Brian Barczyk

[nazanova]

I feel so lost without posting at least one thread a week to you guys lol so I thought I'd ask... What do you guys think of Brian Barczyk? If you don't know who he is he's the owner of BHB Reptiles that breeds and sells thousands of snakes and other reptiles more recently. He also has YouTube channel called "Snake Bytes TV" (which is how I found out about him) where he created weekly shows about snakes but now it's more popular he has daily shows under "Animal Bytes TV" which are about all strains of wildlife. But yeah enough waffling what do you guys who do know of him think?

[eminart]

I've watched just about all of the snakebytes and animalbytes episodes. I don't know how he is business-wise, but the seems like a pretty cool dude that really cares about the animals.

[nazanova]

I've watched just about all of the snakebytes and animalbytes episodes. I don't know how he is business-wise, but the seems like a pretty cool dude that really cares about the animals.

Same here! I think he's amazing and TOTALLY cool dude but I thought I'd ask the hobbiests over here because they might know something I don't or have reasons why they don't necessarily like him or the way he conducts his business. For the future people who read this has anyone ever bought a reptile from his website?

[millertime89]

Met him, had dinner with him, drank with him, and sumo wrestled with one of his employees (Josh). He's a brilliant business man and loves his animals and what he does. I don't agree with all of his methods but I think he's got the best interests of this hobby at heart. His shows might be a little over the top, but he's trying to bring new life into this hobby and his antics do get people interested.

(I was a bit drunk...)
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t1.0-9/311262_10151199453347728_505985338_n.jpg

[UwabamiReptiles]

I enjoy watching snakebytes and I've talked to him and his wife at shows. Very knowledgeable and overall seems like a really cool guy. And he has some awesome animals, his table at shows always has great animals.

[Mad Max]

I know that I enjoy snakebytes, but that's about it. I would find it easy to believe that he's cool in person and produces quality animals though.

[nazanova]

Met him, had dinner with him, drank with him, and sumo wrestled with one of his employees (Josh). He's a brilliant business man and loves his animals and what he does. I don't agree with all of his methods but I think he's got the best interests of this hobby at heart. His shows might be a little over the top, but he's trying to bring new life into this hobby and his antics do get people interested.

(I was a bit drunk...)
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t1.0-9/311262_10151199453347728_505985338_n.jpg

You are one lucky guy! (As weird as that may sound lol) Who won between you and josh :D

[nazanova]

I enjoy watching snakebytes and I've talked to him and his wife at shows. Very knowledgeable and overall seems like a really cool guy. And he has some awesome animals, his table at shows always has great animals.

One day I hope to go to one of his shows. Be does produce some amazing animals indeed! Some of the best I've ever seen, especially the scaleless snakes he gets!

[nazanova]

I know that I enjoy snakebytes, but that's about it. I would find it easy to believe that he's cool in person and produces quality animals though.

Yeah he just seems so laid back and a great guy to work for. I also love it when he's talking while holding a snake and it goes for him and he doesn't even bat an eye lid

[Mad Max]

I also love it when he's talking while holding a snake and it goes for him and he doesn't even bat an eye lid

So do I. :)

[BryanB]

I too have met him and he is a great dude I have even sold him a plant at an expo. He is a reptile lover that happened to hit it at the right time to make a lot of money doing so but has not lost the love for the animals.

[nazanova]

I too have met him and he is a great dude I have even sold him a plant at an expo. He is a reptile lover that happened to hit it at the right time to make a lot of money doing so but has not lost the love for the animals.

I'm so jealous that you and others on this forum have met him :( time machine back to that day and swap lives? :D

[BryanB]

Just make your way to one of the expos he is at and he is very easy to talk too and just hangs out. It is cheaper than a time machine even with air fair

[nazanova]

Just make your way to one of the expos he is at and he is very easy to talk too and just hangs out. It is cheaper than a time machine even with air fair

One day I'll definitely fly out :)

[David VB]

Don't know him in person but grew tired of him on his youtube channel... Keeping large snakes in those tubs is just not done. I know it's a business, but i hate those large buildings, full of rows and rows with snakes in tubs... you can't make me believe that is all for the love of the animal. More like the love of the money imho. I'm not an American so i guess i have a different view on it and also on the (too) stupid stuff they need to do in their episodes to be popular. I do not, however, deny that he knows something about snakes/reptiles.

Greetz.

[polito]

I was lucky enough to travel down to Michigan and spend the weekend over at BHB about 2 years ago (summer of 2012).

Snakebytes is the show that got me to look past my fear and see the beauty in all snakes. Honestly what got me to get over my fear and start having snakes.
I'm a special fx artist based in Toronto, started emailing Brian months earlier and ended up coming down and doing zombie makeups for the episode "Snakes and Zombies!". Honestly one of the nicest guys Ive met in this industry. Really was a great time, Josh, chewy and george were hilarious. Not only was he great when I was down there but continued to email me and keep in touch. I would recommend anyone to go visit BHB if you have the opportunity. I had free reign when I was there to go around and look at whatever i wanted and all the bins I opened were nice and clean and the animals looked to be in great condition. Got to see the sunset ball python babies in person too (right around when they just hatched).

I have a bunch of pictures from when I did their makeups, if anyones interested maybe ill start a post and show them all.

