional expertise, Mike's fun-loving and approachable demeanor has endeared him to visitors and viewers alike, making educational experiences both informative and enjoyable. We feel like Mike often gets the poop end of the snake – and he really doesn’t care! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/51947c1a-787d-48bc-b345-37345064c79a/Connie+Stiller Community Spotlight - Following Lori Barczyk to Brian’s Reptile Legacy - Connie Stiller - is a valued member of The Reptarium crew, known for her dedication, work ethic, and fun-loving energy. As a zookeeper, she plays a hands-on role in caring for a wide variety of reptiles and mammals—helping ensure enclosures are clean, animals are healthy, and guests have a memorable experience. Connie is often seen alongside the rest of the crew in vlogs and behind-the-scenes content, jumping in on animal care routines, group projects, and the occasional crew shenanigans. Her passion for animals is obvious, and she brings a balance of professionalism and humor to the team that makes her an essential part of the Reptile Army. This girl can keep up with the hijinks of both the boys – Mike and Jay Tingle! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/74094e7f-5326-4ff8-a064-2c82d019e1c3/Reptarium+Crew Community Spotlight - Following Lori Barczyk to Brian’s Reptile Legacy - Make it stand out The Reptarium Crew Together with the Late Brian Barczyk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/9e48484f-93f0-4fba-8575-5dcc5dd33537/Jay+Tingle Community Spotlight - Following Lori Barczyk to Brian’s Reptile Legacy - Jay Tingle - As an Animal Educator at The Reptarium, Jay brings a dynamic presence to the team. His engaging content and deep knowledge of reptiles have captivated audiences, making him a standout personality within the community. Jay's ability to connect with both animals and visitors enhances the educational experiences offered at the facility. Jay is constantly smiling and loving everything that is going on around him – and notably likes to have a good time! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/bb3f7364-b4ee-4181-965d-1953c2c6830a/Brian+Barczyk+In+Memory+Of Community Spotlight - Following Lori Barczyk to Brian’s Reptile Legacy - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/7e1eef92-2388-498e-93f6-4bb6d994d5fa/Jay+Tomsky.jpg Community Spotlight - Following Lori Barczyk to Brian’s Reptile Legacy - Jay Tomsky - As the Creative Director and longtime videographer for Brian Barczyk, Jay has been a driving force behind the channel's engaging content. Beyond his behind-the-camera expertise, Jay's on-screen presence and storytelling have made him one of the most recognizable and beloved personalities in the Reptarium community. He brings great energy and attitude to everything he does - channeling his inner Brian, we’re sure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/a1199cf3-54c3-4d2b-a831-52f2403b1075/Brian+Gator.jpg Community Spotlight - Following Lori Barczyk to Brian’s Reptile Legacy - Brian did not fall to an accident with nature, sadly he was taken from his family, friends, and the reptile community by cancer. Brian's final video, "This Is Goodbye...", was a heartfelt farewell, recorded during his battle with pancreatic cancer. In it, he encouraged viewers to continue supporting the channel and his family's endeavors, emphasizing his belief that "you never die until the last person speaks your name." His wish was for The Reptarium and the new LegaSea Aquarium to continue inspiring others to love animals and wildlife. We have to admit that video had been lingering out there, and it took a bit of courage to finally sit down and view it. It was heartbreaking, but at the same time inspiring - and it only fueled our passion to keep watching and cheering on his family and friends as they carry on his tradition. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/06234624-f5fb-4f5c-8eb7-d3673b856fbe/Brian+Barczyk+Animal+Con Community Spotlight - Following Lori Barczyk to Brian’s Reptile Legacy - Make it stand out Brian’s energy was undeniable! https://www.kileyskritters.com/community-spotlight/green-room-pythons monthly 0.5 2025-04-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1d7a9d2a-661d-4040-bfca-678eb71807b5/Amy+Bentley+and+Bob+Bledsoe Community Spotlight - Slither &amp; Sip: The Wild World of Green Room Pythons - Make it stand out Amy and Bob and Clint’s Reptile Room! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745106416520-UVR0D56X9ZIWAVOELQO5/Green-Room-Pythons-Blog.jpg Community Spotlight - Slither &amp; Sip: The Wild World of Green Room Pythons - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kileyskritters.com/community-spotlight/dav-kaufman monthly 0.5 2025-04-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/87bc0625-d71f-4939-8c87-754cacfc2c76/wild+boa.jpg Community Spotlight - Dive into the Wild World of Dāv Kaufman! - Imagine an old-fashioned, outdoor, circa late 90s, high school party where the energy is electric, the laughter infectious, and amidst the crowd stands an older, wildly entertaining figure regaling everyone with tales of adventure. You know the crazy guy who would do a keg stand while holding a venomous snake! That's the vibe Dāv Kaufman exudes - a charismatic blend of humor and untamed spirit that draws people in, much like that unforgettable character who becomes the life of the party. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/9c48de26-88af-4016-bfc2-2af7df833687/Herpers.PNG Community Spotlight - Dive into the Wild World of Dāv Kaufman! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/54f6dcb7-6920-4775-9d3c-b86694b66da2/USARK+Dav+%26+Kusko Community Spotlight - Dive into the Wild World of Dāv Kaufman! - Reptile Expos and YouTube Collaborations Dāv's adventures often lead him to reptile expos, where he collaborates with fellow YouTubers like Brian Kusko, Bob Bledsoe of Green Room Pythons, and occasionally Emily and Ed of Snake Discovery. These collaborations are a treat for viewers, combining diverse expertise and personalities, making the world of herpetology accessible and engaging. We have really grown to like and follow all these YouTube creators and it’s great to see them working and often joking together! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/42bfb66a-10f7-40a0-b9fd-68ba4124f208/Emily+and+Dav+Clerks Community Spotlight - Dive into the Wild World of Dāv Kaufman! - Make it stand out Dav & Emily Custom Enclosure Background As Clerks In A Build Off! https://www.kileyskritters.com/community-spotlight/discovering-clints-reptiles monthly 0.5 2025-04-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/a4f03b4e-1af8-40da-95c9-653f0fd83505/Clints+Reptiles.jpg Community Spotlight - Scales and Smiles: Discovering Clint's Reptiles World - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/01aad65c-d84b-4fb8-a0e3-39f8aa15bea5/IMG_4993-e1658815148663-400x400.jpg Community Spotlight - Scales and Smiles: Discovering Clint's Reptiles World - Clint's Reptiles isn't just confined to the digital realm. In Springville, Utah, Clint has established Clint's Reptile Room, a haven for reptile enthusiasts. This unique space offers visitors the chance to hold, feed, and interact with a variety of reptiles, providing hands-on experiences that are both educational and thrilling. Making it on our bucket list of places to visit, right after Snake Discovery! Clint is very familiar with Snake Discovery and a host of other reptile YouTubers as they often get together for fun events and expos. