The One That Started it All - Texas Alligator Lizard (Gerrhonotus infernalis)

My family moved to Austin, Texas in 1980 when I was just a wee laddie.  At 5, I was already obsessed with reptiles and amphibians.  I remember the first time I saw a Texas alligator lizard (Gerrhonotus infernalis) in the wild, and it changed my life forever.  I talked about this experience on my recent interview on Amphibicast.

There was a rock retaining wall in the backyard at our house in Austin, and I was looking around the wall for herps when I noticed a really long tail hanging out of one of the cracks in the wall.  I’ve never been afraid to stick my hands in holes and other places where most folks wouldn’t.  I slowly pulled the tail, trying not to break it, and pulled my scaly prize out to hold and admire.  Most Texas alligator lizards are relatively docile when encountered in the wild.  Sometimes, males can hiss and try to bite, but they’re usually pretty chill.  That moment, discovering the beautiful lizard, changed my life.

I’ve spent the last several decades working with reptiles and amphibians, and this species will always hold a special place in my heart being the species that fueled my lifelong fascination for all things cold-blooded.

Plant Propagation Boxes

Plant propagation boxes are great alternatives for those of us who don’t have greenhouses but would like to keep our tropical plants in ideal growing conditions. It’s essentially the same concept as a greenhouse but on a much smaller scale. Vivaria are great for tropical plants, but where is the best place to keep cuttings taken from your vivaria? Yep, plant propagation boxes.

Prop boxes are simple and effective. I use clear 60-quart Sterilite® boxes that measure 24" x 19 1/4" x 11 1/8" because they fit on the shelving unit in one of my closets. If you can go bigger, do it! I put about an inch or two layer of perlite on the bottom of the prop boxes simply to stabilize the potted plants and absorb some humidity. I used to use soil in the entire boxes and plant cuttings or rooted plants directly into the soil in the boxes. After using that method for about six months, I found that roots from the different plants would get tangled, and I would have to carefully separate all of the plants. Potting them individually is certainly the way to go. After watering your potted plants, place them in your prop boxes. Some folks like to add some ventilation holes in the boxes, but I find it unnecessary.

Let’s talk about lighting for your prop boxes. Good LED lighting is fundamentally important in successfully growing plants in the artificial conditions. Thankfully, LED lights are relatively inexpensive, and there are almost endless options. I typically like 6000-6500K. Most of the plants we use for vivaria are considered understory plants, which simply means they are often found in somewhat lower light conditions in the rainforest. There’s absolutely no need to blast your prop boxes with tons of light. I use a single LED strip light above each prop box, and that is more than enough light for the plants to grow and thrive.

As mentioned, prop boxes are perfect for growing cuttings from your vivaria, and if your boxes are large enough, you can keep the mother plants in them and take cuttings as needed for future vivarium builds. The boxes will require light misting and watering as needed, and the perlite on the bottom should be replaced when it gets water logged or too dirty. If your plants need to be watered, do so outside of the prop boxes so the water can drain before placing them back in the boxes.

Austin Vivarium Studio Presents… Q and A with Hobbyists!

There are so many passionate people in the herp, vivarium, and tropical plant hobbies, so I decided to start doing a Q and A with some prominent figures who I think are positive influences in those hobbies.  I think it’s important to spotlight passionate individuals who inspire me and so many others.  I’m really excited to dig in and find out more about these fascinating individuals.  

STAY TUNED!!! 

Field Herping is LIFE!

Field herping means going into the wild in search of reptiles and amphibians, and I try to get out into the field as much as possible to study and photograph herps in situ.  I’ve been a field herper all of my life, and I get excited every year when spring rolls around because that means it’s herping season again in the US.

Most of the herping that I do is in the deserts of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.  My wife and I have some land outside of Big Bend National Park, and it’s some of the best field herping in the country.  I’ve been herping the Chihuahuan Desert for over 30 years, and I’ve found most of the species in the Trans-Pecos.

