Exotics Keeper Magazine July 2021

www.exoticskeeper.com • july 2021 • £2.99

RED-EYED TREE FROGS

We take a closer look at what is possibly the most iconic, and beautiful, frog on the planet.

SEA TURTLES ON THE EDGE

They’ve been on our planet since the dinosaurs, but sea turtles are now on the brink of extinction.

KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES

Rob Pilley still describes himself as a “big kid” when it comes to reptiles. He discusses the joys of keeping animals outdoors.

MORELIA THAN MEETS THE EYE Each subspecies of the Pythonidae family contrasts each other so greatly. Is the name ‘carpet python’ just a blanket term?

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Every effort is made to ensure the material published in EK Magazine is reliable and accurate. However, the publisher can accept no responsibility for the claims made by advertisers, manufacturers or contributors. Readers are advised to check any claims themselves before acting on this advice. Copyright belongs to the publishers and no part of the magazine can be reproduced without written permission.

Front cover: Red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas) Right: Jungle carpet python (Morelia spilota cheynei)

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elcome to the July issue of Exotics Keeper Magazine.

We’re halfway through the year and at the time of writing, the UK is preparing to lift the final COVID-19 restrictions. We’ve already seen many zoos bounce back and have had some truly touching emails from zoos we supported through the magazine earlier in the year. We always love to hear from you so never hesitate to get in touch.

In this month’s issue of Exotics Keeper Magazine we speak to Rob Pilley, Zoologist and BBC Film maker about keeping reptiles in the most organic way possible; outside. Hannah Rudd joins us once again for a brilliant feature on sea turtle conservation. We break down some of the carpet python species available in the trade and Cyril Geoffrey at Zoo Med gives us a ‘behind the scenes’ look at the company.

Whether you’re already nine issues into your subscription, or you’re trying Exotics Keeper

for the first time, thank you.

We have lots of exciting things planned for the second half of 2021 and look forward to bringing plenty of exclusives in the world of herpetology over the coming months.

Thank you, Craig Thornton

02 06 14 17 24 32 02 EXOTICS NEWS

The latest from the world of exotic pet keeping.

IN 17 RED-EYED TREE FROGS 32 KIDS GLASS HOUSES We take a closer look at what is possibly the most iconic, and beautiful, frog on the planet.

MORELIA 06 MUCH THAN MEETS THE EYE 22 ANIMAL FACTS Is the name ‘carpet python’ just a blanket term?

14 SPECIES SPOTLIGHT 24 Focus on the wonderful world of exotic pets. This month it’s the Green Aracari (Pteroglossus viridis).

Did you know...?

MARINE REPTILES ON THE EDGE

They’ve been on our planet since the dinosaurs, but sea turtles are now on the brink of extinction.

The Great Outdoors with Rob Pilley, who still describes himself as a “big kid” when it comes to reptiles.

42 EXPERT OPINION

We discuss temperature gradients with Matt Rendle.

Exotics News

EXOTICS NEWS The latest from the world of exotic pet keeping

Zoo Update

Private Reptile-Keeper Breeds Caiman: Keeper Jordan Woodhead from Scarborough successfully hatched two spectacled caimans at home, adding to his collection of more than 50 species of reptile – six of them are crocodilian species.

As well as looking after his own reptiles Jordan is an Aquarist at Scarborough Sealife Centre, where he has worked for six years. He was granted his dangerous wild animal licence when he turned 18, and his aim is to expand and build a “reptile zoo”. He said “I am currently going through the process to attain a full zoo licence. I have managed to acquire a small piece of land and have started building enclosures.

Covid delayed my plans slightly, but I’m still working away every day to get the zoo built. I’m also very fortunate that I have a growing team of volunteers who dedicate their time to looking after the animals and who are helping to build the zoo.”

Jordan’s Spectacled Caiman

Most Vulnerable US Reptile

Conservation

Last Saint Lucia Parrot at Jersey Zoo. The last Saint Lucia parrot at the zoo has died aged 45. The male bird, called “Gabriel”, arrived as a chick in March 1976 as part of an international breeding programme to help save this rare parrot. In 1975 there were estimated to be only 100 birds left in the wild.

Jersey Zoo took on nine birds to start captive-breeding and the first chick was hand-reared at Jersey Zoo in 1983. In 1989 a captivebred pair were sent from Jersey back to Saint Lucia. By 2009 it was estimated that the wild population had grown to between 1,750 and 2,250 birds. Gabriel had sired eight chicks in his time at Jersey, greatly contributing to the conservation of this rare bird.

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©Jersey Zoo

The tiny Florida reef gecko (Sphaerodactylus notatus notatus) is regarded as the most vulnerable reptile to climatic change, habitat destruction and rising sea levels in America according to biologists at the University of Miami. It is believed to be a sub-species of the very similar brown-speckled sphaero (S.notatus) a member of the dwarf gecko family found in the Bahamas, Cuba and the southernmost part of Florida, including Miami and the Florida Keys. It is the only native gecko in the eastern United States and one of the few native reptiles in Florida, as many of the other reptile species there are invasive foreign species. But little is known about this species

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Exotics News

as a whole, at just 5cm (2 inches) from nose to tail, and with fragile skin, the Florida reef gecko is a very delicate species, even handling them can be very risky. Therefore to study them closely researchers have been collecting them in small plastic vials.

This species lays one massive egg that can weigh up to a third of its body weight. While this implies a slow reproductive process, the geckos also occur in high densities, making for a complicated assessment of how well populations may be capable of rebounding after catastrophic events like a hurricane. The Florida reef gecko may be a master at surviving periodic flooding, according to researchers as it displays habitat versatility and its eggs are quite salt-tolerant. The geckos have also been found taking refuge in trees and urban structures, such as buildings. It is suggested that a sea level rise of 2.2 meters (7.2 feet), based on a 2015 forecast study looking at carbon emissions and energy infrastructure, would put 85% of the gecko’s suitable habitat underwater. This finding may help inform the IUCN Red List database’s regional population information, where the conservation status of the species across its entire range is ranked as least concern. By comparing its vulnerability with that of other at-risk reptiles and amphibians in the U.S., the authors concluded it’s the most vulnerable reptile in

A male Florida Reef Gecko (© Marlowe Starling)

the nation to sea level rise due to its dependence on low-lying coastal habitats. The research team surveyed 58 sites from Miami to the Florida Keys, including sites where the geckos were documented in the past and those with suitable habitat. They found geckos at just 41% of the sites in total, and discovered the geckos are absent from nine historical sites, indicating a population decline over the past century.

