Feel the Experience

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Power Outages Can Cause Serious Problems for Reptile Pets

Recent articles in newspapers around the country serve as a reminder that this time of the year isn’t just for concerns about celebration schedules, Christmas shopping, and year-end at work.  There is also good reason to worry about power outages.  

This country has seen some tremendous storms in recent years.  With all of the rainfall that we have seen since mid-summer, it does make sense that we would continue to see precipitation in other forms.  Combine the weight of endless snow fall with the potential for high winds, and you can really wreak havoc on the power lines. Bad winter storms can bring large branches and whole trees down as well, which can add to the power line problems.

Power outages at this time of the year bring forth many worries.  Loss of electricity to a home can mean loss of heat as well.  That can certainly lead to discomfort, but also the possible devastation of freezing– or bursting pipes.  It can also cause major problems for reptile pets.

Many of the reptiles that Dan the Snakeman and others keep as pets are native to warm climates.  Particularly in the winter months, heat lamps are essential. While these snakes, lizards, tortoises, frogs, and other species can survive for a while without the bulbs burning, when power outages occur over extended periods of time, the temperature can fall to dangerous levels in enclosures.

For that reason, it is a very good idea to have a backup plan in place, in case you face power outages this winter.  The first step recommended by experts is to immediately insulate the enclosure. Being sure to still allow for proper air flow, you can wrap the enclosure in old bath towels, bedding, or packing material.  The enclosure—because of the heat bulbs—will be warmer than the rest of the house. Insulating right away can help preserve that heat.  Be sure to keep a thermometer in the enclosure.  This is always a good idea, but particularly important during power outages.  If it is expected that the power will be out for an extended time, move the enclosure to the warmest area of the house.  If the power continues to fail and the temperature in the enclosure continues to drop, consider moving your pet to a temporary location or using a generator to power the heat bulbs to raise the temperature.  If you are going to transport your reptiles, be sure to warm your vehicle up before doing so.

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The Hamburg Reptile Show

Last weekend, Dan the Snakeman loaded up his van with some of his reptiles and headed south on the highway.  His intended destination was Hamburg, PA.  The trip, which takes between 2.5 and three hours may be a long one, but it is all worth it when a reptile lover steps inside the large facility.  A sea of tables, tanks, crates, and displays greet eager eyes, revealing some of the most unique, unusual, and beloved reptiles on the planet.

The show that Dan attended was held on October 20th, but if you missed it, do not despair.  You will have another chance in the not-so-distant future to take a look at what this amazing spectacle has to offer.  At the very same location—South Fourth Street, Hamburg, PA—there will be yet another reptile show on December 1st.  

Of course, this is a great event purely for the vast amount of knowledge that accumulates under a single roof.  These are some of the best know breeders and researchers in the country coming together to showcase their animals and reptile supplies, as well as to share ideas.  There are 95 vendors listed on the Hamburg Reptile Show website.

If you are looking to adopt a new reptile pet, then you may want to check it out in December.  You will be faced with an abundance of options and can get all the advice that you may need in order to raise a healthy animal.

The show hours are 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  It costs just $10 for adults, $5 for kids, and anyone under the age of five gets in for free.  It can be a lot of fun to attend with children, who will undoubtedly be excited by the vast array of different animals on display.  Do be sure to stop at the bank, though.  It is a cash-only event.

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Hurricane Florence and Animals

Lions and tigers and gators… oh my!

Hurricane Florence is quickly approaching land and millions of people have been warned to evacuate, but that message doesn’t apply to the animals.  Both those residing in the wilds of the east coast states and those cared for by zoo– and shelter staff will face off against heavy rain and high winds.  In many areas, tornado warnings are in effect.  

Some of the animals are being evacuated.  According to ABC News, one Virginia animal shelter was seeking temporary foster homes.  They were asking people to take the animals with them to safe locations or to take them to their own residences, so, at very least, the cats and dogs would have companionship during the worst of the storm.

