Exotics Keeper Magazine May 2021

www.exoticskeeper.com • may 2021 • £2.99

A NEW WORLD

FOR MONKEYS New restrictions proposed for trade of primates in the private sector

SHARKS ARE FRIENDS

We love the blood-thirsty narrative of ravenous monsters lurking beneath the waves, but is that correct?

BACK FROM EXTINCTION

Some animals, after being thought extinct for decades, can reappear as if rising from the grave

SNAKES FIT FOR A KING

Has the corn snake’s supremacy in the pet trade cast a shadow over the true kings of the colubrids?

The trend towards bioactive planted terrariums has increased frog popularity, as they are the perfect animals for a fully planted terrarium. The Exo Terra Frog Terrariums are the perfect canvas for terrascaping - the craft of arranging natural plants, mosses, as well as vines, branches, stones and Exo Terra decor, in an aesthetic, natural manner.

Exo Terra’s Frogs & Co range of products are designed to work together, helping you to create and establish a harmonised natural microhabitat. All Frogs & Co items are key components to successfully establish a bioactive planted terrarium with a thriving frog population.

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Front cover: Common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) Right: Sinaloan milk snake (Lampropeltis polyzona)

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s we continue to explore the most current and interesting topics in the world of exotics, we thank you for such a positive response to our content. Expanding into the most thrilling subjects fuels this magazine but remember there is a whole wealth of husbandry tips, care guides and resources on our website for new pet owners.

In this issue we take an in-depth look at the whole Lampropeltis genus, speaking to some of the leading breeders and hobbyists in this field. What comes next for this diverse and often confusing group of snakes? Marmosets are the most sold primates in the UK and new legislations aiming to regulate sales and protect these complex animals are imminent.

We spoke to Charlie Crowther at Monkey World to tell us more.

The Lazarus taxon hold some of the most exciting conservation stories ever told; we share the tales of reptiles that appeared to rise from the dead. Finally, guest writer and marine biologist Hannah Rudd describes the immense pressure sharks are under and how that appears in British waters. As always, we have our species spotlight, fascinating fact and expert opinion which digs into bioactive substrates this month.

As the weather gets warmer and we begin to see zoo’s re-open, let’s hope this advancement breathes new optimism into aspiring conservationists, zoologists and private keepers across the country. We have certainly felt a new wave of freedom as our team can now begin visiting and filming some very exciting projects. Make sure you’re following all of our social media platforms to keep up to date with the video content coming soon.

Thank you, Craig Thornton

02 06 14 17 24 32 02 EXOTICS NEWS

The latest from the world of exotic pet keeping.

WORLD 17 AFORNEWMONKEYS

Marmosets are the most sold primates in the UK and new legislations aiming to regulate sales and protect these complex animals are imminent.

FROM 06 BACK THE EXTINCTION

We take a look at some of the Lazarus taxon.

14 SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

Focus on the wonderful world of exotic pets. This month it’s the Tiger Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus)

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ANIMAL FACTS

Did you know...?

ARE FRIENDS, 24 SHARKS NOT FOES It’s time for a rethink on Jaws.

FOR A KING, OR 32 FIT JUST MILKING IT?

Has the corn snake’s supremacy in the pet trade cast a shadow over the true kings of the colubrids?

42 EXPERT OPINION

We speak to Jamie Girling about Bioactive Substrates.

Exotics News

EXOTICS NEWS The latest from the world of exotic pet keeping

Hopefully, all being well, zoos will be allowed to reopen in England as from the 12th April.

Of course this is great news for our zoos, although the timing means that zoos will miss the first part of the crucial Easter period, for the second year in a row.

Zoo Update ZSL London Zoo It is planned to close the historic 90-year old Reptile House at London Zoo. A smaller, new reptile house will be built alongside a new indoor facility for the giant Galapagos tortoises. These will be constructed on the site of the current show tent in the court area of the zoo. Planning permission is being sought for this new development, which is hoped to be built in 2022. The new facility is to hold less species, around 29, but these will be species of “conservation concern”. The old reptile house will be re-purposed, with a heritage museum being one of the suggested options.

Bristol Zoo The zoo`s veterinary team performed an hour-long operation on a 15 year old female giant motoro orange-spot freshwater stingray. She had developed a fast-growing malignant tumour on her tail, so a large part of her tail, including the venomous barb, had to be removed.

Belfast Zoo Two critically endangered blue-throated macaws arrived from Landau Zoo in Germany and Mulhouse Zoo in France respectively. They have been

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London Zoo Reptile House (©P. Irven)

A critically endangered Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) in the old reptile house (©P. Irven)

in quarantine for several weeks before being slowly introduced to each other in their new habitat.

Curator, Andrew Hope explained, “Blue-throated macaws are classed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with recent estimates suggesting less than 250 remain in their natural habitat in Bolivia.

Belfast Zoo has a great reputation for our work with endangered birds. We specialise in cockatoos and have had success at breeding red-tailed and white-tailed black cockatoos”. “We hope these stunning new arrivals will prove to be vital additions to the European

breeding programme, which is in place to prevent the extinction of these colourful birds. It would be an incredible achievement for the zoo to breed these iconic birds.”

Chester Zoo A Rothschild`s giraffe was born to female “Orla” on the 12th March, and a female okapi was born to seven year old “K`tusha”, fathered by “Stomp” who is seventeen years old. The calf has been named “Nia Nia” after a small village located in the centre of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There are currently 76 okapi in European zoos.

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Exotics News

Black Rhino Release Programme

UK-born eight year old female Eastern black Rhino “Chanua” has been sent to Port Lympne where she will join two others on the first stage of her long journey to Tanzania. She was chosen to be part of Flamingoland`s black rhino release programme the “Udzungwa Forest Project” (UFP). She will be the second black rhino to be translocated from there to Africa, the first was “Olmoti” who was sent to a National Park in Rwanda previously. The rhinos will eventually make the epic journey to Tanzania where they will join wild rhinos.

Chanua (©Flamingoland)

Rescued Orang-Utans Released

Ten rescued orang-utans have been sent from the sanctuaries where they had been living back to the wild. In total five males, a mother with two infants and two other females were released in the Bukit Batikap Protection Forest in Murung Raya, Central Kalimantan Province in the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo. They were flown by helicopter deep into the forest, this was to avoid the risk of possible covid-19 transmission to the apes. Some of the orangs had been in rehabilitation since 2006. There are only estimated to be around 100,000 Bornean orangutans left in the wild, according to the World Wildlife Fund, more than half the population being depleted over the past 60 years. They have suffered from illegal poaching, as well as destruction of habitat due to large-scale logging and replacement of forests with cash crops such as palm oil.

Non-Invasive ECG for Apes

One of the major causes of mortality in the great apes in zoos is from heart disease and strokes.

So these days zoos want to be more proactive in tackling this problem and in order to reduce the risk zoos have been greatly improving the diets of chimpanzees, gorillas and orang-utans, but keeping an eye on the animals heart-health has always still been very difficult, with animals having to be sedated to safely monitor their conditions, which in itself carries a huge risk. Until now. Scientists have recently been working on the development of a non-invasive, passive, method of heart monitoring in these primates. With this in mind, an innovative

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©BOSF 2021

mobile electro-cardiogram (ECG) device has been developed, known as the ”Kardiamobile”. The unit can be attached to the outside of an enclosure, which the animals can be trained to use via operant conditioning methods. With only a small amount of pressure from the fingers of the animal on the device it is able to detect any abnormalities in the heart rhythm or the electrical activity of the heart.