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/26ba9ac9-64a7-4be0-ad00-5a01c0d6f7cd/Academy.PNG Community Spotlight - Scales and Smiles: Discovering Clint's Reptiles World - Make it stand While in Utah, and in the warmer months, for those seeking deeper immersion, Clint's Reptile Academy offers summer camps tailored for various age groups, including adults. These camps provide hands-on, field-based learning experiences, covering topics like adaptation, habitats, and reptile diversity. It's an unforgettable adventure for anyone interested in the wild world of reptiles. Kiley’s Kritters definitely wants to attend one of these camps, but who will watch all our reptiles? It is not so easy convincing your normal dog & cat sitter into feeding bugs or frozen thawed mice to reptiles! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/583e5940-3a54-42be-bebd-4371c6b8f821/Trex.PNG Community Spotlight - Scales and Smiles: Discovering Clint's Reptiles World - Clint's Reptiles: "Well Hi There!" Our journey began with a quest for knowledge about Leopard Geckos, leading us to Clint's detailed and enthusiastic videos. His passion was contagious, and soon we found ourselves diving into his content on Emerald Tree Skinks, Gargoyle Geckos, Chahoua Geckos, Leachianus Geckos, Bearded Dragons, Ball Pythons, Rosy Boas, Blue-Tongue Skinks - the list seemed endless! Clint would also list all these animals by their “scientific names” – but we won’t get into that as we don’t speak Greek! It's safe to say we've probably watched just about all his content, each video leaving us more informed and enamored with these incredible creatures as evident by our collection. I don’t think there is one reptile we have that we didn’t stop and watch one of his videos for! Even if it were in the parking lot of a reptile shop or expo! https://www.kileyskritters.com/community-spotlight/snake-discovery-obsession monthly 0.5 2025-04-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/f6788148-9d02-4af6-ab10-392fe4c799ef/SD+Emily+and+Ed Community Spotlight - How a YouTube Channel Sparked Our Family’s Reptile Obsession - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/77a28673-a5a5-47ed-a357-1e5d4831236f/Snake+Discovery+Store.jpg Community Spotlight - How a YouTube Channel Sparked Our Family’s Reptile Obsession - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/aa3a041f-4011-4251-bc6c-40fe209a20b8/zoo.jpg Community Spotlight - How a YouTube Channel Sparked Our Family’s Reptile Obsession - Make it stand out Snake Discovery Zoo! https://www.kileyskritters.com/community-spotlight/category/Community+Spotlight monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/community-spotlight/tag/Aquarium monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/community-spotlight/tag/Reptile+Community monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/community-spotlight/tag/Community+Spotlight monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/community-spotlight/tag/Sharks monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/community-spotlight/tag/Spotlight monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/community-spotlight/tag/YouTubers monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries daily 0.75 2025-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/c10180f4-a462-4c5d-b603-a404735bca17/Kileys-Blogs-Optimized.jpg https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries/surprise-baby-green-keeled-bellied-lizards monthly 0.5 2025-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/52eb529c-97ca-49e7-af82-b2e917acb45a/Reptile+Habitats+2x2x2+Nursery.jpg Reptile Diaries - Surprise Baby Boom: Our Green Keeled‑Bellied Lizards Have Unannounced Six Hatchlings! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/34ff1c6b-e085-4704-be57-61410f413913/Baby+Green+Keeled+with+Adult+Looking+On.jpg Reptile Diaries - Surprise Baby Boom: Our Green Keeled‑Bellied Lizards Have Unannounced Six Hatchlings! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/7b082aec-f92e-471d-a9a2-90434819170c/Temporary+Nursery.jpg Reptile Diaries - Surprise Baby Boom: Our Green Keeled‑Bellied Lizards Have Unannounced Six Hatchlings! - Make it stand out Temporary 10-Gallon Nursery with lights, heating, and climbing opportunities - complete with built in hides. https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries/what-is-brumation-pet-reptiles-winter-care monthly 0.5 2025-11-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/abb41377-cec1-459a-a38f-c63e9907e35e/Lizzie+Leopard+Gecko+Nap.jpg Reptile Diaries - Winter Sleepytime: Understanding Brumation in Our Scaly Friends - Leopard Geckos ✓ Do they brumate? YES! Leopard geckos naturally experience cooler winters in their native Afghanistan and Pakistan habitats. In captivity, they may enter a light brumation period. What to expect: - Reduced feeding (eating every 10-14 days instead of weekly) - More time hiding - Less nighttime activity - Occasional emergence for water Duration: Usually December through late February (2-3 months) What we’ve learned: Our leopard gecko becomes less interested in mealtime during winter but still comes out occasionally. We keep offering food but don’t worry if it’s refused. When Lizzie does poke her head out, she also seems somewhat interested in being held for a few moments here and there. Otherwise, she does do a great job of sleeping during the cooler months! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/15c6f984-5945-40d7-98e5-53f69f9f119f/Snake+Cartoon+Sleeping.png Reptile Diaries - Winter Sleepytime: Understanding Brumation in Our Scaly Friends - Snake Family: Western Hognose Snakes ✓ Do they brumate? Yes — but only needed for breeding or natural cycles. Pet hognoses can stay healthy without brumation if temperatures and photoperiod remain stable. About Brumation: Western hognose snakes come from areas with winter cooling, so brumation is a natural seasonal behavior. Brumation Signs Little to no interest in food Increased hiding / reduced activity Occasional movement to drink water Typical Duration 6–12 weeks Often December–February Important Feeding Note Stop feeding 10–14 days before cooling and wait for the snake to pass waste. Never brumate a snake that hasn’t cleared its system or appears underweight or ill. When Brumation is Recommended Breeding projects Mature, healthy animals Keeper knows how to control temps/light When to Avoid Brumation Juveniles (<1 year) Snakes not eating consistently Sick or underweight animals Unexperienced keepers without guidance So far with Pancake and Maple Syrup they are a bit young still and we have not yet determined when to start brumation in advance of at least one breeding attempt. Most likely we will wait until young miss Maple is a year or two older. Corn Snakes ✓ Do they brumate? Yes! Corn snakes naturally brumate in the wild, and seasonal cooling is commonly used for healthy, mature breeding adults. However, pet corn snakes do not need brumation if kept on consistent heat and lighting — they stay perfectly healthy without it. What to expect during brumation: Little to no interest in food Very low activity Hiding in cool, sheltered areas Calm and slower, but still responsive Typical cooling parameters (breeding only): 58–62°F is ideal (safe range 55–65°F) Duration: ~8–12 weeks during winter Important preparation: Stop feeding 10–14 days before cooling Confirm last bowel movement Lower temps gradually over 1–2 weeks Our plan: We will only brumate healthy, adult corn snakes if breeding. Otherwise, we’ll maintain normal temperatures year-round — pet corn snakes thrive without brumation. For Peaches we do not plan on breeding her so we will maintain status quo. Ball Pythons ✗ (No!) Do they brumate? NO—but they do experience seasonal changes! Ball pythons are from tropical West Africa, where temperatures stay relatively warm year-round. They don’t brumate in the traditional sense, but they do have a “cooling season.” What happens instead: - Reduced appetite (especially males during breeding season) - Slightly less activity - Normal alertness and responsiveness maintained - No need for temperature drops Important warning: Temperatures low enough to trigger true brumation can be dangerous or fatal to ball pythons. They should always have access to proper heat, and ambient