Reptile Salvation

I absolutely adore frogs especially the green tree frogs that live in our beautiful lush tropical garden in our home in Australia near Byron Bay.

Green Tree frogs are wonderfully curious and have individual personalities and antics. There are quite big ones and also tiny little ones that stick to the windows and look longingly to come inside. They are great for catching insects and have a great song particularly when it rains which it does often during the wet season.

A frog is a popular pet for many children, however I would prefer that they be left to enjoy their natural habitat particularly as many people do not know how to handle a frog properly. If you are going to handle a green tree frog you should only do so with wet hands as it is easy to burn their skin when handled by humans.

Frogs are adorable even from the tadpole stage and we have many tadpoles and young frogs living in one of the ponds in our backyard garden. Green Tree frog tadpoles are quite different looking to many other tadpoles and fortunately significantly different looking to the awful cane toad tadpole.

The cane toad was introduced to Australia during the 1930’s with the intention of combating the sugar cane beetle, however the introduced species did nothing to alleviate the beetle problem and became a prolific producer of it’s own species and began to destroy many of the indigenous wildlife of Australia.

Many people find it a bit difficult to identify the cane toad or to distinguish a cane toad from another toad or frog, however there are many pictures of frogs and toads available on the internet and in books so once you have a bit of practice it is quite easy.

Another outstanding frog is the Bullfrog. Renowned for its bellowing song and it’s passion for living in drain pipes you don’t often see the bull frog, however if you are sharing your environment with a bull frog or two you will certainly here them as they call out in very loud song and communicate with each other. Like many other frogs they can be particularly active during rain or wet seasons.

Frogs are beautiful creatures to enjoy so if you have a garden and the right climate make sure you have a pond or water feature with the right conditions and you will attract the local frogs in your area and like with our pond you can develop a natural breeding ground and they will provide you with great music, fun, entertainment and bug catching.

A final word of advice to any new frog enthusiasts, please ensure that if you are not familiar with the frogs that are indigenous to your area get yourself a good frog identification book and check on the internet to make sure you know how to create the right environment for your new amphibian friends.

By: John Thomson

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You can find all sorts of beauties and great things in Australia. Certainly, the island continent is a unique land of natural wonders, wide open spaces, deserts, woodlands, grasslands, mountains, beaches, and oceans. It is the marvelous country of numerous action packed wonderful outdoors sites, and fantastic cities, such as cities, such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, and Canberra.

Australia is a vast country comprised of the continental mainland and the major island of Tasmania and a number of other islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans in the southern hemisphere. Surely, you can find a one C of things to see & do in Australia, but here are top 10 things that that you just can’t ignore.

Sydney is one of the most beautiful cities of the world. Located on the south-east coast of Australia, the Harbor City certainly is globally influential in the fields of culture, art, fashion, cuisine and design. The city is home to the Australia’s two most iconic structures Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. You can enjoy the vibrant life of the dynamic city.

Sydney Opera House, designed by Jørn Utzon, a Danish architect, is one of the wonders of the modern world. Situated on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, the opera house is the most iconic building of Australia. It is the most famous performing arts venues in the world. You can enjoy the world famous theatrical, musical, and dance performances at this World Heritage Site.

Australian Museum, originally known as the Colonial Museum or Sydney Museum, is located in College Street, Sydney. Famous in the fields of natural history and anthropology, it is one of the oldest museums in Australia. You can enjoy witnessing wondrous collections of vertebrate & invertebrate zoology, mineralogy, palaeontology, and anthropology, and exhibitions at the museum.

Melbourne is undoubtedly the culinary, sporting and cultural capital of Australia. Often dubbed as one of the most cultured cities of Australia, Melbourne is widely known for its Victorian-era architecture, many cultural institutions such as museums, galleries and theaters, and large parks and gardens. You can enjoy every bit of Melbourne.

Royal Botanic Gardens, located near the centre of Melbourne, Victoria, are the finest in Australia and the best in the world. On the south bank of the Yarra River, the Royal Botanic Gardens are 354,000 square metres (35 hectares or 87 acres) of beautifully landscaped gardens. You can see a wide range of flora and enjoy the refreshing scenic beauty of the gardens.

Great Barrier Reef, located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland in northeast Australia, is a “must visit” site in Australia. It is often dubbed as one of natural wonders of the world. It was declared as a World Heritage Site in 1981. It is very popular tourist destination. You can enjoy scuba diving and boating in the warm clear waters of the reef.

