Paul Cuffaro 
Hi, I'm Paul Cuffaro, a 21-year-old who loves creating content for the world to see! Documenting my life on a farm with over 50 animals & lots of crazy fish, ponds, and aquariums!! Can't wait to meet you all at Animal Con!
Forrest Galante - Animal Planet
Meet Forrest, an American outdoor adventurer, television personality, and conservationist. He works in the field of wildlife biology, specializing in the exploration of animals on the brink of extinction. He is the host of the television shows "Extinct or Alive" on Animal Planet and "Mysterious Creatures with Forrest Galante" as well as multiple shark week shows.
Brian Barczyk
Meet Brian, a YouTube daily vlogger and business entrepreneur who shares his daily life as a reptile breeder of BHB Reptiles as well as running The Reptarium reptile zoo in Michigan. Brian has amassed a following of 3.4 million subscribers on YouTube and also on TikTok. He is also well-known for his appearance on Discovery Channel's Venom Hunters, previous YouTube web series SnakeBytesTV, and self-produced wildlife documentary Brian In The Wild.
Luke Hagopian - Luke's Goldies 
Luke "The Goldfish Guy" Hagopian turned his passion for fancy goldfish into a social media phenomenon, amassing millions of followers across various platforms during the pandemic lockdown. From an Armenian chemical engineering background, Luke's unique goldfish, such as Big Bubba and Mr. Cow, have become individual internet sensations due to their distinctive personalities. His unexpected rise on FishTok began with a viral memorial video for a fish named Nubbin, leading to Luke dedicating almost 50 hours a week to fish care and content creation.
Dingo Dinkelman
Meet Dingo Dinkelman; a South African conservationist whose passion and enthusiasm for wildlife has reached hundreds of millions of people around the world. His excitement and child-like wonder when working with some of the deadliest and most dangerous animals on the planet, will keep you on the edge of your seat as he draws you into the adventure with him! From surviving the bite of a Black Mamba, to almost dying on a wildlife documentary in South America, nothing has been able to dampen his passion for the very animals he has dedicated his life to save.
His wife Kirsty and three kids, TJ, Maddy and Rex are also part of the adventure and they travel the world with him, encountering some of the greatest animals found on our planet.
They are currently building a zoological facility in South Africa to set a new standard in how captive animals should be kept, both on the African continent and around the rest of the world.
Tyler Nolan
Meet Tyler, an avid reptile keeper and famous for his love of venomous reptiles. Also, he is a Tattoo artist best known for competing in the sixth season of Spike's reality series Ink Master.
Brett Raymer - Animal Planet's Tanked
Meet Brett, a reality television star of Animal Planet's Tanked. He is the COO of Acrylic Tank Manufacturing. He has built some of the world's largest aquariums.
Blakes Exotics Animal Ranch
Meet Blake Kaldirimoglu, a social media influencer, and owner of Blakes Animal Ranch located in Southwest Ranches, Florida! Blake dedicates his life to caring for, rescuing, and educating others about a large variety of exotic and rare animals.
JAYPREHISTORICPETS - Prehistoric Pets 
Meet Jay, the proprietor of Prehistoric Pets and owner of The Reptile Zoo. Jay is always chasing the dream, with a passion to bring educating followers about the world of animals through creating inspiring content and hands-on interaction.
Dave & Jamie Leigh Womach - BirdTricks
Dave and Jamie Leigh Womach are a husband and wife team who are on a mission, and that mission is to save parrots one person at a time. Together, with over 40 years of combined parrot behavior and training experience, they are the current owners and trainers of BirdTricks, a company that strives to educate people worldwide about how to give captive parrots the best lives possible. When they aren't creating content for their extensive YouTube channel, Jamie and Dave can be found traveling the world working with their free flight students or cozied up at home with a project bird who they hope to find a perfect home for someday. Their daughter, Capri, is continuing the legacy as well with her new YouTube Channel, BirdTricks KIDS, and can be found cuddling with her budgie, Blueberry, almost any time of the day.
Chris Gillette - Florida's Wildest
Meet Chris Gillette, a wildlife Biologist, animal behaviorist, photographer/ videographer, and best known for his crocodilian training and handling videos. He has been featured on dozens of tv programs and networks including Discovery Channel, National Geographic, the History Channel, Animal Planet, CNN, NBC, E!, Travel Channel, and The Weather Channel. He travels the world working with crocodiles, venomous snakes, sharks, and more.
Dayyan Saylany- Reptiliatus
Reptiliatus offers viewers an inside look into herpetoculture through the lens of a passionate, enthusiastic hobbyist. Dayyan shares his experience keeping and breeding everything from reptiles and amphibians to invertebrates, covering a wide variety of fascinating species. He'll teach you everything from how to set up a bioactive terrarium - to how to raise tadpoles into froglets! All in all, Reptiliatus is both educational and entertaining - with its focus being on providing the best care possible and cultivating enrichment practices for these amazing animals!
Emma Lock - Emzotic
Best known for her award-winning 'Creature Feature' series on YouTube, Em is a Digital Animal Educator, and Zoological Specialist. She's also known for her role as 'Kim' in the cult horror classic, 'The Human Centipede', and is the author of the number 1 best-selling book, 'Animal Kind'. Em is currently based out of Colorado, where she runs Emzotic, is an ambassador for Domestic Violence awareness, sits on the Board of Advisors for 'The Biodiversity Group', is the VP of sales and marketing for Zen Habitats UK, and is developing her range of products to help serve her community of exotic pet enthusiasts, 'The Creature Crew'.
Tyler Rugge
Meet Tyler, a YouTube vlogger whose self-titled channel is dedicated to all things animal-related and keeper of a variety of pets. He has an affinity for animals, namely reptiles and he has a separate Instagram account for his gecko breeding.
Maddie Smith
Meet Maddie an animal-lover, who has built an audience on her self-titled YouTube creating videos about her many varied pets. A wildlife rehabilitator, she specializes in rehabilitating domestic reptiles, though her videos cover dog care, cat care, and bird care as well. She began keeping animals as a child and later began volunteering at a no-kill shelter at the age of twelve.
Kevin McCurley - New England Reptile
Kevin McCurley is the mastermind behind New England Reptile Distributors and has been working with animals such as ball pythons, reticulated pythons, and monitor lizards since the 90s. In addition to being on the front lines of the creation of new morph combinations, he is also an author of books such as "The Complete Ball Python, A Comprehensive Guide To Care, Breeding, And Genetic Mutations" and is an avid proponent of USARK and our legislative rights as animal keepers and enthusiasts. You can find him sharing his passion for animals and wealth of knowledge on the NERD youtube channel and his Instagram account @evilmorphgod.
Mike Holston - The Real Tarzan
Meet Mike, aka "The Real Tarzann", is a zookeeper who shares his love for exotic animals with his followers. He also does educational outreach visiting schools to teach young students about the exotic animals he works with and has a strong passion for animal conservation.
Tanner Serpa- SerpaDesign
I'm an artist, designer, photographer, and nature lover. My passion is bringing nature indoors and sharing my projects/ideas with others.
Adam Wickens - Wicked Reptiles
Canadian Standup Comic and YouTube personality, Adam Wickens, has hosted the Wickens Wicked Reptiles YouTube channel since 2019 but his passion for animals stems back to early childhood. Bringing a unique sense of humor to the animal education space through fun lists and silly vlogs Adam hopes we can all learn about reptiles together.
