Exotics Keeper Magazine April 2022

A FIELD OF OPPORTUNITY

Going back to nature with corn snakes

BACK FROM THE BRINK

LIVE PLANT BASICS

We make some suggestions for the most popular and readily available plants to meet the needs of keen hobbyists.

PANGOLINS IN PERIL

An estimated 100,000 pangolins are captured for illegal trade each year. This is having a serious impact on the world’s populations.

The Chinese crocodile lizard is one of the rarest lizards on the planet, but captive breeding projects have helped conservation efforts.

CONTACT US EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES hello@exoticskeeper.com

SYNDICATION & PERMISSIONS scott@exoticskeeper.com

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MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY Peregrine Livefoods Ltd Rolls Farm Barns Hastingwood Road Essex CM5 0EN

Print ISSN: 2634-4688 Digital ISSN: 2634-4688

EDITORIAL: Thomas Marriott

Aimee Jones

DESIGN: Scott Giarnese

Amy Mather

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Welcome to the April issue of EK Magazine. With atrocities happening across the world and most recently on our doorstep in Eastern Europe, we are proud to now be able to support meaningful charity efforts. In February we launched our first donation package, directly from the EK Fund to support Bion Terrarium, a captive breeding facility based in Ukraine focused on safeguarding rare and endangered species. We have been both touched and horrified by stories of dedicated exotics keepers putting their lives on the line to care for their animals. From zoos to private collections, the love and compassion shown by hobbyists and zookeepers is incredible and we encourage all readers to support these organisations in any way they can.

This issue also has a conservation focus. From highlighting the importance of private hobbyists in the recovery of the Chinese crocodile lizard to an uncensored look by Paul Irven at the illegal trafficking of pangolins and the people trying to protect them. We also look towards nature to improve the welfare of captive corn snakes and look at their history in captivity. Finally, we have worked with UK plant experts to provide advice for introducing live plants into terrariums. Not all of us have green thumbs and this advice should help new keepers provide these valuable enrichment opportunities.

Last month, our donation went to APOPO – the charity training rats to save lives by detecting landmines and tuberculosis in developing countries. More information on the donation will be made available on our social media channels. As always, none of this would be possible without your purchase or subscription, so thank you once again.

Finally, I would like to say it was brilliant to get back to in-person conferences, following last month’s BHS/AHH Annual Conference. It was a wonderful event, with some extremely insightful talks. Most importantly though, it brought together hobbyists from across the country to discuss their passions and I look forward to meeting many more enthusiasts face to face, once again this year.

Thomas Marriott Features Editor

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: Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus)

Right: Chinese crocodile lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus)

02 06 16 02 EXOTICS NEWS

The latest from the world of exotic pet keeping.

06 A FIELD OF OPPORTUNITY

Going back to nature with corn snakes.

14 SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

Focus on the wonderful world of exotic pets. This month it’s the Blue baboon tarantula (Monocentropus balfouri).

24 31 37

16 BACK FROM THE BRINK

24

31

How captive breeding projects have helped save the Chinese crocodile lizard.

SEEING THE FOREST THROUGH THE TREES

Back to basics with live plants.

PANGOLINS IN PERIL

Pangolins are the most illegally trafficked mammals in the world.

37 KEEPER BASICS:

The EK guide to setting up your bird cage.

44 TURTLE TALLY Win over £100 of goodies.

45 FASCINATING FACTS Did you know...?

46

ENRICHMENT IDEAS

Monthly tips on how to enrich the life of your pet.

EXOTICS NEWS

The latest from the world of exotic animals

the youngster at a boost. Nick-named “Dobby” – the calf has now been sexed as a female. Dave White, team manager at the zoo, said: “This is the very first aardvark to be born at the zoo and so it’s a momentous landmark for us and a real cause for celebration. We’re overjoyed”. There are 66 aardvarks in European zoos, with 109 in world zoos.

The Closure of the Fifth Oldest Zoo in the World

After 186 years, Bristol Zoo - the fifth oldest zoo in the world announced that it will permanently close on the 3rd September 2022. During the past 18 months over 100 species have left the iconic collection, leaving mainly species that will be retained for the “new Bristol Zoo” to be created at the Wild Place Project (the zoo`s sister-site) in 2024. Species such as the Lowland gorillas will be provided with a new woodland facility along with cherry-crowned mangabeys, African grey parrots and slender-snouted crocodiles. In due course black rhinos will be also brought into the new collection.

Rare Ape Born

At Twycross Zoo a bonobo named “Upendi” was born to 25 year-old female “Cheka”, the infant is the first born at the zoo since 2019. Twycross Zoo`s group numbers 13 individuals and is the only place in the U.K. where you can see this species.

Snakes Hatch at Dudley Zoo

Beaded Lizards at Beale

Two Rio Fuerte beaded lizards (Heloderma exasperatum) – named “Tequila” and “Jalapeno” have arrived at Beale Wildlife Park in Pangbourne, the species is native to Western Mexico and is one of the less commonly seen of the four species of beaded lizard species to be seen in U.K. collections, it was given full species status in 2013.

Aardvark Baby

Chester Zoo have successfully bred their first aardvark. Born on the 4th January to 8 year-old female “Oni”, and sired by six year-old male “Koos”, the calf was only half the normal body weight of new-born aardvarks at 2lb. So staff commenced supplementary night feeds for five weeks to help build give

Two red-tailed green rat snakes (Gonyosoma oxycephalum) have hatched in Dudley Zoo`s Reptile House. The tiny hatchlings, who are native to Southeast Asia, have been named “Noodle” and “Ramen” and are currently off-show.

A female can lay a clutch of three to eight eggs up to four times a year and incubation takes between 13 – 16 weeks, with the babies measuring around 45cm in size. They can live up to 20 years, but they are decreasing in number due to being poached for their colourful skin.

New Species - The “Tapir-Frog”

The people of Peru’s Comunidad Nativa Tres Esquinas have long known about a tiny, burrowing frog with a long snout; one local name for it is rana danta, “tapir frog” for its resemblance to the large-nosed Amazonian mammal. But until now, this frog has remained elusive to biologists. Now thanks to the help of local guides, an international team of researchers was able to find the frog and give it an official scientific name and description.

“These frogs are really hard to find, and that leads to them being understudied,” says Michelle Thompson, a researcher in the Keller Science Action Center at Chicago’s Field Museum and one of the authors of a study describing the frog in Evolutionary Systematics. “It’s an example of the Amazon’s hidden diversity, and it’s important to document it to understand how important the ecosystem functions.”

“Frogs of this genus are spread throughout the Amazon, but since they live underground and can’t get very far by digging, the ranges each species is distributed in are fairly small. Since we found this new species in the Amazon peatland, it wouldn’t be strange for it to be restricted to this environment. Its body shape and general look seems to be adapted to the soft soil of the peatland, rather than the robust and wider shape of species in other environments, ”says Germán Chávez, a researcher at Peru’s Instituto Peruano de Herpetología and the study’s first author.

But while the frogs are hard to see, they’re not hard to hear. “We just kept hearing this beep-beep-beep coming from underground, and we suspected it could be a new species of burrowing frog because there had recently been other species in its genus described,” says Thompson. Local guides who were familiar with the frogs led the researchers to peatland areas-- wetlands carpeted with nutrient-rich turf made of decaying plant matter. The team searched by night, when the frogs were most active. “We could hear them underground,

going beep-beep-beep, and we’d stop, turn off our lights, and dig around, and then listen for it again,” says Thompson. “After a few hours, one hopped out of his little burrow, and we captured it’”

The researchers used the physical specimens of the frogs, along with the recordings of their calls and an analysis of the frogs’ DNA, to confirm that they were a new species. They named them Synapturanus danta -- Synapturanus is the genus they belong to, and danta is the local word for “tapir.”

New Frog Found in India

A study led by Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), has described the discovery of a new frog species in freshwater sources along all the states that the Western Ghats.