This incredibly simple device is being welcomed by zoos and when this innovative welfare tool is more widely available it will surely become an invaluable part of monitoring the health of all anthropoid apes in captivity.

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Exotics News

©Prof. Dr. Gunther Kohler

New Snake Discovery

Mud snakes (family Homalopsidae) live in wetlands across Southeast Asia. Their habitats include natural swamps and open lands flooded during the rainy season, typically rice paddies. Scientists of the Senckenberg Research Institute in Frankfurt and the East Yangon University have now discovered a new species in a wetland near the university campus.

“We collected four individuals with short tails during fieldwork. We could not assign them to any known mud snake species,” explains Prof. Dr. Gunther Köhler, herpetologist at the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt.

Morphological analyses initially showed that the individuals are closely related to the mud snake

genera Myrrophis and Gyiophis. “However, their smooth dorsal scales, relatively short tail, separate nasal scales, the unusual number of their ventral, dorsal and sub-caudal scales, and the two-lobed mating organ the hemipenis showed that these individuals belong to a distinct new species and genus,” explained herpetologist Gunther Köhler.

“The species must have a very small distribution, otherwise it would have certainly been discovered earlier, as yet their ecology and population dynamics are unknown.” Prof. Dr. Gunther Köhler has already discovered and described more than 120 new species of amphibians and reptiles during his career.

Collated and written by Paul Irven.

ON THE WEB

Websites | Social media | Published research

Each month we highlight a favourite website or social media page THIS MONTH IT’S THE REPTILE DATABASE This database provides a catalogue of all living reptile species and their classification. Currently there are more than 10,000 species including another 2,800 subspecies. The database has no commercial interest and therefore depends on contributions from volunteers. www.reptile-database.org

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MAY 2021

Title

Not all parrot food is created equal.

The Psittacus range features over 50 distinct products which are widely regarded as the best on the market.

MAY 2021

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BACK FROM Title

EXTINCTION Some species are thought extinct for decades, before magically reappearing.

Introducing some of the Lazarus taxon.

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Title

Crested gecko (Correlophus ciliatus)

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Back from Extinction

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ince the dawn of time plants and animals have had to face immeasurable obstacles to ensure the perpetuation of their species. Catastrophes from the ice age to human intervention have wiped out countless species throughout history. However, some animals, after being thought extinct for decades, even centuries can reappear as if rising from the grave. These species belong to the ‘lazarus taxon’ and their natural histories are often tied with tales of mystery, resilience and discovery.

Adelaide Pygmy Blue Tongue Tiliqua adelaidensis

Thought extinct for 30 years.

The Adelaide pygmy blue tongue skink is a species of lizard that was considered extinct for 30 years. The smallest of the blue tongues, T. adelaidensis reaches just 10cm in length. In 1992, a herpetologist in South Australia discovered a brown snake (Psuedonaja textilis) which had been killed on the side of the road.

Being an inquisitive herpetologist, he decided to dissect it. A long-lost pygmy blue tongue was found in the digestive tract of the snake and inspired fresh herpetological efforts to find the missing species.

It is thought the Adelaide pygmy blue tongue was missing for such a long time because of its cryptic burrowing behaviour. T. adelaidensis inhabits very specific, unused spider burrows in the South Australian grasslands. Rarely venturing from their burrow, the pygmy blue tongue is much more secretive than the common Tiliqua species regularly seen in Australian gardens. Adult lizards will often raise their young for almost a month in the same burrow before they outgrow their crowded home and search for a burrow of their own. This underground lifestyle, although very secretive, provides protection from predatory birds and bush fires which the lizards would be exposed to abovesurface on their open grassland habitat.

Adelaide Pygmy Blue Tongue (Tiliqua adelaidensis) ©Nature Foundation

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Back from Extinction

Adelaide Pygmy Blue Tongue (Tiliqua adelaidensis) ©Zoos SA

Being so secretive with a very restricted range of just a few locations just north of Adelaide, captive breeding efforts for this species were largely unsuccessful for many years. As the window to save the species began to close, Monarto Zoo in South Australia finally managed to breed the pygmy blue tongue. AlyssaJane Tucker, Spokesperson for Monarto Zoo said: “Last year, we were thrilled to announce a world-first in conservation with the successful captive breeding of 14 endangered Pygmy Blue-tongue Lizards. This year, we are proud to continue this success with 12 neonate Pygmy Blue-tongues joining the Monarto Zoo family! Our breeding success represents a major contribution towards the conservation of one of our country’s rarest native reptiles and this year’s births are a significant step forward in safeguarding the species from extinction.”

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Of course, much research has been done around the viability of reintroduction and how well captive populations will be sustained in the future. Professor Mike Bull of Flinders University in South Australia has led much of the research that has slowly uncovered the natural history of these secretive skinks. He has discovered that livestock grazing intensity, ‘risky’ behaviours in neonates and co-existence with insects in the burrows could all affect the success of wild relocations. With a dedicated team of researchers making regular breakthroughs, Tiliqua adelaidensis is receiving an incredible level of conservation support. One man’s decision to dissect an eastern brown snake could have been the catalyst that saves this species from extinction.

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DID YOU KNOW?

The Lazarus taxon draws its name from the biblical Gospel of John which sees Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead.

There are roughly 350 Lazarus species presently.

Some of these animals have thought to be extinct for over 300 years.

The most famous of the Lazarus species is the Coelacanth.

Palaeontologists believed these giant fish were victims of the same extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. This was until one was found in a fish market in South Africa in 1938.

Two of the 90 documented species remain.

Many Lazarus species have evolved on extremely remote islands and are particularly fragile.

Despite humans often avoiding these hard-toreach locations, just one accidental introduction of domesticated goats or cats could destroy the entire ecosystem.

Back from Extinction

Cropan’s boa Corallus cropanii

Thought extinct for 64 years.

The Cropan’s boa is the rarest species of boa on planet earth.

Confined to the rapidly declining Atlantic Forest on the borders of Sao Paulo in Brazil, this species was thought to be extinct since 1953.

A public campaign to encourage local people to search for the snake proved successful in 2017 when the first live specimen in over six decades was brought to researchers from the University of Sao Paulo and the Butantan Institute (a biological research centre). The live specimen which was captured by local farmers provided the researchers with new opportunities, after studying the same five deceased specimens for many years.

The Butanan Institute published the following information on the day of the discovery (translated from Portuguese): “Known as Boa-do-Ribeira or Boa-de-Cropan this is the second of its species found in its habitat, the Valedo-Ribeira region of Sao Paulo.

The first time was in 1953 where it was described by another herpetologist in the institute.”

“After an initial collection on information, it will be released into its natural environment so that its biology and habits are studied through radiotelemetry device inserted into the animal. This will allow its monitoring in nature and send information to researchers.”

Since the rediscovery of a live specimen in 2017 a handful of dead animals have been found, with the most recent animal being brought to researchers in March 2021. This animal was unfortunately killed in a road accident by a woman in the Guapiruvu neighbourhood, but due to community outreach programmes, her son identified the rare snake and took it to researchers at the Jiboia do Ribeira Project, who said: “Although it’s a sad picture, we need to look at the positive perspective of the record. The animal represents the tenth individual of the species found, which will be dropped in the scientific collection and all possible information will be taken advantage of.