Benny Singh - Bionic Benny
I've had a passion for reptiles and fish my whole life. I chose to become a animal influencer after I was in a life changing accident in 2020 were I became permanently disabled with multiple injuries one being a above knee Amputation to my right leg ! Since having a second chance at life From that point I chose to dedicate the rest of my life to what I truly love my passion and love of Reptiles and Fish!
Dāv Kaufman's Reptile Adventures
Dāv Kaufman is a film producer and author and travels the world filming for his three Youtube Channels. He also is an ardent conservationist and reptile breeder. He holds a BA in History and Media Studies where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. Although his films have won over a dozen awards and have been globally released through Lion's Gate, he now is a full time Content Creator where he uses his platforms to introduce his audience to a world few have seen. At the same time, entertaining and educating his audience about all animals from common reptile pets and how they are living in the wild on Dāv Kaufman's Reptile Adventures to animal caregivers and keepers of exotics on Dāv Kaufman's Animal Adventures. He currently lives just outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Chris and Casey Leone - Garden State Tortoise
Meet Chris and Casey Leone of Garden State Tortoise. Chris is a herpetologist, and has worked with turtles and tortoises for 30 years. He also conducts studies on native NJ reptiles in the field. Casey, a former zookeeper and animal trainer runs the Terrapin Conservation Initiative to save wild Diamondback terrapins. Together they operate Garden State Tortoise which acts as a breeding facility, rescue and permanent home to many reptiles. On their YouTube channel, Chris and Casey bring an exciting dynamic to the animal community by sharing their experiences and knowledge as a family. The Leones aim to unite conservation and preservation efforts, through educating their viewers, that both are needed to truly save them from extinction.
Rodrigo & Lisa Rojas- Predatory Fins
Meet Rod, founder of Predatory Fins, who specializes in rare, exotic, and monster freshwater fish. Rod shares giant monster fish and the rarest exotic fish in the world on their YouTube channel. Predatory Fins have also been able to open a new Rescue Conservatory for unwanted or abandoned fish.
Savannah Boan
Savannah Boan, Gatorland's Crocodilian Enrichment Coordinator and International Ambassador for Gatorland Global Conservation is dedicated to teaching people about the incredible behavior, anatomy, and ecology of some of the world's most feared creatures. Through groundbreaking content for Gatorland's worldwide social media, she is changing the villainous perception of alligators and crocodiles to create respect for the animals and the world in which they live.
A Marine Corps veteran with over twenty-five years of public entertainment experience, Savannah has a special passion for alligators and crocodiles. She is a member of the IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group, a TED TALK alumnus, and an advocate for Florida wildlife and conservation with a large following of fans and friends the world over. She has a pet Black Throat monitor named Pork Chop and an alligator sidekick named Jaws. Savannah has worked with crocodiles and reptiles from Cuba, Australia, Jamaica, and more. Early in her career, Savannah also worked at a Reptile Zoo in Orange County, California, where she appeared on The Tonight Show and Good Day L.A. with a world-record 24-foot reticulated python and other gigantic reptiles.
"Although I have loved alligators, crocodiles, and other reptiles my entire life, it was a dream come true to work at Gatorland," says Savannah. "Gatorland is the world's leader in alligator safety and education, and with all the incredible animals that I get to interact with daily, it is truly a magical place."
Savannah shares her love and passion for alligators and crocodiles every day, whether here at Gatorland, during her travels to other countries for conservation, through her appearances on iHeartRadio, and to millions of followers on social media. She is showing the world a wonderous side of these mysterious creatures that they never knew before.
Will Nace
My name is Will Nace, and I have been working with animals for over 25 years. My first job was in a saltwater fish store. Since then, I moved on to working with larger animals, from big cats to alligators and venomous snakes. I got my venomous permit a little over ten years ago, and within the last five years have shifted the trajectory; from hobby to YouTuber to opening a facility with my family. I started building vivariums at the beginning of 2020 and haven't stopped. From vivariums, I discovered paludariums, and aquascaping shortly after. I love being able to bring an element of nature into your home or setting where it is usually overlooked. It is a relaxing hobby, and are the best setups to house your animals in. It is more naturalistic and appealing for the viewer and the animal.
Corbin Maxey
Corbin Maxey is a nationally recognized animal expert, YouTuber, and
television personality. He is most notable from his YouTube and TikTok
channels, where his videos have been seen over 2 BILLION times. He also
is known from numerous appearances on "The Today Show", "Late
Night with Seth Meyers", "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno", and
"Inside Edition".
He currently cares for over 30+ rescued exotic animals including two
alligators, pythons, snapping turtles, and an emu!
Ada Gamez
Meet Ada, better known as repti_fairy on Instagram and TikTok. Ada is
a a reptile keeper that creates content about her reptiles and their
life with her. Ada is also an artist and has created another account as
@adahfairy.art, in which she shares her passion for making art by
combining her love for fairies and animals and creating amazing
paintings. Ada enjoys sharing her journey as a reptile keeper and
artist.
Aleah Lynn - CatAleah
CatAleah shares her passion for animals with the world by creating content about the snakes and other animals she relocates and rescues in Texas! She also creates videos on her farm called CatAleah's Critters where she has her pet deer and farm animals, and her animal building full of all kinds of reptiles like her geckos, snakes, and exotic critters like her opossums and sugar gliders. Her mission is to create more empathy for the misunderstood critters like the snakes that she relocates and hopefully at the same time bring a little more light and happiness into the world by showing just how adorable and fascinating these animals can be!
Alex Gastelum - Tarantula Haven
Hello! I'm Alex and I am dedicated my channel to my love of tarantulas. I mostly post things about tarantulas but I also post about other animals and ideas related to tarantula keeping. I am also into photography and photographing my tarantulas.
Alex McDuffie
Hey! I'm Alex McDuffie aka "Duff" I am a SFWMD Python Removal contractor and an all around snake/reptile lover! I've been involved in the animal world for quite some time, but in the last 3 years I've really taken it to another level. Since moving to Florida I've made some incredible friendships and connections that will last a lifetime.
Alex- Leafy Street
Hi I'm Alex. I share a bedroom with my 20 reptiles, but my landlord
thinks I have a fish. I've been keeping animals since before I could do
long division (worth noting I still can't do long division). If you see
me, come say what's up!
Alexandra Ashe - Kinkatopia
The Mother of Kinkajous runs the world's first and only kinkajou-specific sanctuary. Her goal is to assure these animals have the best quality of care in captivity as well as educating that these animals are not traditional pets. Grateful for 6 years of sobriety, Alexandra shares about her redemption from relapse in 2016 and how the animals helped save her life. You'll fall in love with Trashcan, Norman, and the whole crew. From TikTok to Newsweek — the kinkajous are taking over the world.
Amanda Foley
Owner of Amanda's Exotic Animals, educator and tiktok/YouTube
influencer. From caring for your average leopard gecko to catching wild
nuisance gators, Amanda shows her love for all species. Amanda is
passionate about proper care for our exotic pets as well as eliminating
fear and stigma surrounding reptiles. She uses positive interactions and
educational videos to show gentle nature of many exotics and the
importance of conservation.
