The Bio Dude

01/07/2026

We just helped Brazos Bend State Park revamp their nature center! Our team came in and built all new bioactive terrariums with proper lighting, UVB, and heat to help the native species on display truly thrive. What made this experience really special was the instant gratification of seeing the animals, specifically the broad-banded water snake, reacted positively to their new homes. Places like Brazos Bend are crucial for preserving natural ecosystems like Texas prairies and we want to do what we can to support that. Click through to see what the center looked like before and stay tuned for a YouTube video showing the entire process!
If you're interested in visiting, they have 37 miles of nature and biking trails, campgrounds, fishing, and the George Observatory with plenty of educational offerings. And they're located just 45 miles outside Houston. Visit their site for more info: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/brazos-bend
-THE DUDE ABIDES👍🏻
Location: The Bio Dude Inc Houston
15116 Highway 3 Bldg 4 Webster, TX 77598
NEW HOURS: Mon-Sat: 10am-6pm
Phone: (717) 305-0684
Email: [email protected]

01/06/2026

Our January competition is officially taking off. This bioactive gargoyle gecko enclosure by James features a vibrant mix of tropical plants and a thoughtfully built hardscape. Swipe through to see some of the process for this build!

Native to the dense, humid forests of New Caledonia, gargoyle geckos thrive in vertical environments with plenty of cover. This enclosure provides that with height, branching wood, cork ledges, and vines that allow for easy movement between perches. Lush plant coverage adds important visual density. Tradescantia and marble pothos are climbers that help fill vertical and upper levels, while bromeliads provide soil-free canopy foliage, and an orchid adds a pop of color.

While gargoyle geckos rarely use the ground, lower level plants still support a healthy bioactive system by feeding the soil and providing shelter for the clean-up crew. Sansevieria and calathea are great fits for this role.

The background was created by applying silicone to the back wall, adding expanding foam, shaping it once cured, and coating it with silicone, coco fiber, and sphagnum moss. Branches and part of the log hide were secured for structure, and plant pockets were formed using removable pots with drainage holes added after curing.

To enter January’s Tank Tuesday, tag us, message or email us, or share wide angle photos of your bioactive enclosure in our Facebook group, Bioactive Reptile and Amphibian Setups USA. Tell us who lives in it and share any details you would like. U.S. residents only. Exemplary husbandry required.
-THE DUDE ABIDES👍🏻
Location: The Bio Dude Inc Houston
15116 Highway 3 Bldg 4 Webster, TX 77598
NEW HOURS START JAN 5
New Hours: Mon-Sat: 10am-6pm
Phone: (717) 305-0684
Email: [email protected]

01/06/2026

Important update from USARK:

UPDATE 1/5/26: The Commissioners again denied public comment and passed the ordinance with a 3-1 vote. The dissenting vote occurred because he felt that there should be no grandfathering of currently owned animals (meaning they should be seized or killed). There is a 30-day period to grandfather banned animals, but that "grandfathering" comes with hefty fees. All details can be found at www.usark.org/25nc. See more details below in our 12/15/25 update.

UPDATE 12/15/25: ALERT! The County Commissioners voted to ban ALL lizards, ALL amphibians, hedgehogs, and more. They also chose to completely dismiss legitimate science by using false taxonomic classifications. There has not been enough opposition. USARK requested a hearing, but the Commissioners refused to allow a public hearing on this issue, even though this was a new draft. Five people stayed and spoke in opposition at the end of the meeting after the vote, including USARK's Phil Goss, with no one testifying in support. While the simple fact that the proposal uses fictitious and incorrect taxonomy, has redundancies, closes down businesses, bans all lizards, and more were plainly presented to the Commissioners, they chose to move forward. One commissioner said, "I don't think this goes far enough." The ordinance does list humans as an exempt species that can be owned, but you cannot own a leopard gecko. The "grandfather" clause requires an annual license that is $250 for the first animal and $100 for each additional animal. Owning 10 grandfathered "exotic animals" will be $1,150 annually in county permit fees. This is scheduled for a second vote on January 5, 2026.
..All lizards and amphibians are banned as none are listed in the "Exempted Animals" list, which therefore bans them by default. More at www.usark.org/25nc