Gold Coast is a wonderful coastal city in the southeast corner of the state of Queensland. It is often dubbed as Surfers Paradise. The city is famous for its sunny subtropical climate, popular surfing beaches, grand waterway & canal systems, beautiful skyline & skyscrapers, active nightlife, and countless tourist attractions. You can enjoy the beaches, lovely airs, and vibrant nightlife of the city.

Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, is a very popular destination. You can enjoy shopping at Queen Street Mall in central business district (CBD); enjoy eating & walking at restaurants, cafes, & boardwalks in South Bank; enjoy vibrant nightlife in Fortitude Valley; enjoy shopping & eating at artsy shops and cafes in West End; enjoy dinning at trendy dining places in New Farm; and cruising on the Brisbane River at Brett’s Wharf.

Belair National Park is located 13 km south of Adelaide in South Australia. The park is known for many of its areas of interest, which include Old Government House, the park Nursery, Playford Lake, and the Adventure Playground. You can enjoy playing tennis, walking, biking, or horse riding at numerous tennis courts, ovals, and walking, bike and horse-riding trails in the park.

Daintree National Park, in Far North Queensland, is a popular tourist destination. Founded in 1988, the park consists of two sections, with a settled agricultural area that includes the towns of Daintree Village and Mossman. Home to numerous with tropical birds, butterflies, reptiles and countless species of wildlife, Daintree Village is a nature-lover’s paradise.

By: James Burrows

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A veterinarian (from Latin veterinae, “draught animals”) is an animal doctor, a practitioner of veterinary medicine. Although veterinarians hold doctoral degrees in veterinary medicine, not all veterinarians enter clinical practice. Those that work in clinical settings practice medicine in specific fields, such as companion animal or “pet” medicine, reptile medicine, ratite medicine, livestock medicine, equine medicine (e.g. sports, race track, show, rodeo), or laboratory animal medicine. Other veterinarians research areas of human medicine, veterinary medicine, and pharmacology. Research veterinarians were the first to isolate oncoviruses, Salmonella species, Brucella species, and various other pathogenic agents. They also helped conquer malaria and yellow fever; solved the mystery of botulism; produced an anticoagulant used to treat human heart disease; and developed surgical techniques for humans, such as hip-joint replacement, and limb and organ transplants.

Like all physicians, veterinarians must make serious ethical decisions about their patients’ care. There is ongoing debate over the ethics of performing certain controversial procedures, like declawing cats and docking tails, cropping ears, and debarking dogs. In some countries, these procedures are illegal, and therefore their practice is contentious. The Veterinarian’s Oath was adopted by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s House of Delegates July 1969, and amended by the AVMA Executive Board, November 1999. It goes as follows:

“Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.

I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.”

Some veterinarians work in a field called regulatory medicine — ensuring the nation’s food safety by working with the USDA FSIS, or work by protecting us from imported exotic animal diseases by working for the USDA APHIS. The emerging field of conservation medicine involves veterinarians even more directly with human health care, providing a multidisciplinary approach to medical research that also involves environmental scientists.

More than 3,800 veterinarians in the USA currently work at veterinary schools where they teach student vets what they need to know to graduate — teaching is another career path for a veterinarian.

Veterinary school is a tertiary educational institution, or part of such an institution, which is involved in the education of future veterinary practitioners (veterinarians). The entry criteria, structure, teaching methodology and nature of veterinary programs offered at veterinary schools vary considerably around the world. In the U.S., a doctorate of veterinary medicine degree (D.V.M.) (Or in the Veterinary Medical School at the University of Pennsylvania, a degree of veterinary medical doctor (V.M.D.) is awarded) is a four-year program. The program generally consists of 21D2 to 3 years of mostly traditional classroom coursework followed by the clinical rotations. Currently, unlike human medical school, a subsequent internship and/or residency are not required, but are optional to those who choose to seek further education and possible accreditation. Unsurprisingly, the number of veterinarians pursuing internships and/or residencies will continue to increase as the understanding of veterinary medicine continues to grow greater. A good veterinarian enjoys working with animals and their owners. Admission into veterinary medical school is so competitive that in the United States it is far easier to gain acceptance into either a medical school or a top Law School than to meet the GPA requirements for most veterinary schools. This situation occurs mostly because there are far fewer schools, allowing the schools to be much more selective. According to the US Department of Labor, only 1 in 3 applicants were accepted into a veterinary program in 2002. Prerequisites for admission include the undergraduate studies listed under veterinary medicine and extensive veterinary experience (typically about 500 or more hours) in private practice or other veterinary environment. The average veterinary medical student has an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 and a GRE score of approximately 1800. US graduates are awarded either a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or the less common Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD) degree, depending upon the traditions of the veterinary school.