Andy Gabbs
Hey Everyone! Meet Andy Gabbard, better known as Andy Gabbs. Andy
developed a passion for animals when he was just six years old, 18 years later that passion lead Andy to create a YouTube channel to
share his love for reptiles, and all animals alike with people all over the world. He has been running his channel for four years, and is
still sharing his love and passion for animals of all kind!
Since starting his content creation journey, Andy has been on some
epic adventures, with even more amazing animals and people like Brian
Barczyk, Jay Brewer, Kevin McCurley, Paul Cuffaro, and more.
Andy recently separated from the US Navy after 10 years of service, and is just now starting to build his animal collection, and one day
plans on opening a Reptile Zoo of his own. I can't wait to meet you
all at Animal Con USA!!
Ariana Christoforou
Meet Ariana Elena Christoforou, an extraordinary eight-year-old with a
passion for reptiles that is larger than life itself. Ariana's journey
with these fascinating creatures started at the tender age of two when
her father introduced her to her first pet - a corn snake. Her love for
reptiles, fostered by her dad's own enthusiasm for green tree pythons,
Amazon basins, and Boelens pythons, has been growing ever since.
Today, Ariana maintains an impressive collection of about 10 ball
pythons, including her beloved Bananhick, a Banana Clown, and Nicki
Minaj, a Banana Pastel Het Clown. At the age of six, Ariana demonstrated
her expertise in breeding by successfully pairing and incubating these
two, earning her the title #Her1BallPythonCoachAt6YearsOld. Recently,
she celebrated her second clutch of ball pythons, showcasing her
incredible commitment and dedication to her slithery friends.
However, Ariana's interests extend beyond her scaly companions. An
athlete at heart, she devotes herself to gymnastics, her primary
passion, and hones her physical abilities with CrossFit twice a week.
Ariana also explores her creative side through cheerleading, chorus, and
art, and has just begun her journey in aerial silks.
Amidst all her hobbies, Ariana cherishes her time with her little
brother Maximus, who at four years old, shares many adventures with her.
But the true essence of Ariana's mission lies in her determination to
transform the world's perception of snakes, shattering the myths and
showing the world that snakes are as enchanting as any other pet.
Join Ariana on her captivating journey on Instagram @SnakeMasterExotics,
where she shares her love for reptiles, her athletic feats, and her
heartfelt moments with Maximus. Ariana is not just an eight-year-old
girl; she's a friend to reptiles, an aspiring athlete, and a champion
for change in the perception of snakes.
BeWild Reptile Rescue - AJ Hallatt and Nicole D'Avignon 
Meet AJ and Nicole, the co-directors of BeWild Reptile Rescue. Featured
on TikTok, BeWild is a 501(c)(3) reptile rescue located in Durham, NC
that rehabilitates and rehomes displaced reptiles, amphibians, and
invertebrates. They have taken in over 600 animals across 100 different
species since their inception in 2018! AJ is the creator behind their
TikTok videos and has been keeping reptiles since she was in the 3rd
grade. Nicole is a current veterinary student at NC State University and
is looking forward to continuing her journey in the field of reptile
medicine.
Bill Strand - The Chameleon Academy Podcast
Are you curious about chameleons? Then we should meet! My name is Bill Strand. I kept my first chameleon over 40 years ago and haven't stopped learning and educating about them since!
Through the Chameleon Academy Podcast, YouTube, Instagram, and multimedia website I bring together the experiences of keepers, breeders, scientists, and veterinarians from around the world. And if you are one of those with an incurable passion for chameleons then you are one of my people! The daily social media video touchpoints across my Instagram and Youtube and weekly podcast are the places for you!
I also host the Reptile Entrepreneur podcast which focuses on helping entrepreneurs and creators be successful in starting businesses and content outreaches within the reptile community that they love so much.
I look forward to meeting any chameleon enthusiasts, budding entrepreneurs, and aspiring content creators!
Brenten Szekely - Finatic
Hey my name is Brenten I'm a outdoor and recreational vlogger, commonly known for my miniature animals and outdoor stunts!
Brian Braitsch
Brian Braitsch is a passionate wildlife advocate and the Founder/CEO
of Amazing Animals Inc., a renowned wildlife preserve. With over two
decades of experience in the zoological industry, Brian has dedicated
his life to inspiring conservation efforts and educating the public
about the wonders of the animal kingdom.
Brian Kusko
Brian Kusko got his first pet snake when he was 4 years old. He now has a YouTube channel with over 4 million views where he shares his passion as a family man, videographer, photographer, aspiring snake breeder, world traveler, sinner saved by the grace of God through the life blood spilled on the cross by Jesus. The purpose of his channel is to document snippets of his life. The good, the bad and the ugly. His hope is that others are inspired to live an honest and open life, full of love, through the stories told on his channel.
Brittni Alyse - Brittni's Zoo
Brittni is a passionate and dedicated animal educator who focuses on
education through understanding. Her content isn't super serious because
her goal is to help eliminate the stigma around our scaley friends.
Brittni is also a Dubia/MorphMarket employee who aims to help reshape
the hobby in a positive light.
Capri Womach - BirdTricks
Born April 9, 2013 in Orlando, FL, Capri Womach spent the first four years of her life living on a cruise ship performing up to 12 Magic & Parrot shows per week with her parents. By age 4 she she had performed on 4 continents - having just checked off her 6th continent this year.
Due to her constant exposure to trained animals of all sizes, from budgies to elephants, she naturally took to training and picked parrots as her passion. She's trained all sorts of parrots both at home, and while on Masterclass Tours across the US and Australia.
Now with her own YouTube channel (BirdTricksKids), she helps educate kids how to better interact with not only pet parrots, but snakes too. Saving parrots, one kid at a Time… "
Carlos Mercado - Spidey
My name is Carlos, also known as Spidey on social media. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and currently reside in South Florida. My love for reptiles began with my almost 6 foot Asian Water Monitor Scorpion. I love the adrenaline from catching wild reptiles and love creating content showing people my passion for all animals
Celine Tran
Meet Celine a 25-year-old animal enthusiast and content creator. With
a passion for dogs, Celine focuses on creating engaging and informative
content featuring her beloved Dobermans. But that's not all – Celine
is also the proud owner of over 21 pets, including cats, dogs, and
reptiles!
Charli Lillian
Hello fellow critter enthusiasts! I am Charli Lillian, best known publicly for my "Big Dumb Birds" (Ostrich and Emus), seen on TikTok! When I'm not dodging bites from the giant dinosaur birds, I have the unusual privilege of spending my days with a VAST variety of other rare and endangered species! From bottle raising future animal ambassadors, enjoying "otterly" adorable snuggles and belly rubs, to traveling & placing animals in zoos all over the country so YOU can come learn about them in person! I believe in conservation through education- and cant think of a more captivating way to learn than being hands on, or face to face with these incredible critters. I've traveled far and wide to see many these species in their natural homes, AND to meet the keepers/conservation teams who dedicate their lives to keeping species alive- in captivity and in the wild!
Charles Wieand - Wild Charles
Meet Charles Wieand, aka "Wild Charles" host of the Wild Charles Show on YouTube and Facebook where he travels to meet some of the most exciting animals on the planet.