The Jaladhara skittering frog (Euphlyctis jaladhara), was actually first spotted in the Deccan plateau and the western ghats in India over two centuries ago. In 2017 this frog was spotted in the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary in Kerala, then the species was later spotted during subsequent forest surveys focusing on freshwater bodies in Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat and the Union Territories of Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

But the latest scientific study, published in the journal Zootaxa, involved the researchers adopting an integral taxonomic approach, examining the morphology, the genetics and geographical mapping of the species. Among the characteristics that distinguish Jaladhara from other skittering frogs are larger sized females than the males, equal head size and width, and colour patterns on the ventral-side. Since the newly discovered amphibian survives in freshwater, water pollution and drying of the sources remain a threat to their existence, the researchers said.

©Anglian Water

©Zoo Atlanta

©Beale Wildlife Park

©Dudley Zoo

©Chester Zoo

Chimpanzees Observed Treating Wounds with Crushed Insects

Findings published in the journal Current Biology contribute to the ongoing debate about empathy among animals.

The project began in Gabon in 2019, when an adult female chimpanzee named “Suzee” was observed inspecting a wound on the foot of her adolescent son. “Suzee” then suddenly caught an insect out of the air, put it in her mouth, apparently squeezed it, and then applied it to her son’s wound. After extracting the insect from the wound, she applied it two more times.

Scientists observed this behaviour in chimpanzees in the West African nation of Gabon, noticing that the apes not only use insects to treat their own wounds, but also those of their peers. The research, published in the journal Current Biology, marks an important contribution to ongoing scientific debate about the ability of chimpanzees – and of animals in general – to selflessly help others.

The scene unfolded in Loango National Park on Gabon’s Atlantic coast, where researchers were studying a group of 45 central chimpanzees. Over the following 15 months, scientists saw chimpanzees administer the same treatment on themselves at least 19 times.

And on two other occasions they observed injured chimpanzees being treated in the same way by one or several fellow apes. The wounds, sometimes several centimetres wide, can come from conflicts between members of same or an opposing group. Far from protesting against the treatment, the bruised chimpanzees were happy to be tended to.

Researchers have not been able to identify what bug was used on the wounds, but they believe it to be a flying insect given the chimpanzees’ rapid movement to catch it.

ON THE WEB

Websites | Social media | Published research

The insect could contain anti-inflammatory substances that have a soothing effect. Insects are known to have various medical properties and researches will need to conduct more work to detect and study the insect in question.

Birds, bears, elephants and other animals have already been observed self-medicating, for example by eating plants. But what is unique about chimpanzees is that they will treat not just themselves, but also help others.

Each month we highlight a favourite website or social media page

THIS MONTH IT’S: ADVANCING HERP HUSBANDRY

A Facebook group created to promote the most progressive husbandry methods and improve animal welfare. It is a welcoming community of enthusiasts, managed by experienced professionals. More information on their 2022 conference with the BHS is available on the EK blog. www.facebook.com/groups/AdvancingHerpHusbandry

©Tobias Deschner

Collated and written by Paul Irven.

A FIELD OF OPPORTUNITY

Going back to nature with corn snakes.

Corn snakes belong to the Colubridae family. Formerly this species was considered synonymous with the Elaphe genus. Now, the term ‘Elaphe’ loosely represents several genera, most of which are commonly called rat snakes. Being closely related to the rat snakes of North America, corn snakes are medium-sized constrictors that are adaptable by nature and widespread across Eastern and Central USA. However, the corn snake with its distinctive name and iconic patterns became a symbolic icon of the exotic pet boom in the 1980s. Today, they remain the most popular pet snake in the world due to their docile characteristics and reliable availability across the planet. They are a flagship species to inspire young people to engage with herpetology and have changed the perceptions of Ophidiophobes for generations. However, the natural history and wild conditions that corn snakes thrive in are rarely the focal points of these interactions, meaning there is a lot more that mother nature can teach us about our much-loved corn snake.

Corn snake diets

The name ‘corn snake’ is thought to come from the patterns on the underside of this species’ belly, which looks like the flecked pattern on maize (or as it is referred to in America; flint corn). However, it is true that, like many rat snakes, corn snakes are found near corn due to their fondness for a rodent diet. However, these constrictors feed on a variety of prey in the wild.

In 2016, Researcher Brett Degregorio (et al) at the Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit studied the ‘nest raiding’ behaviour of corn snakes. He video recorded 97 nest sites and discovered that “of the four snake species documented preying on nests at our site, Corn snakes were the only exclusively nocturnal nest predator, arriving at nests between 20:24 and 02:20. Corn snakes were nearly five times more likely to prey on nestlings than eggs, suggesting that they may locate nests

visually during the day. On four occasions, corn snakes arrived at nests shortly after or while other snakes preyed on nestlings, indicating that corn snakes may use cues provided by other snakes to locate prey.”

This is only a snapshot of the species’ natural diet which only occurs during nesting season, so chicks should only be provided infrequently during spring. Keepers who are building a first, or new enclosure should consider installing a cork bark tube in an elevated position which they can utilise as a nest-feeding platform in the future. Throughout the rest of the year, rodents make up the bulk of the corn snake’s wild diet. Youngsters will regularly feed on amphibians and small lizards too. Appropriately sized rodents are therefore the best option as a ’staple’ diet, but ‘snake sausages’ were once popular and experimentation with shop-bought frogs’ legs and quail eggs can help vary the diet (although they should only be provided every 6 months as a treat).

Enclosure and environment

Over time, our perception of what makes an ideal corn snake enclosure has changed. From heat mats replaced with overhead heating and lignocel replaced with bioactive substrates, the provision of naturalistic vivaria is becoming much more commonplace. However, one area that is hotly contested is the arboreality of corn snakes. We know from diet analysis that corn snakes will venture reasonably high off the ground to feed on bird nests, but is it fundamental to their development?

In a paper published in the Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, Paul Rose at the University of Exeter and Steve Nash at Sparsholt College compared behaviours of two populations of juvenile corn snakes, one in a naturalistic enclosure, another in a basic set-up. Paul writes: “Corn snakes are classed as rat snakes, a group of snakes known to be highly exploratory, preferring a heterogeneous

habitat of natural and man-made environments. These exploratory traits should be encouraged in captive enclosures.”

“Comparison of the two populations highlighted the effect that extra furnishings have on the location of snakes in their enclosure; those in an enriched exhibit spent 31.7% of their time exposed and on view, whereas limited furnishings caused the snakes to be hidden for 98.6% of the total time observed. Snakes in the non-enriched exhibit, whilst provided with limited climbing opportunities, still did not use this element of their environment; yet an increase in the availability of climbing “material” showed that the snakes spent 64.3% [of their time] off the ground.”

Whilst we know that environmental enrichment is key to successful husbandry, creating a true biotope for a corn snake may prove difficult. As an adaptable species, the

corn snake can be found across a variety of habitats from rocky outcrops to wetlands and urban environments to pine forests. With New Jersey (at the Northernmost of its range) dropping below 0°C in winter and Florida (at the Southernmost tip) reaching upwards of 38°C in summer, this is a versatile species. This has given the corn snake a grasp of the Caribbean, where it is considered a widespread invasive species. Whilst this versatility makes for an undeniably hardy snake, it presents challenges to keepers looking to replicate the exact wild conditions of the species as this will vary across localities.

Keepers should be aiming for a happy medium, but still providing all the core components of good husbandry such as a full light spectrum and deep-penetrating overhead heat. This can best be achieved by combining a Zone 1 T5 or T8 tube with an incandescent spot bulb. The basking spot should reach a comfortable 32°C. The ambient temperature should be around 26°C, dropping slightly lower in the ‘cool end’. Night temperatures should drop as low as 20°C and experienced keepers can provide some seasonality by dropping ambient temperatures even further through the winter. In Tallahassee, Florida in the heart of their range, summer provides around 13 hours of daylight while winter is around 11. Programming a thermostat to turn the spot bulb on for one hour before the UVB source will mimic sunrise (and vice versa for sunset). In Florida, humidity averages around 90% in the morning, but drops to around 50% in the afternoon. This is consistent throughout the year but has the greatest contrast during the summer months (94% morning, 55% afternoon). Therefore, keepers should aim for a steady 60% humidity. Spraying the enclosure at night will keep a high humidity, which will eventually dry out through the following day.