Cropan’s boa (Corallus cropanii) ©Livia CorreaInstituto Butantan

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MAY 2021

Back from Extinction

Voeltzkows Chameleon (Furcifer voeltzkowi) ©Dr Frank Glaw

Voeltzkows Chameleon Furcifer voeltzkowi

Thought extinct for 103 years.

After previously being disregarded as the rhinoceros chameleon (Furcifer rhinoceratus), the Voeltzkows chameleon was only recently reconsidered as its own species based on specimens which were sourced over 100 years ago. This new desire for discovery led a team of German researchers on an expedition to Northwest Madagascar in 2020 to rediscover this species which, until this point, had never been truly studied in the wild.

Their results state “During a targeted expedition, we rediscovered F. voeltzkowi in its natural habitat close to its type locality, allowing us to fill some gaps of knowledge. Furcifer voeltzkowi is a sexually dimorphic species. The life colouration of males is largely green, whereas that of females is highly variable and can be extremely colourful… show[ing] close similarities to F. labordi. [We can] confirm that F. voeltzkowi is a distinct species and sister to F. labordi.”

Being so closely related to the Labords chameleon (F. labordi), it is expected that this species has a

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very short life cycle. In fact, the Labords chameleon has the shortest lifespan of any vertebrate on the planet, surviving for just 5 months after hatching.

Their entire life cycle revolves around the seasons, with eggs hatching in November at the beginning of the wet season. These little lizards will then eat voraciously until they reach sexual maturity in January. They spend February breeding and by March the entire population will die off before the arrival of the dry season.

The paper continues: “We estimate the distribution range (extent of occurrence) of F. voeltzkowi to comprise ca. 1.000 km2 and suggest that it qualifies as Endangered under the IUCN Red List Criteria as its populations are expected to be severely fragmented, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat.”

Voeltzkow’s chameleon is thought to have very similar seasonal characteristics to its sister species which could explain why they went ‘missing’ for such a long time. With extensive floods destroying many of the roads to the remote locations where these chameleons come from, the rains likely hid this species from humanity for over a century.

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Back from Extinction

Fernandina Giant Tortoise Chelonoidis phantasticus

Thought extinct for 113 years.

Much of our understanding of the natural world is owed to the remoteness of the Galapagos islands and Charles Darwin’s observations of the specialised species there (without entering the Darwin/Wallace debate). The isolation of the Galapagos not only created highly adapted creatures found nowhere else on earth, but also highlights the ecological fragility of remote locations.

Many people are aware of the story of Lonesome George, the last remaining Pinta Island tortoise (Chelonoidis abingdonii). After the introduction of feral goats which decimated the vegetation on the island, George was the very last of his species.

George sadly passed away in 2012 with much debate around his age, which was expected to be anywhere between 80 – 100.

Each island in the Galapagos has extremely different conditions, creating extremely different species.

Fernandina is no different, this hostile volcanic island has almost no fresh water and is formed of deep volcanic rubble. Early explorers were shocked to discover the resilient Fernandina giant tortoise, which is thought to have been washed onto Fernandina from a neighbouring island thousands of years ago. After it was last recorded in 1906, the species was understandably thought to have gone extinct. A few faecal records and nesting sites were discovered periodically over the space of 100 years, tantalising biologists for almost a century.

Researchers accompanied by a film crew for ‘Extinct or Alive’ decided to embark on a voyage to the remote island and conduct a thorough search for the animal. In 2019 “Fern” was discovered hiding within her shell beneath a shrub on the island. Predicted to be almost 110 years old, she was the first Fernandina Giant Tortoise discovered in over a century. The team responsible for her discovery said: “to save a species, to bring an animal back that’s been given up on completely, forgotten about by the entire world is so overwhelmingly positive and most importantly inspires hope.”

Fernandina Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis phantasticus) ©Galapagos National Park

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Hope Calls for the Golden Mantella Title

Crested gecko (Correlophus ciliatus)

Crested Gecko Corellophus ciliatus

Thought extinct for 126 years.

Many of the New Caledonian geckos have quickly become very popular within the pet industry. The crested gecko certainly takes the title for the most popular species from this tiny pacific island and is now almost as common sight as leopard geckos and bearded dragons in pet shops.

In the wild, just five populations of this species exist on two very remote islands off the coast of New Caledonia. Because of this, the crested gecko was not officially observed since it was described in 1866. Many herpetologists thought the species was extinct until 1992 when, after a tropical storm, Robert Seipp found multiple individuals in the rainforest canopy.

Their success in the pet industry is not representative of their conservation status in the wild. In fact, the crested gecko is labelled as ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN redlist with populations decreasing. With the rise in popularity of this species in captivity comes new interest in preserving wild populations. Now, the habitat of crested geckos is protected by law. This legislation aims to curve the amount of seasonal non-timber crops which poses a serious threat to the species. Another major conservation concern for the geckos of New Caledonia is the introduction of the electric ant (Wassmania auropunctata) from South America. These insects will actively prey on the small reptiles, spelling ecological disaster for the island.

Because of their extremely restricted and remote

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range, much of the research around C. ciliatus is based on captive specimens. Luckily their abundance in the pet trade comes largely from their willingness to breed in captivity.

Crested Geckos were previously considered members of the Rhacodactylus genus until they were reclassified in 2012. This group of geckos is truly impressive, with many of them exhibiting complex camouflage patterns and some growing to a considerable size. The ‘Rhacs’ includes other increasingly popular pet species such as the Gargoyle gecko (R. auriculatus) and the ‘Leachie’ or New Caledonia giant gecko (R. leachianus).

What Next?

Lazarus species teach us a bittersweet lesson about the need for conservation and zoology in general.

As the human population continues to grow rapidly and more wilderness areas are destroyed before we really have a chance to study their inhabitants, there is likely to be many extinctions that go almost entirely unnoticed by science. However, the Lazarus taxon gives us a second chance. Sometimes this opportunity arises just at the point of critical interception, as is the case with the Cropans boa and Fernandina giant tortoise. Other times we receive a chance to understand secretive animals like the Voeltzkows chameleon or the pygmy blue tongue skink and learn to protect the delicate ecosystems they call home. For many of the readers of this magazine, the story of the crested gecko is most prominent. Avoiding illegal activities and being a responsible pet owner is the bare minimum we can do, but to develop our knowledge and share this with the world, is a giant step in the right direction.

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Species Spotlight

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT The wonderful world of exotic pets

Tiger Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus)

F

amed for their ability to recognise owners, the highly intelligent and beautifully coloured Tiger Oscar makes an excellent observation animal for those able to house them appropriately.

The Tiger Oscar is the first variant of the wild Oscar Cichlid from South America. Bred purposely for the aquarist hobby, these fish grow from small manageable tank mates to sizeable brutes over a lifespan of 10-13 years. Reaching a total length of around 25cm, a 75 gallon tank would be required for a single Oscar, stretching up to 100 gallons for a pair.

Although Oscars are reasonably hardy, creating a perfect Amazon basin environment is crucial to the success of keeping this species. Furthermore, their destructive behaviour means planning is required to create a tank with strong-rooted plants and appropriate décor. Water should also be oxygenabundant and heated to around 25°C.

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Due to their intelligence and personalities, fish keepers can get a lot of enjoyment from Tiger Oscars. In fact, some keepers have even reported teaching their Oscars tricks. They can understand who and when they are fed and will actively splash around the tank to gain attention from their carer.

Tiger Oscars are carnivorous and as such, should be fed carnivorous cichlid pellets, insects and brine shrimp. Their carnivorous diet combined with their strong personality makes this fish susceptible to aggression and housing individually is advised.

