About Us

About Us – Back to the Branch

First and foremost, the website is constantly under development and this includes everything from inventory to conservation work & education. I am not a web developer by trade and I made this by myself , please excuse any mess and contact me with any questions backtothebranch@gmail.com

Back to the Branch is built on a simple but powerful idea: every animal we work with should have a future beyond captivity.

This belief is the foundation of everything we do. It shapes how we care for our animals, how we structure our breeding programs, and how we interact with the broader community of keepers, educators, and conservationists. We are not here simply to house animals—we are here to ensure that the species we work with continue to exist, thrive, and remain genetically viable for generations to come.

Our Foundation

With over 20 years of hands-on experience working with reptiles, arachnids, and animal care as a whole Back to the Branch is built on a foundation of real-world knowledge, clinical understanding, and practical application.

This experience spans private collections, breeding projects, veterinary environments, and long-term husbandry of a wide range of species. It includes not only the day-to-day care of animals, but also the deeper understanding of nutrition, environmental stability, disease prevention, and behavioral health that comes from years of direct interaction.

This isn’t a new interest or a passing phase.
It is a lifelong commitment to animal welfare, scientific understanding, and conservation-driven action.

Our Mission

Back to the Branch is a conservation-focused reptile and arachnid initiative dedicated to preserving species at risk of habitat loss, environmental pressure, and declining wild populations.

Across the world, countless species are facing increasing threats—deforestation, climate instability, urban expansion, and unsustainable collection practices are steadily reducing wild populations. While some species receive global attention, many others—especially reptiles and arachnids—are often overlooked despite their critical roles in their ecosystems.

Our mission is to step into that gap.

Through responsible, ethical breeding practices, we aim to create sustainable assurance populations—healthy, genetically diverse captive groups that serve as a safeguard against population collapse in the wild. These populations are not just collections of animals; they are living reservoirs of genetic diversity, carefully maintained and documented to preserve the integrity of the species.

We believe that preservation is not a future goal—it is a responsibility that must be acted on now.

What Sets Us Apart

What makes Back to the Branch different is our unwavering commitment to reinvestment.

Every sale.
Every donation.
Every dollar.

It all goes directly back into conservation.

This is not a slogan—it is a working model. Instead of extracting profit, we cycle resources back into the system to strengthen and expand our impact. This includes:

Expanding breeding programs to include more species and stronger genetic lines
Improving enclosures to better replicate natural environments and reduce stress
Investing in high-quality nutrition and feeding systems
Supporting research into reptile and arachnid health, behavior, and breeding
Building infrastructure for long-term conservation efforts

There are no shortcuts in this process. There is no profit-first mindset.
There is only a continuous loop of reinvestment into the animals and ecosystems we are working to protect.

A Focus on the Overlooked

Much of modern conservation focuses on large, charismatic species—animals that capture public attention and funding. While this work is important, it leaves a significant gap.

Reptiles and arachnids are often underrepresented in conservation efforts, despite being essential components of their ecosystems. They regulate prey populations, contribute to nutrient cycles, and serve as indicators of environmental health.

At Back to the Branch, we intentionally focus on these overlooked species.

This includes:

Locale-specific reptiles with unique regional genetics
Species facing habitat fragmentation or environmental decline
Underrepresented snakes, lizards, and arachnids with little conservation support

By maintaining healthy, well-documented captive lines, we reduce the need for wild collection while preserving the genetic diversity that makes each population unique.

These animals are not just part of a collection—they are part of a preservation effort.

Ethical Breeding & Genetic Integrity

Breeding is at the core of what we do, but not in the traditional sense.

Our approach is not driven by trends, novelty, or short-term demand. Instead, it is guided by long-term thinking—how each pairing contributes to the health, stability, and genetic future of the species.

We prioritize:

Strong, healthy animals with consistent feeding and growth
Genetic diversity and traceability
Responsible pairing decisions that avoid unnecessary risk
Maintaining natural traits and behaviors whenever possible

In some cases, this means working with animals that appear “normal” but carry valuable lineage, such as F1 imports or locality-specific bloodlines. These animals may not always be visually striking, but they are genetically important—and that importance shapes how we value them.

We believe that true value in this space comes not just from appearance, but from integrity.

A Fully Circulatory System

One of the defining aspects of Back to the Branch is our commitment to sustainability through a fully circulatory system.

Our feeder program is not separate from our conservation work—it is part of the same ecosystem.

The rodents we raise contribute directly to the cycle:

They are fed a balanced, carefully managed diet
Their waste is repurposed to fertilize crops
Those crops help support the next generation of feeders

This creates a closed-loop system that reduces waste, improves efficiency, and aligns with natural ecological processes.

It is a small-scale model of what sustainability should look like—nothing wasted, everything contributing to the whole.

Education as a Core Principle

Conservation does not work in isolation.
It requires understanding, participation, and shared responsibility.

Education is central to our mission.

We aim to provide clear, accurate, and practical information that empowers keepers at all levels. This includes:

Species-specific care guides
Insights into proper husbandry and enclosure design
Information on ethical breeding practices
Explanations of ecological roles and conservation needs

Our goal is not just to sell animals—it is to create informed keepers who understand the responsibility that comes with them.

When people understand what they are caring for, they become advocates.
And when enough people become advocates, real conservation becomes possible.

Community & Responsibility

Back to the Branch is not just an operation—it is a growing community of individuals who share a commitment to doing things the right way.

Whether you are purchasing an animal, donating to our efforts, or simply learning through our content, you are contributing to something larger.

You are supporting:

Ethical, purpose-driven animal care
The preservation of species that may otherwise be overlooked
A system designed to sustain itself and grow responsibly

This is a collective effort, and every contribution matters.

What You Support

When you work with Back to the Branch, you are directly supporting:

Conservation-focused breeding programs
Ethical and traceable animal production
Habitat-driven enclosure design and welfare improvements
Research into reptile and arachnid nutrition and health
Public education and awareness
Long-term preservation of genetic diversity

This support is not abstract—it has a direct and measurable impact on the animals in our care and the future of the species we work with.

Looking Forward

The work we are doing is long-term by design.

Preservation does not happen overnight. It requires consistency, patience, and a willingness to invest in outcomes that may not be fully realized for years.

We are building something that is meant to last—programs that can expand, adapt, and continue to serve their purpose well into the future.

Each new project, each new species, and each new generation of animals brings us one step closer to that goal.

Our Philosophy

Back to the Branch isn’t just about keeping animals alive—
it’s about restoring what’s been lost and protecting what remains.

It’s about recognizing the value of species that others overlook.
It’s about building systems that give back more than they take.
It’s about creating a future where conservation is not an afterthought, but a standard.