Cheyenne Glass
Meet Cheyenne
She's a dragon mom known for her viral Black Dragons Kayda and Killua. She's had a passion for animals since she was a child and when she was 3 years old her mother gave her a ball python and a tarantula. She shares her experience on what it's like keeping Black Dragons as a new keeper. Cheyenne has a unique way of educating her following on how people can relate to reptiles by showing Kayda and Killuas different personalities. Although people mainly see Cheyenne, keeping Kayda and Killua is a 2 man job! While Cheyenne educates on how to socialize with K&K her husband Johnny is behind the scenes building partnerships with other monitors keepers, teaching long term monitor care, putting K&K content together and helping people decide if a large lizard fits into their lifestyle.
Christopher Scott
We are all about fish keeping, ponds, small reptiles, and small animals. We try to be innovative and think outside of the box with each and every enclosure build, aquarium build, and aquaecapes. We take a DIY approach and try to show people that you don't have to spend thousands of dollars on keeping animals in safe and secure homes that enrich their lives.
Claudius Shropshire
Hello, my name is Claudius "The Snake Father". I have been involved in the reptile hobby since my childhood. I currently showcase reptiles in the entertainment industry as an actor and animal wrangler. I and my snakes have been featured in numerous television programs and music videos amongst some of your favorite celebrities! I strive to raise reptile awareness to the masses through mainstream media.
Clint Laidlaw
Introducing Clint Laidlaw, the reptile lover from Clint's Reptiles!
Armed with a PhD in biology education, Clint's expertise in our crawling
companions is only rivaled by his infectious enthusiasm. Yet, Clint is
more than just knowledgeable – his authenticity and sweetness make him
the ultimate go-to guy for all things reptile.
Connor Eilers
My name is Connor Eilers. I'm an 18 year old avid spear fisherman and fisherman on a mission to explore the wonders of the underwater world. With a deep passion for marine life and a love for adventure, I have spent countless hours honing my skills in the art of spearfishing and fishing. Whether I'm diving into the depths to hunt for prized game fish or casting my line from the boat, the thrill of the chase and the tranquility of being surrounded by nature never fail to captivate me. Through engaging social media content, I aim to educate and inspire others to appreciate and protect the marine life that fills our oceans.
Inspire Exotics
Hi, I'm Dakota from Inspire Exotics! I am a 21-year-old exotic pet
keeper, content creator, and educator.
My passion is for sharing the beauty of misunderstood animals and
educating about how to help these animals thrive through humorous and
educational content.
As a certified herpetologist and STEM double-major working in education
management, data analysis, and the art field, I work to continually
learn about exotic animals to improve my animal husbandry and content. I
plan to use my experience to continue improving the lives of both
captive and wild exotic animals through education and advocacy.
Dan Roselli - Dan The Turtle Man
Hey there! I am DanTheTurtleMan, a wildlife conservationist dedicated to the preservation of some of North America's most iconic turtle and tortoise species. Since a child I have been fascinated by nature, beginning my hobby with tropical fish and aquatics and eventually finding my niche in chelonians (turts and torts). Since then, I have created a YouTube channel dedicated to entertaining and educating new turtle owners on the best ways to keep their pets. Specializing in Diamondback Terrapins, I will not stop working towards the conservation, education, and survival of my favorite animals.
Daenerys MotherOfSpiders
Daenerys MotherOfSpiders has been in the hobby for only 6 years but she's 9 years old. That's more than half her life. Her love for animals started when she was 3 years, when she got her first ball python. From there she got her first tarantula named Tiger Butt and her passion for invertebrates took off. She now has over one thousand spiders in her personal collection, isopods, scorpions, mantises and many reptiles. She's also the youngest tarantula breeder in the United States but she'll tell you that she's not. Daenerys will tell you that the youngest Tarantula breeder in the United States is her 4 year old sister Ellaria, that she gave the name Ellaria the AuntieOfSpiders too. Daenerys has successfully paired Poecilotheria Regalis, Poecilotheria Subfusca Lowland , the Beautiful Typhochlaena Seladonia and many more. She's also breeding Panther Chameleons now and has her very first clutch that she's currently raising. You can find Daenerys MotherOfSpiders on all social media platforms and Reptile Expos across the Untied States. At Reptile expos you'll see Daenerys working double time. You can catch her working for her company at the Daenerys MotherOfSpiders booth or raising money for USARK. She has personally raised over 2 thousand dollars for USARK this summer. When she grows up she wants to either be a full time USARK employee or an exotic animal veterinarian.
David Utrera - Tikis Geckos
Meet David, an avid reptile hobbyist and breeder. David is the founder and owner of TikisGeckos and is known for his work with New Caledonian gecko species. You can find Tikisgeckos across all social media platforms!
Desiree - Cold Blooded Cafe
Hi, my name is Desiree and I am the founder and CEO of Cold Blooded Cafe, the frozen feeder company. I am co owner of Reptek USA, reptile breeding and conservation. I am the Vice President of Dragonwood Conservancy, a crocodile and reptile conservation institute. I have been keeping and breeding reptiles and rodents for over 10 years. I am most passionate about monitors lizards and of course I love all my snakes and crocodiles too. This is my whole life! I make a living off my passions of working with reptiles and rodents. Can't wait to meet you all!!
Donny Rapture - New England Reptile
Over the last three years, Donny has played an instrumental role in skyrocketing the social media following of NERD by consistently delivering engaging content that resonates with a wide audience.
Donny delves into controversial animal-related topics and dissects the inner workings of various YouTube channels. His thought-provoking and meticulously researched content has attracted a loyal fanbase, always eager for his next piece.
If you haven't had the pleasure of watching one of Donny's long-form youtube videos, you've probably encountered his short-form videos in TikTok or Instagram. With his distinct voice and captivating storytelling, it's hard not to recognize this dynamic content creator.
Ed The Pond Professor - Aquascape
Ed came to Aquascape in 1993 as a construction laborer, but a little creativity and a positive outlook on life and business helped catapult Ed to the position of Vice President of Field Research and Contractor Development. For more than a decade, Ed has successfully built hundreds of custom-designed ponds from small backyard water gardens to large lakes and commercial water features. He holds a B.S. in Zoology, with an emphasis in Limnology, and concentrated his master's studies in Marine Biology.
Ed's work has been featured on the cover of Architectural Digest, in addition to having his water garden designs featured in the pages of Better Homes & Gardens special interest publications, Nature's Garden, Irrigation and Green Industry News, and more.
For 5 years, Ed served as project manager for the installation of water features at the Flower and Garden Festival "Water Garden Wonders" highlight at Epcot Center. Ed has worked with Certified Aquascape Contractors on water feature installations for Richard Petty, Jill Rappaport, and other celebrities, and has appeared on several HGTV and DIY channel shows. He was also a contributing author for The Pond Builder's Bible, Pond Building for Hobbyists, and Succeeding and Prospering with Water Features II.
In recent years, Ed has designed and served as project manager for Aquascape Rainwater Harvesting Systems in Ghana, Uganda, and Colombia. In 2013 he was the first pond designer and installer to receive the "Watershaper of the Year" award by Irrigation and Green Industry News.
Join Ed for informative vlogs that share the science, technology, and artistry behind the world's most amazing Aquascape water features.
Emarie - Emariexotic
Meet Emarie, an animal enthusiast with a passion for reptiles & amphibians. Lizards, snakes, frogs, you name it! She uses her platform to share funny, relatable & educational content as well as advocating for proper reptile care and important reptile related topics.