[CosmicOwl]

Don't know him in person but grew tired of him on his youtube channel... Keeping large snakes in those tubs is just not done. I know it's a business, but i hate those large buildings, full of rows and rows with snakes in tubs... you can't make me believe that is all for the love of the animal. More like the love of the money imho. I'm not an American so i guess i have a different view on it and also on the (too) stupid stuff they need to do in their episodes to be popular. I do not, however, deny that he knows something about snakes/reptiles.

Greetz.

The point of the stupid skits and silly behavior is to get a message across. I'm not going to argue about the ethics of breeders housing animals in small tubs, but it's clear from the SBTV videos that Brian wants the general population to accept reptiles. He's trying to show people that they aren't horrible scary monsters.

[Pirarucu]

His attitude towards the hobby, etc. is great and he keeps his snakes well (judging by American standards), but his Varanid husbandry is inadequate at best, which is especially unfortunate because of the black Nile Monitor(s) he has.

[nazanova]

I don't really have an opinion on the way he keeps his reptiles because on one hand you could say they've been bred in captivity so the way their kept is all they know so it doesn't affect them but then again you can say animals aren't supposed to be kept in boxes and one person can't possibly love and care for thousands of reptiles to the best of his abilities at once. All I know is watching show encouraged me more to get my snake.

[infernalis]

His attitude towards the hobby, etc. is great and he keeps his snakes well (judging by American standards), but his Varanid husbandry is inadequate at best, which is especially unfortunate because of the black Nile Monitor(s) he has.


Beat me to it..


http://www.varanid.us/shocking/savdraw.gif

That poor Nile can't hardly move at all in there.

http://www.varanid.us/shocking/drawer.jpg

[Sublimeballs]

Glad someone mentioned his monitor husbandry. He's doing alot for our image but like alot of big breeders not everything gets proper housing.

Wayne, that Nile in the rack depresses me to no end.

[franks]

Same here guys. One of the first videos I viewed was of the Nile monitor and it turned me off to the whole thing. To me that clearly displays that at the very least- it is not all about the animals. I do think he loves snakes, but it is a business for him.

[SnoopySnake]

He seems like an alright guy but I was never a real big fan of how it sometimes seems like he antagonizes the snakes to try and get a bite out of them, and the monitor husbandry. I don't really like to see so many snakes shoved in little tubs either, but most breeders are going to do that just to make a buck...

[franks]

(Continued because of my wierd phone)

I feel that it is rediculous that we hold breeders to a different standard than hobbiests. If an animal is an animal and a life is a life than what is deemed appropriate or in other words "the lowest standard of acceptable husbandry" should be consistently the same. If a person came on this forum and had one carpet python that he kept in a small plastic tub I would speak up and say that is not acceptable husbandry. Many of you would chime in and agree. I don't care that he has a thousand snakes, I do not like to see animals that I like have to live in conditions like that.

[Sublimeballs]

I don't really feel its so much that we as fellow enthusiest hold breeders to a different level so much as we know this is how some of them do it. Those that are okay with it probably would cram animals in tiny tubs aswell or are so new to the hobby they have the "they're are successful big name breeders, they must be doing it right" mindset.

[David VB]

(continued because of my wierd phone)

i feel that it is rediculous that we hold breeders to a different standard than hobbiests. If an animal is an animal and a life is a life than what is deemed appropriate or in other words "the lowest standard of acceptable husbandry" should be consistently the same. If a person came on this forum and had one carpet python that he kept in a small plastic tub i would speak up and say that is not acceptable husbandry. Many of you would chime in and agree. I don't care that he has a thousand snakes, i do not like to see animals that i like have to live in conditions like that.

amen !!! ;)

[David VB]

The point of the stupid skits and silly behavior is to get a message across. I'm not going to argue about the ethics of breeders housing animals in small tubs, but it's clear from the SBTV videos that Brian wants the general population to accept reptiles. He's trying to show people that they aren't horrible scary monsters.

By trying to get bitten or get others bitten? Coz that's mostly what they're trying to do and laughing about... I'm not saying all is bad about him, but with the above and the housing, it's a big no for me ;) But so are all those big breeders... Try watch ReptilTV (german), which i think is better.

[nazanova]

I don't necessarily agree with the way he houses his snakes (especially the big ones, Jesus are they cramped) but it's like how else is he supposed to house so many snakes you know? I'm not defending him but it's his business, he isn't the first and won't be the last so he has to house all these animals in a efficient manor. And no one here can deny the wonders he's done for the hobby and the way he's educated and brought hundreds if not thousands of people into the hobby and help get certain snakes further away from possible extinction. But again even after all of this I don't really agree on his housing methods but what else can he do.

[red ink]

I don't necessarily agree with the way he houses his snakes (especially the big ones, Jesus are they cramped) but it's like how else is he supposed to house so many snakes you know? I'm not defending him but it's his business, he isn't the first and won't be the last so he has to house all these animals in a efficient manor. And no one here can deny the wonders he's done for the hobby and the way he's educated and brought hundreds if not thousands of people into the hobby and help get certain snakes further away from possible extinction. But again even after all of this I don't really agree on his housing methods but what else can he do.

Down size to keep the ones he wants to keep in appropriate enclosures... like the rest of us do.

[Chub_by]

Seems a really nice guy and he knows his stuff, just wish he kept his monitors and Gators correctly.. or, let us say, closer to correctly.