Turtle Release

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), in collaboration with the Fisheries Administration (FiA) at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, have recently released 148 Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle hatchlings, aged between one and three weeks into the Mekong River stretching along Sambour district of Kratie province. WCS’ conservation of Critically Endangered Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle is funded by the European Union (EU)- Partners against Wildlife Crime, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropy (MACP), USAID- Greening Prey Lang, and Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA).

Invasive Hippos In 1993 the infamous Pablo Escobar was killed by the authorities after his luxury estate Hacienda Napoles was seized north-west of the capitol Bogata.

The cocaine kingpin was one of the world`s richest men had established a private zoo. A small group of hippos (1.3) were imported many years ago for his zoo and they had bred very well. Whilst most of the other animals were relocated to other zoos in South America, the hippos were left as they were

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© WCS

logistically difficult to move. It was thought they would just die off, but they continued to flourish. It is now estimated that there are between 80-120 hippos living feral in Colombia`s waterways, where they are becoming a huge invasive problem. They are thought to be the largest herd outside of Africa. Numbers are projected to only get bigger, with estimates that the herd will reach over 1,400 specimens by 2034 without a cull. Incredibly all of them descended from the original group of one male and three females.

Observers suggest that at least 30 animals need to be

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Exotics News

culled or castrated every year to stop this dramatic increase. They do not have natural predators in South America, meaning they can reproduce much more easily. The weather also helps: in Africa the population is in part controlled by droughts that do not take place in Colombia. Indeed, conditions in their South American home seem so ideal for the hippos that studies show they start reproducing at an earlier age than normal. Hippos are also obviously dangerous, in 2016 it was reported that their attacks kill at least 500 people a year in Africa.

There have been no fatalities in Colombia, but the local media reported that a farm worker was seriously injured by a hippo in a town near Hacienda Napoles. Still, there was a massive public outcry when Colombian Army soldiers gunned down the hippo called “Pepe” in 2009, after it was deemed a threat to local communities. It was enough to lead authorities to make hippos legally protected, which is an obstacle to any plans to cull them. One alternative is to castrate all the males and eventually the population should die out in time, although hippos are long-lived so that will take some time.

Castration costs were $50,000 (£36,000) for only four animals that underwent sterilisation between 2011 and 2019, and it is a difficult and risky procedure. So the situation is currently in stalemate.

compared to 637 in 2020. The exact cause of that manatee’s death is unknown, but it is suspected that a lack of seagrass could be the problem, as the prevalence of environmental algal blooms are causing the seagrass to disappear in some areas of Florida, hence the manatees are starving to death.

“Manatees are herbivores, so they only eat plants,” said Virginia Edmonds, director of animal care for Bishop Museum of Science and Nature. “They live in freshwater, saltwater, brackish water, so they eat plants in any of those environments and seagrass is one of those plants they do eat.” Boating accidents and colder weather during the winter months are also to blame. The record for manatee deaths in a single year is 830. That was back in 2013.

Collated and written by Paul Irven.

Starving Manatees?

In the state of Florida more manatees have died this year than in the whole of last year. A total of 649 Florida manatees have died already in 2021

ON THE WEB

Websites | Social media | Published research

Each month we highlight a favourite website or social media page THIS MONTH IT’S AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION Amphibian and Reptile Conservation champions the conservation of our amphibians and reptiles.

We do this by working with the UK government, including the devolved administrations and agencies, to ensure that these animals benefit from biodiversity initiatives. www.arc-trust.org

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Jungle carpet python (Morelia spilota cheynei)

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MUCH MORELIA

THAN MEETS THE EYE Each subspecies of the Pythonidae family contrasts each other so greatly.

Is the name ‘carpet python’ just a blanket term?

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Much Morelia than Meets the Eye

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arpet pythons are some of the most diverse species of the entire Pythonidae family. Spread across a vast distribution of Australia and South East Asia, Morelia spilota .ssp are found in baron deserts, rich jungles and even suburban city locations. The natural history of each subspecies contrasts each other so greatly that the name ‘carpet python’ really does seem like a blanket term.

Morelia spilota cheynei – Jungle carpet python

As the name suggests, the jungle carpet python occupies a relatively small range of tropical forest in North Queensland. They are semi-arboreal and have the brightest colouration of any carpet python, contributing to their popularity in the hobby. Their restricted range is under threat from deforestation, as the urbanisation and growing agriculture of Australia’s East Coast continues to develop.

Although the high yellow colouration often seen in captivity is accentuated by selective breeding, these carpet pythons are much more visually striking than other species. This has led a whole spectrum of colour morphs to be bred within the hobby. They also grow to a manageable size (three to five feet) but typically exhibit more arboreal traits than other species.

Jungle carpet python (Morelia spilota cheynei)

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Much Morelia than Meets the Eye

Morelia spilota variegata – Darwin carpet python

The Darwin carpet python gets its name from the Northern Territory’s capital city where the species appears to be doing extremely well.

As human inhabitants encourage various possums and rodents to feed on, the Darwin carpet python has adapted very well to the development of Australia’s Top End. Unsurprisingly, this snake can also be found throughout the north of Australia from the Kimberleys all the way towards the Cape York Peninsula. This landscape is much more arid, but seasonal rains mean the gorges and canyons that these snakes are found are often rich with vegetation. Interestingly, there are now a number of albino Darwin carpet pythons within the hobby.

The first albino Darwin carpet python was found in the 90s at a caravan park just outside of Darwin.

Misidentified as an illegal corn snake, this specimen was taken to the Territory Wildlife Park where it was identified as an albino and named ‘Blondie’. After being sent on breeding loan to Dr Simon Stone in Adelaide, the offspring of this snake now have a strong presence in herpetoculture across the world.

Darwin carpet python (Morelia spilota variegata)

Morelia spilota spilota – Diamond python

Diamond python (Morelia spilota spilota)

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The diamond python is the most southerly occurring python in the world. A common sight in suburban locations as far south as Sydney, diamond pythons will opportunistically feed on chickens and small family pets, giving them a negative reputation amongst residents. Despite reaching 7 feet in length, these large pythons are some of the more docile of the carpet pythons. Just like other carpet pythons, they are sizeable without being heavy-bodied, filling a niche for pet owners looking for a large animal without the troublesome aspects of the ‘giant’ snakes. There are also two-colour variants, one with white spots, another with yellow. Just like other carpet pythons, they are nocturnal and relatively slow-moving this means they can live in attics and rafters undetected for long periods of time offering free pest control services to oblivious homeowners.