Reptiles are not like cats and dogs, of course.  They do not seek companionship in the same way, and it is harder to find people willing to take on snakes, lizards, tortoises, and frogs in situations like this.  The zoos, though, don’t generally move their animals in situations like these.  Many of the animals cannot be moved easily.  There simply aren’t the facilities capable of holding lions, tigers, giraffes, bears, and other such species on short notice.  Many of these animals will simply ride out the storm in their indoor enclosures.  It is typical, in areas like those being directly impacted by Hurricane Florence, for the structures to be built to withstand intense weather.

While surely there are some privately owned reptiles that will be carried to safer ground, there are also many who will ride out the storm in their designated enclosures.   

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NY Pet, Farm, and Exotic Animal Swap

If you haven’t yet been introduced to this Facebook page and you are an animal lover, then you are missing out.  Administered and moderated by a young and devoted trio, this page claims to be “a drama-free place to buy and sell pets, rescues, or breeder pets.”

This is a place where dogs and cats can be rehomed or adopted out to new, loving families.  More importantly, however, is the focus of the page on the less common pets, including birds, reptiles, and other exotic species.  While, for many, this is simply a place to go when seeking a new pet to love, there is a bigger part played by this and other organizations like it.

All too often, reptiles, amphibians, large birds, and other exotic species are adopted as pets when they are young, small, and often cute.  When they grow too large for their environs, though, the owner often begins to have second thoughts.  One only has to look at tortoises as an example.

This side-by-side showcases the same breed of tortoise.  The first is very young, the second is several years old, but this guy still isn’t done growing yet.  Many people will buy the little tortoise, thinking it cute and manageable, but then after a few years, the pet is too big for the space available.

It’s not just tortoises that fall victim to this human habit.  Snakes are also often adopted at very young ages.  Right now, there are big problems in Florida.  The burmese python population is growing exponentially.  Native to Southeast Asia, they were never found in the United States, until people started importing them as pets.  When the snakes outgrew their owners in length and (in some cases) weight, they were released into the wilds.  

In Upstate NY, releasing a pet not native to the habitat would often mean that the animal died during the bitter cold of winter.  However, in Florida, it was warm enough to support the Burmese python.  Unfortunately, few predators of the animal exist in the state, and so the python population started to grow and started to consume many of the native creatures living within the start boundaries.

Of course, Burmese Pythons can only be owned by those with special licenses in this state, but there are many reptile, amphibian, and other exotics that can be legally sold or traded.  There are people who are willing to adopt or take in these unwanted pets, but finding them isn’t always easy.  Sites like the NY Pet, Farm, and Exotic Animal Swap have made it easier to ensure the continued safety of these animals, by providing the current owners a way to reach out to potential adoptive pet parents.

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Woman Killed By Gator: A Very Tragic Reminder

There have been a lot of comments coming Dan the Snakeman’s way about the woman who was attacked by an alligator last month.  It was decided that this would be a good topic for this blog post, as it is important for people to understand the reality of alligators, other reptiles, and how they interact with humans.

In early June, a woman living in Florida walked her down to the edge of a body of freshwater.  It is believed that a gator lingering in the water nearby spotted the dog and made an aggressive strike in an effort to snatch the pup.  Instead, it’s jaws caught the woman.

According to ABC News, “an alligator warning was issued to residents of a South Florida homeowners association two days before [the] 47-year-old woman was attacked and killed by [the] alligator.”

When the water-dwelling reptiles are spotted in residential areas of Florida, these alerts are issued to warn the residents to take precautions to avoid interaction with the wild animals.  They are further warned to take all necessary precautions with children and pets.

In this case, ABC News went on to report that the alert came after “authorities trapped a 6-foot alligator near a resident's front door.”

The gator involved in the event measured more than twelve feet in length.  It was euthanized upon capture and an necropsy revealed human remains, verifying that the reptile had in fact been the one to attack the woman and her dog.  Search teams were immediately sent to search the waters for the woman’s body, which was later discovered.

This is a horrific event and a strong reminder than interest in– and concern for reptiles is a great thing, but that they must always be respected for the immense power and instinct they possess.  In the wild and in captivity, these animals can act with aggression when they feel threatened or are hungry.