Keepers should also be providing their adult snakes with as much room as they can accommodate. Whilst young snakes may benefit from a smaller, secure enclosure, adults that are feeding readily will appreciate the opportunity to stretch out. As a docile species that tolerates handling well, keepers can create entire rooms full of enrichment opportunities, such as cardboard boxes, tubes, packing peanuts, climbing frames and much more. Sandpits full of different substrates, or fresh water can help maximise the enrichment available to a pet snake. As a crepuscular species, it is best for keepers to accommodate this during the evening hours when the snake is most active. Providing enrichment should be a rewarding process for both the snake and the keeper and can encompass a whole spectrum of activities to stimulate the cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities of the animal.

Captivity vs the wild

Whilst we should be looking towards the wild to replicate the most ideal conditions for our animals, sometimes that can be difficult when a species has been bred in captivity for such a long time.

Stephen Sharp had been keeping reptiles since 1971 and began breeding corn snakes in the early 1980s. As someone who has observed the rise in popularity for this species and is responsible for producing the great grandparents of some of the snakes in captivity today, as well as pioneering early experimental use of UV in herpetoculture in the UK, he has seen corn snake keeping blossom over the decades. He told Exotics Keeper Magazine: “Across the corn snakes’ range, there are lots of distinct locality populations, but many of the ones we have

in captivity today are cross-bred to some extent, of these locality populations. It would be interesting to do some genetic analysis of the corns that exist in the hobby today. There was so much hybridisation back in the 1970s and 80s in the UK that I would say many “corns” back then had some rat snake in them. Certain genes are accepted as “corn snakes” today, despite the fact they were produced through hybridisation. Some are more obvious such as ‘ultra’ which is said to originate from the grey rat snake (P. spiloides).

“It is nothing new, cross-breeding certainly happens in the wild, where corn snakes share their distribution with other rat snakes, but this happens much more frequently in captivity. In the 1970s there just wasn’t dedicated reptile shops so a handful of snakes, imported from the US would be housed together in a pet shop. In the case of corns and rats there was the possibility of hybridisation. In the case of kingsnakes, it would be much worse!”

“Because these were the earliest snakes to enter the hobby, there was a lot of contamination in locality bloodlines. At the time people didn’t realise, it wasn’t until the early 90s that the hobby tried to create a genetic database for the corn snakes in captivity. There were two databases, one in the US and one here, but neither of them had a strict confirmation process. So, people would register their animals without absolute certainty of their genetics, which defeated the point of the database.”

A Field of Opportunity

Variation in morphs

There are (at the time of writing) 849 recognised corn snake morphs and the number continues to grow. Some of the earliest colour mutations are from wildtypes that were selectively bred in the 1980s. The ‘Okeetee’ was first produced by Kathy Love from a locality found in Jasper County, South Carolina. With bold, distinctive saddle markings, this stunning colouration was one of the very first recognised morphs. Other wild types include the ‘Alabama’ which has darker colouration, the ‘keys’ which has lighter colouration and the ‘Miami’ which displays a lot of grey pigment. From here, the endless possibilities of morph breeding began.

For the most part, the variation between these animals is entirely morphological. However, some morphs do have slightly different care requirements and can be prone to genetic conditions.

Root Beer

Stephen explains: “For me, the reason corns became so popular was simply the isolation of genes which produced different colour morphs. Producing morphs became the lifeblood of the hobby. Amel was the first gene in corn production. It reduces black creating a bright red/orange/yellow corn. Other early genes are Anery, which reduces red and created a black/brown/silver corn. Caramel produces a straw colour morph. Lavender produces a “mocca” colour corn. Hypo reduces black and produces a much brighter coloured snake. By mixing and matching these genes, and others, the vast array of colour morphs we know and love today were created.”

“In my opinion, wouldn’t use UV for an Amel corn snake. Amelanistic means they lack the black pigment that helps protect them from UV burns. You can tell when an Amel has been exposed to high UV as the sheds will come off much thicker, which is skin damage.”

“There are also some morphs which are known to have potential issues. For example, “sunkissed” corns can suffer from a head wobble called ‘stargazing’. It is thought sunkissed may have originated as a localised hybrid population involving corns and king snakes possibly 1000’s of years ago. Stargazing became a problem in some captive-bred sunkissed lines via selective breeding.”

“It is also common for Lavenders to suffer from spinal kinks. One line of Palmettos had some Texas rat snake (Pantherophis obsoletus lindheimeri) blood in them, which caused some to suffer from ‘bug eye’. There are lots of perfectly healthy ones now, but one line did have issues.”

Now we understand the importance of genetics much better, breeders are better able to network with one another to produce healthier offspring from varied bloodlines. With a large number of snakes being produced in breeding facilities, some breeders are currently operating digitalised databases to track the genetics of each individual animal. This responsible approach means that problematic genes are controlled much better now.

The process of breeding

Many of the most popular species today reached their position in the hobby due to their hardy characteristics, docile personalities, and willingness to breed. Refining the process to breed corn snakes in the 1980s is why now, even with exotics keeping rising in popularity, “corns” are readily available throughout the year.

“Breeding corn snakes is quite straight forward” explained Stephen “Males reach sexual maturity from around two years old whereas females are closer to three. If the snakes are younger than five years old, they shouldn’t have any problems breeding once they’re paired up. After this, they require a cooling process to encourage better sperm count. Then, around two months after pairing, the female should lay a clutch of eggs and two months after that there should be hatchlings.”

The pairing of animals generally happens around February/March. Like most species, corn snakes benefit from the replication of the seasons to prompt breeding. Whilst it is not entirely necessary to provide environmental fluctuations, it does generally provide more successful reproduction.

Stephen continued: “Many breeders will

males and allows the breeder to keep track of when the female sheds and begins producing pheromones.”

Once the female sheds post-brumation, she should begin producing pheromones and the two adult corns can be paired up. Females are usually introduced to the male’s enclosure, so they can be tracked and paired with multiple partners in a season. Once the eggs are laid, they must be incubated for approximately two months before they hatch. Stephen continued: “These should then hatch between six and a half and 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, it is unlikely the egg will be successful and the more time that goes on, the less successful a clutch will be. Interestingly though, the animals that do survive after being incubated longer tend to be bigger and more robust.”

Most breeders will keep hatchlings for at least 3 weeks to ensure they are feeding. Commercial breeders may choose to hold onto their animals a little longer to do thorough health checks.

In the early days

Stephen began his hobby during some of the earliest days of herpetoculture. As a newly emerging discipline, there were few (if any) dedicated products

and light. All lighting and thermostats came from the tropical fish hobby.”

“I was one of the first reptile keepers to import UV lights (Black lights and then later Tru-Lite) into the UK. I had read a book that linked UV and improved D3 production. I obtained these for use with lizards initially and years later, decided to try them with some Western fox snakes (Pantherophis vulpinus) had that were notoriously bad breeders. Once we introduced UV, they were excellent and bred for 12 years. In fact, I would guess most fox snakes in the UK hobby today come from that pair. I also found a lot of success with Macklots pythons (Liasis mackloti) at that time because of the UV. Blood pythons under UV became aggressive, which is much more like their wild counterparts. They would be aggressive and much more active for several hours after turning the light off. This led me to supply Black Lights to several zoos and private keepers.”

“This wasn’t all great though and UV wasn’t without its problems. I had worked with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) before it was DEFRA and they had reports of ‘hard scale back’ particularly in Bosc monitor lizards (Varanus exanthematicus) which were common pets at the time. These were reactions to the high-intensity UV bulbs, that were

Herpetoculture is a constantly evolving

facilitates the production of groundbreaking products. Corn snakes have been at the heart of herpetoculture for decades and with their docile behaviour and hardy nature, are unlikely to waiver in popularity any time soon. Although there a million ways to keep a corn snake healthy, it is those innovative keepers at the forefront of good welfare standards that will be celebrated in the hobby for

Ornate horned frog ( )

Amel Masque Paradox Platinum Diffused

Pied

Topaz Motley

Fire Tessera

Ultra Mel

Diffused Pied

Extreme Reverse Okeetee

Fire Honey

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

The wonderful world of exotic animals

Socotra Island blue baboon tarantula (Monocentropus balfouri)

Tof Yemen, this species is adapted to a semitropical arid environment. Interestingly, the blue baboon is one of very few species of tarantula that can successfully be kept communally.