Although, with appropriately sized fish in an extremely large tank, Tiger Oscars can make good tankmates. They are always observing the world around them and can be interesting to watch.

Keepers can also identify when a Tiger Oscar is stressed as it will typically change colour and open its jaw, appearing very ‘bad-tempered’.

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Title

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Title

A NEW WORLD

FOR MONKEYS Marmosets are the most sold primates in the UK and new legislations aiming to regulate sales and protect these complex animals are imminent.

Common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

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A New World for Monkeys

D

espite a rich tapestry of legislations and permits to protect a vast number of exotic species, some of the most complex animals on our planet can be freely traded without restriction. Primates have been subject to much abuse as a result of their fascinating behaviours and a new law, currently in public consultation aims to stop that. Exotics Keeper Magazine caught up with Monkey World to discuss the trade of marmosets in the private sector.

Marmosets in the UK

Marmosets are some of the most well-known and appealing of the primates. Their tiny size and human-like mannerisms promote the idea that they are a manageable pet. Unfortunately, current government restrictions support this warped idea as Charlie Crowther at Monkey World explains: “Of all the primate species, 85 of these can be sold as easily as a goldfish. There are no legislations, restrictions or licensing on these species. They are often sold by unscrupulous breeders to well-meaning public who believe that because they do not require a license, they are easy to keep.”

and become socially aggressive, bonding to just one individual or animal in the house and being extremely confrontational to anyone else. It is usually at this stage when they are put into parrot cages, or in the case of one of our rescue marmosets, a hamster cage.”

“Primates are very socially complex. Marmosets for example, require indoor and outdoor enclosures.

They need social interaction that humans cannot provide and they also need exceptionally specialised veterinary care. Many veterinary courses

Unfortunately, without legal restrictions necessitating specialist care, the well-meaning public can often be misled into believing they are buying a suitable pet. With much of the trading taking place on social media platforms, unreliable information is presented side by side with the opportunity to own an animal which the buyer has a fascination for. Charlie continued: “Many of the common marmosets sold in the UK are sold as ‘tame’ or ‘hand reared’. In reality, they’re just young and dependable. At around 9 months to 1 year they reach sexual maturity

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Toucan trouble Title Toco toucan (Ramphastos toco)

only briefly cover exotic animals and this time is largely spent on reptiles. This explains why every single one of the 75 marmosets we have received from the UK pet trade has had a psychological or physiological illness. Without the correct space and diet marmosets can suffer from rickets, broken and fused bones, kidney failure and lots of other horrible conditions.”

The marmoset market

Although marmosets are rarely seen on public display in pet shops, Charlie informed us that the market is huge. She continued: “Common marmosets have a captive market. Females will almost always have twins, which the father then carries around. With two babies, every five months, reaching upwards of £1000, it is easy to see why breeders are motivated to breed these animals.”

As a rescue centre, Monkey World takes in many

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primates from across different species as a result of breeding for commercial gain. Many of the chimps in Monkey World’s care were originally Spanish beach chimps, used as photo opportunities for tourists in the early years. National reform and legal restrictions were necessary to change this attitude towards the commodification of primates.

The idea that primates are ‘just like us’ can actually generate extremely harmful ideas around the way we treat them.

Charlie continued: “People are fascinated by primates. They want to have them, own them and be close to them. Breeders will often tell buyers that they are just like us, to the extent that strange rumours circulate about marmosets feeding on human scraps and marshmallows, which makes no sense. However, in some ways they are just like us. If lockdown has proven anything it’s that we need social interactions and we need space and these specialist needs are rarely met for marmosets in the private sector.”

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Title A New World for Monkeys

Mini Monkeys The Callitrichidae family is made up of the tiny marmosets, tamarins and lion tamarins of Central and South America. There are around 42 species and subspecies in this family, all of which are arboreal and feed mostly on gums, saps, insects and occasionally small vertebrates. A handful of these species face immediate threat of extinction, being labelled endangered or critically endangered.

The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) can be found across Eastern Brazil. These primates rarely exceed 19cm in body length and exhibit white tufts of fur on the side of their heads, which coins their other common name; cotton-eared marmosets.

Unlike other species, the common marmoset is extremely adaptable and thrives in dry savannah forests as well as riverine and semi-deciduous forests. In fact, their adaptability means they are a frequent sight on the city edges of Rio de Janeiro.

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A New World for Monkeys

A new world

After decades of campaigning to see legal implications to the private ownership of primates, Monkey World is on the cusp of seeing a major breakthrough. A new legal reform, which would ban the sale and keeping of primates as pets, except for those who could apply for a ‘specialist primate keeper license’ has reached its final stages of being passed. The law seeks to protect primates from keepers who cannot meet their very complex needs. Charlie concluded: “The new legislation is a major success and is the furthest we have managed to push for primate welfare after years of trying. It is also the first time all three major parties have proposed restrictions on captive primates in their manifestos. We have long held the belief that private keepers of primates should be held to the same level of standards as zoos.

This means indoor and outdoor enclosures that are regularly assessed, specialist veterinarian

care available when needed and a rigorous hygiene procedure. If someone has all of the time and money in the world, who are we to say they cannot keep marmosets, but currently the law doesn’t reflect that standard.”

DID YOU KNOW? Title

“The public consultation that is currently underway proposes a ‘specialist primate keeper license’. The selling and trade of primates will be banned entirely and hopefully this should stem the numbers seen in captivity.

Existing keepers will also have a year to register their animals for a license, which should drive up the standards of welfare for any keepers that are cutting corners.”

Common marmosets are one of the most widely used primates in medical research. Their use in science has led to significant success in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Reaching between 12-15cm, the pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea) is the world’s smallest monkey.

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Unusually for primates, common marmoset parenting is done by the father. In fact, expectant fathers will see an increase in reproductive hormones and gain weight as if preparing for the birth of their children which they will then carry with them for up to 10 weeks (with occasional help from the mother and other members of the group).

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Animal Facts

ANIMAL FACTS Did you know...?

Spix’s Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixi)

A

fter rising to fame as the main influence for Disney’s ‘Rio’, the Spix’s Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixi) gained a significant amount of awareness for its title as the world’s rarest parrot.

Often referred to as the little blue macaw, this Brazilian parrot has been considered extinct in the wild since 2000.

Part of Brazil’s ‘National Plan of Action’ for the species involves reintroduction from captive breeding projects across Europe. A major turning point in this global effort is due to happen later this year. 52 parrots, will be introduced in stages through an adaption process throughout the year.

Until recently, the Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots in Germany, where the birds were bred, held 90% of the worlds Spix’s Macaws.

In the wild, the Spix’s Macaw would travel in family groups and maintain a monogamous relationship their entire life. They were granivorous and frugivorous and would travel the seasonal rivers searching for food, in response to rainfall.

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Title

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SHARKS ARE FRIENDS, Title

NOT FOES It’s time for a rethink on Jaws.

By Hannah Rudd.

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Title

Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)

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Sharks are Friends, Not Foes

F

or many of us our first introduction to sharks as kids was through the Hollywood blockbuster Jaws or a thrill-seeking nature documentary that defines them as one of our planet’s deadliest predators. We love the blood-thirsty narrative of ravenous monsters lurking beneath the waves patrolling our coastlines on the lookout for their next kill. Every summer media outlets are peppered with headlines of these so-called vicious killers - when in reality, here in the UK that ‘vicious killer’ is almost always a basking shark, a filter-feeding species with plankton at the top of the menu. After all, fear sells.