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SOUTH-WESTERN CARPET PYTHON

MORELIA IMBRICATA

Much Morelia than Meets the Eye

Morelia spilota harrisoni (formerly M. spilota variegata) – Irian Jaya carpet python The Irian Jaya carpet python is the only subspecies that lives outside of Australia. Spread across both Indonesian and Papuan sides of New Guinea, the Irian Jaya carpet python typically inhabits dry savannah and eucalypt forests. This species is one of the more popular in the pet trade as regulated export quotas from Indonesian government have allowed more

With taxonomy being such a complicated field, there are a few species which were previously considered to be subspecies of the carpet python.

Commonly referred to as the South-western carpet python, Morelia imbricata has recently been described as a species of its own.

This species is near threatened due to the agricultural development of its range in Western Australia and South Australia. As this species occupies a large range, but returns to favourite resting spots throughout its lifetime, the urbanisation of Perth, Esperance and Geraldton has contributed significantly to its decline. Needless to say, this species is almost unheard of in private collections.

diverse bloodlines than those in Australia. They are also one of the smallest subspecies, growing between 4-6 feet (males are usually smaller) making them much more manageable than other species. It is also thought that the hugely contrasting specimens that were exported from Irian Jaya over the last few decades could indicate that there are many subspecies to still be identified.

Furthermore, their reputation as being aggressive is slowly being de-bunked making their viability as pets much more appealing.

Irian Jaya carpet python (Morelia spilota harrisoni)

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Much Morelia than Meets the Eye

Coastal carpet python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli)

Morelia spilota mcdowelli – Coastal carpet python

The coastal carpet python has the second largest distribution of any carpet python species and can be found down almost the entirety of Australia’s East Coast. Despite such as vast range, this species was first described in 1984 and appears very similar to the diamond python. The coastal carpet python is the largest of the carpet pythons, easily growing up to 8 feet in length. This, combined with its distribution covering the vast majority of

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human-occupied Australia makes it the archetypal ‘carpet python’. Their large size has made them extremely desirable in the hobby and are readily available in the UK, US and Europe. Although considered a common species and often found in Brisbane CBD, the population has felt the effects of the rising cane toad populations which were introduced to Gordonvale, Queensland (the heart of the coastal carpet pythons range) in 1935. By 1937 almost the entire range of the coastal carpet python was affected by the poisonous cane toads, which when ingested would kill the snakes.

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Much Morelia than Meets the Eye

Keeping Carpet Pythons

The dominant literature around keeping carpet pythons largely groups all subspecies together.

While there should be clear differences in the humidity of the environments of some species; temperatures, setups, and enclosures are usually very similar.

The jungle, Irian Jaya and coastal carpet pythons will typically inhabit more humid environments than diamond and Darwin carpet pythons. However, with Darwin being a tropical city North of the Capricorn, humidity levels rise drastically during the wet season. Since the Bredl’s python being considered its own species, most carpet pythons can be kept in similar conditions.

While some species are more arboreal than others

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(namely the jungle and Irian Jaya), all carpet python species should be provided with ample space to climb. Their nocturnal nature can be misleading within a captive environment, as these animals will do the majority of their environmental exploration out of sight. Therefore, providing the largest vivarium possible is encouraged. Each species will have slightly different requirements, with some growing much larger than others. Temperatures should be kept between 26°C and 28°C with a spot reaching around 36°C. Humidity should be kept around 65%. There is some experimentation potential here to simulate the seasonality of tropical North Australia. Equally, humidity can drop drastically during the dry season, with some experts allowing their carpet python enclosures to drop to 35% humidity. Using orchid

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THE BREDL’S PYTHON Title

Much Morelia than Meets the Eye

bark, or other humidity-retaining substrates is encouraged to help control humidity where it is required.

Climbing opportunities are crucial to providing environmental enrichment for the animals. Having multiple platforms and levels which give the snake enough room to rest its entire body is key to ensuring a happy snake. UVB is always encouraged regardless of an animals nocturnal or crepuscular activity. Research suggests there should be some variation with Ferguson zones between species.

For example, diamond pythons (M. s. spilota) require zone 3 UVB

lighting as they are typically more terrestrial than other species and inhabit open grasslands, whereas the Irian Jaya carpet python (M. s. harrisoni) would only require lighting between zones 1 and 2 as they spend much their time sheltered by the forest canopy.

Carpet pythons typically have a great feeding response which unfortunately plays into the negative stigma around their aggression. Youngsters are often quite snappy, but keepers with some experience with snakes can often find carpet pythons to be rewarding and enjoyable pets.

Bredl’s python (Morelia bredli)

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MORELIA BREDLI

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The Bredl’s python on the other hand, is growing in popularity in the pet trade. Previously referred to as the Centralian carpet python, Morelia bredli can be found in the red centre of Australia. As such, this species has stunning red and orange colouration in mottled patterns.

Coming from such a harsh environment, with daytime temperatures reaching in excess of 40°C and night time temperatures dropping drastically, the Bredl’s python is one of the hardiest python species on the planet.

Enthusiasts also speak very highly of their docile nature, making them a brilliant alternative to the carpet pythons.

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Species Spotlight

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT The wonderful world of exotic pets

Green Aracari (Pteroglossus viridis)

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he green aracari is a tiny toucan that inhabits the lowland rainforests of South America, including Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname and Guyana. The green aracari is also one of the smallest species of toucan reaching just 30cm 40cm. These vibrant characters will often socially roost, with up to five individuals and their offspring nestling down into existing tree cavities high in the canopy.

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The green aracari has been known to breed readily in captivity. Although typically choosing to nest in woodpecker-made cavities, this easy to replicate breeding habit has made them extremely popular with enthusiasts.

Despite being relatively common, the green aracari is rarely seen. Nesting and feeding so high in the trees, this bird also drinks and bathes in rainwater collected in the canopy, meaning there is very little need to visit the forest floor.

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A WIDE RANGE OF ARTICLES, GUIDES, HOT TOPIC DISCUSSIONS, AND INTERVIEWS, FROM ALL AREAS OF THE EXOTIC ANIMAL WORLD. JULY 2021 www.exoticskeeper.com/subscribe

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RED-EYED

TREE FROGS We take a closer look at what is possibly the most iconic, and beautiful, frog on the planet.

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Red-eyed Tree Frogs

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ed-eyed tree frogs (Agalychnis callidryas) are, without a doubt, the most iconic and well-known frog on the planet and, some would say, the most beautiful. They are reasonably common and can be found in tropical rainforests from Southern Mexico to the most Northernly points of Colombia.

Red-eyed tree frogs are extremely vibrant in their colouration, and it is believed they’ve looked like this for millions of years. Scientists are still in conflict as to why their flanks are vibrant blue, but it is thought that, should their brilliant stationary green disguise be broken, they can flash their colours to startle a predator before making their escape.