They have a medium growth rate and a diagonal leg span of around 15cm, making them a manageable size. These spiders are also considered reasonably docile for an Old-World tarantula but are fast-moving once disturbed. Of course, the emphasis here is on the “for an OldWorld tarantula” meaning they can still become aggressive and give an unpleasant bite and therefore should not be considered a ‘beginner’ species.

Socotra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it contains a high degree of endemism because of its complete seclusion from the mainland for many years. This means there are still lots to learn about the fauna of this island. In fact, it was only recently this spider was correctly categorised as a ‘bird spider’ (belonging to the Eumenophorinae family) and not a ‘baboon spider’. Colour variants have been recorded several times in the last few decades, but it is expected these are just juvenile spiders that have not yet developed their striking blue appearance.

When cohabiting this species, diligence is required to create an amicable group dynamic. Even though young spiders at different stages of life can happily live together, introducing different spiders should be done in a separate, much larger enclosure as opposed to introducing a new spider into an established setup. Once a healthy group has been formed, it has been reported that these tarantulas will even share food with one another, and it is common for several spiders to be active at the same time. Hobbyists can therefore create a very interesting display tank with a number of these invertebrates. They are also prolific in producing webs, creating some visually striking structures.

They should be kept at reasonably low humidity (50-60%) and slightly warmer than room temperature (24-28°C). This is a terrestrial species that will frequently burrow and should be provided with a deep layer of substrate. These burrows will also naturally hold higher humidity which is essential for the spider to shed. Therefore, creating microclimates of higher humidity with regular spraying is advised. This species will often utilise cork bark and climbing opportunities when it does leave its burrow, so providing some height is recommended.

The blue baboon reaches sexual maturity at around 2 years old and can be mated at just 4 inches in length. This, combined with the fact that the egg sacks are small and contain fewer slings than other species, makes this an excellent spider for an experienced keeper to breed. Furthermore, slings can be reared with their mother in the same enclosure, although this will naturally spur a lot of apprehension and manic counting of baby spiders to ensure they are all alive and healthy.

BACK FROM THE BRINK

How captive breeding projects have helped save the Chinese crocodile lizard.

The Chinese crocodile lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) is one of the rarest lizards on the planet and the last remaining species of Shinisauridae, a family that has been on planet Earth for over 250 million years. Surveys in 1978 identified the species as critically endangered with subsequent surveys discovering that population numbers hit less than 950 individuals in 2014. During that time, the largest population held no more than 350 lizards and the smallest, no more than 10.

With a range comprised of tiny pockets of South China and North Vietnam, the species is under serious threat from deforestation. The broken pockets of remaining habitat also became the focus of illegal harvesting for traditional medicines as well as the pet trade. In fact, there are now thought to be more Chinese crocodile lizards in captivity than there are in the wild. However, the combined efforts of habitat protection and captive breeding programmes have now seen a U-turn in population numbers with 2021 welcoming a string of re-introductions to protected nature reserves across the Guangxi province.

Natural history

The Chinese crocodile lizard is a robust, bulky lizard reaching around 40cm in length. Like the name suggests, they have bulbous scales that represent the scutes of a crocodile. Males often exhibit bright red colouring on their throats and bellies, with females being slightly drabber and possessing white stripes down the underside.

There are debates around whether the Vietnamese population should be considered a subspecies (S. crocodilurus vietnamensis). This has been proven and disproven several times in recent years. Regardless, Shinisaurus crocodilurus is considered a ‘remnant reptile’ from the Eocene, with fossils dating back 49 million years. It has remained relatively unchanged throughout this time and thus holds major significance in not just maintaining biodiversity but in better understanding the tapestry of natural history across the globe.

They are a semi-aquatic species that inhabit the densely overgrown banks of slow-moving streams at an elevation between 500-700m. They require branches that overhang waterways of about 24°C, during their active months throughout summer. Their very specific requirements mean there are only a handful of remaining locations where Shinisaurus can be found and habitat protection (particularly that of the waterways that run through them) is crucial to the preservation of the species.

Although the Vietnamese populations of Chinese crocodile lizards are generally active all year round (opting to rest on the cooler days) those in China will hibernate for up to 4 months of the year, meaning that maintaining a steady record of populations can be difficult. However, in Spring and Summer, they are reasonably sluggish and can sometimes spend days basking in the same spot if left undisturbed. Their primary diet is crustaceans, fish, tadpoles, and molluscs but they have been recorded eating frogs and snakes. Furthermore, they can spend up to 30 minutes submerged in water without needing to take a breath.

In their native range, it is believed that these lizards can be a cure for insomnia. When they were first identified as critically endangered, it was reported on several occasions that local people would sell them to tourists at the gates of national parks for between $10 and $20. Since then, their popularity in the pet trade exploded and wild-caught and illegally smuggled individuals can fetch up to $800, the equivalent of 2 months’ salary for most people in the region. In recent years there has been a drastic decline in confirmed illegal exports, which suggests that demand has dropped as captive breeding has increased. The species was protected by CITES Annex 2 in 1990 but was upgraded to Annex 1 in 2017.

Crocodile lizards in captivity

Crocodile lizards have seen a second wave in popularity in captivity but with much less contention. With several European breeders now producing good numbers of these animals in captivity, experienced private hobbyists can contribute to the wider captive husbandry discussion. Although it should be emphasised this is not a species that should be kept as a ‘pet’, private breeders can now support conservation without damaging the already fragile wild population.

Michael Zollweg is the ESF Studbook Holder for Shinisaurus. This means he manages the data records for people and zoological institutions keeping the species to help maintain good genetics, as well as orchestrating communications with conservation projects in China. Michael told Exotics Keeper Magazine: “The ultimate goal is to expand knowledge of the species and share experiences, especially with in-situ projects. Ultimately, a wellconstructed ex-situ breeding project at least ensures the conservation of the species, albeit in a non-ideal way, which must always be coupled with habitat conservation.” Currently, the studbook has around 40 individuals and organisations linked to the wider breeding programme and whilst this is unlikely to include every keeper in Europe, it provides a good picture of the captive population.

Michael believes that without captive breeding projects, the recovery from near-extinction of this species would not have happened. He added: “Ex-situ breeding projects could make an important contribution to further initiatives for the conservation of Shinisaurus. First of all, it is important that these are projects in which a large number of participants take part (whether private individuals or zoological institutions) to exchange information with each other when necessary and seek contact with in-situ initiatives. In-situ projects lead the way in that they can provide the most important parts of species conservation, which is the preservation of specific habitats and on-the-ground education. For Shinisaurus, this has been achieved in an exemplary manner in China.”

Reintroductions

Although much of the crocodile lizard’s native habitat is still under immense pressure, the Luokeng Nature Reserve in Guangdong and the Guangxi Dagushan Crocodile Lizard Nature Reserve have both seen populations supplemented with captive-bred individuals over the last 5 years.

At the Luokeng Nature Reserve, decades of hard work have managed to boost numbers of the Chinese crocodile lizard exponentially in recent years, with a 30% increase since 2012. A total of 150 lizards have been captive-bred and released in the region since they were discovered there in 2009.

Researcher, Liu Haiyang told China Daily “the first batch of released reptiles are in good condition and have grown into adults. We’ve even found that they’ve reproduced, which is a good indication of the success of the reintroduction. We’ve shifted our focus from genetic rescue to maintaining its population as the number of Chinese crocodile lizards has been on an upward trend. The main purpose of artificial breeding has also changed from reintroduction to scientific research.”

This year, researchers at the Guangxi Dagushan Crocodile Lizard Nature reserve have also released a further 15 animals into a new habitat which hopes to pave the way towards creating a new population in the province. They are currently using radio telemetry devices to track the released animals and gauge the suitability for further releases.

