Vivarium Publishing is an independent publishing company dedicated exclusively to producing authoritative books on reptiles, amphibians, vivarium design, and captive husbandry. Our mission is to publish educational resources that combine scientific accuracy with practical experience, providing readers with reliable information that supports responsible animal care and advances the reptile hobby. We seek to work with knowledgeable authors and experienced keepers to publish books that promote responsible animal care and contribute to the reptile and amphibian community.
Vivarium Publishing was founded by Kevin Bechert, whose involvement in the reptile industry spans more than three decades. Throughout his career, Kevin has combined a passion for reptiles with extensive publishing experience to help make high-quality educational resources accessible to a broader audience. He also served as a key contributor to the development of the ReptoHabitat® by TetraFauna®, one of the first commercially successful naturalistic vivarium systems in North America. The ReptoHabitat introduced thousands of hobbyists to the concept of recreating realistic environments that more closely reflected an animal's natural habitat and helped influence the evolution of modern vivarium design.
The best reptile books do more than explain how to keep animals—they deepen our understanding of the species themselves. At Vivarium Publishing, we believe every title should combine sound science, firsthand experience, and practical husbandry into a comprehensive reference that readers will return to for years. Our goal is to publish books that remain useful and relevant, helping readers build their knowledge and confidence at every stage of the hobby.
Our inaugural title, Chuckwallas: Natural History, Care, and Breeding, is the English adaptation and expanded edition of the acclaimed German work by Günther Köhler and Hannes Zorn. Rather than simply translating the original edition, this volume has been extensively revised and expanded with updated husbandry practices, modern lighting and heating technologies, current nutritional recommendations, additional natural history, and measurements converted for North American readers. The result is one of the most comprehensive references ever published on the genus Sauromalus, making this important work available to English-speaking reptile keepers, breeders, educators, and researchers for the first time.
Chuckwallas: Natural History, Care, and Breeding represents the first step in our long-term publishing program. Future titles will cover a wide range of reptiles, amphibians, vivarium design, captive husbandry, breeding, natural history, and conservation. Our goal is to build a respected library of specialized books that preserve knowledge, encourage responsible animal care, and support the continuing growth of the herpetological community.
At Vivarium Publishing, we believe knowledge is one of the most valuable tools in responsible animal keeping. By working with leading authors and subject-matter experts, we strive to publish books that are accurate, beautifully produced, and relevant for years to come. Whether you are a first-time keeper, an experienced breeder, a zoological professional, or a researcher, our commitment is the same—to provide educational resources that inform, inspire, and help advance the art and science of reptile and amphibian husbandry.