One of the latest shows to join the Morelia Python Radio Network is The Monitor Keeping Podcast which is hosted by Alan Stevens and Khai Phan. Alan Stevens is the industry spotlight for this issue to talk about the new show, balancing a diverse collection, and more!
HM: What made you start Origins Reptile and how many species are you keeping/breeding at this point?
AS: I’ve always loved reptiles and have been keeping different snakes and lizards since elementary school. I had stepped away from keeping reptiles for approximately twelve years when I decided to introduce my kids to a trio of Ackies for my son’s fifth birthday in June 2018. A few months later I found myself with seven bredli and some Asian rat snakes. I had also begun listening to reptile podcasts, looking at social media pages, and figuring out the hobby had changed since I’d been away. Eight months later, after our first clutch of Ackies were laid, I realized that I really wanted to work with reptiles again in a breeding capacity. A friend suggested coming up with a name and to begin posting about my animals on a regular basis. It was truly great advice thinking back, but I needed a name as I wanted to keep my personal life and reptile life separate. I found myself with not only a new starting point with reptiles but also newly engaged and a new position and location in my career. With all the new beginnings the word Origins came to mind and since my interests were all across the reptile world it was easy to put the two together as Origins Reptile.
HM: You’re known for your monitors but you also have a nice collection of Morelia. Do you find it hard to balance the focus between the different groups in your collection?
AS: There are quite a few challenges I’ve had to adapt to as the collection has grown such as moving them into a warehouse, cage space, and ambient temps. I had to accept there would be no 2021 baby snakes as I wasn’t able to provide different temperature zones to cool colubrids or bredli as I needed to keep ambients up for gravid monitors. Many animals still need another year of growth, as it stands, so I’m looking forward to 2022. In the meantime I’ve been working on baby snake racks, other caging, and infrastructure to make my life easier. I have another space now for cooling which should prove beneficial for next year. A few outliers such as geckos and green tree pythons remain at the house where I can provide a more stable range of ambient temps and humidity.
HM: What do you think is the most underrated monitor species in the US hobby currently?
AS: The more I learn and observe the intelligence and behaviors of monitors as a whole I’ve come to realize they are all wonderful. Some we have figured out to a degree and others are still missing some pieces to the puzzle to successfully reproduce them in captivity regularly. One of those misunderstood monitors is the common Nile and closely related Ornate monitor(s). It amazes me that for $50 or less anyone can purchase one because of the sheer potential they possess. They reach a large size, are capable of stunning colors and patterns, but have yet to be commonly reproduced. I know that’s largely because of the sheer amount that are imported each year and the reputation of being a cheap animal. The other side of the coin is it isn’t a worthwhile venture for possible breeders because you are competing with thousands of inexpensive readily available babies. I really do feel they are immensely underrated and can rival some of the nicest Asian and Australian large monitors.
HM: Which species do you see taking off more in popularity in the coming years?
AS: Ackies! They are already well known to monitor enthusiasts but I think a crossover in exposure to different types of reptiles outside of the norms has already begun. With all the different platforms, podcasts, and available channels more people will become aware and familiar with dwarf monitors. Ackies are the most readily available of the odatria and have so much to offer. They are a manageable size, come in shades of vibrant yellows, oranges, and reds, are moderately priced, and are sturdy durable captives.
HM: Do you think the smaller Varanids will become more commonly kept compared to the larger species that have become hobby staples?
AS: There will always be people, myself included, that want to keep a large impressive animal similar to the burm and retic keepers out there in the snake world. That being said, I would guess the smaller less readily available monitors like gilleni, glauerti, and tristis will piggyback on the growing popularity in monitors as a whole and definitely be in more collections soon.
HM: Are there any monitor species you would like to try your hand at eventually? Are there any that you want that aren’t in the U.S.?
AS: Oh this is difficult because I want to work with them all! I am fortunate enough to have put together groups of three known dwarf monitors species from Indonesia and it is my goal to help really get them established for the hobby as they aren’t being imported as they once were. Spenceri are on my list. They are rarely available so I may need to be patient for a few years. Doreanus have been in my mind as of late but that is probably a road full of heartbreak and a lot of work. I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet. Finally on the dream list! I want to work with olivaceus hands down. They have a special place in my heart and would be a species I could easily commit a great part of my reptile keeping future to if ever there is a chance.
HM: How has it been being part of the Morelia Python Radio Network crew with the Monitor Keeping Podcast?
AS: We, Khai and I, are so thankful to be working with the MPR crew! There are so many unknowns when starting a podcast so to have the kind of experience and guidance a person like Eric Burke can provide is invaluable. We are still very new and probably in the “Honeymoon” phase but it really is a great honor to not only be a part of the MPR network but to be able to share and hopefully put out useful information about the family of reptiles I love the most.
Ackies are great lizards, I want to get more into Odatria eventually.