Michael continued: “The initiative for a successful ‘lighthouse’ in-situ breeding project in China was taken in 2011 by a private European keeper and breeder of Shinisaurus in co-operation with scientists from Guilin, China. At present, the breeding program consists of two large breeding stations, each with around 30 optimally equipped outdoor terrariums. Offspring from this breeding project were released into the wild for the first time in 2020. A great deal of work was necessary in the run-up to this. Among other things, new suitable habitats had to be found, genetic analyses of the animals had to be carried out on-site, and training courses had to be held for the staff in charge of the breeding stations. During the genetic analyses, for example, samples of about 80 Shinisaurus were taken from the stocks of the members of the ESF studbook to analyse genetic correlations. On-site training has also been conducted. Meanwhile, the habitats have been combined into a contiguous national park established specifically for Shinisaurus.”

With such dedicated conservation efforts from breeders across the world as well as researchers and conservationists in China, the future is looking much brighter for the Chinese crocodile lizard. As with any conservation initiative, longevity is often the hardest challenge. But, with this prehistoric creature now widely celebrated by local communities and volunteers, as well as a good population in captivity and scope for them to breed in the wild, many of the components required to support this species are in place.

Michael assisting in data collection at the in-situ breeding centre

Michael at the in-situ captive-breeding centre

The role of private keepers

For many keepers, particularly in the UK and Europe, herpetoculture can sometimes feel disconnected from global conservation efforts. However, much of the information required to breed endangered species comes from collective knowledge from both zoos and private keepers. Providing that all animals are sourced legally and responsibly, private keepers have an often-unrecognised impact on the conservation of many species.

“Absolutely, I believe that private breeders can support accredited breeding projects” explains Michael. “Many initiatives, for example, to study the behaviour of Shinisaurus (now more than 100 different behaviour patterns such as courtship, mating, intraspecific aggression) are based on observation by ex-situ keepers. Valuable help can be provided, for example, in genetic studies and in the discovery and treatment of diseases.”

It is vital that more people, particularly those that keep endangered species, share their knowledge with the wider herpetoculture community. Although Chinese crocodile lizards, like many endangered species, should be considered a very specialist animal to keep, those that are working with other species can still provide huge value by sharing their observations. Networking with local groups, online forums, researchers, and studbook holders could support the conservation of an entire species. Conservation is often only possible when pools of knowledge are created and while much of this will be in the country of origin, some will be spread across international laboratories, universities, zoological facilities, and private collections. Keeping records of exactly how we maintain our animals is extremely important and may one day be extremely valuable to the preservation of a species.

‘Best Aquarium Fish Food’

As

SEEING THE FOREST THROUGH THE TREES

Back to basics with live plants.

A day gecko (phelsuma laticauda) on a bromeliad leaf

Bioactive enclosures are now commonplace in the hobby and the popularity of these setups is unlikely to waver any time soon. Whilst it’s easy to take for granted the incredible products that help plants thrive, selecting the correct flora and planting it in the appropriate position can still be tricky. Horticulture is a vast discipline in and of itself and thus, marrying up the perfect combination of plants and animals can require a bit of trial and error. However, the following list provides some suggestions for the most popular and readily available plants to meet the needs of most hobbyists embarking on their new planted terrarium project.

Canopy

The canopy is often a miss-match of creeping plants that have reached the top of the terrarium but is most famously associated with epiphytes such as bromeliads. These are excellent at increasing the humidity in an enclosure and play a vital role in providing pockets of water for poison frogs to deposit tadpoles. ‘Bromeliads’ are one of the largest groups of plants on planet earth, so their ecological niches vary massively. Some of the broaderleaved varieties provide vital shelter for a range of species, such as small lizards, frogs and invertebrates. In tropical climates, these plants play host to entire ecosystems within their leaves with semi-aquatic, arboreal and terrestrial fauna colonising the ephemeral pools of water.

Bromeliads are epiphytic plants that will grow on hardscape. This is an adaptation that allows them to secure themselves to the highest tree branches to absorb as much light as possible and so should be provided with a lot of light. Many species (such as the popular Neoregelia varieties) will even

‘blush’ turning them bright pink when they receive enough sunlight. They hold a good amount of water, and some will quickly spout new growth in the form of shoots that come off the original plant and open over time.

Most bromeliads should be wrapped in moss around the base and attached to coarse décor with fishing wire, moss balls, cable ties, etc. Providing they always have a central reservoir of water; they should grow without problems. The most popular varieties are the Flaming sword (Vriesea splendens) which has an impressive red flower stemming from the centre and Guzmania which is equally as colourful. They can be utilised to bring some impressive colouration to a vivarium set up.

There are also some terrestrial bromeliads such as Cryptanthus. These can be planted into constantly moist soil, with most species flourishing in relatively low light conditions. This makes them an excellent addition to the terrarium floor.

Airplants are a type of bromeliad that tolerates much drier conditions. They generally inhabit semi-tropical areas which get a good amount of morning-dew but very little rainfall throughout the dry seasons. Each species is slightly different, with some Mexican varieties tolerating very dry conditions. All should be lightly misted in the morning, as these plants receive their moisture through their leaves, but should be mounted within the vivarium like their tropical cousins. A bit of research is recommended, to ensure you are providing optimal care or have selected the most appropriate epiphyte for the enclosure. Although many bromeliads are hardy, some (often the most expensive ones) will soon die in the wrong conditions.

Creepers and ground cover

Creepers and ground cover produce an entire sheet of vegetation that is useful for a whole spectrum of species. Smaller species will undoubtedly shelter amongst ground cover, giving them added security during times of rest. However, larger species will gain some environmental enrichment as they move through the low-lying plants whilst traversing the enclosure. These plants are often fast-growing, which is excellent for establishing a new terrarium. However, it also means maintenance is a key consideration for new keepers.

There is a whole wealth of plants that grow up surfaces to cover the

backgrounds and décor of a planted set up. Ficus pumila (Creeping fig) is a shrubby plant with woody stems. It is a low growing shrub that provides excellent coverage for smaller tank mates. It will also climb upwards towards epiphytes and ferns attached higher in the terrarium, to form a full blanket of leaves. Variegated forms are also available.

Mind your own business (Soleirolia soleirolii) is an invasive and fast-growing plant. It is extremely popular and widely used for rapid ground cover as it creates a lawn-like backdrop extremely quickly. Although this species is easily controlled by simply pulling sections out of the enclosure, it is very difficult to eradicate once it’s established.

Flaming sword (Vriesea splendens)

Ferns

Ferns generally thrive in much lower light conditions than many other tropical plants. This makes them brilliant for filling the bottom levels of a terrarium where light may be limited. Historically, they have been used in a variety of terrariums but are most closely associated with the geckos of New Caledonia (Correlophus sp. & Rhacodactylus sp.). They are abundant in semi-tropical or montane forests with thick canopies and make excellent shelter for animals to hide behind. Due to their fragile nature, they are not easily perched upon which can prevent the inhabitants from damaging the plant.

Korean rock fern (Polystichum tsus-simense) is a popular, low growing fern that can create excellent cover for terrestrial animals. Coming from Japan, it is tolerant of reasonably cool temperatures and would even survive outdoor temperatures here in the UK.

Selaginella is also extremely popular, despite it not being a true fern. Its popularity is largely due to the fact it can create the mossy carpet look that many keepers are trying to achieve. It is tolerant of very low light conditions and moist substrate, making it great for the base of a terrarium.

It should also be noted that a few stick insect species specialise in eating ferns. Invert enthusiasts may benefit from keeping some of these handy, especially if they are grown in other set ups within a collection.

Climbers

Climbers offer a third dimension to a planted terrarium. Broad-leaved varieties offer a place of refuge for frogs or small species such as Anolis sp. They provide sturdy climbing opportunities as well as egg-laying areas for different geckos and therefore could be considered essential in maximising the useable space in an enclosure. As well as the more practical broad-leaved climbers, Marcgravia .sp offer some visually stunning cover and assist in making a display terrarium look ‘natural’. Other climbers sit somewhere in the middle and often ‘groundcover’ plants will still colonise the walls of a terrarium too.