01/05/2026

Rolling into this week with NEW STORE HOURS 10AM-6PM MON-SAT
While isopods are often referred to as "roly-pollies," only certain groups of terrestrial woodlice have evolved the ability to roll into a tight ball, a behavior called conglobation. This defensive move protects their soft underside and helps reduce water loss in dry conditions. Roly‑polies like pill bugs belong to families such as Armadillidiidae and Armadillidae, which have overlapping plates and flexible body joints that let them curl up completely. Other isopods, often called sowbugs or “potato bugs,” can’t roll up because their body plates and joints aren’t shaped for full curling, so they rely on hiding under rocks and leaf litter instead. Some species even have anatomical features like head grooves and reduced antennae that make conglobation smoother and more effective. This diversity reflects different evolutionary paths in how isopods defend themselves and manage moisturWhile isopods are often referred to as "roly-pollies," only certain groups of terrestrial woodlice have evolved the ability to roll into a tight ball, a behavior called conglobation. This defensive move protects their soft underside and helps reduce water loss in dry conditions. Roly‑polies like pill bugs belong to families such as Armadillidiidae and Armadillidae, which have overlapping plates and flexible body joints that let them curl up completely. Other isopods, often called sowbugs or “potato bugs,” can’t roll up because their body plates and joints aren’t shaped for full curling, so they rely on hiding under rocks and leaf litter instead. Some species even have anatomical features like head grooves and reduced antennae that make conglobation smoother and more effective. This diversity reflects different evolutionary paths in how isopods defend themselves and manage moistur on land.
Pictured: Cubaris sp. "Panda king," Cubaris sp. "Rubber ducky," Armadillidium vulgare "Japanese magic potion." We have panda king and Japanese magic potions available in-store and online, but we are looking for wholesale rubber duckys, so please send us an email if you know anyone selling them wholesale!
-THE DUDE ABIDES👍🏻
Location: The Bio Dude Inc Houston
15116 Highway 3 Bldg 4 Webster, TX 77598
NEW HOURS START JAN 5
Mon-Sat: 10am-6pm
Phone: (717) 305-0684
Email: [email protected]

01/05/2026

In case you missed the good news: captive-bred animals that we specialize in are now available for purchase on our main website thebiodude.com! Critters like these baby viper geckos, poison dart frogs, and the Australian python species you know and love are now located under the "Fauna" section on our main menu. We can't wait to continue providing people with healthy, beautiful reptiles and amphibians.
-THE DUDE ABIDES👍🏻
Location: The Bio Dude Inc Houston
15116 Highway 3 Bldg 4 Webster, TX 77598
NEW HOURS START JAN 7
Current Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-4pm Sat: 10am-5pm
New Hours: Mon-Sat: 10am-6pm
Phone: (717) 305-0684
Email: [email protected]

01/03/2026

Yes, that's a striped spotted python (Antaresia maculosa) in a monkey nut pod. We just added this individual to our For Sale Animals and he seems to have a favorite spot.
-THE DUDE ABIDES👍🏻
Location: The Bio Dude Inc Houston
15116 Highway 3 Bldg 4 Webster, TX 77598
NEW HOURS START JAN 7
Current Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-4pm Sat: 10am-5pm
New Hours: Mon-Sat: 10am-6pm
Phone: (717) 305-0684
Email: [email protected]