Though the threat should be taken seriously and official alerts should be heeded, fatal alligator attacks are rare.  Just twelve cases have been reported in eighteen years, according to CBS 12.  The number of attacks could increase, though.  The same article mentions that “the increase is partly due to their population growing and their natural habitat shrinking.”  In order to avoid adding to these statistics, people need to respect alligators, report sightings, and maintain a very safe distance.

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Summer Reading Program Inspires Herpetology Study

In honor of the Summer Reading Program, organized by the libraries of central NY, I thought it was appropriate to choose a topic for this blog that is related to reading.  

Someone brilliant once said that you should know what you love to do and then find a way to make a living doing it.  If you can turn your passion into a career, then you will love to go to work every day.

For those who love to read– and learn about reptiles and amphibians, there is a profession to consider—Herpetology.  If you are willing to read a lot about the snakes, lizards, tortoises, frogs, and other species that Dan the Snakeman brings to his shows, then this may be something for you to consider.

Herpetologists can be hired into many different positions.  These can be grouped into four categories—working for schools or colleges, working for the government, working for the medical field, or working for a zoo or museum. You could be hired by the government to study a particular type of reptile in the wild.  You might be hired by a zoo to care for the amphibians and reptiles kept there.  You could be hired by a veterinary practice to care for the reptile pets of others.  You might even be so excellent at reading and research that you are hired to teach others all about the reptiles and amphibians that you love.

You will have to keep going to school, though.  In order to get a job in any one of these categories, you will need to earn a college degree.  Some colleges offer degrees in herpetology.  At others, you can earn a more generalized biology degree or in veterinary medicine.  Whichever program you choose, you can get the start you need to start working with reptiles and amphibians on a full time basis.

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Feeding Your Snake: Rats v. Mice

Among reptile owners, there is often a debate that takes place about which type of rodent is best for captive snakes. Mice and rats may look a lot alike, but they differ in many ways.  The first thing that you have to understand, as you prepare to care for your new pet, is how to tell the difference between the two rodents.

The Mouse

The typical mouse that we see in Upstate NY will measure 4.5-8 inches in length when full grown (including the tail).  The majority of the mice seen in the fields of NYS weigh less than a slice of bread.  They are generally brown or gray in color, when seen in the wild, but white mice are common in pet supply stores.  There are three immediately obvious physical features that set a mouse apart from a rat:

The head is triangular in shape and features long whiskers.

The tail is long and thin, but covered with hair.

The ears of a mouse are large and round.

The Rat

The common rat can greatly range in size.  Some are as small as the smallest mouse, but rats are, on average, larger than mice.  The average brown rat, for instance, measures more than fifteen inches in length, including the tail.  They are also much denser in build.  If you held a mouse and a rat of the same length, the rat would feel significantly heavier.  The brown rat can weigh in at up to 17.5 ounces.  As mentioned before, there are a few easily noticed physical differences between the two species.

The snout of a rat is more blunt, so the face is not the same triangular shape of a mouse.

The long tails of rats are generally hairless.

The ears of a rat tend to be smaller and not as rounded.

The reason for the debate regarding which provides better nutrition for pet snakes is the difference in physical makeup of the rodents.  Rats carry a higher percentage of protein, whereas mice have high concentrations of fat.

For most snakes, either will make a decent meal, and so it is really a matter of personal preference.  However, there are widely accepted theories, which suggest the high protein in rats is the best choice for thicker, heavier snakes, such as boas and pythons.  Thinner, lighter snakes, like corn– and milk snakes, the fatty mice are better.

Whichever you choose, be sure that you understand the feeding schedule requirements of your reptile.  Also, select mice or rats of the right size to prevent eating problems.  Choose a rodent that is approximately the width of the thickest part of your snake.

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Dogs Help Researchers Study Reptiles

US News recently reported on a new effort among reptile researchers.  The story was set in Ohio, where a team is working to learn more about the local turtle species.  Unfortunately, the job is not always an easy one.  Turtles, like many species, work hard to keep themselves invisible to potential predators.  That means that it can be very hard for helpful humans to locate them as well.  The author of the article playfully compared this to a childhood game of hide-and-seek, which is a very apt comparison.  You can be sure that the reptiles are much more adept at hiding than the average five year old, however.