Public health medicine is another option for veterinarians. Veterinarians in government and private laboratories provide diagnostic and testing services. Some veterinarians serve as state epidemiologists, directors of environmental health, and directors of state or city public health departments. Veterinarians are also employed by the US Agriculture Research Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency, National Library of Medicine, and National Institutes of Health. The military also employs veterinarians in a number of capacities — caring for pets on military bases, caring for military working animals, and controlling various arthropod-borne diseases or other such things.

Veterinary medicine is the application of medical, diagnostic, and therapeutic principles to companion, domestic, exotic, wildlife, and production animals. Veterinary Science is concerned with the scientific basis of animal production, health and disease. It requires the acquisition and application of scientific knowledge in several disciplines and uses technical skills towards the solution of animal production, health, management and welfare problems.

Veterinary medicine is informally as old as the human/animal bond but in recent years has expanded exponentially because of the availability of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic techniques for most species. Animals nowadays often receive advanced medical, dental, and surgical care including insulin injections, root canals, hip replacements, cataract extractions, and pacemakers.

Veterinarians assist in ensuring the quality, quantity, and security of food supplies by working to maintain the health of livestock and inspecting the meat itself. Veterinary scientists are very important in chemical, biological, and pharmacological research.

In many countries, equine veterinary medicine is also a specialized field. Clinical work with horses involves mainly locomotor and orthopaedic problems, digestive tract conditions (including equine colic, which is a major cause of death among domesticated horses), and respiratory tract infections and disorders.

As in the human medical field, veterinary medicine (in practice) requires a diverse group of individuals to meet the need of patients. In addition to veterinarians, many veterinary hospitals utilize a team of veterinary nurses and veterinary assistants to completely care for healing, critical and well animals. Veterinary nurses are generally registered as “veterinary technicians” in most states and are legally qualified to assist veterinarians in many medical procedures. Veterinary assistants, who are not licensed by most states, but can be well-trained at facilities such as The School for Veterinary Assistants, are also becoming increasingly in-demand in the veterinary industry due to a wide range of treatments and services being offered to meet the higher expectations of pet owners in the United States.

By: Josh Stone

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This article illustrates the amazing diversity found within the animal kingdom. Below, I have compiled what I feel are some of the most interesting facts about reptiles and their behavior.

Interesting Reptile Facts

There are more than 8,000 species of reptiles on the planet, and the live on every continent except Antarctica (where it is too cold). Most kinds of reptiles do not tolerate the cold very well. But the Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) is sometimes found swimming under the ice in the Great Lakes region of the United States. Reptiles are among the longest-lived species on the planet. For example, large tortoises such as the Aldabra tortoise can live for more than 150 years. Alligators can live nearly 70 years. Ball pythons, a popular type of pet snake, can live up to 40 years (consider that before getting one as a pet). Most of the world’s snakes (nearly two-thirds) are non-venomous. Only about 500 snake species are venomous, and of those only 30 – 40 are considered harmful to humans. In other words, less than 2 percent of all snakes are considered harmful to humans. It is a fact that more Americans die each year from bee stings than from snake bites. With regard to reptile fact #4 above, the opposite is true in Australia. There are actually more venomous snakes in Australia than non-venomous snakes. The inland taipan is one of the most popular of these venomous Australian snakes. Australia is the only continent where venomous snakes outnumber non-venomous snakes. Certain types of snakes can go months without eating. This is especially true of the big constrictors, such as the Anaconda and the reticulated python. Snakes eat large meals (relative to their body size), and they have much slower metabolisms than we humans have. This partly explains how they can go so long between meals. “Cold-blooded” is not the best way to describe reptiles. Their blood is not necessarily cold by itself. But they are ectothermic, which means they get their body heat from external sources. Reptiles cannot regulate their body temperature internally as humans do. Snakes and lizards flick their tongues in the air to capture scent particles. They don’t smell through their noses like you and I. Instead, the use their tongues to collect scent particles and then pass the particles over something called a Jacobson’s organ to decipher the air around them. This is partly how reptiles hunt for food. True to its name, the African egg-eating snake (of the genus Dasypeltis) prefers to dine on the eggs of other animals. It will swallow the egg whole, and then use tiny “spikes” extending internally from its spine to ***** the egg open and swallow the nutritious contents. Lastly, it will regurgitate the unneeded egg shell in a neatly folded piece.