01/02/2026

Like the comment below with the tank that you find most well-designed to cast your vote for who you think deserves to win the $25 BioDude giftcard prize! Voting will close at 4 p.m. CST Monday 1/5, whereupon the winner will be determined and directly messaged to receive their prize! We accidentally shared 2 tanks from the same individual this month, so to be fair, only 1 of those 2 will be eligible for votes to receive the prize.
To enter January's competition: tag us, DM us, email us, or share large, wide-angle photos of your bioactive tank in our Facebook group, Bioactive Reptile and Amphibian Setups USA. Tell us who lives in it and any other details you’d like to share. You must be located in the U.S. so that you are able to use the giftcard prize. Your bioactive tank must showcase exemplary husbandry to be considered. Invertebrate, reptile, and amphibian enclosures are all welcome.
-THE DUDE ABIDES👍🏻
Location: The Bio Dude Inc Houston
15116 Highway 3 Bldg 4 Webster, TX 77598
NEW HOURS START JAN 7
Current Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-4pm Sat: 10am-5pm
New Hours: Mon-Sat: 10am-6pm
Phone: (717) 305-0684
Email: [email protected]

Send a message to learn more

12/31/2025

This bioactive pinktoe tarantula enclosure provides plenty of web anchoring points while also creating a strong sense of security, which is essential for arboreal tarantulas. In smaller builds like this, spiderwood works especially well because its many offshoots give pinktoes multiple climbing and webbing options.

Visual density is important for species that come from heavily vegetated, tree-filled environments. A background like this one that adds that depth can be built in several ways, with one of the most common methods using expanding spray foam, aquarium-safe silicone, and a Drylok topcoat. Cork flats can be pressed into the foam while it is still workable, locking them into place and adding stable, elevated retreat areas.

For plant life, a marble queen pothos is a smart choice. In compact arboreal setups where the soil lacks depth, pothos thrives. A single plant can quickly spread upward and outward, increasing usable space while improving cover and overall humidity balance throughout the enclosure.

On December 31st, pop over to our Facebook to vote on which of December's 5 tanks you think deserves the prize! To enter January's competition, tag us, DM us, email us, or share large, wide-angle photos of your bioactive tank in our Facebook group, Bioactive Reptile and Amphibian Setups USA. Tell us who lives in it and any details you’d like to share. You must live in the U.S. to use the gift card prize. Your bioactive tank must showcase excellent husbandry to be considered. Invertebrate, reptile, and amphibian enclosures are all welcome.
-THE DUDE ABIDES👍🏻
Location: The Bio Dude Inc Houston
15116 Highway 3 Bldg 4 Webster, TX 77598
NEW HOURS START JAN 5
Current Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-4pm Sat: 10am-5pm
New Hours: Mon-Sat: 10am-6pm
Phone: (717) 305-0684
Email: [email protected]

12/29/2025

These are just 6 of many regions on Earth packed with an incredible variety of plants and animals 🌍🌿
Looking at why these places support so much life helps us better understand ecosystems as a whole, including the closed environments we build and the native habitats of the unique species we keep.
-THE DUDE ABIDES👍🏻
Location: The Bio Dude Inc Houston
15116 Highway 3 Bldg 4 Webster, TX 77598
Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-4pm Sat: 10am-5pm
Phone: (717) 305-0684
Email: [email protected]

12/27/2025

Light cages, like this one from Arcadia, help keep critters safe from direct contact with heat bulbs. If you have lighting installed within your tank, and there's potential for the animal to reach the lights, these are a must. Material matters though! Snakes tend to rub their noses on things like this, so ensuring you pick a product with a smooth finish is super important.
For arboreal and semi-arboreal setups, light cages also give you more freedom with layout. You can safely place cork, branches, vines, and elevated basking areas near the heat source without worrying about accidental contact as your animal explores. We've even caught these emerald tree skinks climbing the bulb cage itself!
If you're interested in baby captive-bred emerald tree skinks, we currently have 2 available in-store and on Morph Market!
-THE DUDE ABIDES👍🏻
Location: The Bio Dude Inc Houston
15116 Highway 3 Bldg 4 Webster, TX 77598
Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-4pm Sat: 10am-5pm
Phone: (717) 305-0684
Email: [email protected]