AVS Q&A with… Achint of monmouthfrogs

Oh, man! This week’s Q&A is Achint of monmouthfrogs I’ve been following him on Instagram for a long time, and I’ve always been impressed with the quality of his photos, plants, and poison frogs. I had the pleasure of meeting him and picking up a pair of Oophaga pumilio ‘Bastimentos’ from him at National Frog Fest in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Let’s get into it!

Let’s start off by going back in time when you first started working with cold-blooded critters.  Did you work with any other herps or other animals before focusing on poison frogs?  Give the readers a little frame of reference by talking about what led to where you are now.

My journey into herps really started with fishkeeping and aquariums.  I had aquariums from childhood all the way until a few years ago. At one point I had 20+ aquariums and bred freshwater fish such as barbs, medaka, guppies, and more. I started branching out into herps in college where I picked up some leopard geckos. I can’t remember what got me into frogs in the first place, but once I found out about the PDF hobby I was in. I searched online and decided to go with some thumbnails and a converted 10-gallon aquarium to vertical vivarium. I ended up with a pair of Chazutas from Garden State Frogs. Shortly after getting these reclusive Rantiomeya I wanted to get something more bold and settled on a group of orange terribilis. I really started leaning into frogs when I moved to Michigan. Coincidentally, it seems like the midwest is really an epicenter for dart frog hobbyists!

Tell me about your plant game.  Do you think you have a green thumb?  I absolutely love working with plants as much as poison frogs.  You?  I’m an aroid fanatic! What are some of your favorite plants?  

I’ve always been into all things leafy and green! I’m a long way from a pro-grower like some of the other hobbyists out there, but most of my plants do pretty well! I’ve had aquarium plants before any terrestrial plants but also kept houseplants pretty regularly throughout my life. Aroids are definitely my favorite, and I’m always looking for new cool plants to add to my collection. Right now I’m really digging Anthurium sp. Limon, a cool vining plant with some interesting leaves. Another one of my favorites is Philodendron cf. inaequilaterum "Paper Thin".

You’re a skilled photographer as well.  Has photography always been a passion?  

Apart from aquariums, photography has been my primary hobby ever since high school. I started by shooting portraiture and events to afford better gear and spiraled down the rabbit hole of semi-professional photography. I got into studio work organically through portrait shooting, however, I ended up taking a hiatus from photography for some time. It’s been great blending my passion for photography and my passion for animals. It really makes both hobbies more enjoyable, and I’m glad I am able to share it all through my instagram and website!

This is a tough one.  I know I probably couldn’t answer it, but what species/locale of poison frog is your favorite?

As tough as this is I gotta say Phyllobates terribilis. These were probably the first frogs I ever found out about through a National Geographic book or magazine when I was a child. I still remember a picture of an indigenous man pinning down a frog while tipping a dart with poison. These frogs are the boldest ones I have, they are great to photograph, and incredibly fun to watch eat. Nothing beats a large colorful frog! If I had to pick a second I would say small form redheads I picked up! Oophaga have the most interesting behavior out of all other dart frogs and are incredible to watch.

I like to get out in the field to study reptiles and amphibians in situ?  I’m a diehard herper.  Do you go field herping?  

Going field herping is something I really want to do more of! I used to go hiking and catch frogs in a local stream but have not done that in years. I would love to make a trip out to South America and see these frogs in situ. Definitely a future goal of mine!

What is your favorite aspect of our hobby?  

This hobby is so multi-faceted, it’s so rewarding building vivariums, documenting their progress, keeping frogs, observing their behavior, and raising tadpoles. Despite this, my favorite aspect is definitely the community. It has been amazing meeting so many cool people with similar interests. Everytime I meet a fellow frogger, there is an instant connection over our love of amphibians. I chat with people on instagram daily and have made some cool friends through the hobby. It’s also the best way to get new ideas, learn more about the frogs, and get inspired. Plus I love taking pictures of all of my friends’ cool frogs. The community aspect of the hobby is also the most important, and through this community we are able to support conservation and educate others.

What are some of your goals/aspirations with the hobby moving forward? 

I would love to continue to keep posting some amazing frogs on my Instagram and grow my blog, monmouthfrogs.com. I would also like to help new hobbyists get into keeping dart frogs by educating and inspiring them! Finally, I have a long list of people who I need to visit and take pictures of their collections so that is definitely a priority for me!

I’m going to ask everyone I interview to tell me who they would like for me to interview.  Who has really been influential in your journey with poison frogs, tropical plants, vivaria, and photography?  You can mention as many folks as you want.  