[Pirarucu]

(Continued because of my wierd phone)

I feel that it is rediculous that we hold breeders to a different standard than hobbiests. If an animal is an animal and a life is a life than what is deemed appropriate or in other words "the lowest standard of acceptable husbandry" should be consistently the same. If a person came on this forum and had one carpet python that he kept in a small plastic tub I would speak up and say that is not acceptable husbandry. Many of you would chime in and agree. I don't care that he has a thousand snakes, I do not like to see animals that I like have to live in conditions like that.Agreed. I see the excuse that "breeders with thousands of animals can't afford to keep them in anything but small tubs" all the time. That's an argument for keeping fewer animals, not keeping them in cages that are barely big enough.

[Mikoh4792]

Agreed. I see the excuse that "breeders with thousands of animals can't afford to keep them in anything but small tubs" all the time. That's an argument for keeping fewer animals, not keeping them in cages that are barely big enough.

Exactly, husbandry over profit. These are live animals, not objects.

Breed fewer animals to provide adequate housing, instead of breeding many animals in cramped housing.

They can't afford to keep 100 snakes in anything but small tubs? Too bad, don't keep 100 snakes then.

[Mad Max]

That poor Nile can't hardly move at all in there.

http://www.varanid.us/shocking/drawer.jpg

I hadn't seen that before now. Can't say that I approve of it.

[nazanova]

I hadn't seen that before now. Can't say that I approve of it.

I second that.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

OK that's a bit too little space, if that were a child or a domestic animal he'd be in jail. No offence, I don't know the guy and the few episodes of snake bites I've watched were cool but I'm just stating a fact. That would be considered abuse in a child or domestic animal cruelty case.

[millertime89]

You are one lucky guy! (As weird as that may sound lol) Who won between you and josh :D

Josh did, three matches (up to 5 rounds per match) in a row was too much for me. He was fresher and I was exhausted. Those suits are HOT!

[Aaron_S]

Brian is very talkative with the community. If anyone has concerns they should attempt to contact him and ask him these questions.

I know he has posted on his blog some time ago about the large constrictors. He mentioned that he gave them larger enclosures at one point in time. They went off food and didn't do as well in them so he switched back to these sizes and the large snakes do better for him in them.

Bob Clark, who has a degree in zoology and a masters in Herpetology, also agrees that these larger animals generally prefer a cozier environment.

[millertime89]

Brian is very talkative with the community. If anyone has concerns they should attempt to contact him and ask him these questions.

I know he has posted on his blog some time ago about the large constrictors. He mentioned that he gave them larger enclosures at one point in time. They went off food and didn't do as well in them so he switched back to these sizes and the large snakes do better for him in them.

Bob Clark, who has a degree in zoology and a masters in Herpetology, also agrees that these larger animals generally prefer a cozier environment.

Interesting that you mention this, I hadn't heard Bob's take on this. We just had a retic go off feed when we moved her into a larger enclosure (not much, from a 41qt to a Vision 221. We switched her back and she's eating like a champ again. Very frustrating because she looks so cramped in the 41qt tub but it is clearly what she preferred. Had her in the 221 for 2 months and we offered her a wide variety of food items and nothing worked.

Re: Monitor husbandry. He has larger enclosures for them but moves them into the smaller cages for filming. As I'm sure you are aware, filming monitors in their proper enclosures can be difficult.

[Aaron_S]

Interesting that you mention this, I hadn't heard Bob's take on this. We just had a retic go off feed when we moved her into a larger enclosure (not much, from a 41qt to a Vision 221. We switched her back and she's eating like a champ again. Very frustrating because she looks so cramped in the 41qt tub but it is clearly what she preferred. Had her in the 221 for 2 months and we offered her a wide variety of food items and nothing worked.

Re: Monitor husbandry. He has larger enclosures for them but moves them into the smaller cages for filming. As I'm sure you are aware, filming monitors in their proper enclosures can be difficult.

If you check articles written by Bob he mentions it. I believe I caught that tidbit in 'Not your father's retic" in a recent REPTILES magazine. He posts them on his site if anyone is interested in the read. He says big is fine but his experience says they prefer the tighter environment.

I have noted in my ball pythons that some adjust to the upgraded bin size quite well while others do not. I see your point Kyle in the cramped look but to them it's perfect.

I didn't and won't comment on the monitor enclosures as I have no knowledge of his set ups. I have never bothered to ask him but I should be seeing him come Sept so maybe I'll ask.

[millertime89]

I'll have to go check it out on his site. Been a while since I ventured over there. I asked Brian about the enclosures when I first met him at the MidWest Herp Convention (where that picture was taken) and from what I remember him telling me (it was nearly two years ago now) he had them in size-appropriate setups. I don't think I've watched a snakebytes video in probably 18 months so things might have changed and I just haven't cared enough to ask him when I last saw him a few months back.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Knowing that's not what they live in makes me feel a lot better

[Pirarucu]