Philodendrons are possibly the most common ‘climber’ and these are found all over the tropics. There are hundreds of species which vary massively. Some are huge monsters that can climb the trunks of 100m tall trees while others are well behaved and much lower growing. Naturally, we see more of the latter in the hobby. Philodendrons generally have broad leaves and make good climbing and resting opportunities for small tree frogs and geckos. Philodendrons will climb round branches and throw out airing roots to absorb moisture from the air and will eventually grow to a point where their ground roots are no longer needed. Therefore, we should be planting our Philodendrons in the ground as small plants but expect them to colonise branches later on.

Waxplants (Hoya spp.) fill a similar ecological niche to

Philodendrons but are more adapted to a drier terrarium. Waxplants should not be constantly wet but are considered tropical and will thrive in high humidity environments. Like Philodendrons, they clamber around other plants. A great way to install these plants is to simply attach the pot to the terrarium wall with aquariumsafe silicon and then hide the pot with cork or to place the pot within a cork tube and attach that to the terrarium wall. Wax plants are extremely popular as garden or veranda plants in tropical regions due to their spectacular flower clusters which drip nectar and are very fragrant. This is naturally beneficial to many species and provides some good enrichment whilst also being visually appealing. Some species may also tolerate very dry conditions, but customers are urged to research the exact variety before planting.

Arid

There are a lot of arid plants available in the hobby today that are not utilised as commonly as tropical plants. They can make spectacular set ups that are visually stunning, practical and appear extremely natural. Arid plants, like their tropical cousins, can help increase humidity in select areas across the enclosure called ‘micro-climates’.

Sansevieria, or Mother-in-laws tongue, is one of the more popular of these plants. Like many arid plants, it stores moisture in its leaves which results in them becoming thick and fleshy. These leaves are excellent refuge places for small terrestrial geckos which will hide between the leaves. They should be carefully positioned to allow the animal to do this as they please.

Aloes and echeverias are ground plants that form rosettes. Just like Sansevieria sp., they form fleshy leaves which retain moisture. Planting several of these lowlevel plants beside one another can create an extremely natural enclosure that looks spectacular. Other more visually appealing species include the ‘pebble plants’ such as Lithops which provides some interesting naturallooking flora. These are extremely sturdy and will tolerate explorative snakes moving across the environment.

Some keepers may struggle with arid plants, simply because most require

Selaginella martensii

Gecko on a philodendron leaf

Horticulture is an entirely disparate discipline to herpetoculture and one which requires lots of knowledge to become an expert in. This means that most reptile and amphibian enthusiasts will be required to experiment broadly with different plant species to see what works. Even house plants can provide a challenge for the inexperienced, so the addition of artificial lighting, décor, backgrounds and fauna will undoubtedly present new challenges.

There are many apps available online to ID plant species, as well as ‘plant passports’ used within the industry (which are actually a legal requirement when imported from abroad) that should contain some details on caring for the species. However, the best advice is usually from other hobbyists or the store which you are purchasing the plant from. Not every plant will instantly flourish, but the ones discussed in this feature are some of the hardiest available. Although, variety is the spice of life and experimenting with new plants is a fun way to keep things interesting.

Oh, and if it doesn’t turn out as expected, leaf litter makes for a wonderful enrichment opportunity!

a more complex watering method than many tropical plants. In an arid bioactive set up, the keeper should aim to fill the drainage layer with water, allowing the plants’ roots to grow down naturally. Then, only light misting is required above the surface to simulate morning dew and meet the animals’ necessary humidity requirements. Often, novice keepers will water an arid plant from above which not only causes the moisture to be held on the top layer without reaching the roots but too much liquid on the surface of a plant will cause many arid species to rot. Watering too much, to ensure the moisture falls towards the drainage layer will also disperse the substrate too much. Therefore, careful consideration is needed when establishing an arid bio-active or naturally planted setup.

Other considerations

The possibilities are endless when it comes to selecting flora for an enclosure. With such a vast spectrum of species now readily available, even geographically sound biotopes are possible to create with the correct research. It is a good idea to ask zookeepers and private hobbyists what species of plants they are using in their exhibits, to avoid an overwhelming amount of trial and error (the keeper or breeder has probably already done this hard work!) There are a number of species that are available in the hobby that are some keepers’ “bread and butter”.

Pothos is extremely popular amongst tree frog breeders. In the US, they are some of the most common species of plant in bioactive set ups, meaning novice customers will likely be aware of the plants already. Their broad leaves

are excellent for tree frogs, they grow quickly, and they are extremely hardy. A hanging pot of Pothos over a pond of water is usually the plant of choice for breeders of frogs who lay clutches or foam nests in leaves overhanging seasonal pools. These plants can be utilised from a hanging position, planted into a pot in the background, or even just grow straight out of water (making them ideal for paludariums too).

Other plants which can be planted high in the terrarium to hang down include the Maidenhair Vine (Muehlenbeckia complexa) which has thin stems which snake over the ground and climb up walls and décor. It needs high humidity and constantly moist soil but must not be waterlogged. This species can cover entire walls in ornamental garden features, so the keeper should be prepared for frequent maintenance.

The flamingo flower (Anthurium) is a very popular house plant because of its vibrant red flowers. It can be grown indoors and later planted into an enclosure, making it extremely versatile and an ideal suggestion for a gift. Coming from tropical regions, the terrarium setting is ideal for this species. It grows upright leaves making it an ideal background plant and will add some excellent colour to the vivarium.

Begonias are also a huge group of tropical and subtropical plants consisting of over 2000 species. Polka dot begonia (Begonia maculata) are very popular. They have broad leaves which, as the name suggests, are dotted with white markings making them very visually striking. They come from South Brazil and require careful watering, with evenly moist soil. Their large leaves and sturdy upright growth make them perfect for frogs or small geckos.

PANGOLINS IN PERIL

Pangolins are the most illegally trafficked mammals in the world.

By Paul Irven

Shingleback skink (Tiliqua rugosa)

Flamingo flower (Anthurium)

Every year an estimated 100,000 individual pangolins are captured from the wild for the illegal wildlife trade and since the year 2000 over one million pangolins have been killed. This level of illegal trade is clearly unsustainable without causing a serious impact on the world’s pangolin populations.

Pangolin scales are used in “traditional medicine”, whilst their meat (apparently similar to pork) is consumed in restaurants. Pangolin blood is drunk as an aphrodisiac, often directly from a live animal killed at the table. In addition, “pangolin wine” is made from soaking the whole body in rice wine to concoct a “health tonic” and pangolin foetuses are said to “increase virility” and are consumed in soup.

A vast criminal network has evolved around the illegal trade in pangolins, in the same way it has done with so many other illegally trafficked species around the world. This network involves a wide range of people, starting from the local villagers who are often easily recruited to work as collectors who scour the forest floor at night looking for the pangolins. The animals, by their very nature, are easy to collect. They are nocturnal and timid. When disturbed, they curl into a ball and with no other defence, they are simply picked up.

The illegal wildlife trade is big business, usually dominated by highly organised and powerful gangs using wellestablished methods and transit routes, often aided and

abetted by corrupt officials who are willing to turn a blind eye to the situation when persuaded by bribes. In the illegal wildlife trade, money opens doors. Apart from the collectors and trappers, there is a long and complex chain of people involved in the trade including smugglers, shippers and importers to the local market traders and ending at the consumer who is creating the demand. The illegal wildlife trade also incorporates drug dealing, money laundering, the sale of black-market goods and the trade in weapons. These activities are often connected.

Most illegal wildlife trade follows well-established transit routes from the country of source, through various other countries, by means of either air, sea, or road to their final destination. Africa and Asia are obviously the continents of origin for pangolins, but those pangolins from Africa must endure a far greater journey than those originating from Asian countries. Whilst those pangolins coming from Asian countries may have a shorter distance from origin to destination. However, their journey may well be more complex and indirect, passing through more locations. For example, the pangolins originating in

Malaysia are smuggled along a transit route that passes through Laos to Hanoi in Vietnam to the border with China at Lang Son. Then, once over the border, they may travel to various other locations within China, passing through many hands. Hanoi is known as the biggest hub for illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam supplying the whole of Asia, with China being the largest consumer in the world. Although this border at Lang Son is heavily guarded, the trucks are often only given a quick, perfunctory check (despite corruption) before they are sent on their way, usually to the towns of Pinxiang and Nanning in China. However, some consignments are detected and in 2003 over 5,000 pangolins, bound for China, were seized by the Thai authorities. They had travelled through Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.