If you have ever had the opportunity to observe a shark in its natural environment, or even within an aquarium, you’ll soon realise how quickly those myths are dispelled. Almost everyone comes seeking a thrill and a chance to encounter Jaws but is quickly hit with the stark reality that the predatory behaviour they’ve become famous for is both very rare to observe and not the target of humans. Sharks are a highly misunderstood group of animals within the public psyche thanks to misleading perceptions crafted by both Hollywood and the media. In fact, research has shown that these negative stereotypes translate to limited support for their conservation.

Of course, Steven Spielberg’s Hollywood blockbuster interpretation of Pete Benchley’s Jaws is also the reason for so many people becoming interested in sharks in the first place. Sharks are apex predators and can inflict serious damage, even death, if you’re incredibly unlucky, but the idea that they’re mindless killing machines or that you are likely to become a shark attack victim every time you step into the ocean is both false and not supported by science. In fact, you’re more likely to die whilst taking a selfie, falling out of bed or by driving than you are by a shark – and nobody is scared of those mundane parts of everyday life. If there is a killer in this story, it is us.

Scientists estimate that 100 million sharks are killed every year, primarily driven by the increased

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desire for their fins and overfishing. But not only this, their populations have declined by more than 70% globally due to a range of threats like bycatch, habitat degradation and climate change.

In 2019 a collaborate study involved over 150 scientists identified that large pelagic shark species are especially vulnerable to international commercial fishing fleets as they tend to aggregate around hotspots of smaller fish species – the prey of the sharks, and coincidentally the target fish for the fishermen.

There are over 500 known species of shark with a diverse range of shapes and sizes residing in every ocean. From the freaky looking deep-sea sharks like the goblin shark and the frilled shark, to what we come to think of as a traditionally shaped shark, the great white and mako, to the gentlest of giants and the tiny catsharks. In terms of taxonomy, sharks belong to the Chondrichthyes – the cartilaginous fishes – and are a member of the sub-group, elasmobranchs, which also features skates and rays. For over 400 million years they have patrolled our ocean and are perfectly adapted apex predators with refined senses. The features that make a fish a shark include their ability to detect electricity (termed ‘electroreception’) through jelly-filled pores in their noses called ‘ampullae of lorenzini’, a lightweight cartilaginous skeleton, skin covered in dermal denticles, five to seven gill arches and a fatty liver for buoyancy instead of a swim bladder.

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Mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)

But what evolution could not prepare sharks for was the intensified pressure on their populations driven by humanity.

Unfortunately, the life history characteristics that make sharks formidable predators are also what make them susceptible to our activities. Firstly, sharks have what scientists call a ‘low fecundity’. This means that many shark species produce a low number of baby sharks with each reproductive cycle. Not only that, but it also takes them a relatively long time to sexually mature.

One study suggests that male great white sharks take 26 years to reach sexual maturity, with females taking 33 years. Sharks are also slow growing and long living – take the Greenland shark for example, the world’s oldest living vertebrate estimated to live up to 400 years. It’s easy to see why shark populations are so vulnerable to human impacts.

When dolphins fall victim to being entangled in nets or whales are targeted by commercial whaling, there is often public outcry. But

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when sharks are slaughtered in their millions for their fins – and sometimes thrown back into the ocean alive after having their fins removed – public interest is low. It’s not impossible to suggest that we can rethink our attitude towards sharks. Whales were once thought of as fantastical mythological creatures and dangerous monsters, which both sparked human curiosity and facilitated our desire to kill them through whaling. Luckily, before we lost some whale species forever, we recognised their key ecological role and that they are worth more alive through wildlife-based tourism. We had an attitudinal shift, and we must do it again.

But why should we care? Why do sharks matter? Sharks are the doctors of the ocean. They play an integral role in maintaining the health of our seas by regulating the species below them and preventing their populations from exploding. There’s evidence of the downsides of their removal happening already as sharks are thought to be functionally extinct – i.e their population is not

big enough to influence other species - on 25% of the world’s coral reefs. Sharks pick off the weak and sick too, which ensures strong genetic diversity, and they also play a key role in the ocean’s carbon cycle. They have inspired new technologies as well, like low water-resistant swimsuits and renewable wave power devices based on their tails. It’s understandable if you’re sat there thinking “but what does this have to do with me? I don’t depend on the ocean in my everyday life”.

But you do. For our global community to thrive, we all depend on a healthy ocean. From the air that we breathe – every second breath that we take is produced by our seas – to food provisioning, job security, climate change mitigation, improved mental health… The list goes on and on when you really consider how much the ocean touches your life on a daily basis, both directly and indirectly. It can be quite astonishing. We are all connected and it’s in all our interests to conserve sharks.XX (Atelopus zeteki)

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Sharks are Friends, Not Foes

British Sharks

It’s often surprising for people to hear that we have over 40 species of shark in UK waters, with 21 species being residential and 11 deep-sea species. Sadly, almost half of British sharks are understood to be threatened by extinction. From the second largest shark in the world to sharks with whip-like tails and some of the rarest species on the planet, Britain has some pretty special species. With our changing climate too, it is likely that in coming decades will see a range of new species in our seas. According to National Geographic, by 2050 we could see bigger shark species including great hammerheads, sand tigers and copper sharks in our waters.

But what about the world’s biggest predatory fish, the great white shark? The debate surrounding the presence of white sharks in British waters has raged on for some years. However, as exciting as that would be, there have been no confirmed sightings of them here in the UK. It isn’t impossible, however, with the conditions being comparable to other white shark hotspots around the world. The closest confirmed sighting to our shores was not too far

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away though, in the northern Bay of Biscay, recorded in 1977. Maybe one day they’ll reach our shores.

Basking Shark

Getting their name from their tendency to be basking in the sun as they swim through shallow waters in search of plankton feasts, the basking shark is the world’s second largest fish and can be found off our coastline between May and October. Due to its enormous size, it is the easiest shark to spot from our shores and there are a number of hotspots around our coastline. Despite its gargantuan size basking sharks are filter-feeders and they propel themselves through the water with their enormous mouths gaping open to filter plankton from the water. Like its tropical counterpart, the whale shark, basking sharks pose little threat to humans. A relative of the great white shark, basking sharks have recently been documented engaging in breaching behaviour – propelling their entire bodies out of the water. Unlike the white shark, which breaches on its prey in South Africa, it’s thought the basking shark breaches as a way of removing any parasites like copepods that are feeding on their skin.

MAY 2021 Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus)

Sharks are Friends, Not Foes

Blue Shark

With their elegant torpedo shaped bodies and distinctive blue colouration that becomes iridescent in the sunlight it is easy to see why the blue shark gets its name. An openocean dwelling species, blue sharks are highly migratory and have been documented travelling over 5,700 miles in a single trip.

They visit our seas during the summer months but are usually spotted 10+ miles offshore and there is an emerging ecotourism industry forming enabling people to snorkel with these slender sharks. Despite producing one of the largest pup litters of any shark species – one individual was recorded with 135 pups! - the blue shark is considered to be a Near Threatened species on the IUCN Red List largely due to its status as the most heavily fished shark species in the world.

Blue shark (Prionace glauca)

Porbeagle Shark

Often nicknamed ‘mini great whites’ it’s easy to see why as the porbeagle closelyresembles its cousin. All members of the Lamnidae family, also known as the mackerel sharks, have the ability to regulate their body temperature above that of the surrounding water in a process known as ‘endothermy’.