Emma Lynne Sampson
Emma is a content creator from Canada, best known for her YouTube videos and TikToks about her many exotic pets! Emma creates fun and educational content about her life with animals and how to care for many different pets such as chameleons, hamsters, snakes, frogs, fish and everything in between. In addition to her work with exotic pets, she has also also worked as a zookeeper, a wildlife educator, and now works at a wildlife rehabilitation centre where she has developed a passion for working with birds of prey such as owls, falcons, and eagles. Emma has a passion for the natural world, and aims to share that passion with everyone around her!
Felicia Wilson - The Real Life Snow White
I'm the owner of Felicia's Exotic Transports LLC. I have grown a beautiful family on TikTok with over 3.2 million followers and they call me the Real life Snow White. I transport animals all over the world, and specialize in exotic animals. Ive transported for many celebrities! I own 2 African Servals Juno and Asha. My life is always full of great adventures, you never know day to day what I will transport next, from snakes, Caracls, Servals, bobcats, lynx, fox, raccoons, porcupine ect and can't forget our everyday domestic breeds. My love for animals started at a very young age and started working with animals at the young age of 5. I don't only transport animals I bring joy to so many families, educate my followers on all the different breeds, and get to share my pure passion with the world.
Gabby Nikolle - Florida's Wildest
Meet Gabby Nikolle, an animal handler and social media personality based out of South Florida. She has been working with animals for over 12 years and is best known for her work rescuing nuisance alligators. @GATORBOYS_CHRIS and I just purchased 40 acres in North Florida and are starting an Animal Sanctuary.
Garrett Hartle - Reach Out Reptiles 
Garrett Hartle is a reptile breeder that has specialized exclusively
in Super Dwarf and Dwarf Reticulated Pythons. Leveraging the power of
social media, his company Reach Out Reptiles has established itself as
the premier breeder of these animals in a relatively short amount of
time. Growing from a garage in his home, Garrett is now operating a
large breeding facility, social media studio for his educational channel
and vlog, with an educational museum dedicated to these animals
currently under construction.
George Mavrakis - CoralFish12g
Hi, I'm George! In every CoralFish12g video, I do my best to bring you creative, informative, and fun aquarium videos! I started this adventure almost 10 years ago when I set up my first saltwater tank as a 5th grader. My mission is to educate and inspire people to get into the aquarium hobby. I specifically want to encourage a younger generation to join the hobby, because it has given me so many amazing opportunities.
Greg Brashear - Gregs Turtle Haven
YouTube creator, alligator snapping turtle biologist, captive reptile,
turtle and tortoise keeper, skateboarder and wildlife photographer. I
document my adventures in the US and Thailand on my YouTube, Instagram
and Facebook, sharing my Passion and educating on the wildlife I love so
much!
Greg Wittstock The Pond Guy - Aquascape
Greg Wittstock, The Pond Guy, is owner and CEO of Aquascape, Inc. He has been dabbling in water gardens since the age of 12 and has a love of everything water and turtles. After experimenting with ponds for over eight years, Greg had a "light bulb" moment during a drive home from the boring summer job he took during college in 1990. He decided that he wanted to do something he loved for a living – he wanted to build ponds. Just 30 seconds later, he had a company name, Aquascape. The next year, he began building ponds during his breaks in the school year. From there he created the Aquascape, Inc. business model, which includes a mix of distribution, retail, and installation services.Greg is a sought-after speaker on topics ranging from water gardening to business success and strategy. He authored The Pond Guy on Marketing and has appeared on the cover of Inc. Magazine. You may have also seen him on Nat Geo Wild's "Pond Stars" series.
When Greg is not working, he enjoys scuba diving and exploring remote parts of the world. Greg has a love of life and adventure; his motto is "Carpe Diem."
Follow along as Greg meets incredible people, views beautiful water features, and shares what it means to truly love and be Living the Aquascape Lifestyle®.
Haley Bechard
Haley works as crocodilian keeper and social media manager at primitive predators. She's been working with venomous and crocodilians for 10 years.
Hiba Ali
Meet Hiba, a pre-veterinary student from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, who
is deeply committed to animal welfare and conservation. Through her
social media content, she shares her passion for animals and educates
her followers about the importance of animal care and conservation
efforts. Hiba is also an active participant in animal rescue and
rehabilitation, regularly volunteering her time and resources to help
animals in need. Her dedication to animal welfare has earned her a
reputation as a compassionate and empathetic advocate for animals,
inspiring others to get involved and make a positive impact on the world
around them.
Isaiah Negron - Zay Outdoors
26 year old nuisance alligator trapper and content creator from
central Florida.
James Thompson - The Animal Protector
James, born a Floridian with Cerebral Palsy is Certified Pet Trainer,
and Conservationist of animals, reptiles, & wildlife. He's most known
for his viral TikTok videos reaching over 30+million views, which help
amassed him over 5M Likes.
With current interest in creating more content for the world while
traveling, event hosting, and brand endorsement. James has had a passion
for animals since the age of 8. Steve Irwin and Jack Hanna has been his
biggest inspiration for working with animals.
Jamie Shank
Animals have always been my passion! I loved being in the ocean and my heart was set on
becoming a marine biologist. With a Bachelors in Marine Biology and Environmental Science, I
began working offshore on seismic vessels tracking and reporting marine wildlife through
photographs and assisting in other projects, such as coral restoration in Indonesia. My passion
for learning and helping wildlife never ceased. I wanted to grow and expand my knowledge and
in 2016 I joined the San Antonio Aquarium and in 2020 I became the Zoo Curator.
Throughout the years, I have been able to work and gain experience with incredible species of
life, from sloths to sea turtles.
I love to educate and share my passion with other animal enthusiasts in hopes to inspire a new
generation of explorers, conservationists and animal influencers. I am also very excited to be
part of AnimalCon to connect with some of my own icons within the field!
Jaron Brower - Dr. Plants
Meet Jaron, executive producer and founder of Dr. Plants! He's an artist and cinematographer who dedicates his life to documenting the natural world.
Jason Raimondi - Jason's Exotic Reptiles
Meet Jason from Jason's Exotic Reptiles! Environmental Engineer by day, reptile enthusiasts and breeder by night. Jason has spent the last 25+ years dedicated to learning and teaching the insider tips, tricks, and everything in between to become a successful reptile keeper and breeder. Jason is primarily focused on Boa Constrictors/Imperators and Burmese Pythons. However, he has gained extensive knowledge on keeping and breeding many species including water monitors, ball pythons, blood pythons, and multiple species of colubrid. His social media takes a real-world approach to spreading this insider knowledge on everything from improving your husbandry to turning your passion into a career!
Jason Southers - Goat Daddy's Farm
Goat Daddys was established in 2014 with the goal of providing
humanely raised dairy products. Goat Daddy's has evolved into a not only
farm, but also an animal sanctuary. Working closely with our community
partners(DNR, vets, and rescues), we have taken in animal species
ranging from avian, camelid, equine, and reptiles.
Jay Lightsey - Outdoors with Jay
I am Jay Lightsey aka Outdoors with Jay. I am a 13 year old who started The Reptile Bus when I was 10 years old. I love going around my area and sharing my passion for educating others about Reptiles and Amphibians.