If you enjoyed this article and would like to learn more about this subject, be sure to check out the informational resources listed below.

By: Brandon R. Cornett

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Appeared in ‘Reptile Care’ Volume 3, Issue 3

The northern territory is well known for being ‘the real bush’. It has a population of less than 200’000 people, over 90% of which live in Government areas. These government areas only cover 5% of the Northern Territory, which leaves over 1.2 million square kilometres virtually deserted. This area is nearly five times the size of the UK! As you can now imagine, this is an incredibly large and diverse landscape! There are approximately 300 species of reptile, and 50 species of amphibian in the Northern Territory. Slightly more diverse one might say, than the UK’s species count of only 6 reptiles and 6 amphibians!

I spent the entire year of 2005 travelling around Australia. I went to every State, every major city, drove across the longest straight road in the world, twice, and travelled the complete circumference of this beautiful country. But the Northern Territory was in my books, by far the most fantastic place I have ever been. I spent 3 months in Darwin, and several more weeks travelling around the NT, going as far south as Alice Springs and Ayers Rock (Uluru in Aboriginal terms). I knew the place was for me when, only a few days after I drove through, I saw my first wild Black Headed Python (Aspidites melanocephalus) crossing the road. What a shock! This was the first snake I had seen in Australia and I had already driven thousands of kilometres. I nearly ran it over, but swerved suddenly, missing it by millimetres! I turned around and went back, moving it off the road before the 50 metre oncoming road train ploughed straight through us all! It was a beautiful, 2 metre female in perfect condition. It was different seeing such an animal in the wild, after seeing many of them in friends’ collections, it did not compare to the wonderful feeling of seeing her out in the bush and lending her a helping hand getting across the road. This was definitely for me! I knew there was plenty more where she came from, and I would definitely find them!

During my time in the Northern Territory, I spent 3 months working at ‘Crocodylus Park’. A crocodile research and education centre, home to approximately 8’000 saltwater crocodiles and a number of other crocodilian and animal species. This was certainly an experience of a lifetime. Not only to work with such a large number of large crocodiles, but also to meet a whole group of brilliant ozzies! Myself and my girlfriend Eirlys stayed with an Australian couple; Cade & Holly. Cade knew the area and had been working at the park for a couple of years. He told me of a place he goes to on a regular occasion. He said to me; “We drive out after the sun sets, about 45 minutes out of town and just cruise for snakes.” Well, that just sounded too easy for me, but I definitely wanted to give it a go!

Only a few days later, Cade had organised a few of his mates to join us on a night out ‘herping’. We set off in convoy, Cade and 3 others in his car, closely followed by Maddy’s car with me in the back and another couple of people! 45 Minutes later and we arrive at Fogg Dam. This place wasn’t what I expected, it didn’t look so amazing. We started driving very slowly along this road, which soon turned quite narrow, with a 2 metre drop off either side into dense, wet marshland. This was however, the dry season. In the wet season this road is not even visible, being completely submerged in water. Only a few seconds after driving along, comes our first catch of the night; a Yellow-Bellied Water Python (Liasis mackloti)! This was very closely followed by another, then another, then another. Within half an hour we had picked 14 water pythons off the road, even catching 2 or 3 at a time! Of course, all of these were released straight back into the marshes. I certainly had second thoughts about this place, it was amazing!

After our successful water python round-up, we took the time to sit by the road and see what we could spot. Out came our big torches, shining into the marsh either side of the road. The eyes of at least 20 crocodiles shone back at us. Most were the freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni), but some eyes were larger and further apart, these were the bigger, saltwater or ‘estuarine’ crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus). I had seen this on TV many times, but it was quite different to see this naturally. I must admit, even working with crocodiles all day; knowing that we were surrounded by hundreds of them was certainly a scary thought! The night was topped off by a find I was desperate for, a Northern Death Adder (Acanthophis praelongus)! An absolutely beautiful one too, camouflaged so well into the road we nearly turned it into another piece of ‘road-kill’. This was a successful night!

I later found out, ‘Fogg Dam’ has the largest concentration of predatory animals in the world! The water pythons on their own, represent the largest density of predatory species in such a concentrated area. Their prey is the dusky rat, which are said to be in numbers of 15’000 per square kilometre. From these numbers of prey, it is easy to understand their success.