Re: Monitor husbandry. He has larger enclosures for them but moves them into the smaller cages for filming. As I'm sure you are aware, filming monitors in their proper enclosures can be difficult.We've all heard that excuse for those monitor tubs, and so far as I know it has never been substantiated. He has never shown any of his monitor's actual cages except for one of the "night" Nile monitor's, which was hardly better than this. Proportionally it was the same size with more height, and was not a cage suitable for keeping monitors in, even if it was big enough. I'm sorry, but I'm calling bull on the claim that these are feeding enclosures. Who adds substrate and a water bowl to a feeding cage? Not only that, but why bother using the feeding cage in the first place? Why not feed the monitor out on the floor if there was, for some reason, a problem with filming them in their enclosures? And no, there really isn't a whole lot of difficulty filming monitors in their proper enclosures, especially not around feeding time when most adult monitors will walk straight up to you and come out of the cage if you prompt them. People do it fairly often. If anything, it would be harder to catch the monitor out of its cage, carry it to a feeding tub and get it inside than it would to do almost anything else. It just doesn't add up. On top of that, niles are harder to get overweight than other monitors, even with improper temperatures. The only way I can imagine a nile would be that fat is if it were confined to a very small space and unable to move much. The bottom line is that everything about that situation and the monitor's condition points to that being its permanent cage. The only thing saying it isn't is their word that they have bigger cages. Monitor keepers have discussed these videos time and time again on well known forums that I'm positive people from BHB look at. Yet no one there seems willing to join the conversation, not even to run out to the warehouse and take a phone picture of a monitor cage. You would think, if people were falsely accusing them of bad monitor husbandry, they would be inclined to protect their reputation and give some evidence to the contrary...

[nazanova]

We've all heard that excuse for those monitor tubs, and so far as I know it has never been substantiated. He has never shown any of his monitor's actual cages except for one of the "night" Nile monitor's, which was hardly better than this. Proportionally it was the same size with more height, and was not a cage suitable for keeping monitors in, even if it was big enough. I'm sorry, but I'm calling bull on the claim that these are feeding enclosures. Who adds substrate and a water bowl to a feeding cage? Not only that, but why bother using the feeding cage in the first place? Why not feed the monitor out on the floor if there was, for some reason, a problem with filming them in their enclosures? And no, there really isn't a whole lot of difficulty filming monitors in their proper enclosures, especially not around feeding time when most adult monitors will walk straight up to you and come out of the cage if you prompt them. People do it fairly often. If anything, it would be harder to catch the monitor out of its cage, carry it to a feeding tub and get it inside than it would to do almost anything else. It just doesn't add up. On top of that, niles are harder to get overweight than other monitors, even with improper temperatures. The only way I can imagine a nile would be that fat is if it were confined to a very small space and unable to move much. The bottom line is that everything about that situation and the monitor's condition points to that being its permanent cage. The only thing saying it isn't is their word that they have bigger cages. Monitor keepers have discussed these videos time and time again on well known forums that I'm positive people from BHB look at. Yet no one there seems willing to join the conversation, not even to run out to the warehouse and take a phone picture of a monitor cage. You would think, if people were falsely accusing them of bad monitor husbandry, they would be inclined to protect their reputation and give some evidence to the contrary...

As a reply to your line(s) about them protecting their reputation I guess because their known more for their snake work then monitor they don't really care as much? Thus not having to defend themselves against accusations. From seeing those pictures of the Nile monitor video I 100% agree with what you are saying, I do generally think he takes more care of his snakes then the monitors maybe because he has more passion for them

[Aaron_S]

Here is what Brian wrote on his facebook. Take it for what you will...

"Every now and then I have to make one of these posts.. I don't like too, but I feel I have too. Why is it that our "hobby" loves to attack our own. I have never seen ANY other hobby or business be so horribly back stabbing and childish.
Yesterday I was attacked on a monitor forum for a video I put out 7 years ago where I showed a monitor that was in a feeding cage, not it's actual cage, but a feeding cage. It was not his permanent home, but one we would move him to in order to feed him. I gave that animal away 6 years ago and yet I received about 100 messages about how I need to keep that monitor differently and how terrible of a person I am. Really? So I have to go back and defend myself for a video I did 7 years ago? Not to mention everyone posted like this video happened last week... Also, there was recently a very positive post on a forum about me and sure enough after a ton of super flattering things, the negative nillies came out and attacked the heck out of me.
Now do I really care about this stupidity? Not at all, but the reason I bring this up is for you guys to understand how YOU are the problem. Rather than helping change peoples minds or fight our fight supporting USARK or sacrificing to make our hobby better, you chose to attack me. Me of all people? And in the process you make people not want to have anything to do with our hobby because you all look like arguing morons. Now I am FAR from perfect, but I think most people would agree that I make more of a impact on the hobby than almost anyone. I spend an enormous amount of money and time promoting this hobby in ways that never makes me one penny. I do it because I want people to love these animals as much as I do. I also never think I deserve a pass, but I do think that I should at least get the respect I deserve for all that I do for this hobby.
There are plenty of people and things I see in the hobby that I don't like, but I realize that publicly attacking someone only makes all of us look terrible. Then you wonder why some of the big breeders don't want to help and don't want to participate in our community. Do you blame them??? Look at the way you treat us... I go to bat for every person in the hobby on a daily basis, and I don't post and brag about the battles I fight. I do them because I love this hobby.
There's nothing I enjoy more than turning a snake hater into a snake lover, but sometimes you guys make my job a lot harder than it should be. In honesty I am starting to really dislike the "hobby" and what it's turning into. I love the animals more than I can even explain, but you guys need to grow up and get off your fricken high horses and make a difference. And I'm not talking sitting behind your keyboard and accusing others of not caring for their animals. Do something positive and stop acting like you're in 5th grade.
Let's hope I don't have to rant again about this. But honestly, if we continue down this road none of us will have a hobby to worry about. So please grow up and if you have a problem with me, then talk to me directly like a grown up and don't post on some random forum like a linch mob...... We all have a common enemy and I can assure you it's nobody in this hobby. It's the people that are trying to stop us all from keeping these animals. I know how fun it is to gang up on a "big name" in the hobby. But lets try to put our energy into attacking the real enemy. Feel free to give this post a "share"... Thanks, Brian..."