Jake’s Jungles (@jakesjungles) , Mike from Glass Box Tropicals, Troy Goldberg (@oofrogahistroyonica), Shareef (@abunchoftanks), Braxton of Frog House Tropics and Marco (@king_mog). There are too many to list lol 

A big thanks to Achint for doing this for me! Be sure to visit his website monmouthfrogs.com and his Instagram.

AVS Q&A with… Opey (@mikegravia)

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

Our first guest is Opey, who makes absolutely incredible custom backgrounds/inserts for vivaria and terraria. His realistic backgrounds/inserts are really pushing the boundaries, and I think he is truly an artist. So, here we go!!!

Tell me your background/origin story.  How did you get into herps and vivaria?  

I guess my interest in herps began as a kid in the early 90s where I was obsessed with the Jurassic Park movie. Being born and raised in England, there wasn't much access to exotic type pets so my dad drove me 3 hours to a reptile convention in Manchester, England where he bought me my first lizard, Buddy the leopard gecko. He ended up living for 17 years! Over the years I had animals such as tree frogs and bearded dragons but took a break from keeping any animals when I moved to Texas from the UK in 2011. My wife and I bought our first house here in Houston in 2022, and that’s when I took an interest in keeping animals of some sort again. There was a perfect nook right next to our fireplace in our living room that was crying out for a tank of some sort! Initially I did research on saltwater fish but was quickly distracted when I came across Troy Goldberg on YouTube, and his videos really inspired me to step into the PDF hobby and I haven’t really looked back since. 

What species do you currently work with, and what is your primary focus?

Currently I keep a group (fairly confident it’s a 2.2) of ‘Orange Blackfoot’ Terribilis (Phyllobates terribilis), and I also have a pair of Auratus, Costa Rican green and blacks, which have produced 12 healthy froglets so far! It was my first time breeding anything so this was super exciting! I have space for one more tank that I am building for myself which I will use to house some Vanessas.

Your custom backgrounds/inserts are absolutely stunning!  You're an artist.  I've noticed on your Instagram that you share photos and videos of your construction process.  Can you briefly describe your workflow?  What do you think is the most challenging aspect of your background/insert building?  Have you standardized your workflow or do you approach each build differently as far as construction is concerned?  

I appreciate that! It’s something I just picked up doing in October of last year, and I’m just trying to continue to improve. I am pretty happy with my workflow process now after being fortunate to have about 11 clients so far who’ve asked for slightly different pieces so it’s helped me expand my techniques. But, my general flow is to get a feeling for what the client is looking for and most cases even request a reference picture to work off of. I am always in constant communication with updates on the build as I want to make sure each client feels part of the design process. Next is the part where I work with foam to create a generic structure or shape before carving it. Initially I started with cement but have switched to using Polygem Zoopoxy , which has allowed me to take my detailing to the next level. The painting part really makes each piece come alive, and it’s one of my favorite parts. I have a 7-step process that is working for me, and I have that nailed down now. I am definitely in need of improving my final display pictures and videos though!

Who are some of your influences?  You've certainly inspired me to step up my background game!

As mentioned earlier, Troy was the first person I came across on Youtube and always creates beautiful scapes. He really got me started just by watching his videos, and it’s funny how life works out as we became friends a couple years later. When I first started building my display tank back in 2022, I reached out to Brandon (@lost.vivariums) for some tips as he was local to me in Houston. I also got a lot of help from Shareef (@abunchoftanks) in my early days in the PDF hobby and now both Brandon and Shareef I consider friends. I think that’s been my favorite part of entering the hobby. I have made some great friends that I talk to regularly now not only about frogs but life too!

What's next?  Are you working on anything new and exciting that you'd like to share with the readers?    

Yes! I am about to build my final 18x18x24” which I hope to have done in a few weeks. Other than that, I am available for commissions if any readers are interested in having their own background or insert created!

Our hobby is always evolving.  What are some aspects of our hobby that you think can be improved?  

I still feel like a newbie in the hobby, but thankfully I feel that I have gotten connected with the right people to help me improve my knowledge and husbandry. I have been lucky with this, but I know others have not and I believe people sharing knowledge is a powerful tool to improve all aspects of the hobby, including building backgrounds etc. I am more than happy to give people advice if they reach out.

Finally, tell everyone how they can find you online.    

For now, I am only reachable via direct message on Instagram, @mikegravia

Awesome! Y’all cruise over to Instagram to give Opey some love! Stay tuned for the next Q&A!

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.

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!