temperatures shouldn’t drop below 80°F. Duration of slowdown: Variable, often October through February Our Wanda and Cosmo are both very different. We see Wanda out at night and peaking her head out of her hide to watch our activity more during the day then Cosmo. They are also quite young, just going on two years, so we have not attempted to breed them just yet. Either way no noticeable difference so far in cooler month activity, but we maintain temperature and day/night cycle light activity. Boa Imperators ~ (Not Really!) Do they brumate? Not true brumation — but mild seasonal cooling may be used for breeding. Boa imperators (often called "common boas" or formerly boa constrictors) come from Central & parts of South America where temperatures fluctuate, but not enough for true brumation. They can handle cooler periods better than tropical rainforest species — but cooling is optional, not required. ️ If Cooling for Breeding (Advanced Keepers Only) Typical breeding cooling practices: Gradual feeding reduction Lower activity Still alert & reactive (not dormant like brumating colubrids) Temps kept safely above 72°F (22°C) Avoid going below: 70°F (21°C) — too cool for many boas and risky for respiratory health Cooling Window: 6–10 weeks, with a slow cool-down and warm-up Note: Many successful boa pairings happen without cooling at all — cooling just simulates a drier, slightly cooler seasonal shift. For Pet Boa Imperators (No Breeding) We will not cool our boas — they thrive with stable warmth and humidity. General preferred temps: Ambient: 80–85°F (27–29°C) Warm spot: 88–92°F (31–33°C) Cooler zone: ~78°F (25–26°C) Stable warm conditions = consistent appetite, strong immunity, and reduced stress. When to Avoid Cooling Do not cool: Juvenile boas (<2 years) Snakes recovering from illness Snakes not eating consistently Pet boas not intended for breeding No plans on attempting to cool them off this year. Both Ludo and Zoey are too new to our family, and we plan on keeping consistent temperatures and light cycles throughout their first year with us! Rainbow Boas ~ (Not Really!) Do they brumate? Not really! They're tropical snakes, so they don't brumate. Breeders may use a gentle cooling period to encourage breeding, but it's not needed for pets. Rainbow Boas can be very tricky, especially when younger to care for. Consult with professional breeders and an exotic veterinarian before thinking about doing any sort of cooling for breeding. If cooling for breeding: No feeding during cooling Gradual temp drop Temps ~72–75°F High humidity maintained Length: 6–10 weeks Pet care: We will not cool our rainbow boa Sweetie. We’ll maintain 80–85°F temps and proper humidity year-round — exactly what they’re adapted for in nature! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/3e8d402d-4825-44ac-b419-4048be15453c/Blue+Tongue+Sleeping+In+Desert+Cartoon.jpg Reptile Diaries - Winter Sleepytime: Understanding Brumation in Our Scaly Friends - Blue Tongue Skinks ✓ Do they brumate? YES! Blue tongue skinks from Australia and Indonesia experience seasonal changes, and many captive skinks will naturally brumate. Signs of brumation: - Dramatically reduced appetite - Spending days or weeks buried in substrate - Less responsive to handling - Seeking cooler areas of enclosure Duration: Can range from a few weeks to several months (typically November through January or February) Important note: Younger skinks (under 12 months) shouldn’t brumate, as they need consistent nutrition for growth. Our Pumpkin is now well over one year old and we expect that she might brumate this season. Although she is a like a lap dog and will be missed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/44f2f17f-8cea-4523-b114-764da0b18f90/Brumation+Reptiles.png Reptile Diaries - Winter Sleepytime: Understanding Brumation in Our Scaly Friends - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/c2019f1b-f11a-491c-a21b-27b9d69ccc42/Bearded+Dragon+Cartoon+Nap.png Reptile Diaries - Winter Sleepytime: Understanding Brumation in Our Scaly Friends - Bearded Dragons ✓ Do they brumate? YES! Bearded dragons are champion brumators. In the wild, they experience cooler Australian winters, and captive beardies often follow this natural rhythm. During brumation (typically late fall through winter), your beardie might: - Sleep for days or weeks at a time - Refuse food completely - Become less active and alert - Spend most time hiding or burrowing Duration: Usually 1-3 months (December through February) What we’ve noticed: Bilbo Draggins gets extra sleepy around November and wants to snuggle in his hide more than usual. We let him rest and just make sure fresh water is always available. He is still quite young though, at just over a year old, so he still eats his fair share of bugs throughout the winter months. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1762219855087-O9Z75G4WUP0VL4AEGCM7/Lizard+in+Tree.jpg Reptile Diaries - Winter Sleepytime: Understanding Brumation in Our Scaly Friends https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1762219855095-9M9Z40TE5OW3RX4I65FV/Nightime+lizard+sleeping+in+tree.png Reptile Diaries - Winter Sleepytime: Understanding Brumation in Our Scaly Friends https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1762219856215-ABC3SRHPYR567529T6MH/Hognose+sleeping+in+basket.png Reptile Diaries - Winter Sleepytime: Understanding Brumation in Our Scaly Friends https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1762219856247-BARXTKLOV5XRO7LBK863/Snake+sleepinng+on+cloud.png Reptile Diaries - Winter Sleepytime: Understanding Brumation in Our Scaly Friends https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/02fe8589-26fb-4cb4-9886-d8488a27df7e/Crested+Gecko+Sleepytime+Cartoon.jpg Reptile Diaries - Winter Sleepytime: Understanding Brumation in Our Scaly Friends - New Caledonian Geckos Crested Geckos ~ (Sort of!) Do they brumate? NOT REALLY—but they do slow down! Crested geckos come from New Caledonia, where temperatures are relatively stable year-round. They don’t undergo true brumation, but they may experience a “cooling period” or winter slowdown. What happens: - Slightly reduced activity - Less frequent feeding - More time resting - Reduced breeding behavior Duration: A few weeks to a couple months during cooler weather The takeaway: Cresties don’t need brumation like bearded dragons do, but a slight temperature drop (not below 65°F) can be healthy and may encourage breeding behavior in adults. Gargoyle Geckos ~ (Sort of!) Do they brumate? NOT REALLY—similar to crested geckos! Gargoyle geckos are also from New Caledonia and behave much like their crested cousins. They experience a winter slowdown rather than true brumation. What we see: - Mild decrease in appetite - Slightly less climbing and exploring - More time in hides - Reduced interest in breeding (for adults) Duration: Variable, usually a few weeks during winter Care tip: We maintain normal temperatures but allow for natural day/night cycles with shorter daylight hours in winter. Leachianus Geckos (Leachies) ~ (Sort of!) Do they brumate? NOT REALLY—but they appreciate a cooling period! The largest gecko species, leachies are also from New Caledonia. Like their smaller relatives, they don’t undergo deep brumation but may slow down seasonally. Winter behavior: - Reduced feeding frequency - Less active hunting behavior - More time resting in favorite spots - Decreased breeding activity Duration: A few weeks to 2 months Breeding note: Many breeders provide a 4-6 month cooling period for adult females to give their bodies a break from egg production. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/bbbb13a1-4469-4e0b-a6c8-c00222c3a604/Pika+and+Eve+Sleep.jpg Reptile Diaries - Winter Sleepytime: Understanding Brumation in Our Scaly Friends - Uromastyx ✓ Do they brumate? YES! These desert-dwelling lizards experience seasonal changes in their natural North African and Middle Eastern habitats. Uromastyx can enter brumation when temperatures drop and daylight hours shorten. What happens: - Reduced appetite or complete food refusal - Less basking behavior - More time spent in hides or burrows - Lower activity levels Duration: Typically, 8-12 weeks during winter months Fun fact: Some Uromastyx keepers choose to prevent brumation by maintaining consistent temperatures and light cycles year-round, and that’s perfectly fine too! For us, as Pikachu and Eevee have successfully bred before, we choose to shorten the day light and heat cycle. They live together and this sends cues to Pika to settle down and give Eevee her some space. https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries/summer-enclosure-upgrades monthly 0.5 2025-07-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1753657914752-R49YBQBRKMM6MX9IDOJH/Grogu+New+Enclosure.jpg Reptile Diaries - Bilbo Draggins &amp; Grogu Get Summer Enclosure Upgrades https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1753657912381-T9EMQ14HJ659LZJ20AY7/Cork+Hollows.jpg Reptile Diaries - Bilbo Draggins &amp; Grogu Get Summer Enclosure Upgrades https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1753657913704-E29V7LMMU13VCX7GEC1V/Grogu+Center+Piece.jpg Reptile Diaries - Bilbo Draggins &amp; Grogu Get Summer Enclosure Upgrades https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1753657914840-HU609QXPLPCK3OY6QK94/Grogu+Perch.jpg Reptile Diaries - Bilbo Draggins &amp; Grogu Get Summer Enclosure Upgrades https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1753657912445-6IJ87QX8SX4MKCY2OQ7K/Grogu+Birch+Wood+2.jpg Reptile Diaries - Bilbo Draggins &amp; Grogu Get Summer Enclosure Upgrades https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1753657913627-1OGMAS7MODGWLR5WZM92/Grogu+Birch+Wood.jpg Reptile Diaries - Bilbo Draggins &amp; Grogu Get Summer Enclosure Upgrades https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1753657915832-NIM6YP15V5FZV1WTHKFH/Grogu+PVC+Surfing.jpg Reptile Diaries - Bilbo Draggins &amp; Grogu Get Summer Enclosure Upgrades https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1753657930959-XMBAE2C9UIPVM8X46HX4/Bilbo+Food+Dish+Stomp.jpg Reptile Diaries - Bilbo Draggins &amp; Grogu Get Summer Enclosure Upgrades https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1753657931925-LOX7XEIBTEN1SJ6PYUJC/Dragon+Stone.jpg Reptile Diaries - Bilbo Draggins &amp; Grogu Get Summer Enclosure Upgrades https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1753657930957-G1RBDMI56KKHYC4STUBP/Cactus+Jack.jpg Reptile Diaries - Bilbo Draggins &amp; Grogu Get Summer Enclosure Upgrades https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/43dc1837-a810-4a89-8df1-331543a3bece/Grogu+Center+Piece.jpg Reptile Diaries - Bilbo Draggins &amp; Grogu Get Summer Enclosure Upgrades - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries/dads-bioactive-zoo monthly 0.5 2025-07-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1751754158571-T2EFGCKA5PS9D8VMRG4J/Substrate+and+Background.jpg Reptile Diaries - A Dad’s Tale: Turning a house into a reptile zoo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1751754155952-Z5JEKH0FIWC4NC00VA7G/Driftwood+Scape.jpg Reptile Diaries - A Dad’s Tale: Turning a house into a reptile zoo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1751754157358-698YPX7SRIQZSHGKVW7D/Plants+Added.jpg Reptile Diaries - A Dad’s Tale: Turning a house into a reptile zoo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1751754156001-EN4F0CMAPU6I4MJBL4BO/Cold+Side.jpg Reptile Diaries - A Dad’s Tale: Turning a house into a reptile zoo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1751754476439-XBPSW75GS2OI6FUFXL2Y/Clean+Up+Isopods.jpg Reptile Diaries - A Dad’s Tale: Turning a house into a reptile zoo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1751754157502-Z2RUFZXBAR1OQPBKANXD/Plants+Bioactive.jpg Reptile Diaries - A Dad’s Tale: Turning a house into a reptile zoo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/3f9cac3a-76a9-4eb4-89f2-0bb4b48f6a7d/Dads+Bioactive+Adventure.jpg Reptile Diaries - A Dad’s Tale: Turning a house into a reptile zoo. - It All Started With Snakes In Tubs Day one: tiny ball pythons, tiny tubs, and a simple plan—keep it basic, keep it safe. Water? Always. Heat mat? Thermostat-controlled, gorilla taped to the outside like a homegrown engineer. (Never put anything sticky inside an animal enclosure!) And yes, Dad was temp-gunning those tubs like an old west sheriff checking for varmints. When we say those first two snakes were secured, we mean it: ratchet straps over the lids, and a stack of heavy board games on top. (Turns out, Settlers of Catan and Risk are finally useful for something.) Lizards: Same Game, Different Rules Then came the baby lizards. Tile on the bottom, small tanks, and a bunch of hides—each one apparently more important than the last. Dimming thermostats hooked to deep heat projectors or basking bulbs, with Dad and his trusty ruler measuring the exact basking platform height to bulb ratio. Depending on the lizard, we’re talking humidity tweaks, water dishes, feeder bowls, and a full lighting array. Dad was convinced he cracked the code. Spoiler: He had not. But Dad always has a new idea, even if it involves three trips to the hardware store and a healthy amount of duct tape. One day Dad said he was going to invent something to make other reptile keepers rejoice in the war of the basking platform height to basking bulb wattage ratio! (Spoiler - Coming Soon…) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/93dbebf1-271e-472e-b4cc-f09f568534f9/Cosmo-tub2.jpg Reptile Diaries - A Dad’s Tale: Turning a house into a reptile zoo. - Make it stand out Simplistic tub setup featuring Cosmo with Aspen shavings, a Olive Garden to-go custom made hide, and some decorative fake vines with leaves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/d18dce0e-2100-4f08-bea4-c7468913b10e/Cosmo-climbing.jpg Reptile Diaries - A Dad’s Tale: Turning a house into a reptile zoo. - Make it stand out Cosmo exploring his driftwood branch on day two! https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries/rip-baby-baloo monthly 0.5 2025-05-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/14cbbdf7-39c6-4663-87d2-c0d9f33e5a3d/Hand+Feeding.jpg Reptile Diaries - When Nature Has Other Plans: Losing Our Uromastyx Hatchling - Not Every Hatchling Makes It—And That’s Nature - From the very beginning, Baloo was different. This one hatched a little later, moved a little slower, and struggled to eat without encouragement. We threw every idea we could at the challenge: Pedialyte, hand-feeding, a private enclosure, even AI-guided research sessions to try to give it the best chance possible. And for a while, it seemed like the little one was turning a corner. But sometimes, despite our best efforts, nature simply takes a different path. It’s a hard reality in the reptile world: not every hatchling makes it, just like not every sea turtle hatchling reaches the ocean, or every snake baby survives its first few days. In the wild, many don’t make it to adulthood—but each one is still worth rooting for. Baloo may not have made it far but made it out of the egg – albeit last; and for a little while, the little one was deeply loved. As are its surviving hatchlings, one by one, they sure will be tough to part with. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/634b280d-3366-4d97-bd20-db1408081c22/Star+Liight.jpg Reptile Diaries - When Nature Has Other Plans: Losing Our Uromastyx Hatchling - We’ll Keep Sharing, Every Step of the Way - Losing Baloo hurts. But we share this story because it’s part of the journey—just as much as the hatching, the first meals, the silly chalk markings. We want anyone following along to see the full picture of reptile care: the joys, the lessons, and the heartbreaks. Baloo’s story might have been short, but it mattered. And it will continue to matter, in every future hatchling we raise, every new adventure we share, and every little reader who picks up a Kiley’s Kritters book and learns to love reptiles alongside us. Thanks for being part of this journey—with all its love, laughter, and learning. Until next time, The Kiley’s Kritters Family https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/8f5c6f6c-d240-4ff7-8192-718459416c38/Tank+Reflections.jpg Reptile Diaries - When Nature Has Other Plans: Losing Our Uromastyx Hatchling - A Quick Note on Care Decisions - Some readers might wonder if we considered a vet visit for Baloo—and the honest answer is yes, we did. But like many small reptile keepers, we had to weigh our options. Veterinary care for exotic animals is expensive and not always readily available, and in Baloo’s case, we truly believed it was turning a corner. When signs pointed to a deeper digestive issue in the final days, we had a hard but very real conversation about what was best—for Baloo, and for us. Ultimately, nature made the final call. We share this not to spark debate, but to show the full picture of the decisions reptile keepers face, especially with hatchlings. These moments are never easy, and each one teaches us something new. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/e1c4ca16-b5ba-41a2-a100-1961f958e781/RIP+Baby+Baloo.jpg Reptile Diaries - When Nature Has Other Plans: Losing Our Uromastyx Hatchling - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/00ec9c37-b0a7-4387-a86c-7ab2a1412aaf/Rainbow+Bridge.jpg Reptile Diaries - When Nature Has Other Plans: Losing Our Uromastyx Hatchling - The Keeper of the Rainbow Bridge - Baloo’s passing marks a bittersweet milestone for us. Out of all the reptiles we keep and love, and the other hatchlings—Baloo is our first to cross the rainbow bridge. And in Kiley’s beautiful six-year-old wisdom, she’s decided Baloo’s new role is “keeper of the rainbow bridge for all our future reptiles.” Maybe—just maybe—Baloo is there alongside Brian Barczyk, helping watch over all the kritters who’ve crossed before. It’s a comforting thought, and somehow makes the goodbye feel a little gentler. In fact, Kiley’s already planning to dedicate our next Kiley’s Kritters children’s story to Baloo—an incredible idea that turned our family’s tears into smiles. What a gift, to see such empathy and hope from someone so young. https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries/baloos-big-adventure monthly 0.5 2025-04-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/0f307315-3c01-4088-9eca-96518a8f4b68/Kiley+and+Baloo.jpg Reptile Diaries - Baloo's Big Adventure: A Tiny Dino's Triumph - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/464cc402-981f-4792-8488-2e3eda261638/Kiley+Consulting+AI.jpg Reptile Diaries - Baloo's Big Adventure: A Tiny Dino's Triumph - That’s when we turned to AI (Artificial Intelligence). Why? Because AI can dig deep and process info way faster than your average human reptile caregiver (no offense to our fellow dino parents) and we needed answers quickly. We figured if anything could help us crack the case, it was this new high-tech sidekick. It’s 2025, in the next 10 years humans or perhaps an AI driven robot may end up on Mars - you got to embrace and teach change! As long as you use common sense and conceptually understand what it is you are looking for, then AI can be a very handy tool. Especially as it’s evolved to provide links to sources that it compiles results from that you can use to fact check. It’s the Google of the future, and in fact if you notice Google already provides an AI write up based on what you are looking for if you ask it particular questions! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/5eff8e53-4a24-49ff-9d79-fe5f725d82cc/Baloo-Hand.jpg Reptile Diaries - Baloo's Big Adventure: A Tiny Dino's Triumph - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745090510102-PM2PM6EGBOOZ52D1QZC6/Baloo-Syringe.jpg Reptile Diaries - Baloo's Big Adventure: A Tiny Dino's Triumph https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745090510039-9UW4FQ6FGTRZUL1CYXWE/Baloo-Leaf-Pedialyte.jpg Reptile Diaries - Baloo's Big Adventure: A Tiny Dino's Triumph https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745090509121-7APIJDBOSWC60KONGUSY/Baloo-Eats.jpg Reptile Diaries - Baloo's Big Adventure: A Tiny Dino's Triumph https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745090509160-37E67SRGLPDHHLG9DHL7/Baloo-Leaf.jpg Reptile Diaries - Baloo's Big Adventure: A Tiny Dino's Triumph https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745090510794-MF2KS89WOAM1N4NM32F7/Mid-Gobble.jpg Reptile Diaries - Baloo's Big Adventure: A Tiny Dino's Triumph https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745090510838-3DMIZFQ6ZQGYWFUN81V8/Looking-Up.jpg Reptile Diaries - Baloo's Big Adventure: A Tiny Dino's Triumph https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/a366872f-16c7-48e7-bca9-ffd4b30e26ac/Baloo-Basking-Side.jpg Reptile Diaries - Baloo's Big Adventure: A Tiny Dino's Triumph - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries/baby-uromastyx-roundup monthly 0.5 2025-04-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745089327724-2XA5Q4NTRZ7ZPYAJCU57/Numbered.jpg Reptile Diaries - Cataloging Our Colorful Baby Uromastyx Squad https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745089326923-OLOP2F02V9Y1TT6Y7BTQ/Marked.jpg Reptile Diaries - Cataloging Our Colorful Baby Uromastyx Squad https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745089327778-L8QHBKIUZN99BLD59C9X/Weight.jpg Reptile Diaries - Cataloging Our Colorful Baby Uromastyx Squad https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745089326910-FABB72F3HOJ312VA699W/Eating.jpg Reptile Diaries - Cataloging Our Colorful Baby Uromastyx Squad https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/cf4ae5c1-f4b0-4bfd-8707-0a594cddf66f/Kiley+marking+babies.jpg Reptile Diaries - Cataloging Our Colorful Baby Uromastyx Squad - The Quest for Tiny Identifiers - We started our day perplexed. These babies all look similar, same spiky tails, same curious eyes, same adorable waddle. Sure, a few had some obvious differences (like our little, small fry (runt of clutch), who’s already stealing hearts), but for the most part, they were like tiny, scaly clones. We needed a way to tell them apart, especially since we’re tracking their growth, health, and quirky personalities. A quick scour of the internet didn’t yield much - there’s surprisingly little written about safely marking baby Uromastyx, or any baby dino for that matter. But then, buried in a forum thread, we found a gem: non-toxic, washable chalk markers. Safe, temporary, and perfect for our needs. So, off to the store we went, returning with a pack of colorful markers (washing off with water and will break away with first shed) that would turn our little dinos into a rainbow squad. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/dd42dc68-6987-41cb-83c2-3961b12fb8b7/Kiley+and+Babies.jpg Reptile Diaries - Cataloging Our Colorful Baby Uromastyx Squad - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries/uromastyx-hatch-a-thon monthly 0.5 2025-04-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745088598644-K0TCS39BUY4WYFGGKTJT/Climbing-Uro.jpg Reptile Diaries - The Great Uromastyx Hatch-A-Thon: Tiny Dinos Have Arrived! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745088598697-B58XO94ZKSKWDWPQYKZN/Close-Up.jpg Reptile Diaries - The Great Uromastyx Hatch-A-Thon: Tiny Dinos Have Arrived! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745088628078-LTJDJH4KL5AFGF869TDK/All-12.jpg Reptile Diaries - The Great Uromastyx Hatch-A-Thon: Tiny Dinos Have Arrived! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745088599318-15GFNDOJW95G6Z5V3589/Pile-O-Uros.jpg Reptile Diaries - The Great Uromastyx Hatch-A-Thon: Tiny Dinos Have Arrived! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/7ca38792-97c7-42a3-8497-b5b6c2d99198/Kileys-Uro.jpg Reptile Diaries - The Great Uromastyx Hatch-A-Thon: Tiny Dinos Have Arrived! - UPDATE - March 6, 2025 - All Babies Have Hatched! Happy to report baby #12 has hatched out of the last batch of 4. This batch hatched out just over a week later than the first 8. All babies are in the nursery, eating greens, pooping, basking, and running about. Oddly enough the final 4 babies were the chonkers of the bunch! The last one can be seen in the below picture and is the faded color one in the bottom left. In that same picture you will see the runt, out of the first batch of 8. This one came out and was found upside down after hatching, with quite an arch to its back. Over the past few days it seems to have flattened out, it’s running around, eating, and basking. We will keep a close eye on this guy! Looking to potentially set up a second nursery, in case we feel like we need to separate them early. So far so good, have not seen any signs of bullying, but we don’t have our eyes on them 24x7. Although we do have a baby cam setup – so often enough we are checking in! The babies will be held with us for 3-4 months, at the very least, before we think about parting with them. We want to make sure they are strong and healthy for their next home. We plan on keeping at least one or two of the babies for sure. I have held both Pikachu and Eevee up to the enclosure to show them their babies. They tilt their heads and look in wonderment, I am sure! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/b8adb227-ac1d-491f-85fb-e58d3423b7cf/Basking-Life.jpg Reptile Diaries - The Great Uromastyx Hatch-A-Thon: Tiny Dinos Have Arrived! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/f51cd282-3c28-4b8c-95d7-852d41797e11/Momma-Favorite.jpg Reptile Diaries - The Great Uromastyx Hatch-A-Thon: Tiny Dinos Have Arrived! - The Ultimate Hatchling Doula & The Egg Tickle Trick Throughout the chaos, Dad had an unsung hero on the other end of the line -ChiefSweetsUniverse, the ultimate reptilian doula, talking him through every step, from incubation to post-hatchling care. Meanwhile, another secret weapon emerged: the legendary egg tickle! A helpful tip learned from the amazing folks at The Tye Dyed Iguana, who also became an invaluable hatching support resource, the family gently tickled each egg to encourage the babies inside to get a move on and hatch. This mimics other hatchlings from the brood crawling about. It worked like a charm - by Monday afternoon, all eight hatchlings from the first container and all but one had officially joined the nursery crew. The last little one, out of the container of eight, did take its time before it was ready to join the others. This baby turned out to be the runt of the group, a tiny but feisty fighter that the family is keeping a close eye on. We finally added him to the nursery Thursday morning. With eight energetic babies zooming around, basking, and munching on greens, the nursery was alive with prehistoric energy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745087524444-OT80P6W56FV0PA7QU1VG/Peek-A-Boo.jpg Reptile Diaries - The Great Uromastyx Hatch-A-Thon: Tiny Dinos Have Arrived! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries/reptile-journey monthly 0.5 2025-04-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/d3aaea20-7824-4b71-8be1-ed17122f6720/Juvenile-Bilbo-Closeup2.jpg Reptile Diaries - From Lizzie to Bilbo: Our Reptile Adventure - Bilbo Draggins the 3rd Enters the Picture When our new baby bearded dragon arrived, he was placed in his new 4x2x2 enclosure. The results were almost immediate—within an hour, he gobbled up 10 crickets and has thrived ever since. We named him Bilbo Draggins as well, and he quickly became the star of our reptile family. My daughter has a fascination for Teen Titans Go, so she named this one and the previous two Beastboy as an alternative. But this little dude was Dads’ mini-dragon, and he is a huge Lord of the Rings & Hobbit fan! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/e67d805f-d763-4d3c-911e-e60dc86e829c/Baby+Uro+Hatching Reptile Diaries - From Lizzie to Bilbo: Our Reptile Adventure - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/451334fd-b914-422b-abf9-411bb6eedcf2/Thrive+40+Gallon+Breeder Reptile Diaries - From Lizzie to Bilbo: Our Reptile Adventure - Finding a Reputable Breeder Sadly, we took our second baby bearded dragon back, asked for our money back, and began looking for a reputable breeder. After some research, we found a captive-bred baby bearded dragon from a breeder with a good reputation on Morph Market. While we waited for him to arrive, we also learned that a 4x2x2 (120 gallon) enclosure is the minimum recommended size for a bearded dragon, so we purchased one. In the meantime, we decided to transfer Lizzie the leopard gecko into the sterilized 40-gallon breeder, setting up a proper environment with hides and a tile floor instead of the reptile carpet in the 20-gallon kit we had purchased with her back in February. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/b995dd45-21cb-4dee-afc3-bd2dbb3bf2c7/Bilbo+Draggins Reptile Diaries - From Lizzie to Bilbo: Our Reptile Adventure - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/f15e3808-857b-4409-a41b-5e96c32ed397/Pet-Smart-Bilbo.jpg Reptile Diaries - From Lizzie to Bilbo: Our Reptile Adventure - Enter Reptile #2 - Bearded Dragon: Bilbo Draggins #1 & #2 A week later, after a bit more research, I decided I wanted a bearded dragon. The family agreed, and off to the big box store we went again, picking up a 40-gallon kit and a baby bearded dragon. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts to provide the proper husbandry and care, our first baby dragon struggled to eat and didn’t seem to thrive. It barely ate one or two crickets over the course of three weeks, even though I researched and followed all the guidelines for proper care. We ended up returning that baby dragon, and the store advised they would take it to a vet. But when we received a second baby dragon, things didn’t improve, even after bringing this one to a local exotic vet ourselves and following their instruction. That’s when we began to dig deeper into the world of pet reptiles. We soon discovered that, much like puppy mills, the reptiles in big box stores are often not cared for in the best conditions. We realized the importance of getting animals from reputable breeders rather than big box stores. Much like the morality issues with puppy mills, reptiles for sale in these circumstances go through the same thing. But we were new to this, uneducated, and I believe that’s the case for most families that walk into these stores in search of new pet animals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/5aaf5d05-0805-4405-b23c-57a004eb0672/Lizzie+Creeping Reptile Diaries - From Lizzie to Bilbo: Our Reptile Adventure - How It All Started: Lizzie the Leopard Gecko It all began with our 5-year-old daughter, who developed a keen interest in reptiles after watching Snake Discovery videos. She was absolutely fascinated by snakes, and her dream was to have one as a pet. My wife shared her enthusiasm, and they both decided that a hognose snake would be the perfect first reptile. But as much as I love animals, I was a little uneasy about having a snake in the house, especially for a first pet. So, I suggested we start with a lizard instead. After a bit of discussion, my wife and daughter decided on a leopard gecko. In February of 2024, we made an afternoon trip to a local nursery, hoping to find a reptile-friendly educational event. Unfortunately, we couldn’t make it into the event, as it was sold out. I quickly sprang into action, not wanting to let my daughter down, and figured it would be a great idea to stop at a local big box pet store and check out the reptiles they had! That could be