Peter Birch is a prominent Australian reptile expert, breeder, content creator, and wildlife adventurer based in Ourimbah on the Central Coast of New South Wales. With over 40 years of reptile handling and breeding experience, Peter is widely recognized within the herpetological community as the founder of Colourful Critters and the creator of the popular wildlife channel CrittaCam.
Colourful Critters & Professional Breeding
Peter founded Colourful Critters alongside his wife Joanne, operating as premier Australian breeders since the late 1990s.
- The Specialty: Peter is globally renowned for working with world-class Antaresia morphs (including Children’s pythons, spotted pythons, and platinum maculosa). His deep-rooted passion for the genus was inspired by "Spot," a spotted python he hatched back in 1994.
- Facilities: To support his growing collection and maintain premium animal husbandry, Peter constructed a custom, 300-square-metre, two-storey facility in 2004 dedicated to breeding high-quality live rodents and reptiles.
- Expos: He is a frequent exhibitor and familiar face at major reptile expos across Australia, including the Victorian Herpetological Society (VHS) expo and the Sydney Reptile Expo.
CrittaCam & Media Presence
In 2012, inspired by a visit with international reptile personality Brian Barczyk, Peter launched CrittaCam to fill a void for high-quality Australian wildlife content on YouTube.
- Content & Mission: CrittaCam has grown into a family-friendly educational platform with millions of views. The channel focuses heavily on reptile husbandry, captive breeding insights, and global conservation awareness.
- Global Expeditions: Beyond his private facility, Peter travels the world as a wildlife adventurer and tour guide. His expeditions have taken him to Africa—where he has partnered with local trusts to assist with high-stakes conservation efforts like rhino dehorning—and across Asia to highlight rare and endangered species.
Ambassadorships & Publications
Peter's extensive experience has made him a trusted authority in the exotic pet space. He is a published author, notably contributing to reptile literature regarding Antaresia care.