I also love going into the wild where I educate on native species in their natural environment. I try to make my content as kid friendly as possible to get future herpers interested in the outdoors.
Jeremiah Gonzalez - Lights Camera Ants
Hey! I'm Jeremiah Gonzalez, an 18 year old who loves to keep and make short form videos mainly on ants but also enjoys filming and caring for other invertebrates. Ant Keeping (the practice of keeping ants as pets) and content creation are my two favorite hobbies and I plan to do them for the rest of my life!
Jeremy Turgeon - Brass Man Reptiles
Jeremy has been working with reptiles & amphibians since age 6. A literal life-long keeper, since that age, he has kept over 70 species and bred close to the same. Perhaps most notably in his journey, was managing New England Reptile Distributors (NERD) from 2019 to 2021 before moving to North Carolina to pursue his music career and expand his collection and brand. Currently, Jeremy works with a variety of reptiles - Ball Pythons, Jungle Carpets, Bredli, Blood Pythons, Short Tail Pythons, Retics, various colubrids, and many more. He also is the co-host of The Reptile Talk Podcast, along with Rob Christian!
Joey Josselson - Callmethelamp
Meet Joey, a 23 year old Navy Nuclear Technician turned reptile content
creator. His passion for reptiles, sense of humor, and incredible
reptiles have captured the attention of millions. He hopes to entertain
as well as educate people on these amazing animals. Specializing in
venomous snakes and training his Argus monitor "Raptor", his days are
always packed with excitement. Joey hopes to one day open a zoo or "ark"
for reptiles, so that even the rarest of species can be preserved in
captivity.
John Ritchie - VenomLife Gear
VenomLife gear rep, John Ritchie, is a dedicated animal educator and advocate for some of the worlds most misunderstood creatures. John is dedicated to caring for and educating the general public about venomous and non-venomous wildlife, both native and exotic.
Jonas Verwers - Goat Daddy's Farm
Jonas Verwers has been an avid animal lover his whole life. He started
working at Goat Daddys in 2018 at 12 years old as a pooper scooper, and
has since taken on managerial roles over animal care, social media,
content creation, and public relations at the farm and sanctuary.
Working with everything from kinkajous, to camels, and of course baby
goats, he uses the social media platforms as a way to educate the public
on animal care and welfare and provide some adorable animal content to
brighten up people's lives. He's currently pursuing a degree in Natural
Resource Management with the goal of adding a wildlife outreach program
to the sanctuary in the future.
Jossers Jungle
Josser Jungle is a scandinavian creator who made it her mission to
teach about having the most common reptiles as households animals. With
passion, knowledge and a good amount of humor she embraces her reptiles
and followers with lots of love and the ever sounding motto "its okay to
make mistakes as long as we fix them".
I'll travel anywhere for a good animal encounter and there's nothing I love more than sharing what I learn about wildlife, conservation, and ethical animal tourism with others. Can't wait to see everyone at Animal Con!
Julana Dizon
Julana is a Filipino-American television host who shares her love of
animals through her "Wild Adventures" series on YouTube. Julana's
mission is to help educate travelers about ethical animal tourism
through sharing wildlife experiences and animal encounters all over the
world.
Julana has been working with animals since 2011. After earning her BS in
Biology from Florida State University, she began her career as an exotic
animal trainer in Florida. She is passionate about animal education and
in addition to documenting the best adventures for animal lovers, she
also loves sharing fun facts, animal-friendly DIY projects, and
interviews with industry professionals.
"I'll travel anywhere for a good animal encounter and there's nothing I
love more than sharing what I learn about wildlife, conservation, and
ethical animal tourism with others. Can't wait to see everyone at Animal
Con!"
Juliette Brewer - The Reptile Zoo
Meet Juliette, she is the daughter of Jay Brewer, manager and main zookeeper in charge of operations and animal care at The Reptile Zoo.
Katelyn Garcia - Animal Adventures
Whether it's reptiles, insects, or arachnids, I love them all!! I work for the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary and co-host with Dav Kaufman on the side! Teaching the public to "love the unloved" is my absolute passion and I couldn't picture doing anything else. I can't wait to meet all of you and share awesome animal stories!!
Kayla Roach
Meet Kayla Roach, an avid herpetoculturist and emerging YouTube personality from Ontario, Canada. Driven by her passion for reptiles, Kayla creates educational and entertaining content relating to her animal experiences at home and in the field. Kayla's mission is to educate newcomers to herpetoculture, inspire advanced care and husbandry practices among hobbyists, promote wildlife conservation efforts, and destigmatize the world's most misunderstood animals.
Keary Molinaro- Molinaro Snake Lab
Keary Molinaro is the creator of the Molinaro Snake Lab, where he breeds
multiple species of snakes. Everyday Keary shares his snake keeping and
breeding experiences through short, fun, and educational videos on Tik
Tok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram! To help inspire the next
generation of snake lovers, Keary is authoring a series of children's
books based on his snake keeping adventures.
Kelly Fornez - KF Invertebrates
My name is Kelly Fornez, owner of the business KF Invertebrates. I am an all around animal lover and arachnid enthusiast. Breeding rare tarantulas is my passion and I am hoping one day I'll become the largest breeder of tarantulas in the United States!
Kyle Asplundh - Crocodile Kyle
Hello, My name is Kyle Asplundh "Crocodile Kyle" and ever since I can remember I have been infatuated with crocodilians. When I was just 8 years old living in Pennsylvania I begged my mom to let me get my first Caiman, which as you can imagine she said no. But 2 years later after many long conversations of me pleading my case she finally gave in, letting me get my first Alligator and I've dedicated my life to these animals ever since. For the last 8 years since I have lived in Florida I have spent thousands of hours carefully honing my skills and pushing the limits of what's possible when it comes to providing the best possible lives for these animals in captivity. I hope to open up my sanctuary this year where I can spread my love for these animals one guest at a time!
Kyle Fuller
My name is Kyle, owner of Kyle's Wildlife Refuge. I have done
educational shows with my animals in Chicago for the past three years.
9 months ago we expanded to an abandoned 5.5 acre property in south ga
where we take in reptiles, exotic animals and livestock needing a
home. And are currently building our educational facility from the
ground up.
Kylie Reynolds - Amazing Animals Inc.
I'm Kylie, the Deputy Director at Amazing Animals Inc. With a deep
love for animals and a passion for wildlife conservation, I have
dedicated my career to making a difference in the lives of our animal
ambassadors. As the resident crazy cat lady, I love my small cats!
I'm passionate about Geoffroy's cat conservation, advocating for
their protection and working with them in the field and in human care.
Laz
I'm Lazaro Guerra, a passionate 20-year-old with a deep connection to nature. An avid fisherman, I find excitement on the waters, where I engage in the timeless dance between angler and aquatic life. Beyond the thrill of fishing, I am an ardent advocate for wildlife and the great outdoors. My heart swells with care for the environment, prompting me to take active steps in preserving its beauty. Whether it's cleaning up local bridges/trails or participating in conservation efforts, I am committed to ensuring a harmonious coexistence between humans and the creatures that inhabit our planet. With a fishing rod in one hand and a determination to protect nature in the other, I am Lazaro Guerra—a young individual driven by the call of the wild.