[EL Ziggy]

I like Brian. He seems to really care about the animals he produces and is very passionate about the hobby. I also like the snake bytes videos.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Busted!!!!

[Pirarucu]

Brian is great with snakes and does a massive amount for this hobby, you will never see me deny that. But a spade's a spade, and his monitor husbandry is not up to par. Even if we ignore the supposed feeding cages with substrate and water bowls, his latest "Night Nile" video shows a three foot Nile Monitor in a four foot wire cage with mulch substrate and a single basking light, and he tells us it's a perfect cage for it. It's not acceptable, especially for someone who helps set the industry standard for a lot of animals, and who is working with a gene that has the potential to kickstart the captive breeding of Nile Monitors and end the mass importation of wild caught animals by making captive breeding more profitable. If he continues keeping those black niles as he is now, we will not see that happen.
Understand that I am not attacking what he has done for the hobby, he has done a lot. But that doesn't excuse promoting terrible husbandry. He even says it himself in the quote you provided:
I think most people would agree that I make more of a impact on the hobby than almost anyone.And it is because of that impact that his videos showing monitors in cramped boxes with inadequate conditions are such a blow to their captive care. People look to him to set the standard for proper care for a wide variety of animals, and he isn't coming anywhere close with the niles. But go ahead. Tell me all about how great he is and how he's setting such a good example here.
http://i1344.photobucket.com/albums/p653/A-gigas/Nightnile_zps02e7d8a6.jpg (http://s1344.photobucket.com/user/A-gigas/media/Nightnile_zps02e7d8a6.jpg.html)

[nazanova]

I love Brian and think he is an amazing dude that has a great passion for animal and has done ALOT for this hobby like I've said. I know nothing about Monitors so I'm going to keep out of that discussion, but the way he keeps his big snakes i don't really agree with, but that doesn't change my opinion of him.

[millertime89]

As I've said here and in other places. The negativity is destroying the hobby and people like Brian are doing everything they can to mend the bridges once burned but some people refuse the proverbial olive branch that many have offered. It is a real shame. You guys didn't know everything when you started, if you've got the experience you should educate the new people, not berate them when they make mistakes. How many mistakes have we all made along the way? Lord knows I've screwed up.

Edit: just because someone is a "Pro" in one area doesn't mean they know it all. I wouldn't know what to do with turtles or frogs if someone asked me. There are tons of conflicting pieces of info out there.

[Pirarucu]

Here's the thing: Brian is clearly well aware that these conversations exist and has been for years. He obviously knows that many people disagree with his monitor husbandry, including some of the most experienced people in the US. What bridges has he tried to mend? What olive branch has he offered? Care to elaborate on those points? He has not corrected his care, and continues to trumpet his incorrect husbandry, saying in his latest nile video that "I think it's going to work perfect for these Nile Monitors. As you can see, it's a lot of room." Wrong, and wrong again. If a four foot cage is a lot of room for a three foot lizard, I'm a dancing pink bunny rabbit.
I simply don't care what you've done. Teaching incorrect care, knowing that successful breeders disagree with your husbandry, and doing so knowing that you are one of the most influential people in the hobby is inexcusable. Period. End of story. I respect what he's done, but I will not give him a free pass on his monitor husbandry because of it. Passionate? Check. Influential? You bet. Does a lot for the hobby? Absolutely. But does he keep his monitors correctly? No.

[millertime89]

What's wrong with trying something new? How long did it take for people to figure out how to breed GTPs? How long was it until people got retics to calm down and ball pythons to feed (mostly) on schedule? The best people in this hobby still can't get Boelen's pythons (and a number of other species) to breed in captivity. That screen shot is from a video that is now nearly a year old, how are we to know he hasn't changed it up?

You bet he knows about this thread and others, he's a social media master. Never have I seen someone adopt the next thing so quickly and so readily.

[Pirarucu]

What's wrong with trying something new? How long did it take for people to figure out how to breed GTPs? How long was it until people got retics to calm down and ball pythons to feed (mostly) on schedule? The best people in this hobby still can't get Boelen's pythons (and a number of other species) to breed in captivity. That screen shot is from a video that is now nearly a year old, how are we to know he hasn't changed it up?