Darwin is a small capital city, with just over 100’000 people, over half the population of the entire Northern Territory. You only have to drive an hour out of the city centre to reach Litchfield National Park; a 1’500 square kilometre oasis of Northern Territory habitat, including one of the most famous termite mound spectacles in the world, a number of amazing water falls, rock formations and forested areas. A couple of hours due East is the even larger Kakadu National Park, covering nearly 20’000 square kilometres of land, nearly the same size as Ireland! This is one of the most famous National Parks in the world and it certainly should be. Home to thousands of species of flora & fauna.

It was nice to get out to Litchfield National Park on weekends, being only a short drive away. I went several times during my stay in the NT. It has an abundance of wildlife visible during the day, but at night it really comes alive! Litchfield is famous for it’s Magnetic Termite Mounds, so called because they are all north – south facing. The structures are approximately 3metres tall and built so that the narrowest edge is facing the extremely intense sun for the midday heat. With so many termites, come so many predators. Many species of skinks and other small lizards are common here. The Northern Territory is home to approximately 100 species of skink, many rely on small insects such as termites. With so many small lizards, come many reptiles that feed upon these lizards, including the Burtons Legless Lizard (Lialis burtonis). This is one of the larger species of legless lizard, and has the unusual, snake-like characteristic of being able to un-hinge it’s jaw to allow an easy passage for their larger food items. These are very common in Litchfield, and I was fortunate enough to see many. All of which varied in colour.

Orange-naped snakes (Furina ornata) are plentiful in the Northern Territory, although they are not seen nearly as often as other species. I was lucky enough to spot this guy slithering across the road one night. My tour guide for the night was Maddy, one of Cade’s mates. He had been herping for years around the Territory, and was familiar with the different species of reptiles you might find on the different nights, at certain times of the year. He thought I must be a good luck charm, as this was the first Orange Naped Snake he had ever caught here!

I have dealt with hundreds of species of snake in the last few years, but I really wanted to get a taste for the ‘lethal’ stuff. The Northern Territory was certainly the place to do it; and at this point I had already encountered a Death Adder in the wild. That though, wasn’t enough. The Coastal Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) was a rare sight and although I hoped to catch a glimpse of one, the opportunity never came. I was more fortunate however with the Brown Snakes! I saw 2 Western Brown snakes (Pseudonaja nuchalis) within a few kilometres of each other in Litchfield National Park. Unfortunately though, my one and only sight of a wild King Brown (Pseudonaja australis), was a juvenile victim of a car tyre. It had only just happened, we had passed the same spot just half an hour earlier, yet on our way back through, the snake had appeared, dead.

A number of reptile and insect species can be found in and around the Darwin area. While living in Karama, we had a number of visitors to our backyard. Green Tree Snakes (Dendralaphis punctulatus), Two-Lined Dragons (Diporiphora bilineata), Striped Tree Dragons (Amphibolorus temporalis), Australian House Gecko’s (Gehyra australis), Asian House Gecko’s (Hemidactylus frenatus), Garden Skinks (Carlia gracilis and Carlia munda)and Mertens’ Water Monitor’s (Varanus mertensi). Huntsman and Redback spiders are also common in households and gardens.

By: Chris M Jones

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What can and can’t be consumed in today’s society is a very interesting field of discussion. Many different cultures eat all kinds of native flora and fauna which seem weird or barbaric or just plain gross in the perception of other cultures. From the eastern cat and dog industries, in which most westerners are completely torn between disgust and confusion for the practice to the lesser known snake or insect eating variety.

Eating the flesh of cows, chickens, pigs, and several other mainstream mean/poultry sources are some of the primary dietary intake for western societies. In India for example consumption of cows and pigs is considered very taboo due to India’s belief that they are sacred animals. While many cultures eat/and don’t eat various animals for survival, religious, ceremonial and various other reasons, who and why would a western country partake in what many consider taboo of eating an unconventional animal?

Many countries have animals on there coat of arms but no country in the world except one actually considers theirs food. Australia is that country, the Australian coat of arms consists of two animals both native to their soil. One is the koala and the other is a kangaroo, whilst the koala is protected by law as an endangered species due to the loss of habitat, the kangaroo is plentiful throughout Australia. There are several species of kangaroo and every so often they border on pest status as their population fluctuates up and down, occasionally calling for state or nationally sanctioned culling.

It could be the pest like nature and the similarity between kangaroo meat and beef that has caused Australia to be the only country in the world that eats its national emblem, but is that a taboo or is it more like a local delicacy that only borders on exotic and not in the realms of taboo. Whatever the exact motivations behind the production of kangaroo meat, if you ever happen to find yourself in Australia it is definitely worth it to experience the taste of a grilled national emblem!