In order to give themselves a greater advantage in the game, researchers recruited the help of well-trained Boykin Spaniels.

According to the American Kennel Club, this breed is very eager to please.  It measures up to 18 inches tall, weighs in at up to forty pounds, and is an accomplished swimming breed.  They were bred to work in lakes and swamps and are members of the sporting group.  

All of those breed characteristics have made this the perfect dog for seeking out covert turtles.  The Boykin Spaniels have been tasked with discovering and gently retrieving Eastern Box Turtles in Toledo.  Those found by the pups will now be able to be tracked with GPS transmitters implanted by researchers.  This will provide great insight into how the species lives and survives in the wild.

You can read more about the research by visiting the original article here.

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Dan the Snakeman Takes on Tarantulas

The name ‘Dan the Snakeman’ gives away an interest in snakes and other reptiles, but Dan is a fan of many different types of creatures.  Though you may not see all of those varieties at his shows, he has worked with-- and raised many traditional farm animals, reptiles, amphibians, and even arachnids.

Arachnids is another name for spiders.  Occasionally, at Dan the Snakeman shows, you may see something that looks slightly out of place among the many different reptiles and amphibians.  Dan will sometimes bring along a tarantula as well.  Although this species certainly isn’t considered either a reptile or an amphibian, spiders are often linked with snakes because both species are known to cause fear in human beings.

Tarantulas come in many different sizes and can differ in color greatly, depending on the particular type.  Dan’s tarantula is a widely recognized, furry, light-brown variety.  There are a few that look quite similar and are commonly kept as pets, including the Chilean Rose, which can reach five inches in length, and the Curlyhair Tarantula, which reaches a similar length and is known to be quite docile.  Both of these spiders will feed on insects and mice, just like many snakes do.

There are more exotic tarantulas making their way into pet stores.  One of the most talked about is the Goliath Bird-Eating Tarantula.  The interest can most likely be linked to the name, which makes the spider sound threatening and huge.  It is true that this spider, in adulthood, can have a leg span of nearly one foot (twelve inches), making it substantially larger than the Chilean Rose and Curlyhair tarantulas.  The spider can be aggressive, as its name suggests.  This attitude was developed so the tarantulas could better guard their homes in the wild.  Typically, this spider feeds on insects, other spiders, and rodents.  However, the Goliath has been seen consuming bats, lizards, snakes, and, of course, the occasional bird.

Unlike the Chilean Rose and Curlyhair, the Goliath birdeater is not highly recommended as a pet.  The captive bred population is very small, which means that you if you buy one, it is likely that it was captured from its natural habitat to be sold.  This is a practice that Dan the Snakeman does not support.  Furthermore, the Goliath is skittish and aggressive.  Its hairs can irritate skin and they have a powerful, dangerous bite.  They rarely back down when threatened.  Needless to say, these aren’t traits that a person would want in a pet.

Although the Goliath isn’t recommended, if you are interested in arachnids, there are many that can be successfully kept as pets.  They are relatively easy to care for and many have very docile temperaments.

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Be Safe When Encountering Reptiles and Amphibians in the Wild

With the warm weather of summer overtaking the country, everyone is coming out to enjoy the season.  That includes reptiles and amphibians, who are often quite happy to enjoy the warmth of the sun’s rays.  This can lead to sightings of snakes and toads in Marathon.  In other areas of the country, it can also mean up close encounters with alligators.  This has become a big concern recently, in some regions, as it has been discovered that some people find it entertaining to feed the gators.  This, of course, is a very dangerous habit and one that is absolutely discouraged and even illegal in many areas.

If you happen to be traveling (or you are reading this blog post far from Upstate NY) and you may run across a gator or other potentially dangerous reptile  while out and about, be sure that you abide by the following guidelines:

Do NOT feed the reptile.  Not only will this encourage future interactions with humans, it can also disrupt the natural eating habits of the animal.