educational right? Well, that plan escalated within minutes of spying a group of leopard geckos, and we ended up coming home with our first pet lizard. We named her Lizzie—well, my daughter hoped she was a "she" (though we never had her sexed, that’s a mystery for another time).and out https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries/category/Reptile+Diaries monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries/tag/Reptiles monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries/tag/Reptile+Diaries monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries/tag/Family monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries/tag/Uromastyx monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries/tag/Brumation monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries/tag/Bioactive monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries/tag/Uromastyx+Geyri monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/reptile-diaries/tag/Hatchlings monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/puppy-files daily 0.75 2025-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/19214520-4806-4962-b580-b0484dacb428/Puppy-Files.jpg https://www.kileyskritters.com/puppy-files/moonlit-surprise monthly 0.5 2025-04-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745026512775-KU7TISZNVZIV0L51A2MU/Quiet+Puppy.jpeg Puppy Files - How the Moonlit Surprise Sparkled on Kiley’s Birthday Eve https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1745026512879-IYN66PTOMFAYBDIBRA2I/Girl+and+her+Puppy.jpeg Puppy Files - How the Moonlit Surprise Sparkled on Kiley’s Birthday Eve https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/2afb8813-b796-4586-8257-8992afd00c55/Moonlight+and+Stars Puppy Files - How the Moonlit Surprise Sparkled on Kiley’s Birthday Eve - Operation Secret Puppy The real challenge wasn’t finding the puppy—it was keeping her a secret and resisting the urge to go pick her up every day! For two whole weeks, we carried on like nothing had changed. Our existing dogs—who were clearly in on the secret—watched as we stashed away puppy supplies from leashes to chew toys. Most of these were "gently recycled" from our current collection, tucked away under beds, in closets, and in the garage. The collection was extensive enough to outfit a small pet shop. Finally, the big day arrived: Kiley’s Birthday Eve. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/c629a009-8ab0-46ae-a0d2-98eda5b7e40a/Kileys+Kritters+Puppy+Contract.jpg Puppy Files - How the Moonlit Surprise Sparkled on Kiley’s Birthday Eve - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/5fd0e1f2-6b7e-4cdd-9b2c-ce7aee94c750/Daddys+Girl Puppy Files - How the Moonlit Surprise Sparkled on Kiley’s Birthday Eve - Mom handed over the leash while Dad presented the pièce de résistance: a Kiley’s Kritters Semi-Official “Puppy Contract” for Kiley to sign, officially making her the owner of her new best friend. With a determined flourish, she scribbled her name and grinned from ear to ear. Mostly just ten commandments that promise to help take care of the puppy, clean up the house, and show love for the other animals. Mind you commandment #9 was that she will always remember Boony is the boss of all pets! That may be daddy’s favorite, out of the whole crew… But now we have a competitor with Moonlight! https://www.kileyskritters.com/puppy-files/category/Puppy+Files monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/puppy-files/tag/Puppy monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/puppy-files/tag/Puppy+Files monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small daily 0.75 2025-10-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/5545cef2-96dc-43fe-a02a-e84a8feb993f/Kritters+%26+Big+Small.jpg https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/reptile-breathing-problems-warning-signs monthly 0.5 2025-10-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/424277fb-9beb-485d-a5e5-8790c5a13f5c/Reptile+Breathing+Signs.png Kritters Big and Small - Is Your Reptile Breathing Normally? Key Warning Signs to Watch - Red Flags: When Breathing Becomes a Concern Here are the warning signs every reptile parent should watch for: Audible Breathing Sounds Wheezing, clicking, or whistling sounds Any noise when your reptile breathes (healthy breathing is silent) Mouth breathing instead of nose breathing Visual Warning Signs Bubbles around the nose or mouth Discharge from nostrils Open-mouth breathing while at rest Excessive head tilting or neck stretching Rapid or labored breathing movements Behavioral Changes Lethargy or decreased activity Loss of appetite Spending more time basking (trying to fight infection with heat) Avoiding their usual hiding spots https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/caeaa959-1378-4cd5-a264-8aa645699f68/Reptile+Breating+Overview.png Kritters Big and Small - Is Your Reptile Breathing Normally? Key Warning Signs to Watch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/6b839016-0013-461f-818d-5cb98bb05234/Gecko+Breathing+Meditating.png Kritters Big and Small - Is Your Reptile Breathing Normally? Key Warning Signs to Watch - Kiley's Corner "Mommy, why doesn't Lizzie make heavy panting noises when she breathes like our puppy does?" - Kiley, age 6, discovering that healthy gecko breathing is whisper-quiet, just like a little Kritter keeping secrets! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/ed2630a4-2c19-49ba-b7d6-b8042d528f99/Bearded+Dragon+Eating+Greens Kritters Big and Small - Is Your Reptile Breathing Normally? Key Warning Signs to Watch - A Day in the Life: Bilbo Draggins Breathes Easy This morning, Bilbo Draggins stretched his magnificent beard and took a deep, silent breath of his arid (low moisture) habitat air. No wheezing, no bubbles—just the quiet, steady breathing of a healthy bearded dragon ready for adventure. He basked under his heat lamp, his sides moving gently and rhythmically, before heading off to explore his kingdom. "That's my boy," we thought, watching his peaceful breathing that tells us he's feeling fantastic and ready for whatever dragon adventures the day might bring! Check our first children’s storybook and go on a zoo adventure with Bilbo Draggins himself over on our shop! It doesn’t stop there, Bilbo Draggin’s World is one of our first children’s songs now streaming on just about every streaming media platform! https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/national-honey-bee-day monthly 0.5 2025-08-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/fb6c5f0d-7ef1-4c3f-80e4-706769f8925c/Bee+Hive.jpg Kritters Big and Small - National Honey Bee Day! - Kiley’s Kritters spin At Kiley’s Kritters we love every Kritter, big or tiny. Honey bees may be small, but they show us that teamwork and kindness keep our world blooming. Next time you enjoy honey on toast or see a flower, remember to thank the busy bees who made it possible. Let’s keep the buzz going all year long! Sweet honey treats & uses Honey isn’t just for bees—it’s a treat for us too! Here are some fun ways people use honey: Sweeten your day: Honey is a thick, sweet liquid made by bees from plant nectar and is often used as a natural sweetener in foods and drinks. Drizzle it on pancakes, stir it into tea or spread it on toast for a golden treat. Soothing sips: A spoonful of honey at bedtime can help calm coughs in children aged two and up, and warm honey-and-lemon drinks are a favorite for sore throats. Forever food: Honey has natural preservatives that keep bacteria from growing, so it can last a very long time. In fact, jars of honey found in ancient Egyptian tombs were still edible thousands of years later. Helping hands: When applied to minor cuts or burns, honey may help keep the area clean because some chemicals in honey can fight certain germs. Safety first: Don’t feed honey to babies under one year old. Infants can’t process honey yet, and it could make them sick. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/01bb3812-1242-429b-a934-212e63759253/Honey+Bee+Meadow.jpg Kritters Big and Small - National Honey Bee Day! - Fun facts Food makers: Honey bees are the only insect in the world that make food that humans can eat. Five eyes & two bellies: Bees have five eyes (two big compound eyes and three tiny ones) and two stomachs – one for eating and one to store nectar to carry back to the hive. Buzzing wings: A honeybee’s wings beat about 200 times per second (that’s around 12,000 beats per minute!) which makes the familiar buzzing sound. Busy bees: Bees pollinate everything from apples and plums to peaches and strawberries. Without them, grocery stores would look very different! Teamwork: Every bee in a hive has a job—some gather nectar, others take care of baby bees, and all work together like a tiny family. How to celebrate Plant flowers: Plant bee‑friendly blooms like sunflowers, clover and bee balm. Avoid using pesticides. Shop local: Buy honey from local beekeepers. It supports bee care and tastes delicious. Put out water: Fill a shallow dish with pebbles and water so bees have a safe place to drink. Share bee facts: Tell your friends why bees are amazing and use #HoneyBeeDay to spread the buzz. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/3b6e904c-fa86-4968-8b53-caed4d76a1a7/Honey+Bee+Hero.jpg Kritters Big and Small - National Honey Bee Day! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/hapy-4th-of-july-from-kileys-kritters monthly 0.5 2025-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/ef8a5c94-5a67-48a0-b77e-dbb9f132cc6f/Kileys+Kritters+4th+of+July.jpg Kritters Big and Small - Hapy 4th of July from Kiley’s Kritters - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/soar-into-the-4th monthly 0.5 2025-06-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/4bd89a11-cb4b-4270-bc30-ec4e51898ae4/Bald+Eagle+Soar.jpg Kritters Big and Small - Soar Into the 4th! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/sea-otter-habits monthly 0.5 2025-06-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/173a244a-e537-4112-866c-d79beacdaa50/Raft+of+Sea+Otters.jpg Kritters Big and Small - Sea Otters: The Ultimate Sleepover Buddies! - Make it stand out Kiley’s Corner: “Did you know a group of sea otters is called a raft? Sometimes, there are so many otters holding hands, it looks like a floating fuzzy island!” — Kiley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/f8ea0fd6-1769-409b-a11c-3c801809c4ea/Cartoon+Sea+Otters.jpg Kritters Big and Small - Sea Otters: The Ultimate Sleepover Buddies! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/wombat-poop-cube monthly 0.5 2025-06-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/7142047e-c9d9-424c-93cc-3d3cd9268085/Wombat+Square+Poop.jpg Kritters Big and Small - Wombat Poop: The Cube-Shaped Mystery! (Wombat Facts for Kids) - Why Is Wombat Poop Square? (The Real Mystery) Wombats are expert diggers from Australia, with big claws and strong legs. But the real surprise is what they leave behind. Wombat poop is cube-shaped—not round, not oval, but little brown cubes! Why do they do it? Wombats use their poop to mark their territory. They climb rocks, logs, and even termite mounds to leave their “calling cards.” A round dropping would roll away, but a cube stays put, like a tiny brown sign: “A wombat lives here!” How do wombats make square poop? Their digestive system is super slow—sometimes it takes two weeks for food to travel through! Inside, their intestines have stretchy and stiff parts. As food moves along, it gets squeezed and pressed until the poop forms little blocks. Scientists actually studied this to figure it out! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/0f065bc1-34ef-45e4-b36a-f26fd671a25b/Wombat+and+Joey+Burrow.jpg Kritters Big and Small - Wombat Poop: The Cube-Shaped Mystery! (Wombat Facts for Kids) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/d20e3197-43fc-4f1c-bf68-88deb33763b0/Wombat+and+Kiley.jpg Kritters Big and Small - Wombat Poop: The Cube-Shaped Mystery! (Wombat Facts for Kids) - Fun Wombat Facts for Kids Wombats are marsupials, just like kangaroos and koalas. Baby wombats are called joeys. They grow in a pouch—just like a kangaroo, but the pouch opens backward. That keeps dirt out when Mom digs her tunnels! A group of wombats is called a “wisdom.” (Pretty smart, right?) Wombats run fast—up to 25 miles per hour, for short bursts! If a predator tries to get inside a burrow, the wombat blocks the entrance with its tough, bony backside. Sometimes it even crushes intruders against the tunnel wall! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/1bf4c34a-1cdf-4048-a9f8-62e61223ca6f/Wombat+Minecraft.jpg Kritters Big and Small - Wombat Poop: The Cube-Shaped Mystery! (Wombat Facts for Kids) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/meet-the-megalania monthly 0.5 2025-06-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/5cc18be5-cd54-440b-80bf-8f76ab49a3d5/Megalania+Down+Under.jpg Kritters Big and Small - Meet the Real Dragon of Down Under: Megalania - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/category/Kritters+Big+and+Small monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/category/Reptiles+Big+and+Small monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/tag/Reptiles monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/tag/Dinosaurs monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/tag/Wombat monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/tag/Eagles monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/tag/Megalania monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/tag/Minecraft monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/tag/Bees monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/tag/Kritters+Big+and+Small monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/tag/Otters monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/tag/Jurassic monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/tag/Honey monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/tag/Australia monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritters-big-and-small/tag/Day monthly 0.5 https://www.kileyskritters.com/home daily 1.0 2025-10-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/a4bed8cf-77d4-4a0b-b503-90ebe3b2fc60/Kileys-Kritters-Home-Opt.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/561c96ec-f48a-4d7c-97ee-e970d059d412/collage.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/bc99d6a8-a98d-44c0-8cb3-b875796a01cb/Reptile-Diaries.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/19214520-4806-4962-b580-b0484dacb428/Puppy-Files.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/c10180f4-a462-4c5d-b603-a404735bca17/Kileys-Blogs-Optimized.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/07d415d2-e60f-407c-9f46-6eb856e77a33/Community-Spotlight.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/4cc9d9af-cab8-4726-bd4c-f60f30a3843e/Kritters+big+and+Small.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/edd51394-0c41-43a0-9695-9f03d758b3f5/Table+With+Books.png https://www.kileyskritters.com/store daily 0.75 2025-10-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/caf5528e-9294-4bdf-8216-2e1b65fc4f1b/PoD-Bilbo_Gold.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/f0ef20d7-1acf-46fe-86d1-8119a59ab28d/Bilbo-Coloring.jpg https://www.kileyskritters.com/refund-and-return-policy daily 0.75 2025-04-25 https://www.kileyskritters.com/privacy-policy daily 0.75 2025-04-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68016057fb2ac107a3e6b78f/3e0316bd-e9e3-4f79-8775-7ef7fd8341d5/Black+logo+-+no+background.png https://www.kileyskritters.com/kritter-merch daily 0.75 2025-10-19 https://www.kileyskritters.com/contact-us daily 0.75 2025-06-26 https://www.kileyskritters.com/kileys-kritters-music-videos daily 0.75 2025-10-19