These frogs have been available in the trade for as long as there have been shipments coming out of South America, but only in the last decade have they been routinely captive bred. Back in the 80s and 90s these frogs would often arrive on shipments from South America but, unfortunately, few keepers were able to maintain them for longer than a few weeks or months. This was largely due to them being subjected to bad holding conditions from their country of origin, coupled with occasional delays which would greatly affect delicate amphibian species.

It was not until the species became relatively valuable that exporters could be convinced to keep and pack them more considerately. That being said, red-eyes are so routinely captive bred nowadays that demand by the pet-trade is almost satisfied by this supply. Therefore, pet owners searching for their first

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pet frog should have no trouble in finding a healthy captive bred specimen from many different shops and breeders across the country.

Of course, all amphibian species could be said to be delicate compared with reptiles, but red-eyes are surprisingly hardy captives once established in the correct set-up. Stuart Worth is an expert breeder who has worked with the species for a number of years. He explains: “they thrive in a well-planted terrarium or paludarium, and live plants are almost essential for their husbandry. Not only do these help provide the essential humidity this species needs, but the leaves also provide perches which red-eyes use in the wild.” Like many tree frogs, red eyes are nocturnal and so will spend most of the day, with their legs tucked in and eyes closed, camouflaging perfectly against the leaves. Stuart added: “Expecting them to perch on unnatural surfaces is a sure-fire way to cause problems. As such, plants with broad leaves, especially those that overhang a water source are perfect for red-eye tree frogs.” Although they will rarely bathe, providing a body of water within a terrarium is a great way to keep humidity high and give the frog the option to soak should they wish to.

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Toucan trouble Title

Red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas)

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Title Red-eyed Tree Frogs

Like many tree frogs, red eyes will feed readily on an insect diet in captivity. Whether opting for crickets or locust, these should be dusted in supplements to ensure the frog gets the correct nutritional content. Funnily enough, the red eye tree frogs red eyes assist in their eating habits. As they blink they use their eyes to help push food down their mouth, allowing them to swallow.

A good-sized arboreal terrarium is perfect for these frogs. Despite them rarely exceeding 8.5cm, pet owners should aim for at least 45cm x 45cm x 60cm but larger is always better. Many breeders have successfully bred this species without UV but providing low levels

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of UVB to simulate wild conditions is sure to be beneficial. Humidity is also key to keeping red-eyes healthy and a misting system is certainly the most effective way of keeping this humidity high. Temperatures should also be kept relatively cool, not exceeding 25°C. This can usually be achieved in a warm home, or with the use of a heat mat on the back of the enclosure.

Stuart continued: “Live plants also play a role in breeding. Eggs are

deposited on leaves over a pool of water, with tadpoles sliding out of their eggs and into the water below when they are ready to hatch. Breeding itself is initiated in the wild with a cool, humid rainy season, so breeders will need to replicate these conditions in captivity to be successful.

Simulating rainfall is relatively easy nowadays using one of the various mist and spray systems

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Red-eyed Tree Frogs

available on the market, but many breeders are convinced that sound plays a key role too. I have set up rain chambers for one colony of frogs, only for the frogs in the non-rainy enclosure next door to begin calling. They could only be responding to the sound of the rain hitting the leaves in the adjacent enclosure. I know several keepers, including myself, who have used rainforest soundtracks to stimulate

DID YOU KNOW? Title

mating in several species of frogs, red-eyes included.”

With dedicated products being developed to allow people to easily create rain chambers with drainable terrariums, we may see more enthusiasts embarking on new breeding projects over the coming years. Despite red eyed tree frogs being such iconic animals, there are lots of other amphibians that are more readily kept in captivity. Nevertheless, when housed correctly, red eyed tree frogs can make wonderful observation animals.

Red-eyed tree frogs have reasonably long lifespans, reaching up to 12 years in captivity and averaging around 5 years in the wild.

Unsurprisingly, they also take longer to mature than other frogs.

They are usually well over 1 year old before they reach adulthood.

Red eyed tree frogs exhibit phenotypic plasticity. This means that entire clutches of eggs will hatch earlier than expected if they are disturbed by a predator or threatening environmental change.

Embryos can accurately assess whether a nearby vibration is deemed threatening and thus requires them to hatch.

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Animal Facts

ANIMAL FACTS Did you know...?

Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus)

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he orchid mantis is one of the most visually stunning invertebrates on the planet.

Although the species does not necessarily live on orchids, they have evolved to mimic flower petals in diverse combinations of white and pink.

H. coronatus comes from the tropical climates of Malaysia where it will hide in ambush on white flowers, before striking at unsuspecting prey looking to feed on the flowers nectar.

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The colouration of an orchid mantis can vary massively throughout the mantis’ life. First instars are usually dark orange with black legs, nymphs are white with bright accents of pink and then after each moult the mantis will gradually change.

Female H. coronatus grow to almost triple the size of the males and at a much slower rate. Therefore, breeding this species in captivity requires sexspecific heating and feeding patterns to inhibit the growth of the male. Famously, if the keeper introduces the male to the female while she’s hungry, she will likely eat him in an instance. In fact, giving the female something to eat while mating occurs is advisable to keep her occupied while the mating (which can take several hours) occurs.

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MARINE REPTILES Title

ON THE EDGE They’ve been on our planet since the dinosaurs, but sea turtles are now on the brink of extinction.

By Hannah Rudd.

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Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

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Marine Reptiles on the Edge

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hen you think of sea turtles many of us conjure up images of turquoise blue waters and pristine sandy beaches, where these marine reptiles spend their days grazing on coral reefs. A scene in a certain Pixar film may also spring to mind. But turtles aren’t confined to the tropical waters of warmer seas, they can also make appearances in our much cooler seas.

We are continually learning more about these impressive animals, unveiling their secrets and gaining a deeper understanding about their life histories. These marine reptiles have wandered our oceans for the last 100 million years.

Palaeontologists believe marine turtles appeared during the Jurassic period, but it wasn’t until the Cretaceous period 100 million years ago that prehistoric turtles began to evolve into what we know as sea turtles today.

Sea turtles have evolved to play a vital role in keeping our marine ecosystems healthy by grazing on seagrasses, algaes, corals, jellyfish and much more – depending on the species. This keeps these habitats more productive – similar to how we mow our lawns to keep them healthy – and ensures prey populations don’t explode, having huge consequences for ecosystem health.

Scientists are still not clear exactly how long sea turtles live, but it’s estimated that they have similar lifespans to us, living 50 years or more. Most species take between 20 and 30 years to mature and are only actively reproductive for around a decade.