Lyssa's Lizards
Meet Lyssa's Lizards! Lyssa is a reptile keeper of 15+ years with a passion for bioactive and naturalistic reptile keeping. Her reptile family of over a dozen pets has a wide variety of species ranging from a 15 year old leopard gecko to a devious legless lizard. She even has a friendly yellow anaconda! Lyssa's content aims to bring light-hearted fun and education to the reptile community, with the ultimate goal of helping people see the beauty in these wildly misunderstood creatures. 💛
Madison Brass - Hopp'in Help
Meet Madison Brass, founder of Hopp'in Help and current Pre Exotic
Veterinary student at the University of Central Florida. For 9 years
Madison has used her platforms to share her personal experience and
knowledge on a wide variety of unique amphibians. Specializing in Frogs
and Toads; from her website, YouTube, Instagram, and Tik Tok many have
come to learn and love these interesting creatures! As she progresses in
her academic journey she has began undergraduate research on amphibians
to expand what we know today in exotic medicine and looks forward to
becoming a Veterinary specializing in frogs. Hopp'in Help is a
platform to share proper husbandry, research findings, and allow pet
owners access to exotic medicine information all around the world. But
she's best known for her toad, Fefe, who likes to try and eat her
camera lens!
Mario Tabraue
Meet the man, the myth & legend Mario Tabraue who has made global impact in the animal world and continues to be one of the most recognizable faces in the business which sees his legacy and contribution grow exponentially daily.
Co-founder and president of the Zoological Wildlife Foundation he is strongly committed to exotic animal care, nutrition, and behavior, and strives to use his knowledge and experience to inspire others.
Over the past 40 years, Mr. Tabraue and his team have created an environment for animals to stay healthy and improve their quality of life. The Foundation is the realization of a dream and represents his enthusiasm for wildlife around the world. By housing a wide variety of exotic animals that serve as ambassadors for their species, it fulfills the educational and conservation-oriented goals that led Mr. Tabraue to start this journey.
Mark Etre - Mark's Reptiles
Hi, I'm Mark Etre, the creator behind Mark's Reptiles on Instagram and
Youtube. I have been working with venomous snakes for over a decade. I
began posting content online to spread the love and truth about these
animals further than at my job. My goal has been to educate the general
public about the truth of these misunderstood animals. Education is key
to create a world where people can coexist with snakes. Another big
aspect of my content is towards the reptile community as a whole. Coming
together and being kind to one another.
Mary Verdugo
Hello, my name is Mary Verdugo. I am a devoted animal lover, and my
passion for creatures of all kinds has been a constant thread throughout
my life. Five years ago, I found a new love in the world of reptiles. I
enjoy creating naturalistic habitats and am eager to learn more about
them. I strive to understand all my critters and provide them with the
best possible life they deserve.
I love to share my experiences and entertaining videos through social
media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. I hope that my love
for these fascinating critters inspires others to embrace their own
connections with the animal kingdom!
Meghan Arriola - Happy Tails
Meet Meghan Arriola known for her YouTube channel Happy Tails, an animal education channel where she features her many exotic pets such as parrots, snakes, geckos, sugar gliders, and deer, as well as domesticated species like horses, dogs, llamas and alpacas, just to name a few! Meghan is an animal educator that shares her passion with a worldwide audience on social media and in real life animal presentations. Some of her favorite topics are animal behavior, evolutionary adaptations, biologically appropriate nutrition for species, and holistic veterinary medicine. Meghan has previous experience working in private zoos, veterinary clinics, and wildlife rehabilitation. She is based out of Texas. You can follow her on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok under Happy Tails to see her corgis, horses, chital deer, alpacas, peacocks and more!
Mike Tytula
Mike Tytula is a Biologist, receiving his degree from the University of Calgary. Mike loves to share his passion for reptiles and amphibians by offering a step in his shoes, through the lens of his camera. Mike documents his experiences keeping, breeding, and raising offspring with no filter, demonstrating the reality of keeping so many specialty pets. In addition to sharing his experiences, Mike has a personal commitment to educating his viewers with up-to-date research and information, when it comes to keeping your pets. Anything from new vivarium building techniques, to scientific papers that may benefit your husbandry standards.
Nature Boy Adrian
Nature Boy Adrian is a 9-year-old animal enthusiast from Vero Beach, FL, with a passion for herping. He spends every moment he can venturing out into the wild to catch snakes, insects, and other creatures. Adrian has a deep admiration for all wildlife and learning more about the different species he encounters.
His love for nature and desire to share his knowledge with others inspired him to create an Instagram channel where he documents his adventures.
Neptune the Chameleon
Meet Neptune the Chameleon's mom! She has spent years educating and
mentoring thousands of chameleon keepers across the globe on proper
chameleon care through her fun and educational content with her
partner-in-crime, Neptune the Chameleon by her side. Her favorite thing
is seeing new keepers take on the challenge of owning a chameleon and
giving them the best life possible, especially considering chameleons
have the reputation of being advanced and hard to care for. Check out
her channels for all things chameleon-related!
Nick Bishop - Nick TheWrangler
Meet Nick aka "NickTheWrangler" who shares his love and fascination for the outdoors and wildlife with his followers. He specializes in venomous snakes, and he enjoys "all wildlife and I spend every day out exploring and encountering new animals.
Paul Bedard - GatorBoys
Paul Bedard is an apex predator expert that specializes in alligators and crocodiles. The graduate from the University of Massachusetts has worked with big cats, bears, venomous snakes, large constrictors, sharks, primates, and many other animals. For the past fifteen years he has focused on his "Gator Boys Alligator Rescue" run out of Everglades Holiday Park in Fort Lauderdale Florida as well as being one of the only no kill alligator trappers in the state of Florida saving the lives of over a thousand alligators. In his spare time he's a storm chaser and competes in ultra distance triathlons. He is a two time Double Ironman Champion, 2019 Quintuple Ironman Champion and 2021 Triple Ironman Champion. He's been featured on ESPN's "E:60", Animal Planet's "Gator Boys" (six seasons), "Lair of the Killer Crocs", "Monster Croc Invasion" and "Tanked". He's also been featured on the Today Show, History Channel's Modern Marvels, the Queen Latifah Show, the Anderson Cooper Show, 700 Club, Fox and Friends, Steve Harvey Show and the Arsenio Hall Show among others.
Payton Moore - WILD LIFE
I'm Payton Moore, host of the YouTube channel WILD LIFE. I have a professional background as a zoo educator and now it's my goal to catch and release incredible fish on camera in order to inspire others to protect these amazing animals
Peter Birch - Critta Cam
I'm Peter Birch, an Aussie Wildlife Adventurer passionate about all wildlife, especially the reptilian kind.
A published author, Educator, Wildlife Adventurer and avid Conservationist using my platforms to promote awareness of conservation issues and encourage better care of captive species.
Przemek - Arachnohobbia
Cześć! Hello! My name is Przemek and i can't wait to meet y'all on
AnimalCon! Im one of the largest tarantula breeder in Poland who also
has one of the largest tarantula shops in my country! I run a YouTube
channel about spiders called ARACHNOHOBBIA where you can seel what it'
look like to work with thousands of spiders!