By: Jake Stevenson

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Family: Cucurbitaceae

Genus: Trichosanthes

Species: cucumerina

Synonyms: Trichosanthes anguina

Common names: Snake Gourd, Snakegourd, Pointed Gourd, Serpent Gourd, Chinese Cucumber, Gualou

General Description: Snake Gourd is an annual climber with lobed, rich green leaves. It has white flowers that bloom in the summer followed by white striped slender fruit that turns orange when ripe. The unique fruit can be up to six feet in length. The lacy white flowers bloom only after dark. The genus Thichosanthes comes from the Greek and means “hair flower”, which describes the fragrant and delicately fringed white petals. This species is commonly grown for its use as a vegetable or use as a medicine.

Location: This tropical vine is native to southeastern Asia and Australia but is currently cultivated throughout the world.

Uses: Many parts of this plant are used including the fruit, seed and roots. The fruit is considered to be anthelmintic, emetic, and purgative. The seed are cooling. There are also a number of medicinal uses for Snake Gourd including use as an aphrodisiac, a laxative, and to treat worms. It can be used ot treat ailments such as wasting, thirst and fever. Another interesting use for Snake Gourd is the fruit can be used as a soap substitute.

Snake Gourd, which is part of the pumpkin family, is chemically very diverse. Peptides in the plant are used as an abortifacient in China. Alkaloids have also been reported in the family which, however, is noted for a class of compounds called the cucurbitacins. Saponins, sterols, and phenolics are also known.

This tropical plant is commonly eaten in Indian and other southeastern Asian dishes. It is a common ingredient in many curries.

Disclaimer: The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Any reference to medicinal use is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.

By: Tony Mandarich

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General Information & Housing

Water pythons are a very hardy snake and take readily to captivity. They are usually eager feeders and will take to defrost rodents with little problem. Some wild caught or newly hatched specimens may need a little enticement with bird or reptile scenting methods, but this is not often an issue.

When purchasing a water python, expect the biggest. I have caught a wild specimen approximately 3 metres in length, far bigger than the average. Water pythons are not a ‘lazy’ python. They will often travel a fair distance during a nights hunt, and have a higher metabolism than many other pythons. I recommend a vivarium L200cm x W60cm x H60cm for a large, 3m adult. A smaller 2m adult should have a minimum L120cm x W60cm x H60cm vivarium.

Snake enclosures can be made from a number of materials. Most commonly used is a melamine coated wood which covers all sides except the front, which has glass sliding doors. Aquariums can also be used for juvenile water pythons, although a specialist lid should be bought or made rather than the original aquarium lid. It is essential when thinking about what type of enclosure you use, you think about these 6 ‘SSSHHH’ factors:

1) Safety – Can the snake or owner injure itself from the enclosure or any appliances held within?

2) Secure – Can the snake escape through any small hole or cavity?

3) Size – Will the enclosure be appropriately sized?

4) Heating – Is the enclosure able to regulate the temperature properly?

5) Humidity – Will the enclosure last well in humid conditions? Is there enough ventilation for the moisture to escape?

6) Hygienic – Will the enclosure build up a lot of bacteria in small cavities? Is it easy to clean?

By following the steps above, you can have a suitable enclosure made from a variety of materials.

Décor

Décor in your tank serves two purposes. First being extra cover for your snake and second, allowing for a more natural and pleasing appearance. When choosing décor, think about the safety of the snake. Make sure that whatever you decide to use, it is securely fixed and that no rocks, wood or anything heavy can fall and possibly injure, or even kill the snake. You must also make sure that everything used is parasite free. If anything has been picked up from outside, or has originally come from outside, such as cork bark, you should either boil it, or place the item in the oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 30 minutes. Freezing works for some parasites, however others have been known to survive months in freezing conditions. Some parasites found in English conditions last winters in minus temperatures, so it is not entirely effective.

Once all your décor is parasite free, it is then safe to place inside your enclosure. As a general rule, if you can put pressure on an item to knock it down, a water python is certainly capable of doing so. When positioning rocks or heavy objects, make sure they are completely secure. If it is still uneasy, ***** them or use superglue to fix them securely. If it is not possible, the rule is simple: Do not place the item in the vivarium!

If you decide to go for an extra large enclosure, you must provide plenty of cover and hiding areas. A hiding place can be anything from a large tupperware box with a hole cut out to a naturalistic piece of cork bark. There are many kinds of fake plants and décor you can use which is both safe for the animal and pleasing to the eye. One thing you must consider when thinking about the size of the vivarium, is the bigger you go, the more hiding areas you must provide. I recommend at least one hiding place per 60cm in length of the enclosure.