Every year millions of sea turtles head back to the very beach where they were born to lay their eggs and give life to the next generation of their species by using the Earth’s magnetic field. After (slowly)

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hurling themselves up the beach, a single female can lay between two and six clutches of eggs, each containing 65 to 180 eggs. There is a two-week gap between each clutch being laid and it can be up to nine years before she will experience another nesting season. Hatching sea turtles is a familiar sight on natural history documentaries as they scamper toward the big blue, trying to avoid being picked off by awaiting predators. But what happens from the moment these hatchlings enter the water to when they return to coastal shallow waters to forage – sometimes up to 20 years later – remains largely a mystery to us.

Worldwide there are just seven species of sea turtle.

Here in the UK domestic waters we have recorded six of these species – most of which don’t belong in our seas at all and are the victim of stranding events. The ginormous leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) is the most reliably encountered sea turtle here. During the summer months these impressive turtles migrate to our waters to feed on jellyfish. In fact, while not in the UK, the longest known record migration of a sea turtle is for a female leatherback who swam nearly 13,000 miles over 647 days from Indonesia to the west coast of America - over 20 miles a day! Our leatherbacks likely begin life at one of the many breeding colonies found in UK Overseas Territories – from French Guiana to the British Virgin Islands.

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Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

On the Brink

Tragically, in this day and age when you think of sea turtles you may also think of them munching on deadly plastic. Researchers estimate that more than 50% of sea turtles have ingested plastic – often mistaking it for their favourite food, jellyfish – and becoming entangled in plastic fishing nets also has suffocating consequences for these animals. When washed up on beaches plastic can also make nesting difficult as the giant females desperately try to hurl themselves up on the beaches. If she is successful in finding a spot to nest, many weeks later the tiny hatchlings may find it difficult to emerge from their nest if plastic is blocking their path.

Uncontrolled coastal development and vehicles on beaches are also problematic for nesting sea turtles. This disturbance can

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make it difficult for them to feel comfortable to nest and both light and noise pollution can deter them from being successful – wasting precious energy and time. Coastal development also can lead to pollution and sedimentation of inshore waters, degrading precious turtle feeding grounds like coral reefs and seagrass beds making them less productive.

Wand land runoff threaten the future of sea turtle’s favourite feeding spots, but climate change is putting further pressure on these habitats. 50% of the world’s coral reefs have been lost, primarily due to climate change and ocean acidification, and at the current rate of warming are at risk of being lost completely by 2050.

Climate change is also challenging for sea turtle populations. Whilst incubating turtle eggs the

temperature of the sand dictates what sex the emerging hatchling will be. As sand temperatures rise with climate change there is a risk that sea turtle populations will be skewed with more females than males making proliferating the future generations difficult.

Rising seas also threaten to flood nesting sites and increased severity in storms may have impacts on hatchling survival.

Poaching and hunting continue to be threats for sea turtles too. Their eggs are considered a delicacy in many cultures and trade of turtle parts on the black market continues to be a profitable business. In West Africa, turtles are killed for use in medicine and traditional ceremonies, endangering their survival in the region. Their meat and shells are often the driving force behind their intentional capture in other XX (Atelopus zeteki)

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WHY DO SEA TURTLES

STRAND? Typically, stranding events are the result of storms where the sea turtles get swept up and dragged away from their normal course by fierce currents.

With our increasingly volatile climate it’s likely that these storms will heighten in both frequency and intensity, leading to more stranding events. As our climate and oceans warm too, currents may change contributing to changing ranges of these species too.

Along with leatherback turtles, the UK Overseas Territories such as the Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos are also home to breeding groups of other sea turtle species.

Ascension Island in the South Atlantic hosts an important aggregation of green turtles (Chelonia mydas), whereas the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean is a vital nesting ground for hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata).

Whilst not immediately on our doorstep, the UK is responsible for the conservation of a wealth of vital sea turtle breeding grounds, feeding grounds and migration routes. By protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 we can ensure these marine reptiles have the defences in place that they 28 need to recover.

Marine Reptiles on the Edge

regions of the world. Despite global protections in place to protect select species, the worldwide trade and harvesting continues.

But undoubtedly the biggest killer of sea turtles is the fishing industry. Across the world each year hundreds of thousands of sea turtles are accidentally caught in trawl nets, on longline hooks and in gillnets. As they need to reach the surface to breathe, many drown once caught as the fishing gear is not retrieve for long periods of time. This accidental capture is known as ‘bycatch’, and tragically sea turtles are not the only species that fall victim to it every day – millions of seabirds, dolphins and

sharks, to name a few, are also unintentionally captured in this way every year.

Lots of attention is focused on lessening the impacts of climate change, habitat degradation and plastic pollution on sea turtles, with relatively limited effort put into reducing mortality caused by bycatch. All is not lost though, as technology is being developed and researched to decrease the risks of sea turtles becoming bycatch and allowing them to swim free. Simple solutions like using circle-shaped hooks over the traditional j-shaped hook can significantly reduce the amount of turtle bycatch in longline fisheries, for example.

A sea turtle can’t differentiate between a jellyfish and a plastic bag

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Marine Reptiles on the Edge

LED lights can help deter turtles and stop scenes like this

Turtle excluder device (TED) manufactured by Saunders Marine Machine Shop

Saving Sea Turtles LED Lights on Nets Turtles rely on visual cues when foraging for food. By using this intel researchers have developed a way of illuminating fishing nets with solar-powered LED lights to deter turtles and other species from investigating the net and becoming entangled. Research suggests this has reduced overall bycatch by between 60% and 95%, without having an impact on the target species. Fishers are often reluctant to cut bycatch free from their gear as it costs them both time and money, but this method is cost-effective and ensures fishers can get their catch of the day too.

Turtle Excluder Device (TED) Shrimp fishing is one of the deadliest threats to the global sea turtle population; but a simple invention installed into shrimp trawlers could go a long way to reduce turtle bycatch in the sector. A Turtle Excluder Device (TED) is a metal grid within the neck of a net trawl that acts as a filter. As the shrimp pass through and into the trawl net, turtles and other animals hit the grid and escape through a flap in the net. Research shows that this method can reduce bycatch by as much as 91% proving that simple solutions can make a huge difference.

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Marine Reptiles on the Edge

Which Turtles Have Been Found in the UK?

Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

Kemp’s Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)

One of the largest sea turtle species it comes as no surprise that the green turtle gets its name from the greenish hue colouring their skin. Although typically found in tropical and subtropical waters, there have been stranding events of green turtles here in the UK. They are an endangered species and increasingly threatened by the poaching of their eggs at nesting sites around the world.

Typically found in the Gulf of Mexico, Kemp’s ridley turtles have also appeared washed up on our shores in exceedingly rare events. They are a relatively small species of sea turtle, weighing up to 100 pounds and measuring 2 feet. The Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle is the most critically endangered sea turtle in the world. Like the olive ridley turtle, the Kemp’s Ridley has a unique mass nesting event called an arribadas where females take over entire portions of beaches to lay their eggs during this annual procession.

Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

Named after their distinctive pointed beak which they use to graze on coral reefs, the hawksbill turtle is a critically endangered species. Their beautifully patterned shells make them highly desirable on the illegal wildlife market where it’s sold as “tortoiseshell”.

Similar to other sea turtle species, hawksbills are typically found throughout the world’s tropical waters and usually found hanging out around coral reefs.

They enjoy munching on sponges, sea anemones and jellyfish. Hawksbills are a fan favourite for scuba divers and marine tourists and can add significant value to tourism sites around the world, providing vital income for local businesses.

The largest sea turtle species in the world that can weigh up to a whopping 1500 pounds! The leatherback turtle is also one of the most migratory species, crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Atlantic leatherbacks, with their long migrations across the ocean, put them at great risk of running into longline fisheries. Leatherback feed almost exclusively on jellyfish, making them susceptible to mistakenly swallowing plastic bags floating in the ocean, which can kill them. Their throats are filled with downward facing spines that ensure they never lose their meal! Your best chance of spotting a leatherback turtle in UK waters is between May and September.

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Marine Reptiles on the Edge

Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta)

Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)

Loggerheads are one of the most common sea turtles in the Mediterranean, nesting on beaches from Greece and Turkey to Israel and Libya. Named after their enormous heads that house immensely powerful jaws that allow them to chomp down on their favourite prey, the loggerhead turtle is an easy species to identify. Loggerheads enjoy chowing down on clams and sea urchins which recycles important nutrients and keeps ocean flood sediments in balance. Loggerhead turtles carry colonies of small plants and animals on their shells which serve as important habitats themselves – as many as 100 species of animals and plants have been recorded living on one single loggerhead turtle!

Similar to the green turtle, the Olive Ridley turtle is named after the greenish colour of its skin and carapace (shell). They are close relatives of the Kemp’s ridley turtle, and are usually only found in warmer waters like the Pacific and Indian oceans.

Despite being widely considered the most abundant of sea turtles, the Olive Ridley is still in desperate trouble.

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Title

KIDS IN

GLASS HOUSES The Great Outdoors with Rob Pilley 32

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Kids In Glass Houses

D

espite being an Emmy award winning BBC documentary producer, holding an MSc in Biodiversity and being one of Europe’s most highly regarded Lacerta breeders, Rob Pilley still describes himself as a “big kid” when it comes to reptiles.

The early days of outdoor keeping

Although we rarely see outdoor vivaria in conventional pet shops or popular online platforms, reptiles and amphibians have been kept outdoors for decades.

A seemingly risky manoeuvre for novice keepers, the keeping and breeding of reptiles in outdoor enclosures demands a certain level of confidence in the natural world. Rob Pilley has held this confidence since he was a teenager and continues to successfully breed a number of European species from bloodlines he obtained back in the 90s.

In the early days, European species were extremely popular but often wild caught. This would mean that successful husbandry, especially indoors, was extremely rare. Rob Pilley told Exotics Keeper Magazine: “One of the key figures in the 70s who pioneered outdoor breeding was a guy called Bert Langerwerf. At this time the most UV you could get indoors was from the True Light. Bert said no, this isn’t good enough. We want to start breeding outside. So, he set up Agama International which was essentially the world’s largest breeder of lizards at the time. He then moved that over to Alabama and became the first breeder to introduce things like Black and White Tegus and Australian Water Dragons by breeding them outside.”

Knowing that reptiles from all over the world could be kept and bred outdoors opened an entirely new realm

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of herpetoculture. One which, although demanding a good level of knowledge about the species’ natural history, was extremely successful and did not rely entirely on products to meet specialised requirements.

Rob continued: “I got into reptiles when I was about 11 or 12 when I would go on holiday and see these beautiful green lizards scurrying around the sand dunes or heathland and it was that image that I loved.

Of course, I loved the animals, but it was the animal within the wild context that I really fell in love with. At the time, you couldn’t get a lot of these lizards in the UK. There was one breeder called Terry Thatcher who was keeping his Eyed Lizards outside and I knew I wanted to create these wild environments so that was my first inspiration really. I started breeding Balkan green lizards in 1992 and it just went from there.”

Rob started his production career as a young guest presenter on The Really Wild Show, where he would introduce his pet animals. From there he studied Zoology before completing a masters in Biodiversity. After graduating, Rob joined the BBC and moved permanently to Bristol. Since joining the BBC Rob has been awarded “BBC Best Factual Moment” as well as multiple Emmy Awards for his documentaries. His most recent success was on BBC wildlife documentary, Spy in the Wild. The innovative series was critically acclaimed for using animatronic animals to get an insight into the natural world.

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Kids In Glass Houses

Rob’s outdoor enclosures made of UV acrylic

Rob’s greenhouse

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Kids In Glass Houses

Robs Animals

Rob currently keeps 25 species of reptiles at his home near Bristol. Over the years, many different animals have come into Rob’s care, which he has facilitated over three separate enclosure biomes: entirely outdoors, greenhouse/partly outdoors and entirely indoors. Perhaps surprisingly, Rob has managed to keep reptiles from all over the world within his UV acrylic greenhouse successfully. By using a solarmeter and infrared thermometer Rob can accurately compare readings to wild locations, opening up a greater understanding of which animals will thrive. These species include black and white tegus (Tupinambis merianae), Jacksons chameleons (Trioceros jacksonii), abronia lizards (Abronia graminea) and much more. Now, Rob has turned his attention to keeping mostly European species with a plan for all the animals within his care.

He explained: “I have a five-year plan with all of my animals. I buy them as babies or as young as possible and then raise them in situ, whether its outside, in the greenhouse, or in the garage. So, after five years they should be settled in, grown on and hopefully

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breeding by then. If we get to the five-year mark and they haven’t done that, I then have to assume that I’ve done something wrong or that my captivity isn’t right for them. The conditions aren’t right, whether it’s artificial lighting or the diet or the climate. So, at that point, I might consider selling them on.”

Outdoors

Rob keeps a number of species entirely outdoors, year-round. These include Russian sand lizards (Lacerta agilis exigua), Eyed lizards (Timon lepidus), Balkan green lizards (Lacerta trilineata), fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra fastuosa and S. salamandra terrestris) and green toads (Bufo viridis). These animals will exhibit natural behaviours, burrowing below the surface when the cooler months arrive, before emerging in spring for breeding season.