Do NOT attempt to scare, harass, harm, or kill the reptile.  This can end very badly.

Do leave the animal alone if it is in its natural habitat.

Do call the local DEC authorities if there is a potentially harmful reptile in an occupied property, pool, backyard, golf course, or other inappropriate area.

Do NOT leave children unattended in the vicinity of a dangerous reptile and Do NOT allow children to play in water known to be inhabited by potentially dangerous reptiles.

Do NOT capture, purchase, or adopt any reptile or amphibian without knowing the laws of ownership in your area.  In this country, it is illegal to possess certain reptiles without the proper permits.  Some states place further restrictions on reptile (and exotic animal) ownership.  

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Do Not Let Your Reptiles Go!

Last summer, there was a buzz happening around Marathon---the small town that Dan the Snakeman calls home---when an alligator was found in the local river.  Many were worried about the safety of the local residents, but for reptile lovers and conservationists, there was another concern to consider.  The alligator, being as small as it was, would not have hunted a child.  Only upon being threatened would it have acted out with aggression.  The gator and the local environment, though, may have suffered had it not been caught.

I bring up this story again, because it runs somewhat parallel to a news report out of the UK right now.  It was assumed that the owner of the gator found it too difficult to care for the reptile once it reached a certain age.  Rather than finding it a new home, he or she released it into the wild.  Perhaps, he or she thought this was the kind thing to do.  It was not.  Similarly, in the UK, a number of reptile owners have released snakes into the wild, once they reached a size that made it too difficult to care for them.  The outcome is important to consider, as it may provide evidence to others of why one should never released a captive animal into nature, unless under the guidance of the Department of Conservation (DEC).

It has recently been discovered that a number of native reptiles in the UK are failing to thrive and dying as a result of a deadly disease that did not exist in the area until relatively recently.  It took some time for the experts to figure out why there was such a plague of the disease suddenly taking hold of the reptile population.  What they found was that it could all be linked back to illegally released species.

Reptile owners who could no longer care for their  boa constrictors and other exotic snakes, once they reached a certain size, let them loose into the UK landscape.  With them, they carried a fungal disease to which they were immune.  Although the exotic snakes were not susceptible to the disease, the reptiles native to the UK had never been exposed to it before.  They do not share the immunity.  As a result, a scary percentage of the snake population in those areas are now falling victim to the deadly illness.

The gator, though not necessarily a threat to people, could have harmed the delicate balance of the animal kingdom, especially if others had been released as well.  It is also not native to this climate, and likely would have perished as soon as temperatures plummeted to below freezing.  It is very important to keep your reptiles safe.  If you need help rehoming them, speak to the DEC or Dan the Snakeman for more advice.

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Largest Reptile Ever May Have Been Longer than a Blue Whale

It would be amazing to be the first to discover a prehistoric skeletal bone,  but what if that species was discovered to be a reptile larger than any of the previously recognized dinosaurs?  What if that reptile, in fact, had been so large during its lifetime that it outsized a blue whale?

At an estimated 85 feet long, the reptile species being referred to as the Ichthyosaur may just rival the largest animal (known to mankind) to ever inhabit the earth---the blue whale.  The average female blue whale, which holds the record of longest known animal, typically measures 82 feet.  The males of the species are a generally several feet shorter than that.  Of course, according to whalefacts.org, the largest of these whales have measured in at over 100 feet long.  Still, at 85 feet long, the Ichthyosaur would have held its own among a pod of whales.

Approximately two years ago, a man was walking upon a beach in England when he discovered something odd.  It was not a rock and, according to the man, appeared bone-like, yet it was not like any bone he had ever seen.  Fortunately, he thought enough of it to consult the professionals.  It was a bone, or rather a piece of one, which dated to more than 200 million years ago.  

Through years of research, it has been discovered that Ichthyosaur once swam in the oceans, much like blue whales.  It is thought that the species had paddle-like fins that allowed them to move in the same manner as dolphins.  The beak of the species might be compared to that of a swordfish, except that both the bottom and the top jaws extended out several feet from the body.  Of course, this Ichthyosaur was significantly larger than either dolphins or swordfish.