NOTE: Never use sticky tape in an enclosure; this is an accident waiting to happen. Removing sticky tape from any snake is no easy task!

Substrate

Substrate is the medium which covers the floor of your enclosure. It really is a choice that you have to make as the owner of your snake. All options have their advantages and disadvantages. Explained below are the choices available to you in the order which I feel is best.

1) Newspaper – This is disposable, it can be replaced easily and cheaply. It is the safest substrate and is virtually impossible for the substrate to be ingested by the snake. One disadvantage is the ink. If the newspaper becomes wet, the ink can be rubbed off onto the belly of the snake. This does not seem to cause the snake any harm, but should be washed off the snake if you see it. If the snake soils, it will mean a complete replacement of the substrate as soon as possible.

2) Aspen – This is my favourite substrate, it is cheap, very easy for the snake to burrow in, lightweight and dirt free. Like any substrate, I suggest if you spot ***** you take it out as soon as possible to minimize the risk of spreading diseases and parasites. When it comes to feeding your snake, aspen can stick to a wet rodent very easily. You must make sure the rodent is completely dry, and as a safety measure place it on a flat surface such as a rock. This will minimize the risk of ingesting aspen when feeding. Aspen however, when ingested can generally be passed through the snake quite comfortably. Aspen can also be quite dusty; it is suggested that you shake it outside to release as much dust as possible before placing into the enclosure. Although this is a very dry substrate, it can be dampened down regularly to raise humidity levels.

3) Bark chips – This is more for tropical species that need to be kept slightly humid. Bark chips hold in the moisture, and are totally naturalistic. It must be kept as clean as possible, if you spot feces, you should take it out as soon as possible. There are different grades of bark chips, I suggest you go as coarse as possible, to minimize the risk of swallowing, resulting in impaction of the gut.

4) Wood chips – When you use woodchips, be careful what species of tree it is from. It must NOT be cedar as when this is heated up, it releases toxic fumes. After a short while wood chips will compact, which means it will become harder for the snake to burrow. Another downside is the risk of ingesting the woodchips while swallowing a food item, this is very easy to do and can cause impaction which will seriously damage the health of your snake.

Heating & Lighting

Water Pythons require a thermal gradient, meaning they must be allowed to move around the enclosure to find their required temperature. The hot end of the enclosure should be 88-92ºF while the cool end should be approximately 80-84ºF. During the night, the temperature should drop to a more constant overall temperature of 80-84º

In my opinion, the ideal way of heating a large snakes enclosure is to use a large 250W Ceramic Heater with a reflector and safety grid so the snake cannot touch it. Ceramic heaters do not give off light and therefore in a vivarium you will need a form of lighting as well. A ceramic heater should be used in conjunction with a thermostat, which will stop the power reaching the heater as soon as the temperature goes above the setting, and turn back on as soon as it is too cool.

Power Plates, spot bulbs and heat mats are also ways of heating a vivarium. These all have their advantages and disadvantages, but in my opinion, none quite weigh out to be as good as ceramic heaters for large enclosures. Heat mats are not recommended at all for large snakes. If they are used, they should not be accessible to it.

As water pythons are nocturnal, they venture out when their predators are sleeping, and their prey is awake. This is not to say though, that they never see the sun, or any form of lighting for that matter. Having artificial light in a vivarium is aesthetically pleasing to the owner, and is a good addition to a snake’s enclosure. They will use this as a photo-period, and their regular time clock will generally adjust to the settings on which you have your light set to. They do not require any form of special lighting, such as a D3 Ultra-Violet light commonly used for diurnal species. An Arcadia Natural Sunlight Fluorescent Lamp is a good form of lighting. This comes in lengths of 12” up to 48” and I suggest you use the largest size able to fit inside your vivarium.

Humidity & Water

Australian Water Pythons are exposed to a high humidity for much of the year, and exposed to a far reduced humidity level during the dry season. This should be replicated in captivity to aid to the general health and well-being of your snake. If you are looking to breed your water python, doing this will greater your chances of success. An 80-90% humidity range from November through to April and 30-50% for the rest of the year will be a suitable humidity gradient.

During the wet season, water pythons really live up to their name and often become almost fully aquatic. A large water bowl where the python can fully submerge is a great additive. Many keepers choose not to provide this as they can be messy and hard to clean. Although this is not a necessity, providing a more natural habitat will always benefit the snake.

