Our Staff

Matt Smallheer

Name:

Matt Smallheer

Position:

Visionary, Operations Manager

Team Member Since:

2006

Name a few of the Reptiles/Amphibians you own:

  • I have two kids :)

Favorite Part of your job:

Satisfying the needs of our customer base. We offer a unique product and present it in a unique way. I love the awe we create.

Personal Mission:

To create a wildly efficient system that provides consistent results.

Fun fact about me:

I train 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu & CrossFit six days a week.

Hobbies:

Jiu Jitsu, Fitness, The Beach, Politics, Investing.

Stephanie Smallheer

Name:

Stephanie Smallheer

Position:

Integrator, Human Resources

Team Member Since:

2006

Name a few of the Reptiles/Amphibians you own:

  • I have a Giant African Millipede.

Favorite Part of your job:

Selling a family their first reptile is always exciting. :)

Personal Mission:

To be able to teach and educate people on the hobby.

Fun fact about me:

I am not a fan of snakes.

Hobbies:

10th Planet Jiu Jitsu, spending time with my family, cooking, and outdoor activities

Eric Mueller

Name:

Eric Mueller

Position:

General Manager, Inventory Manager

Team Member Since:

2011

Name a few of the Reptiles/Amphibians you own:

  • Ball Pythons - Python regius
  • Woma Pythons - Aspidites ramsayi
  • Mt. Meru Jackson’s Chameleons
  • Gargoyle Geckos - Rhacodactylus auriculatus

Favorite Part of your job:

My favorite part about working at the Tye-Dyed Iguana is creating naturalistic vivariums for all of the animals.

Personal Mission:

To teach people about the animals and how to properly take care of them.

Fun fact about me:

The first time I got onto a plane I flew to the other side of the world.

Hobbies:

Building terrariums, herping, hiking, kayaking, fishing, snowboarding, and riding motorcycles.

Heather Bechtoldt

Name:

Heather Bechtoldt

Position:

Marketing Team

Team Member Since:

2009

Name a few of the Reptiles/Amphibians you own:

  • Red Foot Tortoise
  • 2 Ball Pythons
  • Veiled Chameleons
  • African Clawed Frog

Favorite Part of your job:

Taking care of the babies from the incubator, being able to watch them hatch out and raise them.

Personal Mission:

To keep the animals healthy and happy so they can find a good home.

Fun fact about me:

I have a Bachelor of Science in Zoology with a minor in Chemistry.

Hobbies:

Movies, art (drawing), video games, jigsaw puzzlies, fishing.

Jennii Moehlmann

Name:

Jennii Moehlmann

Position:

Animal Care Manager

Team Member Since:

2012

Name a few of the Reptiles/Amphibians you own:

  • Gray Tree Frogs
  • Cuban Tree Frogs
  • Pacman Frogs

Favorite Part of your job:

Being able to not only work with the animals, but learning something new everyday.

Personal Mission:

As the store grows, teaching others the proper care for each individual animal and insuring the health as well. (Personal note: If you want to chat with me, just tap my shoulder; I have headphones in)

Fun fact about me:

Besides all the reptiles I won and terrariums I make, I absolutely love doing my make-up. My face is a canvas and I create pieces of art on it. If you see me at work though, I'll almost never have make-up on. Don't want to ruin my art by sweating it off. ;)

Hobbies:

Gaming, Making terrariums out of old and odd bottles, Creating art on my face (make-up), Digital Drawing.

Bill Fox

Name:

Bill Fox

Position:

Invertebrate Care Taker, Snake Room, Shipping

Team Member Since:

2007

Name a few of the Reptiles/Amphibians you own:

  • Uromastyx
  • Tarantulas
  • Fish

Favorite Part of your job:

I get to work with awesome reptiles, amphibians, tarantulas, and other invertabrates etc.

Personal Mission:

To teach people about the animals and how to properly take care of them.

Fun fact about me:

I've been working with all kinds of animals for over 40 years. Reptiles, amphibians, invertabrates, fish, mammals, birds, and more.

Hobbies:

Outdoors, nature, 2nd amendment, survival, camping, gunsmithing, military surplus collecting.

Eleazar Gonzalez

Name:

Eleazar Gonzalez

Position:

Sales Team

Team Member Since:

2018

Name a few of the Reptiles/Amphibians you own:

  • Sulcata Tortoise
  • Tarantulas
  • Piranha

Favorite Part of your job:

Interacting with different animals and seeing the excitement of people seeing reptiles / exotic animals for the first time.

Personal Mission:

Learning what I can about the industry and helping end the stigma against reptiles. Teaching others on proper care for them.

Fun fact about me:

I have a split tongue. I practice tattooing on my self. Grow carious species of cacti and peppers. Enjoys taxidermy.

Hobbies:

Art. Collecting oddities. Photography. Watching horror movies. Eating extremely spicy foods.

Chelsea Wetzstein

Name:

Chelsea Wetzstein

Position:

Marketing Team, Graphics Design

Team Member Since:

2018

Name a few of the Reptiles/Amphibians you own:

  • Mexican Black Kingsnake
  • Crested Geckos
  • Tarantulas

Favorite Part of your job:

Getting to take care of and interact with so many different kinds of animals.

Personal Mission:

To provide the best care possible for all of the animals at the shop, so they can go to their new homes happy and healthy.

Fun fact about me:

My dad was a private pilot and I've had experience with flying and aircraft since I was a small child. I still have a strong passion for aviation.

Hobbies:

Video games, building computers, hunting & fishing, spending time at the gun range, taking care of my small zoo at home.