In the past, the Asian pangolins were more heavily traded than their African counterparts. However, since the Asian species are becoming much harder to find due to depleted populations, the African species are now in greater demand. Nigeria is currently the hub for the illegal pangolin trade in Africa. It is surprising that with all the prior knowledge of transit routes and smuggling gangs, more could be done to stop this illegal trade, but unfortunately the smugglers are constantly finding new ways to avoid detection. The key to stopping this illegal trade is education, starting with teaching young people about the pangolins and dispelling the myths. This, in turn, would eventually reduce the demand and then the supply, this causes the money to reduce and the whole situation should collapse in time.

How did it all start?

The IUCN`s TRAFFIC Bulletin (a quarterly journal highlighting and documenting the world’s illegal wildlife trade) first mentioned the illegal pangolin trade in 1988.

Obviously, it is quite possible that the pangolin trade existed prior to 1988, but probably to a much lesser degree than it is today, and it was certainly not well documented at that time.

Since then, consuming pangolin body parts has become embedded in some Asian cultures, passed down through the generations, it is now a part of the life of many people in these countries. Linked to this, the Covid-19 virus is known to have originated or have been present in many animals including bats and pangolins.

Pangolins in Peril

Species

There are eight species of these timid, slow-moving and defenceless scaly anteaters in the world. Equally divided between Africa and Asia –four species in each continent. All eight species are threatened with extinction and despite being fully protected by CITES, three species are “Critically Endangered”, whilst three are classified as “Endangered” and two are classified as “Vulnerable”. More recently the “Formosan” pangolin (Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla) has been recognised as a sub-species of the Chinese pangolin. Due to the continuous and increasing illegal trade, it is highly likely that all species will soon be regarded as Endangered, if not Critically Endangered, before too long. They have quietly existed for some 65 million years, but unfortunately humans are now their greatest threat.

Pangolin Rescue and Rehabilitation.

Saving Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW) is a national non-profit organisation in Vietnam that was “founded due to the critical need for more effective solutions to secure a future for Vietnamese wildlife”. Based at Cuc Phuong National Park, the headquarters were established in 2014, it is led by Executive Director Mr Thai Van Nguyen, along with a team of local volunteers. This dedicated team work tirelessly around the clock to rescue, rehabilitate and release Vietnamese wildlife, a large percentage of these animals are pangolins saved from the illegal wildlife trade. They also have an anti-poaching team which are based in the Pu Mat National Park serving to prevent and combat the illegal trade on the ground, clearing snares and apprehending suspects. For

example, in 2008 the team destroyed 9,701 traps, dismantled 775 poachers camps, confiscated 78 guns and assisted in 558 arrests.

In recent years they have become specialists in the care of pangolins, some of which have also been bred in their new breeding facilities. This is where pangolins that cannot be returned to the wild are then used to contribute to the captive breeding programme. But first and foremost, as many pangolins as possible are rehabilitated back to the wild. By the end of 2021, the SVW have rescued a total of 1,540 pangolins, and of these, around 60% have been successfully released. This led Mr Thai Van Nguyen to be recognised for his incredible conservation work with pangolins and other native wildlife and was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize.

In Vietnam the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) and the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) are found, although both species are now Critically Endangered, indeed the Sunda pangolin population is becoming extremely low. Without the incredible work of the SVW the situation for pangolins in Vietnam would be far worse than they are.

Pangolins in Captivity

Historically, pangolins have not done so well in zoos. They were imported directly from the wild and kept as single animals, most of them arriving in an already weakened and dehydrated state, which made these poor specimens even harder to feed and therefore mortality was very high (with around 1 in 6 surviving).

Over 50 years ago, Nuremberg Zoo in Germany bred an African pangolin (species unknown), but it lived for only three months. Since then, very few zoos have kept, and even fewer have successfully bred pangolins.

A giant pangolin acquired by New York (Bronx) Zoo

on 15th June 1949 was probably one of the first giant pangolins to be seen alive outside Africa. Sadly, this animal refused all food and only survived for six days in New York. Then, on the 3rd February 1954, a young female giant pangolin arrived at Fort Worth Zoo in Texas, this animal lived until the 12th March 1958.

Two births occurred at Antwerp from wild-caught animals that were already pregnant – the first was in 1968 and the second was in 1970. The first infant lived for nearly a year. Sadly, the mother of the second baby died 24 hours after giving birth to a stillborn infant.

Only ten European zoos have ever kept giant pangolins. They are; Antwerp, Berlin, Duisburg (1955-57) Frankfurt, Krefeld, Munich, Barcelona (until 1966), Paris Jardin des Plantes (a male from 1978 till 1979), Tierpark Hellabrunn, and Dierenpark Wassenaar received one animal in July 1964.

Plus, a small number was kept at London Zoo in the UK. As far as I know, there are currently no giant pangolins in captivity anywhere in the world.

Diet

One of the biggest obstacles in keeping pangolins alive in zoos is providing a suitable insectivorous diet (comprised of ants and termites). Keepers tried experimenting with various substitute foods before moving onto more suitable bee- larvae, ant-eggs and silk-worm larvae, and although these were found to be more suitable, finding a reliable and regular supply, in large enough quantities, was not so easy. Another problem was the pangolins’ reluctance to feed properly in captivity, even when provided with the correct diet, due to their nervous and timid disposition.

In more recent years dieticians in America have developed a special “insect crumble” made from commercially farmed insects which are made into a moist crumbly paste. To encourage the pangolins natural clawing method of feeding some “slow feeding dishes” (similar to those developed to help slow down the feeding of domestic dogs).

DID YOU KNOW

Breeding

It is absolutely crucial that pangolins are successfully kept, and more importantly, bred in captivity in order to help safeguard their future on this planet. They are not safe in their wild habitat as it currently stands and will be wiped out within a short time if nothing urgent is done to stop it. Therefore, it seems sensible to attempt to create self-sustaining populations of pangolins in captivity, and at the same time give people the opportunity to see these wonderful animals and to raise awareness of their plight.

In more recent years the husbandry of pangolins has greatly improved, although they are still very challenging to maintain. They are easily disturbed and can be prone to stereotypical behaviour if kept in a noisy public location, so pangolin enclosures should be designed with care and consideration.

Notably, Taipei Zoo in Taiwan and Leipzig Zoo in Germany have been

more successful. In 2008 a pair were sent from Taipei Zoo in Taiwan to Leipzig Zoo in Germany. Taipei has had some breeding success with their Formosan/Chinese pangolins (Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla), the first was born in 1997, a second was born in 2005 - but it did not survive, then a third and fourth were born in 2010. Since then, they have gone from strength to strength.

Then in 2014 a consortium of six American zoos, including Brookfield and Chicago Zoo, decided they would import 30 white-bellied tree pangolins (Phataginus tricuspis). With a lack of captive-bred animals being available, there was no other option but to bring in wild-caught pangolins. When the pangolins arrived in 2015 the zoos made a concerted effort to establish the species in cooperation with the organisation Pangolin Conservation However, the plan was not without its controversy, as it was argued that to import such a large number of pangolins was in itself perpetuating

the trade. At Brookfield Zoo, two of the animals which arrived pregnant, gave birth to pups. Since 2015 the animals have continued to flourish and numbers have increased from 30 up to 50 individuals, with another youngster (second generation) born to a captivebred animal, helping to justify the original decision to bring these animals into captivity.

Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic has recently joined the small number of elite collections in Europe now keeping pangolins, since a pair (1.1) of Formosan pangolins –a female called “Jun Hou Tang” and the male called “Kuo Pao” arrived from Taipei Zoo in Taiwan as part of the breeding programme. It was agreed in August 2020 that Taipei Zoo would loan surplus pangolins to a small number of European collections that were able to maintain and hopefully breed the species whilst Taipei Zoo had over 10 pangolins in its collection. The Formosan pangolin (Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla) is said to be a sub-species of the Chinese pangolin.