Read more about this gigantic reptile at Popular Science.

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Rare & Unusual Reptiles of the World: Pig Nosed Turtle

In the last blog post, we got to know a native of Madagascar.  Now, we look to the lowlands of Papua New Guinea, where if one is very lucky, he or she may encounter the pig nosed turtle.  This creature is very appropriately named, because its most unique feature is the prominent snout with large nostrils.

Like many turtles, the pig nose turtle is an omnivore, feeding fruits, greens, and small fish.  In fact, this species has even been known to act as a scavenger, feeding on the remains of dead mammals.  They are, though, most at home when fishing in freshwater, where their large, paddle-like flippers propel them rather rapidly.  It is built for the water with a shell that is leathery, rather than hard and heavy like a tortoise’s.  The shell is also shaped to cut through the water, offering very little drag.

Unfortunately, unless drastic measures are taken, it is likely that this species will eventually go extinct.  The number of pig nosed turtles living continues to drop, and rather rapidly.  One of these turtles must live sixteen or more years before being able to reproduce.  The eggs, laid by the mature females, are often deposited in shallow holes very near the edge of the water.  Other animals and human beings are apt to disrupt the nests, even inadvertently due to this placement.

The story is much sadder when one considers the fact that this is the only species surviving from the Carettochelyidae family.  This makes it the last in a line that dates back more than one hundred millions years.  The relatives of these turtles once swam alongside the dinosaurs.

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Rare & Unusual Reptiles of the World: Minute Leaf Chameleon

This is the first in a multi-piece series on the unusual and rare reptile species of the world.  The goal is to share pictures and stories of those reptiles not apt to be seen in one of Dan the Snakeman reptile shows, and certainly not in the local pet store.

The first stop on our journey is the island of Madagascar.  Though many species native to this African locale were made famous in the DreamWorks Animation movie of the same name, this tiny reptile would likely have been lost in the crush of zebras, hippos, and lemurs.  The Minute Leaf Chameleon is native only to Madagascar, but its very small stature would ensure that most people (and possible predators) would overlook it.  The new hatchlings of this species would quite easily fit on the tip of the average tablet stylus.  It is the smallest of the known chameleon species.  It would be a particularly difficult breed to hand feed, as its preferred foods include the tiniest fruit flies.

How does something so small survive the wilds of Madagascar?  By hiding, of course.  You can be sure that this little reptile is tough to spot simply because it is so small.  Add to that a tremendous skill for blending in with its surroundings, and you have the very best hide-and-seek player.  If a predator was to reach out and touch it or to shake the brand on which it has perched, the Minute Leaf Chameleon will take its trickery one step further, falling from the twig like a piece of dead wood.

Unfortunately, because its natural habitat is so small, because of human harvesting, and due to the illegal capture and trade of reptiles, the Minute Leaf Chameleon has been placed on the list of endangered species.

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Reptiles: A Reason to Cheer for Australian Olympic Athlete

Photo Credit: Instagram account of @adl_bluetongues, owner and operated by Kyle Chalmers.

I’m willing to bet that, if you are an avid supporter of the USA Olympic athletes, you would not normally cheer for Australian swimmer, Kyle Chalmers.  He’s a tough competitor in the pools, making him an American rival.  However, there is a good reason to like the Aussie when he steps out of the pool.

In a recent publicity article, Chalmers admitted that one of his greatest non-swimming passions is raising reptiles. He may be a 6’4”, 200 lb. athlete, but he doesn’t look all that intimidating when looking lovingly at his lizards.   At just 19 years old, Chalmers isn’t really a novice at reptile care either.  He’s even hatching his own bearded dragons these days, and has an Instagram page dedicated to his reptile collection.

He’s told reporters, in the past, that he is an animal lover, and has had pets of many different varieties, but is partial to the reptiles. His favorite reptiles are ‘blue tongues’.  He told The Advertiser that he appreciates the fact that they have such diverse palates, because this makes it easier to ensure that they are well fed, by a trusted family member, while he is away.  