This makes them adapted to inhabiting the cold waters off our coastlines and enables them to successfully hunt with the warm blood keeping their muscles hot to quickly generate power to propel them through the water when needed. Porbeagles are a very elusive shark with little being known about them to science.

Porbeagle (Lamna nasus)

Angelshark

You’d be forgiven if you thought the angelshark was a species of ray. With their flattened body and eyes on top of their heads, angelsharks don’t conform to the stereotypical shape of sharks. As ambush predators that lay submerged on the seafloor awaiting prey to swim overhead, they are perfectly designed.

Until recently it was thought that angelsharks were all but gone from UK waters after being victims to bottom trawling. Whilst it is a critically endangered species and is potentially extinct off the east coast of the UK, recently a sub-population in Wales has been found to be thriving, giving hope to this species. As with all sharks though, angelsharks are slow growing taking between 8-12 years to reach reproductive age meaning population recovery is a very slow process.

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Angelshark (Squatina squatina)

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Sharks are Friends, Not Foes

Science has demonstrated that creating an emotional connection with an animal is one of the first steps in motivating the public to save it. Ecotourism is a good way of doing this and has been proven to be a powerful tool in changing public perceptions of sharks as it challenges stereotypes and allows the public to view these animals in a new light. Here in the UK, opportunities to get in the water with sharks are increasing. You can experience the secondlargest shark in the world, the basking shark, up in Oban, Scotland with Basking Shark Scotland or for free during a coastal walk in the Isle of Man. Off the Pembrokeshire Coast you can snorkel with Celtic Deep during an offshore adventure where you will likely come across many other marine wonders like minke whales and grey seals. Cornwall is also a shark hotspot where you may find a small-spotted catshark swimming amongst the kelp, or even spot a basking shark or blue shark too if you’re lucky. Whilst

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eco-tourism isn’t a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach and doesn’t apply to all species, many of which are the most endangered, it’s an excellent start to engaging the public with sharks and reversing the harmful stereotypes that currently exist.

If you’d prefer to be on dryland, then there is a wealth of aquariums here in the UK to observe sharks and learn more about them. There have been many questions about the ethics of captivity and it’s undeniable that some species do better than others in these environments. Zoos and aquariums generally provide high quality care for species and are also involved in breeding programmes and research which is ultimately benefiting the species in the wild and their conservation. They are also a great place to introduce little ones to life under the waves and to spark curiosity about our natural world at a young age.

SHARK HOTSPOTS IN THE UK

THE UK’S BEST AQUARIUMS FOR SHARKS

CORNWALL, ENGLAND HEBRIDES, SCOTLAND DORSET, ENGLAND ISLE OF MAN CARDIGAN BAY, WALES

NATIONAL MARINE AQUARIUM, PLYMOUTH BLUE PLANET, CHESTER SEA LIFE CENTRE, LONDON DEEP SEA WORLD, FIFE THE DEEP, HULL

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Sharks are Friends, Not Foes Title

So, what else can you do to help sharks?

The Shark Trust has a number of incredible resources to help you make changes in your everyday life for the benefit of sharks, but also to get involved with citizen science initiatives like their annual Great Eggcase Hunt. Heading to your local beach to collect shark and ray eggcases, also known as mermaids purses, is a unique way to enjoy the salty air whilst learning about British sharks and rays and contributing to science. Closer to home, you can ensure you only purchase sustainable seafood by checking that its Marine Stewardship Council certified or by checking its traffic light status in the Marine Conservation Society’s Good Fish Guide.

If you want to go a step further, then checking the method your seafood is caught by will also influence

reducing your impact on sharks. Longlines, trawls and gillnets are the key offenders for unintentionally killing sharks so it’s best to avoid those if possible.

Reducing your plastic consumption is another thing you can do, as is cutting down your energy consumption to reduce your eco-footprint. Sharks need a healthy ocean habitat to thrive too and it’s important we do our bit to conserve our seas more generally too. Ultimately, spreading awareness, having conversations and challenging stereotypes are also great ways you can support sharks and their conservation for free.

For far too long we have dismissed the role sharks play within our oceans and have not given them the respect that they deserve. Sharks are rapidly running out of time, but we can provide them with the chance to recover. It’s time with have a rethink on Jaws.

Dr. Sylvia Earle.:

“You should be scared if you’re in the ocean and you don’t see sharks.”

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Title

Pueblan milk snake (Lampropeltis polyzona)

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Title

FIT FOR A KING,

OR JUST MILKING IT? Has the corn snake’s supremacy in the pet trade cast a shadow over the true kings of the colubrids?

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Fit for a King or Just Milking it?

W

ith milk snakes offering stunning colouration, interesting characters and an expanding morph market, Exotics Keeper Magazine looks at the underdogs in the ‘best pet snake’ category.

Milk snake or an udder one?

All milk snakes are king snakes, but not all king snakes are milk snakes. The term king snake refers to all members of the Lampropeltis genus which is made up of 24 different species. Previously, the milk snakes were considered subspecies of the Eastern milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum), however this is no longer the case. Frequent updates in the taxonomy of this complicated genus of snakes contributes to the popularity of using common names in conjunction with scientific names.

The wider group of “king snakes” range from Canada to Ecuador, contributing to the genus’ versatile appearances and behaviours. Milk snakes also range across much of this area though most species that appear in the pet trade are from Mexico and Central America. These are the popular Honduran, Sinaloan, Nelsons and Pueblan milk snakes.

According to the University of Michigan’s Animal Diversity Web, the milk snake gets its name from an old folktale claiming the snake sneaks into barns and drinks the milk of nursing cows. Of course, this is physically impossible and there is no truth in this tale at all. Their distinct tri-colour patterning could contribute to the perpetuation of this story, as they are an easily recognisable snake that could be found on farms where there are lots of rodents to feed on.

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Something a little less corny

Caring for a milk snake is very similar to caring for a corn snake and yet the latter has consistently proven more popular than the former. This is largely because of their suitability as pets. Overall, corn snakes have a much more tolerant demeanour, especially as young snakes which pet owners are likely to buy. However, with such a broad range of king snakes available on the market, bold species such as the central plains milk snake (L. gentilis) or the California king snake (L. californiae) can make excellent pets as they mature.

Gary Morris (GM Reptiles) and Toby Maxted (TMAX Reptiles) have been keeping and breeding kingsnakes, including milk snakes for decades. Both share a similar passion for the Lampropeltis genus and regularly attend many of the European trade shows. Gary told Exotics Keeper Magazine: “Corn snakes just never really excited me. I have kept them for friends, but I have only ever had three in my collection. Kingsnakes on the other hand, have a bit more about them in my opinion. They often have bright colouration and they’re almost always shiny, in fact their Latin name translates to ‘shiny shield’. I mean, this is a snake that will eat another snake, there’s just something about their character that I find more exciting than corn snakes. A lot of them can reach an impressive size too so they’re

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Fit for a King or Just Milking it?

confident. You can really feel that snake in your hands!”

Toby explained his very similar infatuation with king snakes as he told us: “I like their attitude too.

They’re always moving and always interacting with their environment.

It’s not like other snakes that will sit there for the majority of the day, milk snakes are like having a kid around the house. Yes, king snakes are more food oriented, but I would never put someone off buying a milk snake as their first snake. I would always warn of the size of Hondurans, because people don’t realise how long they can get, especially the males! Generally, the sinaloans and the pueblans are shy snakes but with a bit of patience they will definitely get used to handling.”