You bet he knows about this thread and others, he's a social media master. Never have I seen someone adopt the next thing so quickly and so readily.That's just the thing, he isn't trying something new. The care he's been using is the old standard that hasn't been updated in twenty or thirty years, and it doesn't work. I would love to find out that his husbandry has changed, but I have seen no evidence that it has. It took a long time to figure out how to breed monitors and achieve it with regularity, without the females dying from reproductive issues after their first clutch or two. Here, I'll leave the rest of this comment as a message to Brian Barczyk, and I truly hope that he will read it in full. If you want baby night niles, here's what you need:
Loamy soil as deep as the length of the monitor's SVL to lay eggs in (for niles, this should be in a heated nest box to replicate a termite mound) and basking temperatures in excess of 135°F surface temperature, with around 145°F being preferable. That needs to be combined with a very large cage (A minimum of twice the length of the animal) which ought to have a swimming area and a soil substrate to allow for burrowing. In addition, if the intention is to breed the monitors it is usually best to house them together as youngsters to allow them to develop a social hierarchy and practice the ritualized combat that they will use as adults to ascertain dominance. Individuals kept in solitary for their entire lives will often not know how to interact with others of their own species, and will simply kill each other to decide issues of dominance. In addition, dominance displays and mating rituals are very similar in monitors (so much so that the former is often mistaken for the latter), and the lack of practice in their ritualized combat will mean inexperience in mating rituals as well. Animals that were not raised with others will often not know how to properly court each other, so the male will instead subdue the female by force and possibly kill her in the process.

To summarize the reasons for these requirements:
The lack of a heated nesting box will cause the female to hold in her eggs longer and become egg bound by her third clutch. It will also commonly cause congenital defects and dead eggs in any clutches she does end up laying.
A lack of proper heating will lead to a faulty metabolism which will not be able to properly regulate and handle the food that is consumed, leading to an overweight lizard with very little muscle mass. The endocrine system and immune system will also suffer and malfunction, often causing kidney failure and a heightened vulnerability to pathogens that would normally be handled with ease.
A lack of deep substrate to burrow in will deprive the monitor of its ability to regulate the humidity of the air it is breathing, and it will become chronically dehydrated and eventually die of major organ failure and gout. Theoretically if the humidity in the cage is kept high enough they can do well without burrows, but I have yet to see anyone achieve this.
The lack of communal rearing will increase the risk of violent breeding and may cause the death of an animal when they are introduced. This is not always the case, but the risk does go up considerably, especially with species such as niles.

Brian, I would love to see these reproduced in captivity. Truly I would. It would be a tremendous step forward for the monitor sector, and would help decrease its reliance on imported babies, most of which never live to see their first birthday. Breeding morphs in captivity gives us the opportunity to make captive breeding a profitable and thus more appealing endeavor, leading to the end of a trade which currently relies on cheap imports. These niles present a chance to achieve in monitors what Bob Clark's breeding of the first albino Burmese Python achieved for the snake hobby. A shift to captive breeding the species instead of importing tens of thousands each year. If anyone has the resources to succeed with this project, it's you. It tears at my heart to see such an opportunity not being given your all, and to know that unless something is changed this project has a good chance of dying out. I truly hope that you will consider making the changes necessary to succeed with these incredible animals.

[franks]

Pirarucu- I agree with your points. I am not really chiming in because I have nothing to add to your opinion about monitor husbandry. You are correct.

When you are that influential you will be held to a higher standard and rightly so. People are looking to you to tell them how to keep their animals- that is alot of responsibility. There are many big breeders that are keeping our hobby alive and affordable and he is one of the more prominent ones. I intend no disrespect to him at all, I just wished people who are getting into the hobby seeked more to replicate the animals environment instead of trying to replicate the way a breeder with a thousand animals keeps his business investments.

[nazanova]

I just wished people who are getting into the hobby seeked more to replicate the animals environment instead of trying to replicate the way a breeder with a thousand animals keeps his business investments.

This is the best part of your whole paragraph to me!! I hate it when people think because they've seen breeders with hundreds of snakes keep theirs in rack systems or tubs that they can do the same with their like 2 snakes. It really frustrates me! Like if you only have a few, don't try to cut corners and be cheap, give them a loving home they deserve! Would you keep a full grown dog in a tiny cage, plain cage for most of it's life?

[nazanova]

There's a new video on Animal Bytes TV (Snake Bytes TV) about Monitor Lizards. When I see the sizes of the Monitor enclosures in this video compared to the one in Brian's latest Monitor video, it really makes me think and question if he should own Monitors at all.

Monitor Lizards Madness! Crittacam : AnimalBytesTV - YouTube (http://youtu.be/IxdRqlCwv-c)

[David VB]

Pirarucu- I agree with your points. I am not really chiming in because I have nothing to add to your opinion about monitor husbandry. You are correct.

When you are that influential you will be held to a higher standard and rightly so. People are looking to you to tell them how to keep their animals- that is alot of responsibility. There are many big breeders that are keeping our hobby alive and affordable and he is one of the more prominent ones. I intend no disrespect to him at all, I just wished people who are getting into the hobby seeked more to replicate the animals environment instead of trying to replicate the way a breeder with a thousand animals keeps his business investments.


A BIG +1 on the whole post ;)

[Judy@TRR]

Here's the thing: Brian is clearly well aware that these conversations exist and has been for years. He obviously knows that many people disagree with his monitor husbandry, including some of the most experienced people in the US. What bridges has he tried to mend? What olive branch has he offered? Care to elaborate on those points? He has not corrected his care, and continues to trumpet his incorrect husbandry, saying in his latest nile video that "I think it's going to work perfect for these Nile Monitors. As you can see, it's a lot of room." Wrong, and wrong again. If a four foot cage is a lot of room for a three foot lizard, I'm a dancing pink bunny rabbit.
I simply don't care what you've done. Teaching incorrect care, knowing that successful breeders disagree with your husbandry, and doing so knowing that you are one of the most influential people in the hobby is inexcusable. Period. End of story. I respect what he's done, but I will not give him a free pass on his monitor husbandry because of it. Passionate? Check. Influential? You bet. Does a lot for the hobby? Absolutely. But does he keep his monitors correctly? No.

