T Levels: Industry Workshop - Animal Care and Management - Herptile husbandry and the science behind vivarium enclosure designs

Join Ricky Johnson, Animal Management Specialist, for an insight into the life and welfare of herptiles, including a sneak peek at the science that underpins the decision making behind setting up optimum vivarium enclosures.

 

Ricky been immersed in the herptile industry for over a decade and has experience working with a wide variety of reptile species. His journey began as a Level 3 and HND Animal Management learner, driven by a commitment to improving animal welfare standards within the industry. Ricky then spent five years as an Animal Care Technician at Halesowen College, enhancing the exotics collection and consulting for other facilities to promote better welfare practices across the industry and is currently an Animal Management Lecturer at Halesowen College.

 

Since 2015, Ricky has been an Organiser and Administrator for Advancing Herpetological Husbandry (AHH), organising annual conferences in collaboration with the British Herpetological Society (BHS) to promote evidence-based herptile husbandry. His focus is on addressing misinformation, challenging outdated assumptions, and advancing welfare through cutting-edge technology, theory and natural replication.

 

Ricky will be covering the following topics:

- His background and career so far

- Proper use of heating and lighting and the science behind it

- How to set up enclosures/vivariums and the equipment used

- Unveiling the careers in this field

- Groups and societies that animal professionals can join and how they support the sector

 

This session will cover the following criteria from the Animal Management and Behaviour specialism: Performance Outcome 2 - 2.1 and 4.6