Versatile style

Despite having a widespread distribution, the kingsnakes are often grouped into similar care guides and requirements. Although some milk snakes occur as far south as Ecuador and some king snakes as far north as Canada, the natural behaviours of these animals mean there are few disparities in their care and keeping.

Stuart Worth has been a major figurehead in the herpetoculture industry since the 1980s. He explains “There is not a lot of difference in the care requirements of the king snakes. The main difference between the North American and Central America species would be that the former would require a longer cool period

in the winter, whereas the latter would require a much shorter one, if any at all. The species that do come from Central America tend to inhabit grassland environments rather than tropical forests, so the keeper could provide slightly higher humidity levels, but this really isn’t necessary. The biggest variation in the care of these species is between the highland and lowland species. For example, the mountain king snakes are going to need a much cooler temperature than their lowland counterparts.”

This gives keepers a lot of scope when it comes to choosing a king snake. Not only is there a whole spectrum of species, subspecies, locales and morphs, but all of them are quite straightforward

Sinaloan milk snake (Lampropeltis polyzona)

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Fit for a King or Just Milking it?

in their care. For someone who is looking for a manageable snake, the central plains milk snake (L. gentilis) typically displays a relaxed nature, but with enough patience the stunning colouration of a sinaloan or nelsons milk snake (L. polyzona) can be hugely appealing. Gary continued: “There’s a lot of choice with milk snakes. The smaller size animals are probably a good first choice, I really like the L. annulata (Mexican milk snake) but also your sinaloans and nelsons are great. But really, they all vary. Just like people, they have individual characters so I wouldn’t say that one species is better than another.

There’s something for everyone. Even people who don’t like the tri-colour looks can buy a black milk snake (L. micropholis).”

Housing mini milks

Kingsnakes behave differently to corn snakes, but for the right person they can be extremely rewarding and manageable pets. Being such hardy animals, creating a suitable enclosure for a milk snake is relatively simple to achieve but enjoyment can be found in going the extra mile. The first important thing to consider is the size of the snake. Young snakes can almost double in size each year, so housing appropriately to avoid significant stress to the animal is crucial. Gary Morris added “Housing a Black milk snake (Lampropeltis micropholis)

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youngster appropriately is important. I wouldn’t rush to put a neonate into a full sized viv as it can cause too much stress. They already have a lot of exploration to do without having to worry about where their water bowl is. Remember this is a stressful time for the animal anyway, take time with them. We must remember this animal thinks you’re a predator to them.”

Young king snakes are also notoriously snappy, so it’s important to be patient when purchasing a new snake. Toby explains: “Youngsters are quite bitey and I can see why someone new could be put off by this, but its just a little scratch. After a few weeks, maybe a couple of months they get much more comfortable with you and become great pet snakes. The most important thing is for people to do their homework, but also don’t be afraid to ask questions.”

As snakes that can reach up to five feet in length, a 4 X 2 X 2 feet vivarium is required to house most adult milk snakes. Of course, the smaller species will feel more comfortable in an enclosure this size and going slightly larger for a Honduran is not going to hurt.

Supplying a hot end of around 32°C and a cool end of around 23°C with plenty of hides is a necessity.

Providing “Zone 1” UVI lighting should give the animal adequate UVB. Heating is often achieved through a heat mat, but observations of snakes in bioactive enclosures have seen some king snakes choosing to use a basking spot as opposed to their ‘warm hide’. Liam Sinclair of Reptiles and Research suggests: “a lot of days my king snakes will flat out sit under the T5 and bask all day. In the wild they bask cryptically by exposing a single coil or when they do bask openly its amongst grass and other vegetation where it is safe from predators.

But in captivity it’s another story, there are no predators so the need to avoid being seen isn’t as dire. Hence why mine bask so readily. The benefit of basking remains while the risk of predation is removed. These benefits include: Increased activity levels and alertness and increased melanin production - so they may look better. People take snakes outside to look at the iridescence in the light.

When you have UVB they sit there shimmering,

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In the field with Aimee Jones

Albinos milk snake (Lampropeltis polyzona)

the Mexican black kingsnakes almost have a blue hue to them.

It’s fantastic.” Along with these observations, UVB holds a myriad of well-known health benefits for the development of the animal.

Substrate choice can be largely subjective, especially with snakes.

As king snakes can be particularly

inquisitive with some burrowing tendencies, maintaining a naturalistic or bioactive set up can provide a wealth of enrichment.

Liam continued: “Previously I had the Cali king bioactive, and my Mexican black king snakes on a naturalistic mix of topsoil to play sand while still doing full cleans. I have switched one of my Mexican black kingsnakes to lignocel to see if there are any behavioural differences. What I found after the snake had adjusted is that once a lattice of tunnels is formed, they tend to be reused. I noticed burrowing behaviour increased when I heavily

sprayed down the enclosures once a week, I think this is because it made the soil easier to work with. As the heat from vivariums below warmed the one above, the substrate was being warmed from both angles, causing it to dry out and compact quickly. I have noticed quite adept climbing abilities, even the use of the tail to grip things as they go. I have also noticed a notable increase in muscle tone in 2 of my snakes.

Just the position of branches etc or hides can affect behaviour. It’s better for the snake and its better for the keeper to watch a more active snake that’s out more.”

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

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Fit for a King or Just Milking it?

Not just a vanilla milksnake

There seems to be an accessible route into the morph market for milk snakes, facilitated by their low costs and bright patterns. Being prolific breeders with a high demand for animals anyway, morphs can give breeders new goals and ambitions. Matthew Pearman has recently embarked on a new morph breeding project called Milksnake Mutations, he said: “I’ve kept milksnakes for 10 years now, in fact they were my second ever species that I had when I was a teenager. Milksnake mutations came about because I’ve finally found myself in a stable job, with an equally enthusiastic partner and we said screw it, let’s do it!”

“Compared to corn snakes, I do think they’re hugely underappreciated in the morph market. The truth is, there is not many base genes which puts people off. The base genes are hypomelanistic, amelanistic and anerythristic but then responsible line breeding creates different scales within these genes. I think milksnakes are great because every budget is different and top whack for a Honduran is around £1,000 which really isn’t that much in comparison to other species.”

With such a wide range of species and subspecies, the Lampropeltis genus gives new breeders the opportunity to build a collection of snakes that remains rooted in their childhood passions. Young breeders have a lot of scope to develop on their existing expertise, whilst remaining confident in their experienced approach.

Sting of the King

The hardy nature and adaptability of the Lampropeltis genus has allowed one species to cause ecological damage to the Canary Islands.

With few predators on the island, the common king snake (L. getula) has established four well rooted populations on the island of Gran Canaria. Being cosmopolitan feeders, the snakes are feeding on island’s endemic lizard species. Since 2009 over 7,000 snakes have been caught in multiple attempts to quell the population growth and protect the indigenous wildlife.

The snakes on Gran Canaria are almost certainly the descendants of escaped pets or released animals from the 80s when king snakes had their initial spike in popularity. As such, Spanish authorities have pushed to list Lampropeltis getula under

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Fit for a King or Just Milking it?

the European Union Invasive Alien Species (IAS) legislation. This listing would effectively ban the trade, breeding and movement of the species and all subspecies in the EU. Although this has not come to fruition in the four years that the debate has been ongoing, it is possible that despite leaving the EU at the beginning of the year and there being little risk of any damage from the species here, this may still affect the UK. Both the Reptile and Exotic Pet Trade Association (REPTA) and the Federation of British Herpetologists (FBH) submitted responses to the IAS scientific forum challenging the validity of the proposal on an EU wide basis. REPTA told Exotics Keeper Magazine: “Whilst there can be no doubt of their impact on Gran Canaria this cannot be translated onto mainland Europe, and definitely not into the northern areas of the EU, such as the UK. For this reason, among others, we objected to the proposal on both occasions it was presented.”