By ‘blue tongues’, of course, he is referring to a type of skink.  They are a favored pet among reptile lovers because they are fairly easy to care for, they don’t get overly large, and tend to have more docile personalities than some of their reptile counterparts.  As mentioned above, their diet is relatively diverse.  They like fruits and vegetables, but will primarily feed on protein sources -- insects, worms, etc.  Some owners, like Chalmers, will also offer a dry cat food.  This species is also nice because they don’t require a great deal of space.  It is generally recommended that they be kept in an enclosure at least 3’ x 1.5’.  This is an easy size tank to come by, and it won’t take up a lot of space in a reptile room or in your home.

While blue tongue skinks are favored by experienced reptiles keepers and breeders, they can also be a great selection for beginners.

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Meet the Tuatara and the Zoo Trying to Save It

Reptile lovers will be happy to know that efforts have been launched by a New Zealand zoo to save the tuatara.  This lizard was aptly named.  “Tuatara” is a word native to Eastern Polynesia, from the Maori language.  When translated, it means “peaks on the back,” which paints a rather perfect picture of the little creature that can still be found running around in the wilds of New Zealand.  What makes this lizard so incredible is that it is the only surviving member of an animal order that dates back more than 200 million years.  All of the other species that fit within this order have since gone extinct.

Greenish-gray in color, these reptiles have been at the center of a program enacted by a team of zoologists.  The breed-and-release program was started in an effort to rebuild the dwindling tuatara population.  These attempts have been proving very fruitful, and the number of wild tuatara is growing.  Yet, it is a battle that goes on.  In the 13th century, a species of rat was imported by new settlers.  The rat, called the kiore or the polynesian rat, will generally max out at six inches in length.  It doesn’t seem as if such a small rodent could do much danger to a lizard species that can grow to nearly two feet in length, but that is exactly the concern.  The rats prey on the tuatara young, and the kiore population is not as well maintained as it should be because of a lack of natural predators.

This explains why so many were concerned when tuatara breed-and-release program was nearly cancelled.  It was found that several of the reptiles being reared at the Auckland Zoo were infected with a previously unknown fungus.  Though the fungus was unfamiliar, it was closely related to another known to kill snakes and bearded dragons.  The worry, of course, was that the zoo was unknowingly introducing a new fungus to the wild when releasing the reptiles.

As it turned out, though, the Auckland Zoo team had nothing to do with the development of the fungus.  Further investigation of wild members of the species, as well as the burrows known to be homes to tuatara were found to contain the fungus as well.  It is now believed that the lizard has long been carrying it.  Conservationists have agreed that the efforts to breed-and-release should continue. May the tuatara species prosper for many millions of years to come.

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Two Heads, Two Hearts, One Snake

Note: snake pictured is not the snake referenced in article.

After having seen a recent news article, a local teenager approached me with a question about snakes.  The article referred to a two-headed snake born in captivity.  With all of the questions regarding fake news in recent months, it makes sense that a person would not immediately believe that this could be a true story.

Can a snake have two heads?

The truth it that it really can (and does) happen.  It is a rare occurrence, but just as humans can be born as siamese twins, snakes can be born with two heads, two tails, or two of each.  This topic was raised in the news because it was discovered that a two-headed snake was born in captivity.  Even more surprising, however, was the fact that the snake had two hearts.  While two-headed snakes have been reported several times in the past, the majority have just the normal amount of organs within their bodies.  This captive bred reptile, though, has two hearts, as verified with an X-ray.

The story of this snake will likely soon be televised as well, because the reptile was taken to the famous Dr. K, who has her own show on the National Geographic Wild channel.  One of the vets working at the practice ordered the X-ray that revealed the additional organ.  A specialized ultrasound machine were also brought in so the vets could hear the hearts beating independently.

According to National Geographic, cameras were recording when the two-headed snake, called Medusa, was first fed.  There was some concern that eating would be a problem, but one head was said to consume the mouse without issue, while the secondary head looked on.  It wasn’t clear if the snake had one or two digestive systems, but vets did suggest that it may be necessary to feed both heads separately if that was the case.

Follow the link above to read the full story at National Geographic.