Feeding

Hatchlings should be offered fuzzy mice or rat pups, and as they grow the mice or rats should become larger. An adult water python should be fed on large rats. One or two of these every couple of weeks is ample. Hatchlings should be fed on a regular basis, every 5-7 days is ideal. Their metabolic rate is very high and as they are growing, they need a lot more food to keep them going. The only exception when adult females should be fed more is when they need fattening up for breeding, or just after they have laid eggs. A gravid female should be fed more often for several weeks after she has laid her eggs. Snakes have the capability of building up a huge fat reserve, and become obese very easily. Taking the weight off however, is a much more difficult task. Be sure not to overfeed your snake, obese snakes will not live nearly the length as a healthy snake would due to liver and kidney problems. If you are unsure about your snake’s weight, check with a reptile veterinarian.

For more reptile advice and information, please visit www.petclubuk.com

By: Chris M Jones

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Frogs are seen by some scientists as a barometer on the environment. When their populations are decreasing, there is concern that the environment is under stress, as it is believed that frogs require a clean environment in which to live.

Here are a compilation of interesting facts about frogs from all over the world, collected from many different sources.

1. There are over 4000 species of frogs in the world, though only 88 species in the US and Canada. They are all over the world, except for Antarctica and Iceland.

2. Frogs have smooth skin, and long legs to help them leap. Toads have drier warty skin and short legs, and they move by crawling or hopping rather than by leaping. Technically, though, toads are just a type of frog, but a species that man is trying to eradicate in Australia.

3. The smallest frog in the world is from Cuba, and is only 1/2″ (or 12 mm) long. The largest frog in the world is from West Africa and is about 12 inches (or 300mm) long.

4. Most frogs lay their eggs in water or moist places (as do toads). The red-eyed tree frog from Central America lays its eggs on leaves that are over the water. When the eggs hatch, the tadpoles fall into the water below.

5. Some frogs lay as many as 25,000 eggs while others may lay as few as 4. The color of eggs vary.

6. Because frogs have eyes and nostrils that are on the tops of their heads, they can see and breathe while the rest of the body is under water. Adult frogs breathe with lungs, but also absorb oxygen through their skin.

7. Tadpoles breathe through gills while adult frogs breath through crude lungs and also absorb oxygen through their skin.

8. Some types of frogs have a round iris in their eyes, but some have horizontal slits, some have vertical slits, and some are even triangular or heart-shaped.

9. Frogs do not drink water but absorb it through their skin.

10. Frogs come in all colors. Green tree frogs are found in Asia. Most frogs can change their color somewhat to match their surroundings.

11. Native American and Australian aborigines believed frogs brought rain.

12. In Japan frogs are symbols of good luck.

13. In India frogs personified thunder.

14. In China it was not the Man in the Moon but the Frog in the Moon. In a lunar eclipse the frog swallowed the moon!

15. In ancient Egypt, frogs were symbols of resurrection and were even mummified with the dead.

Frogs are amazing animals, in that they start as eggs, become tadpoles and later grown frogs. They are revered in some cultures and replicas are collected by people all over the world.

By: Jack Hobson

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If you’re living in the country or even in the city, the potential to be bitten by spiders or snakes are relatively high. One of the most common spiders, the House Spider has poisonous venom, can be fatal to certain people who are sensitive to those toxins. Hundreds of people are admitted to emergency room for spider or snake bites. Snakes are also known to be found in suburban areas of America and Australia. The potential to be bitten is low if you are bitten by snake, but there is always a chance that it can happen to you.

If you are bitten by a spider or a snake, there are 7 easy tips to remember:

1. Check for vital signs. Make sure the person is breathing and has a heartbeat. If not, contact the emergency services as soon as possible and follow ABC (air, breath, circulation) first aid rules. You may need to perform CPR if serious

2. Keep the person calm and still. If the person is moving and thrashing around, this may increase the spread of poison to their body.

3. Bandage the limb or affected area tightly from one extremity of the affected limb to the other. Also make sure to immobilize the limb with a splint. That is, you may need to splint the limb with a stick or strong branch to stop the limb from moving. Once done so, put the bitten limb lower than the heard and head. This is done to stop the poison from spreading any further to the vital areas.

4. Don’t try to **** the venom out. You can spread the venom to your mouth which can cause paralysis to your breathing..

5. Do not wash the skin, as the venom on the skin can be used to identify the anti-venom. It can also assist to determine the best possible management for the bite.

6. Contact an emergency service as soon as possible.

7. If possible, try to capture or/and kill the animal that has bitten you. This will help with the treatment of your bite. If you cannot, make sure you can describe what bit you.

By: Tito King

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