Connie Hirsch

Name:

Connie Hirsch

Position:

Education Specialist, Cleaning

Team Member Since:

2006

Name a few of the Reptiles/Amphibians you own:

  • Several grandchildren ;)

Favorite Part of your job:

Making sure families are happy and satisfied.

Personal Mission:

To do the best I can to help make this business thrive. To keep it as clean as possible.

Fun fact about me:

I love relaxing in a cemetery.

Hobbies:

Reading, crocheting, tomb rubbing, visiting wineries.

Autumn Stancil

Name:

Autumn Stancil

Position:

Sales Team, Administrative Assistant

Team Member Since:

2019

Name a few of the Reptiles/Amphibians you own:

  • Reticulated Python
  • Fish
  • Isopods

Favorite Part of your job:

Getting to learn something new every day. Also delivery days are always fun especially when new tarantulas arrive.

Personal Mission:

To work with animals that I love and to teach and share my passion with others.

Fun fact about me:

I was adopted when I was 17 years old.

Hobbies:

Painting, fishing, photography, hiking, kayaking, learning to pair tarantulas.

Haley Crouch

Name:

Haley Crouch

Position:

Animal Care Specialist

Team Member Since:

2020

Name a few of the Reptiles/Amphibians you own:

  • Argentine Black and White Tegu
  • Blue Tongue Skink
  • Chinese Water Dragon

Favorite Part of your job:

Being able to see a community love and care so passionately for otherwise underrated or misunderstood animals. I love seeing customers put so much time and care into their scaley friends!

Personal Mission:

To ensure every animal is well taken care of and loved and that every customer is helped and happy with their new companion.

Fun fact about me:

I like turtles. (Also, I got accepted into art school at 17)

Hobbies:

Drawing, photography, video games, writing, and videography.

Collin Wallin

Name:

Collin Wallin

Position:

Sales Manager, Education Specialist

Team Member Since:

2020

Name a few of the Reptiles/Amphibians you own:

  • Ball Pythons

Favorite Part of your job:

Sharing knowledge with customers and handling all the animals nobody else wants to touch.

Personal Mission:

Provide customers with an outstanding overall experience and coaching new reptile owners.

Fun fact about me:

None.

Hobbies:

Horticulture, basket weaving.

Bella Rose

Name:

Bella Rose

Position:

Sales Team

Team Member Since:

2021

Name a few of the Reptiles/Amphibians you own:

  • Bearded Dragon - Waffles
  • Ball Python - Ryno
  • Leopard Gecko - Nebula
  • Red Eared Slider - Penny

Favorite Part of your job:

Helping people learn about their animals and when little kids are enthusiastic about reptiles.

Personal Mission:

To teach people how to best care for their animals and to spread the love of reptiles to others.

Fun fact about me:

I want to be an exotic animal veterinarian when I'm older.

Hobbies:

Reading, art, gardening, and hiking!

Kim Smallheer

Name:

Kim Smallheer

Position:

Plant Care Specialist

Team Member Since:

2019

Name a few of the Reptiles/Amphibians you own:

  • None

Favorite Part of your job:

Quietly working alone.

Personal Mission:

To help grow the company.

Fun fact about me:

A very good shot with a firearm.

Hobbies:

Staying active, riding a bike, racquetball.

Landyn Smallheer

Name:

Landyn Smallheer

Position:

Sales Team

Team Member Since:

2006

Name a few of the Reptiles/Amphibians you own:

  • Browse the store inventory :)

Favorite Part of your job:

Getting to see the business grow.

Personal Mission:

Long term of taking over and making the business even more successful.

Fun fact about me:

I have a love for basketball.

Hobbies:

Basketball, marching band, working out, Xbox.

Jessica Kuca

Name:

Jessica Kuca

Position:

Education Specialist, Sales Team

Team Member Since:

2022

Name a few of the Reptiles/Amphibians you own:

  • 2 Crested Geckos, Bruni and Wally
  • Red Tiger Isopods

Favorite Part of your job:

I just love spending time with all the animals! Getting to teach kids about the animals I love is the best feeling in the world.

Personal Mission:

To teach everyone who comes in to love these animals as much as I do. Reptiles can be so misunderstood, so if one person leaves knowing more and liking them more, I've done my job.

Fun fact about me:

My family owns a farm with 30+ horses (some owned, most boarded) and 2 baby goats.

Hobbies:

Reading, horseback riding, drawing, painting, antique shopping, singing, playing video games, and hanging out with friends.

Richard Wilson

Name:

Richard Wilson

Position:

Sales Team

Team Member Since:

2022

Name a few of the Reptiles/Amphibians you own:

  • Rat Snakes
  • Geckos - Crested, Tokays
  • Anoles - Blue Beauty

Favorite Part of your job:

Educating customers.

Personal Mission:

Providing the customer with a quality experience.

Fun fact about me:

Love to work with the uncommon species that are harder to work with.

Hobbies:

Hunting, breeding reptiles.

Trinity Springman

Name:

Trinity Springman

Position:

Animal Care Specialist, Plant Care Specialist

Team Member Since:

2023

Name a few of the Reptiles/Amphibians you own:

  • Gargoyle Gecko
  • Paradox Sandboa
  • Anery Sandboa

Favorite Part of your job:

Getting to continue the gift of life to plants and animals.

Personal Mission:

To make this store flourish to it's highest content and making sure all exotic pets have their aquired needs.

Fun fact about me:

I own over 200 houseplants and love spending time on them. Sadly enough our 2 new rescue puppies love to chew on plants. :(

Hobbies:

I've played viola for about 12 years in the Alton Symphony. I love to ice skate and bowl in leauge at St. Clair Bowl.