We had the good fortune of connecting with Mariah Tritz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mariah, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
Snakes are bad and should die…that’s awful conventional advise! Snakes, like every animal, surveyor a purpose. Especially in areas with rattle snakes, bull snakes and kings snakes, which are non venomous, will help control the rodent population and keep rattle snakes from moving into an area. King snakes will eat other snakes and will eat rattle snakes if they can. Snakes can make excellent pets that require a very small amount of maintenance. As long as many species of snake have water and a warm place to hide they will do fine for a week at a time without being looked at. This makes them wonderful when you’re on a vacation. Snakes are also quite, don’t take up much room (depending on species), and don’t require daily feeding or care. I would recommend a snake as a first pet over a lizard or small and furry animal any day of the week!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am most proud of the reputation I have built! In this industry a bad reputation can destroy you and I have worked hard to only put out stellar animals with great customer service. There have been set backs just like in any business. There are some people who don’t like me and won’t work with me and that is their issue. I can’t please everyone and if they want to complain about something I had no control over then I have to let them. It is more important to keep moving forward and leave the negativity behind! Having other strong women in this industry has helped me see that it doesn’t matter if you’re a woman or a man, quality animals will be seen as just that. I have taken the time to put quality animals in and only send out top quality animals to buyers. I would want the world to know that women breeders are just as capable as the men and to look at the quality of the animals produced. If you want cheap that is what you will get along with all the potential health issues and lack of customer service that goes along with that. Quality in, quality out!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
How can anyone who lives in Colorado answer that question?! There are so many great food places, things to do and see, and always the mountains. The pub close to me is The Glenn and is a must stop for food and fun. Other then that it is up in the air based on colorados crazy weather!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Overall the reptile community has become more supportive of women breeding and raising reptiles. It is still a male dominated industry but women are really starting to move forward and gain respect. Lori Gibson and Rachel Powers has helped with this among so many others!

Instagram: @highstexotics

Facebook: @HighStE

Image Credits
Max Hicks Stardust Scales

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.