“Since leaving the EU, the UK has adopted all of the current species listed under IAS, however we are not clear about how they would view future listings. It is our hope that the UK Government will adopt a scientific, evidence-based approach to any new listings and adopt them or not on the basis of the risk in the UK. Currently it looks like the Kingsnake proposal may be presented a third time for assessment. However, as we are no longer part of the EU, the UK will not form part of the assessment. If the proposal is adopted then ALL L. gentula subspecies will be banned in the EU, meaning you can’t sell, breed or transport them. The impact on the UK therefore hinges on our Governments approach to proposals.”

“Northern Ireland however is bound by the Northern Ireland Protocol and so an EU ban would be enforced in Northern Ireland regardless of if it were adopted by the UK”

Eastern milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum)

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DID YOU KNOW?

Fit for a King or Just Milking it?

Honduran milk snake (Lampropeltis abnorma)

What next?

Most species of kingsnakes are considered cannibalistic and will actively prey on other snakes including rattlesnakes.

The term ‘king’ is often associated with snakes that will prey on other snakes, such as the king cobra.

The harmless milk snakes utilise aposematic mimicry to resemble the venomous coral snakes (Micruroides .spp & Micrurus .spp).

Some kingsnakes have also developed patterns to mimic the venomous cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus). The rhyme ‘red next to yellow, kill a fellow’ helped locals identify the harmful coral snakes at a time when anti-venom was reliant on the identification of a species.

GM Reptiles’ Top Tips For Keeping Milk Snakes • House appropriately for the size of the animal.

• Be patient with handling.

• Look at the options. Is this a pet snake or will you want to breed with them further down 40 the line?

The Lampropeltis genus will always be popular amongst pet owners. As such a rich and diverse genus of snakes, there is still much to explore.

For hobbyists that have worked with these species for decades, there is no comparison between milk snakes and corn snakes. However, what makes a “good” pet snake is also very subjective. Despite legal challenges threatening some of the most popular king snakes from the early days of herpetoculture, the Lampropeltis genus is a perfect example of how dynamic the hobby is.

From frequently changing Latin names to a tapestry of colour morphs and new breeding projects appearing often, the milk snakes that we know and love offer a level of depth that is often overlooked.

Despite many experts dedicating their entire lives to these animals, milk snakes are certainly one of the more underappreciated of the long-standing species in the hobby today. Yet, while owners find such immense joy keeping milk snakes, the corn snake comparison is a conversation that enthusiasts will never need to entertain.

Disclaimer: All scientific names and captioning have been based on current scientific data published through the reptile database. The grouping of L. Polyzona as a single species is subject to much contention.

MAY 2021

KEEP YOUR REPTILE HEALTHY & SAFE In the field with Aimee Jones

Solarmeter ® point-and-click handheld meters ensure the health and safety of your reptile. The Model 6.2R is used to monitor lamp intensity and lamp life.

The Model 6.5R measures the UV Index related to the Vitamin D action spectrum and Ferguson Zones to identify reptile-safe basking areas.

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CHOOSE THE RIGHT METER FOR YOU

Model 6.5R Reptile UV Index Meter or the Model 6.2R Reptile UVB Lamp Meter?

Ideally, reptile keepers will want both meters. Because the Model 6.5R Reptile UV Index Meter’s erythemally weighted action spectrum is extremely close to the action spectrum for Vitamin D3 synthesis, it is the ideal tool to determine proper UV dose for your reptile, per the appropriate Ferguson Zone for the species. In fact, the 6.5R’s readings can function as a proxy for the Vitamin D3-producing ability of the habitat’s light source. Meanwhile, the Model 6.2R Reptile UVB Lamp Meter is ideally suited to determine if UVB lamps are performing to manufacturer’s specifications, gauge intensity, and measure aging over time. In short, use the Model 6.5R to determine proper UV dose for the animal, and use the Model 6.2R to determine UVB lamp output.

SOLARMETER

Henkel’s leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus henkeli)

™

MAY 2021

SolarMeter.com | Glenside, PA USA | 1-215-517-8700

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Expert Opinion

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

Jamie Girling on Bioactive Substrates

equipped to deal with this in the wild, it isn’t natural to experience this all the time.”

ioactive setups are quickly becoming the industry standard for many species. The substrate we choose in order to recreate a natural environment is far removed from the bark chips and paper towels which were used in the early days of herpetoculture. Although many enthusiasts blend their own substrates, understanding the complex science behind natural ecosystems is crucial to creating a self-maintaining bioactive set up.

By having innovative product development at the forefront of the hobby, enthusiasts can now create naturalistic environments that align much closer with the wild conditions their animal lives in. The combination of bioactive products and ferguson zone lighting as standard means even the most novice of keepers can purchase everything they need to create a patch of rainforest in one trip to their local pet shop.

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Jamie Girling is the lead product developer at ProRep and conceptualised Bio Life Forest and Bio Life Desert.

Jamie told Exotics Keeper Magazine: “Bio active substrates are designed to allow for the maintenance of living ecosystems inside the terrarium and we are trying to replicate those conditions. For example, forests are very acidic whereas if you move to more desert regions where you’ve got more mineral content, they don’t have such a high acidic level. There’s a number of reasons for that, as trees shed their leaves, they will add more acidity to the soil, this is why you will see things like mosses grow instead of grasses. It’s that acidity that stops other plants from getting in there.

You will also see more acidity where you find more biological detritus. That said, if you have a desert plant or a cactus, they won’t survive with that level of acidity, so it’s very important to get that pH level right.”

Understanding the natural conditions found in the rainforest and desert environments is just the first step to creating an all-encompassing substrate. Jamie continued: “The main nutrients in a bioactive set up are formed from the process of breaking down faeces and detritus with insects. So, with Bio Life Forest the bark chips will aerate the soil, but will also break down.

The peat moss contributes to the acidity level of the substrate. The charcoal in there will help prevent stagnation and hold onto beneficial soil microbes by slowing reducing the leaching of nutrients.”

Jamie concluded: “The idea with these substrates is you can create the natural environment and only need to add external elements. Really, we wanted to move people away from the bark chips, beech chips or sand that they were keeping the animals on, which they would never encounter naturally. Of course these are geared towards plants and animals as opposed to substrates which are species-specific. For example, Desert Life replicates the wild conditions with some soil to help plants take hold. It will also retain some of that moisture for some time, because even in deserts, whenever there’s rain the substrate will retain moisture.”

As the industry continues to move full steam ahead towards naturalistic environments to provide a higher level of enrichment, substrates will continue to develop. Whilst lighting might be the most popular ‘breakthrough’ conversation over the last decade, it’s important to consider the role that substrate has for animals from humidity retention and plant growth to burrowing potential and enrichment. The shift towards natural enrichment from sterilisation in how we keep our animals will likely bring endless advancements in this exciting field.

“The open structure also provides the optimal conditions for rooting plants and detritivores such as springtails and woodlice. It also stops soil getting stuck to inhabitants like dart frogs. If someone uses coir, this will quickly cover the frogs and even though they’re

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MAY 2021

Crestie

Title

Life

www.pro-rep.co.uk

Maintains Humidity

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

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