Rex and TJ Dinkelman
Meet Rex, at just eight years old he eats, sleeps and breathes animal conservation. His passion for crocodilians is unmatched and even though he is still young, he is actively involved in working with venomous snakes and numerous species of crocodilians. His dream is to take over Dingos Animal Kingdom from his Dad one day and further the family's conservation message around the world. His video of swimming with 800 young Nile crocodiles has been viewed more than 200 million times around the world.
Meet TJ, a young girl with a passion to make a contribution to wildlife conservation in her home country of South Africa. Unlike her brother and Dad, she prefers the fluffier animals and is actively involved in rhino anti poaching work, lion population control and other frontline conservation projects.
She is also responsible for running the various social media pages of her dad Dingo Dinkelman.
Richard Stewart - Tarantula Collective
Meet Richard Stewart, host of The Tarantula Collective on YouTube. Richard creates videos that cover DIY projects for keeping tarantulas and other invertebrates, species-specific husbandry and care videos, nature documentary-style tarantula videos, and vlog tarantula keeper life.
Robbie Keszey - Get Swamped
Meet Robbie, known for his Discovery Channel show Swamp Brothers. HE LOVES LIVING HIS LIFE SURROUNDED BY ANIMALS.
Ryan Gradney - Primitive Predators
Hey! My name is Ryan and I've been passionate about reptiles my entire life! I got my first pet snake on my 3rd birthday and it's been an obsession ever since. I have worked with and specialized in venomous snakes for the last 13 years and crocodilians for 10. My love for these animals drew me to Florida where I was lucky enough to partner with "Crocodile Kyle" on the "Primitive Predators" youtube channel and help him with the process of creating one of the top private crocodilian facilities in the world.
Ruby Moderson - Ruby's Zoo
Hi there! My name is Ruby.
I created my YouTube channel, Ruby's Zoo, back in 2016 at the young age of 13 with hopes of inspiring minds young and old to not only treat animals with the love and compassion that they deserve, but also to encourage proper animal welfare, share my experiences in the animal world, and to meet other amazing animal lovers such as yourself. I look forward to meeting you at AnimalConUSA!
Shawn Baker - Aquascape
Shawn Baker is the Social Media Community Manager for Greg Wittstock The Pond Guy. He has been in this position for the last 2 years. Before that, Shawn was a tech support manager for a software company for 10 years. During his down time, Shawn would watch YouTube videos because he was sitting at a desk most days. He is a pond and Aquarium hobbyist, so those were the videos he would watch. When he came across the Greg Wittstock The Pond Guy Channel, he was so interested in what he was doing and the type of lifestyle he was providing people, he knew he needed to live it as well. Shawn engaged abundantly with Greg's channel, as well as the other Aquascape channels on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
After Greg announced that Shawn had won a DIY pond kit contest, Greg reached out to Shawn on Instagram asking if he would be up for a call. That's how the two became connected.
Eventually, Greg offered Shawn a job as a part time social media Avatar for him since Shawn was commenting on every video on every platform already. Shawn's part time role was to comment back to all the comments coming in from YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. It went so well; it was decided it was time for Shawn to move on from his tech support job to do Greg's social media full time.
The opportunity started small, but given Shawn's tech background, he was able to recognize growing trends and the impact that short form content can have on boosting a creator's page on every platform. Shawn now manages two of Aquascape's massive channels (including Greg's) across all platforms.
Stephen Brezil - Xtreme Exotics Pet Store
My names Stephen Brezil I'm the owner of Xtreme Exotics Pet Store in Jacksonville Fl and the Owner of Xtreme Exotics Wildlife Foundation a 501c3 Non Profit Organization in St. Augustine Florida working with rescues and endanger species from around the globe! My life has always been animal related I grew up wanting to be a true zoo keeper that specializes in everything. Over the course of my life I have had amazing experiences working with everything from King Cobras to Lions. I've been very fortune to meet many amazing people and zoo owners along the way which has aloud me to expand my knowledge and work with the amazing species I have had the pet store since 2005. The pet store has been amazing really given me the chance to work with all type of pet owners on proper ways to care for some of the amazing off the wall animals people want to keep as pets. We started the zoo 5 years ago with the goal to help rescue and save exotic animals. We have also put forth a great effort in to working with critically endangered lemurs as well as a few other species in hopes to increase populations due to the loss of these amazing animals with habitat loss and over hunting around the globe. This is our first year with the zoo open for public tours and we are happy to say we have loved the excitement and response we have gotten from guest. Any other questions grab me at animal con and I'll be happy to chat!! Look forwards to seeing everyone!
Stingray Biology - Kevin Wai
Founded in 2006 by Dr Richard Ross and Kevin Wai, the Center was
dedicated towards researching husbandry and breeding requirements of
Freshwater Stingrays. The mission statement was to study captive
breeding techniques and to help relieve demand on wild populations. We
have since evolved into the largest freshwater stingray breeder in the
USA. We pride ourselves in providing the highest quality animals. We
first started our YouTube channel in 2011 to show some of the stingray
pups we were producing, but it wasn't until 2019 that we became more
active in sharing and teaching our work on YouTube. In 2021, The Center
for Stingray Biology merged with Predatory Fins and we are now working
on building a new facility to exhibit some of the most exotic and rare
tropical fish from around the world.
Stone Lequerique - Stone's World
Hi my name is Stone and I run the YouTube channel "Stones World"
where I document handling Venomous Snakes, Crocodilians, and snake
hunting across the globe!
Tarantula Kat
Tarantula Kat's channel features her collection of cute and creepy critters. While her focus is mainly on tarantulas, she also often showcases her jumping spiders, velvet spiders, brown recluses, and various other inverts, reptiles, and amphibians. Through her videos, she helps people become more comfortable with the animals they typically fear.
The Veezy Family
Hi, we are The Veezy Family. A father son duo who loves creating content for the world to see! We make all kinds of videos from challenges to dares to living on our farm with tons of animals and fish! We make weekly movie-like videos for you to enjoy with the goal of having our viewers feel like they are part of the fam! Can't wait to see everyone at Animal Con!
Tom White - VenomLife Gear
Hey there !! I'm Tom also known as dreaded reptiles the newest representative of Venomlife gear, I've been absolutely in love with all wildlife and have been keeping, catching, & teaching others about my passion for as long as I can remember. Now I enjoy bringing it to the world via social media and inviting all to join my educational journey across this magnificent planet alongside some of its most misunderstood creatures.
Ty Baker
My names Ty, I am a fisherman, a fish keeper, a reptile keeper, and have the up most respect for any animal. I love spreading laughter and putting animals in a spot light to inform people yet give them a break from reality with my videos!
Vanessa Conquest
Vanessa Conquest is a Social Media Marketing Manager that covers exotic
animal expos across the country. Her content can be found on Instagram,
TikTok and YouTube!
Wojtek - Venomous Art
Hey! I'm Wojtek, a 28-year-old spiders, insects and other exotic
invertebrates enthusiast from Poland. For almost 3 years I've been
creating tarantulas-related content on Youtube, where I share my passion
with the viewers. If you're afraid of spiders – I'm 100% sure I
can convince you to keep one . Can't wait to meet you at Animal Con!
Yoshii - Modern Reptile
Yoshii is a reptile breeder, owner of Modern Reptile, and one of the
hosts of the Reptiles With Podcast. The Reptiles With Podcast covers
Repti-Culture with a comedic twist. We aim to give different
perspectives on all topics, even the controversial ones.