I hope I don't regret doing this. I don't usually step in at the sites I review for The Reptile Report. And I should say for the record that what I'm saying here is MY opinion as a person, not as Chief Ed of TRR.

I have a great deal of respect for all the sites I visit each day, and for the members that keep them alive and running. We ALL play a critical role in the herping community, no matter what social-media naysayers will tweet about the death of forums.

But when these forums (or Facebook or Twitter) become a place to arm-chair quarterback each other, it becomes a problem. The problem isn't that folks disagree with how Brian keeps monitors, it's that they go about expressing their disagreement in such a negative manner. I know Brian personally, as a friend, and I respect the hell out of him. He's a very humble person. But he's also human. And when he's attacked, he puts up walls, as most anyone would. And when those walls are up, he's not going to see or be open to receiving the very valid arguments that a few cooler heads put forth.

If you sit around talking behind someone's back (when you're fairly certain they can/will overhear you) about how awful they are, they are not going to want to listen to anything constructive you might have to say later.

Instead...if someone is that concerned...take it directly to Brian and speak with him, and with at least a degree of courtesy, if not genuine respect. If you go at him and say, "Your monitor care sucks and it's obvious you're only in it for the money! Here's what you should be doing instead..." he's not going to hear you.

But if you approach him and say, "Hey Brian, I really admire what you do for the herping community, and it's obvious there's a lot of love for the animals here. You have a tremendous influence on how people care for their animals, and for that reason, I'm very concerned about some critical issues regarding monitor care. It would be amazing to see someone with your influence be able to show people the best way to care for these awesome lizards...." etc... He WILL be open to listen.

If you approach it right, you can even fire him up to be an advocate for correct monitor care. But that will NEVER happen with these kinds of behind-the-back rants that serve no purpose but to stir the pot of anger on all sides.

[Pirarucu]

I have already done that several times, most notably after his latest night nile video was first posted. Those messages were all along the lines of your second example, but so far I have not gotten a response from him. I have tried to open pleasant dialogue on the subject but he hasn't replied, leaving this as seemingly the only medium through which I am able to get a message across. You won't catch me saying that he is only in it for the money, he clearly isn't. It's obvious he's insanely passionate about the animals, more so than most people in the hobby. What's been irritating me the most about this thread isn't really the monitor issue in and of itself and his seeming resistance to suggestions for improvement, but rather the fact that many people seem perfectly willing to give him a free pass and ignore any mistakes he makes because of what he does for the hobby. That mindset simply doesn't make any sort of sense to me. It would if there was some necessitating link between helping the hobby and keeping the monitors the way he does, but so far as I can tell no such connection exists, and the reverse ought to be true. Providing and promoting better monitor husbandry would help the hobby even more than he already does.

[David VB]

I commented on his vids several times, all about the giant snakes in those tubs. Every time they got deleted...

[eminart]

I hope I don't regret doing this. I don't usually step in at the sites I review for The Reptile Report. And I should say for the record that what I'm saying here is MY opinion as a person, not as Chief Ed of TRR.

I have a great deal of respect for all the sites I visit each day, and for the members that keep them alive and running. We ALL play a critical role in the herping community, no matter what social-media naysayers will tweet about the death of forums.

But when these forums (or Facebook or Twitter) become a place to arm-chair quarterback each other, it becomes a problem. The problem isn't that folks disagree with how Brian keeps monitors, it's that they go about expressing their disagreement in such a negative manner. I know Brian personally, as a friend, and I respect the hell out of him. He's a very humble person. But he's also human. And when he's attacked, he puts up walls, as most anyone would. And when those walls are up, he's not going to see or be open to receiving the very valid arguments that a few cooler heads put forth.

If you sit around talking behind someone's back (when you're fairly certain they can/will overhear you) about how awful they are, they are not going to want to listen to anything constructive you might have to say later.

Instead...if someone is that concerned...take it directly to Brian and speak with him, and with at least a degree of courtesy, if not genuine respect. If you go at him and say, "Your monitor care sucks and it's obvious you're only in it for the money! Here's what you should be doing instead..." he's not going to hear you.

But if you approach him and say, "Hey Brian, I really admire what you do for the herping community, and it's obvious there's a lot of love for the animals here. You have a tremendous influence on how people care for their animals, and for that reason, I'm very concerned about some critical issues regarding monitor care. It would be amazing to see someone with your influence be able to show people the best way to care for these awesome lizards...." etc... He WILL be open to listen.

If you approach it right, you can even fire him up to be an advocate for correct monitor care. But that will NEVER happen with these kinds of behind-the-back rants that serve no purpose but to stir the pot of anger on all sides.


I agree with this guy. I've come to hate the online community. It's the same no matter what the topic. I've been an avid forum-goes since the mid 90's, and whatever the club/topic/sport, the members are always their own worst enemy. And there's a few that are the self-appointed police of right and wrong. Every time.