Keeping reptiles outdoors can be a daunting concept for anyone in the hobby. Whilst the British climate may be unpredictable at best, there are lots

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Kids In Glass Houses

of species which can be kept in greenhouse vivaria very easily. Having a resilient and brave approach to husbandry is the key to establishing healthy outdoor breeding animals.

Rob Pilley, BBC Documentary Filmmaker, Zoologist and outdoor reptile breeding enthusiast claims: “The key to raising European lizards outside is raising in situ from an early age.” By acclimatising reptiles as early as possible, this allows most species to exhibit their natural behaviours which protects them from harsh temperatures.

“The Balkan green lizards hibernate as adults, breed in the spring or summer and then the babies will hatch out in August. So, if they hatch on time, they will be okay but if they hatch late, they won’t have enough fat reserves to get through the winter. What I’ll do with those is raise them for 6-8 weeks inside, if they’re sufficiently big enough and we’re having a mild winter they will still go outside. If not, they will hibernate in the garage that is still very cold, maybe 7-8°C and then released outside in the Spring.”

By promoting natural behaviours in naturalistic environments, Rob has managed to keep and breed generations of European green lizards successfully for decades. He continues: “I think people are nervous about losing their animals in outdoor enclosures. That does happen, but by holding onto the animal, raising it entirely indoors and not letting it acclimatise to the outdoor temperature, putting them out when they’re fully grown is a death sentence.”

Rob does agree that there are pros and cons with raising reptiles outdoors. For example, pet owners looking for an animal that will always be there on display will be hugely disappointed by having outdoor, planted enclosures. Rob told us that he has a collection of fire salamanders in outdoor enclosures which he only sees a few times a year, on damp nights. Whilst these salamanders breed every year, they’re clearly not animals to keep as ‘pets’. Therefore, the keeping of reptiles and amphibians outside fills a niche in the hobby that, whilst rewarding most of the time, is unlikely to appeal to everyone.

Painted Dragon (Laudakia stellio brachydactyla)

Henkel’s Scarletleaf-tailed king snakegecko (Lampropeltis (Uroplatus elapsoides) henkeli)

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Title

Greenhouse

The Greenhouse allows less hardier animals to be kept in a semi-natural environment. Built entirely from UV acrylic, this greenhouse mitigates any harsh temperature and weather conditions whilst also raising the average temperature overall. A whole myriad of species can be kept in these conditions which might be surprising to some. Rob told us about his black and white tegus (Tupinambis merianae) which were raised very successfully in the greenhouse from a young age, until they reached a size which allowed them to crack the acrylic with their destructive behaviours. Rob also raised Eastern bearded dragons (Pogona barbata) in the greenhouse, understanding that this species is used to much more temperate climates than their central cousins. Unfortunately, their behaviour indicated that despite thriving in the cooler conditions in winter, the British summer failed to consistently reach the temperatures that these animals would be exposed to in the wild.

As a BBC documentary film maker, Rob has travelled the world filming countless species in their wild conditions. Because of this, his understanding of natural extremities is vast. Novices absolutely should not approach experimental outdoor keeping without a genuine thorough understanding of the habitats and locales of the animals in their care. Rob also uses a solarmeter to take various readings of different locations within the enclosures, giving him accurate data which he can compare to the wild locations he has visited and assess the captive conditions for the species. Understanding these readings and requirements all year round is crucial to replicating wild conditions.

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Indoors

Rob also keeps several species indoors in custom terrariums. These are designed to be as naturalistic as possible utilising natural substrates and UV lighting, with many of the enclosures also bioactive.

Understanding the limitations of keeping reptiles in outdoor conditions is just as important as pushing the boundaries of natural husbandry.

Rob continued: “Even though it’s much more tropical in here and it’s around 26°C at the moment and reached 31°C yesterday, it was only 14°C last night. So, I try to let the temperatures drop as low as I can because it cycles the animals quite well. For example, the ackies have recently come out of hibernation so they’re instantly into breeding mode. In the winter it’ll go down to 12°C or so, but because most of these are tropical species, replacing the roof with polycarbonate wouldn’t retain enough heat to keep all the animals healthy.”

By keeping his reptiles in a garage, Rob allows temperatures to drop much more drastically than typical indoor enclosures in the house. Although Rob uses some heating for some of the indoor enclosures, the ambient temperature is consistently warmer than outside, whilst still mimicking the temperature patterns outside. Although this might make many keepers slightly nervy, even the hardiest desert species that thrive at +30°C will encounter drastic night time drops. Providing these animals have deep substrate to escape the extremities, wider temperature variants are much more natural than the consistency we aim to provide in captivity.

Further research in this field is likely to uncover some interesting revelations over the next few years.

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Carotenoids

Herpetoculturists tend to have a fascination for stunningly bright animals. Furthermore, brightly coloured reptiles can often be an indicator of good health. Rob has one very simple technique to ensure his reptiles are as vibrant as possible, a natural diet full of carotenoids.

Rob explained: “the eyed lizard is a common captive bred lizard across the world really. The problem with raising them indoors is that they never reach their full colour potential. Outside they’re bright green, with blues and yellows, they’re really gorgeous. When raised indoors they’re actually quite drab. I tell people that if you want that colour, they need to be raised outside under decent UV and fed carotenoids. These pigments are found in wildflowers, carrots, beetroots, peppers. Of course, the eyed lizards would feed on the odd dandelion but really, it’s coming from the insects.

Feeding crickets on these plants will stock them full of carotenoids which is passed onto the lizard.”

While we all understand the importance of gut loading our feeder insects, there are often simple choices we can make to ensure the healthiest live foods we can possibly offer. Providing bug gel to

keep the insects hydrated and gut loading formula to keep their calcium levels high is a great way to increase nutrition. However, as Rob keeps most of his reptiles outdoors, he chooses to use an entirely natural diet for feeder insects too.

Rob continued: “Years ago I started gathering this wild fodder every day when I would take to my kids to school and then this would be fed to the lizards and to the insects. This really brought out their colour. I’ve done this with green lizards, taking a single clutch of babies and dividing them in half, raising them in exactly the same way and feeding one clutch a high carotenoid diet and one clutch just normal crickets and after a few months there was a huge difference.

This works for all lizards with orange pigments, so feeding your bearded dragons with feeder insects on a high carotenoid diet will punch that colour sky high. I’ve also found that feeding crickets a natural diet and providing natural vegetation and sunlight means there’s no need for any vitamin supplements.

The proof’s in the pudding really, these animals have been breeding for decades now and I’ve never had an animal suffer from burnout, like they do in artificial conditions. Some of my older greens are 15/16 years old and still breeding now.”