There are several different ways to herp.  Most folks are familiar with road cruising, which simply means driving slowly down roads at night to look for reptiles and amphibians crossing or resting on roads.  Road cruising is actually illegal in some states.  Most of the herping that I do in Texas involves pulling off the side of the road and walking “cuts” with a flashlight.  “Cuts” are manmade rock cliffs where the highway department blasted the land with dynamite for road development.  The last way I herp involves walking through habitat during the day (more often at night) in search of reptiles and amphibians.  I prefer getting out and walking over road cruising, but some areas do not have shoulders so road cruising is the only viable option.

A “lifer” is a new species that a herper discovers when in the field, and it is the reason that we continue to get out and look for specimens.  I don’t keep any of the animals that I find in the wild.  I simply photograph them when I can and send them on their way.

Fielding herping is such a rewarding endeavor and requires very few supplies.  When you’re herping at night, a good flashlight is fundanemnatlly important.  I use Fenix flashlights exclusively.  I alway take 3 with me, with plenty of backup batteries.  Many of my friends also use headlamps when herping at night, but I only use my flashlight(s).  A really good snake stick like one from Midwest Tongs is great when you come across venomous and/or cantankerous specimens.  I also use some of my less expensive sticks to flip rocks and debris.  You’ll also want to have a good pair of gloves when digging through brush and rocks.  In Texas, a safety vest is required to wear at all times at night so others can see you.  Those are the most important tools of the trade.  I take extensive notes on the specimens that I find, so I often carry a small notebook or simply make notes on my iPhone.  A temperature gun and hygrometer are great tools if detailed field data is desired.  That’s about it.  Water, specimen cups and bags if collecting, and maybe a small backpack to keep all of your supplies.

Oh, one last thing. I document all of my finds on iNaturalist. “iNaturalist is a social network for sharing biodiversity information to help each other learn about nature. The primary goal is to connect people to nature, and the secondary goal is to generate scientifically valuable biodiversity data from these personal encounters.”

Upcoming Studio Photography Tutorial

I’ve been a commercial photographer since 2009, and I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many amazing subjects over the years. My primary focus has been press kits for bands and musicians, but my personal work is landscape, nature, and photographing my herps in a studio setting.

I’m currently working on a detailed tutorial about my workflow when photographing reptiles and amphibians on white and black.

Stay tuned!!!

National Frog Fest 2025

Andy Baker put on one heck of a gathering for poison frog enthusiasts!  350 like-minded folks descended on Ann Arbor, Michigan last weekend to celebrate all things poison frogs, other amphibians, and vivarium plants and supplies.  This was the second year of the festival, and by the look of it, it’ll be happening again next year.

There was a meet-and-greet on Saturday night, but we were pretty tired after a long day of exploring Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Saline. We haven’t spent much time in the area, so we really wanted to check it out.

NFF 2025 started with a couple of great presentations. The first presentation was “Poison Frog Husbandry 101” with Jacob Van Keuren. Great talk! The other talk was “Tesoros and the Active Conservation Alliance” with Ivan Lozano Ortega. “Founded by International conservationist Ivan Lozano, Tesoros de Colombia and Tesoro Frogs promote ethical bio-commerce by providing an alternative to the illegal pet trade, ensuring that rare and endangered species are preserved through sustainable practices.” I simply can’t stress how important it is to support endeavors like Tesoros to cripple the illegal poison frog trade. The Active Conservation Alliance (ACA) is a grassroots effort to “help restore balance in our ecosystems.” As a community, we have to be proactive to help preserve the rainforests and animals in them for future generations to enjoy.

There were so many great vendors at NFF 2025, including Glass Box Tropicals, FrogDaddy, and Verdant Vivariums. We picked up several new frogs and lots of amazing plants. We got to meet so many prominent frog and plant folks.

I really can’t praise Andy enough for putting the event together and bringing so many amazing froggers to his event. I think everyone left the event inspired and invigorated and ready to start planning for National Frog Fest 2026!