[UwabamiReptiles]

I agree with this guy. I've come to hate the online community. It's the same no matter what the topic. I've been an avid forum-goes since the mid 90's, and whatever the club/topic/sport, the members are always their own worst enemy. And there's a few that are the self-appointed police of right and wrong. Every time.

I feel the same way. I used to post on this forum all the time right before it got a lot more popular. Most people here were constructive with their criticism if they saw something wrong with what someone was doing or saying. Why do we insist on attacking each other now since there are more members? I understand that there are different opinions on different issues. But just because I may do something differently than someone doesn't mean I'm wrong and your right and vice versa. The "my way is the only way" mentality isn't good for the hobby on a whole. Like said earlier, if you have a problem with Brian then talk to Brian about it. Don't bad mouth him on a forum because at the end of the day, what is that going to accomplish?

[nazanova]

Kind of wish I didn't start this thread now. All I wanted was to get peoples opinions on him and get stories of people meeting him and such, not attack the man and cause a tense atmosphere and argue amongst each other. Yes his Monitor housing isn't adequate apparently and I somewhat agree (I know nothing about monitors anyways) but I'm not going to attack the guy and start thinking he's a bad person. To be quite frank this is a SNAKE forum so if you have a problem with the Monitor situation, go to a Monitor forum! I've never seen anyone be so hostile and argumentative on this forum until I created this thread and I don't like it. This is the best forum I have ever been on because the people are so helpful and nice and I don't want my opinions changed. This was supposed to be a POSITIVE discussion about a man who has done amazing things for the SNAKE hobby (of course he has done great work with other animals.) Like I've said please move your opinions on his Monitors to another thread or a Monitor forum because I've had enough of this negativity. And like the others have said get at him in person! He's always replying to people's tweets and video comments! Just @ him and say something like "Hey Brian could I possibly e-mail you and talk about something that's bothering me?" It's ok to have an opinion and not agree with something, but to rant about someone and bring negativity isn't ok. Yes he has a bigger responsibility to up hold certain standards because of his status but he's still a human!!! No more negativity please.

[poison123]

I don't like his housing methods for snakes or lizards. I'll leave my opinion at that.

Nazanova, "ssnakess" is just the name of the forum. The forum its self is not strictly for snakes.

[nazanova]

I don't like his housing methods for snakes or lizards. I'll leave my opinion at that.

Nazanova, "ssnakess" is just the name of the forum. The forum its self is not strictly for snakes.

Yeah it's totally fine to have opinion, but it's not ok to attack the guy. Oh I stand corrected, I take it back.

[infernalis]

I think in the name of professionalism, we are going to conclude this and lock it down.



Every now and then I have to make one of these posts.. I don't like too, but I feel I have too. Why is it that our "hobby" loves to attack our own. I have never seen ANY other hobby or business be so horribly back stabbing and childish.
Yesterday I was attacked on a monitor forum for a video I put out 7 years ago where I showed a monitor that was in a feeding cage, not it's actual cage, but a feeding cage. It was not his permanent home, but one we would move him to in order to feed him. I gave that animal away 6 years ago and yet I received about 100 messages about how I need to keep that monitor differently and how terrible of a person I am. Really? So I have to go back and defend myself for a video I did 7 years ago? Not to mention everyone posted like this video happened last week... Also, there was recently a very positive post on a forum about me and sure enough after a ton of super flattering things, the negative nillies came out and attacked the heck out of me.
Now do I really care about this stupidity? Not at all, but the reason I bring this up is for you guys to understand how YOU are the problem. Rather than helping change peoples minds or fight our fight supporting USARK or sacrificing to make our hobby better, you chose to attack me. Me of all people? And in the process you make people not want to have anything to do with our hobby because you all look like arguing morons. Now I am FAR from perfect, but I think most people would agree that I make more of a impact on the hobby than almost anyone. I spend an enormous amount of money and time promoting this hobby in ways that never makes me one penny. I do it because I want people to love these animals as much as I do. I also never think I deserve a pass, but I do think that I should at least get the respect I deserve for all that I do for this hobby.
There are plenty of people and things I see in the hobby that I don't like, but I realize that publicly attacking someone only makes all of us look terrible. Then you wonder why some of the big breeders don't want to help and don't want to participate in our community. Do you blame them??? Look at the way you treat us... I go to bat for every person in the hobby on a daily basis, and I don't post and brag about the battles I fight. I do them because I love this hobby.
There's nothing I enjoy more than turning a snake hater into a snake lover, but sometimes you guys make my job a lot harder than it should be. In honesty I am starting to really dislike the "hobby" and what it's turning into. I love the animals more than I can even explain, but you guys need to grow up and get off your fricken high horses and make a difference. And I'm not talking sitting behind your keyboard and accusing others of not caring for their animals. Do something positive and stop acting like you're in 5th grade.
Let's hope I don't have to rant again about this. But honestly, if we continue down this road none of us will have a hobby to worry about. So please grow up and if you have a problem with me, then talk to me directly like a grown up and don't post on some random forum like a linch mob...... We all have a common enemy and I can assure you it's nobody in this hobby. It's the people that are trying to stop us all from keeping these animals. I know how fun it is to gang up on a "big name" in the hobby. But lets try to put our energy into attacking the real enemy. Feel free to give this post a "share"... Thanks, Brian...