Balkan green lizard (Lacerta trillineata)

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Kids In Glass Houses

Hermanns tortoise (Testudo hermanni)

British species

It is illegal to keep any British reptiles or amphibians that have been sourced in the UK as part of a private collection. Not only is it illegal to harvest wild animals in the UK but keeping genetically similar species in captivity with a motivation to breed them risks the health and genetic diversity of the wild populations. Rob goes one step further and will not sell any European sand lizards to anyone in the UK (despite being from offshore bloodlines). However, the broader European species he works with which are non-native are sold to enthusiasts across the country. By sharing his methods, the outdoor keeping of herptiles in the UK is becoming more and more viable for hobbyists across the country.

Those that don’t have the time or technical know how to build zoological enclosures in their

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garden can still attract a wealth of reptiles and amphibians with just a few installations. Rob showed us a ‘re-wilding area’ at the bottom of his garden. “There’s a bit of a NIMBY mentality when it comes to rewilding Britain” he explained.

“This basically means ‘not in my back garden.’ People tend to love seeing interesting animals on their doorstep, but then argue that wild areas look messy. Equally, there’s different motivations for different people. We have recently had a good population of otters thriving near us, which most of the community thinks is great, but they have wreaked havoc on the fishery, so the local fishermen are finding them a nuisance. Growing meadows and wildflowers is great for bees and insects, but that also encourages mice. We have all three species of newts in our streams and pond which is amazing! That obviously brings in grass snakes which is wonderful for us, but not so

much for the great crested newts.”

One of the best things someone can do to encourage wildlife, particularly reptiles and amphibians into their garden is to build a pond.

While a nice sized water feature may look brilliant, even just filling a ceramic planter with water will bring loads of invertebrates and new food sources for local wildlife.

Secondly, creating a compost heap in a sunny patch of the garden will also attract nearby slow worms and grass snakes. Rob placed some corrugated metal on top of his compost heap, which inevitably brought two slow worms to the top of the grass cuttings.

Understandably, not everyone will live in idyllic countryside settings and some people may not even have their own garden. This does not mean that re-wildling cannot happen. In fact, even just planting some wildflowers on a balcony will support the wider ecosystem.

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What can we learn?

Rob Pilley’s career and herp collection is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when we nurture our childhood passions.

Not only has Rob been fortunate enough to visit countless exotic locations and build a career from his love for the natural world, but this bleeds into his herpetoculture hobby which ultimately improves the welfare of the animals in his care. As the hobby progresses further and further into mimicking true wild conditions, we must be somewhat open to exploring every aspect of nature. “I used to think that the reptiles which came from the Northern areas in Europe would be much more tolerant to our climates.”

Rob explained. “Geographically it made sense that northern species would fare better than

Mediterranean species further south.

This just wasn’t the case at all.”

Understanding the animals we keep and how they fit into their wild ecosystems is the foundation of good animal welfare. For example, reptiles from higher altitudes will tend to require cooler temperatures. Desert species will often be tolerant of temperature drops which they are exposed to in the wild. Aggression during the mating season is perfectly normal and natural. Brumation periods will usually only occur if natural conditions are being mimicked effectively. All of these parameters we try so hard to protect our animals from in captivity can actually provide high levels of enrichment when properly observed and managed.

Rob concluded: “Herpetoculture has inspired me not only in my career, but in the skills I’ve developed. By handling them, observing how they work and admiring them in captivity, it’s made me a better zoologist in the field.

When I’m out and about whether it be Arizona, Australia, or a rainforest in Madagascar, I’m still the same little boy who’s raised these animals and learnt from them. Without hands on experience from a young age I never would have been able to do the job that I do now.”

To keep up to date with Rob’s personal adventures, readers can follow Rob’s Wild Adventures on YouTube and Facebook. Exotics Keeper Magazine will be bringing another full interview with Rob via our own YouTube channel soon.

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Henkel’s leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus henkeli)

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Expert Opinion

EXPERT OPINION We find the best advice, so you don’t have to.

Temperature Gradients with Matt Rendle

A

sk anyone how to keep a reptile and their first answer is likely to be ‘hot’. While this is not strictly wrong, our obsession with keeping reptiles warm has slightly skewed our understanding of optimal conditions. Recreating a desert environment that we have never experienced within the parameters of a wooden vivarium is no easy task.

Matthew Rendle RVN explains the key to keeping reptiles successfully is providing choice.

Matthew is a veterinarian nurse that has worked with exotics for 30+ years, fronted countless conservation projects across the world and has kept and worked with exotics his entire life. He explained: “Effectively, husbandry for reptiles is extremely mixed but on the most part, temperature is almost always wrong. Reptiles need options. They need hot and cold. Being able to provide a gradient is of paramount importance.”

We are only now starting to understand the interconnectedness of every aspect of husbandry.

While a hot and cold end are recommended by pet shops for even the most novice of species, that gradient is rarely drastic enough.

Matthew continued: “For example, people often keep bearded dragons where the hot end isn’t hot enough so they absorb massive amounts of UV and the cold end isn’t cold enough so they can’t digest their food properly. Ectotherms are designed to thermoregulate as they require it. If they are too hot they need to cool down so that meal doesn’t rot inside them. There’s a huge range of what they want to do. If they are reproductively active there will be stages when they want to be hot and stages when they want to be cold so not giving them options is a massive issue.”

When you keep something too hot, all the nutrients go, so you see malnourishment when you keep something too hot, which is difficult to get your head around. Everybody’s gastric juices work at a specific temperature. Mammals are quite straightforward; our body heat keeps us ticking over okay but ectotherms need that option. Especially those that have fast metabolisms like heliotherms. For example, bearded dragons and fence lizards are well suited to that kind of behaviour. In the wild they get hot, use that burst of energy to hunt food and then hide in the undergrowth while they digest it.”

Providing a balance is crucial to keeping a healthy animal. Matthew added: “Previously you would see a lot of reptiles with MBD, now we’re seeing more and more reptiles with UV burns. Now we have brilliant products out there, people don’t realise that some of them are throwing out massive amounts of UV. People often think ‘more is better’.”

Of course, we know that UVB is fundamental to keeping healthy animals and the huge strides forward in animal welfare as a result of these breakthroughs is welcomed. However, we must be both cautious and logical in our approach to using these products. While many experts will have invested in a solarmeter, as well as their thermometers and hygrometers, novices should seek specialist advice. Taking regular temperature readings, height measurements and photographs of the enclosure to your local pet shop is a brilliant way to get sound advice.

“If they have a large meal and theye’re too hot, they need to cool down else they will sit and that bacterium will multiply and it will effectively rot inside them.

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Crestie

Title

Life

www.pro-rep.co.uk

Maintains Humidity

A blended substrate to help create the ideal environment 2021 forJULY Crested Geckos and other arboreal species.

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