Conservation – what can people do to help?

The easiest way that people can help towards the conservation of

pangolins is to donate to one of the pangolin charities, of which there are several. Save Vietnam`s Wildlife are particularly deserving as they are the only organisation actively rescuing pangolins and preventing the illegal trade at the source.

Visit; www.svw.vn for more information or to donate. There are also plenty of other pangolin conservation charities that you can support such as; Pangolin Conservation - www. savepangolins.org, The Pangolin Project – www.thepangolinproject.org, The Tikki Hywood Foundation – www. tikkihywoodfoundation.org and www. pangolincrisis.org.

In addition both the World Wildlife Fund for Nature and the Fauna & Flora International have fund raising programmes specifically for pangolins. In Africa there is the African Pangolin Working Group – www.africanpangolin. org and the Ugandan Pangolin Conservation Fund – www.ugandacf. org, meanwhile in Singapore they have their own Singapore Pangolin Working Group and in Palawan there is the Palawan Pangolin Conservation Programme. Here in the UK the ZSL London Zoo also fundraise for pangolin conservation in cooperation with the IUCN Pangolin Specialist Group and Save Vietnam`s Wildlife.

The top image is of a giant pangolin that was kept at ZSL London Zoo in the 1960s. Two animals were acquired in 1964 (©ZSL).

Below; this giant pangolin arrived at Antwerp Zoo on 2nd February 1966 from Barcelona Zoo and it died on 10th September 1970. It was kept in the old reptile building in a glass-fronted exhibit. (©Antwerp Zoo).

The author has worked in zoos for 30 years, during that time he spent a few years working with a relative of the pangolins - the giant anteater. To try to improve the anteater`s diet a dry powdered feed, mixed with water, called “Termant” was developed and trialled in conjunction with Mazuri Zoo Foods.

This was successful and went on to be produced commercially by Mazuri and distributed to other zoos. The author considered whether this diet would have been suitable for pangolins, although with none in the UK, it was not able to be tested.

DRY FOODS, FORMULAS & SUPPLEMENTS

KEEPER BASICS: BIRD CAGE SETUP

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African Grey (Psittacus sp.)

Parrots are extremely intelligent animals, making them higher maintenance pets that require consistent enrichment. One way to begin achieving this is with an innovative enclosure design. Careful placement of décor, food bowls and other elements are crucial when setting up an effective birdcage. For this ‘Keeper Basics,’ we will discuss some of the key considerations keepers must make when establishing a cage for an African Grey (Psittacus sp.) Amazon (Amazona sp.) Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) or other similarly sized bird.

Enclosure choice

There are lots of different bird cages available today. The AAL regulations for keeping an African grey requires minimum cage dimensions of 140 x 105 x 105cm. However, in aviculture this is generally seen as ‘shop’ size, meaning keepers who regularly exercise their bird out of the cage or in an outdoor flight can provide good welfare using cages of varied dimensions. Birds should be allowed out of their cage as much as possible. However, it is paramount that keepers maintain a steady routine of designated ‘playtime’. Keepers should provide consistency in the duration of play and the time in which this happens. Being sporadic in this approach can cause significant behavioural problems.

The cage should be made from good quality, powdercoated steel. Keepers considering a second-hand cage should inspect it before purchase. Rust is dangerous to birds and a flimsy or damaged cage can easily be snapped and cause damage to the inhabitant.

There are multiple types of cages available and if adequate space is provided, the choice generally comes down to keeper preference. ‘Play-top’ cages are extremely popular as they provide the bird with a play station while they are outside of the cage and thus take up less room than an added climbing frame. ‘Top-opening’ cages are also very popular and give the parrot the opportunity to leave and enter the enclosure at will, but also prevents the keeper from hanging various enrichment opportunities (such as swings and hanging toys) in the interior of the enclosure.

The keeper must also consider bar spacing. In most enclosure choice scenarios bigger is always better, but if the bird can fit their head through the bars this can be hazard. However, spacing should not be too small. Larger parrots such as African greys will enjoy climbing up the bars and thus adequate space is needed to allow them to do this.

Dishes

Three dishes are required: one for water, one for dry foods and one for fruit and veg. Most enclosures will have dishes installed with an anti-tip mechanism, preventing the bird from spilling the food. A pelleted diet such as Psittacus will provide the necessary nutrient profile for the bird. This should be supplemented with 30% fresh fruit and veg to provide some enrichment. This should be fed in moderation, little and often to ensure that the parrot is feeding on the pellets rather than handpicking their favourite fruits. Fruit and veg can also be used as a bonding ‘treat’ given to well-behaved birds. By identifying the bird’s favourite fruit or veg (usually the first one they pick in a bowl of mixed fruit) and isolating that to be fed ONLY as a treat, keepers can help train their pet much easier. Veg is generally the healthier alternative here, with sweetcorn being a popular choice.

Décor

Java wood is sandblasted, making it an ideal smooth perch. Furthermore, it is baked to ensure it is extra durable and contains multiple branches of differing sizes. As the bird moves up and down the java wood branches, it will inadvertently exercise its feet and leg muscles more than a uniform straight perch. Specific java wood perches often have a screw/bolt allowing them to be installed inside or outside of the enclosure. These should be positioned so that the bird can climb them and utilise the entire enclosure.

A rough perch is hugely beneficial. Not only does a rough perch provide new and interesting textures for the animal, but it also helps the bird trim its claws and beak. The rough perch should be positioned close to the food bowls. It should allow easy access for the bird reaching into the bowl and provide enough room for the bird to clean its

beak against the perch, after eating. Calcium perches are also available and work in much the same way, but also provide some added calcium as the parrot chews and cleans itself on it.

Toys are also extremely important for birds. Parrots, such as African greys, have the intelligence of a toddler. This means they need a LOT of things to do in their environment. Toys should be as varied as possible and should be provided both inside and outside of the cage. Extra toys should be kept separately, but in view of the bird. It is not uncommon for some species to feel uneasy about new toys in their environment, so placing these around the home to familiarise the parrot with them before adding them to the cage is a good idea. Puzzle feeders are excellent at providing mental stimulation, but bells, shred-able items, colourful durable plastics, and much more are available.

Substrate

In bird keeping, substrate is mostly concerned with practicality. As almost all enclosures provide a barred grid between the bird and the substrate (to prevent spilt food from being fowled and eaten), picking something that is easily cleaned and visually appealing is important. Coarse beech chips do this perfectly. This is a heavier substrate than other ‘loose’ options and is not easily dispersed when a bird flaps its wings. Beech chips can quickly be spot-cleaned and provide a more aesthetically pleasing alternative to newspaper.

As well as spot-cleaning the base of the enclosure, all the bars should be wiped down with a bird-friendly disinfectant each day.

UV and birds

Although many birds are extremely adaptable and will grow down feathers to acclimatise to a variety of temperatures, keepers must be considerate about the placement of their enclosure. Just like all captive animals, providing choice is a pillar of great animal welfare and thus, enclosures

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should not be placed in direct sunlight or in an area with a cold draft. Many parrots will live comfortably outside in UK climates year-round, but these animals have been gradually acclimatised over many months or even years. They are also provided with areas to shelter from the most drastic temperatures and will always have a companion to roost with. Single birds should never be kept outside in an aviary. Most of the popular pet species available today are celebrated for their highly sociable habits. In the home, their keeper becomes their companion (another reason why they can be so demanding) but in aviary situations, their flock fulfils this need. It is recommended that pet parrots kept in the home have access to a flight but should never be transferred permanently to an aviary without other birds, as it can cause significant loneliness and behavioural or psychological problems. The Association of Avian Veterinarians suggest taking the bird outside, in a secure environment for at least half an hour, 2-3 times a week. Between 18°C – 29°C is optimal temperature to allow an indoor bird outside.

Obviously, birds will benefit massively from access to a flight. Although most species can adequately exercise within the home to prevent any significant health problems, space to stretch their wings and gain valuable UV from the sun is majorly beneficial. The benefits of UV for avian species in a captive environment shares many similarities with reptiles and amphibians. UV helps birds metabolise specific vitamins, supports their vision, gives them access to the full-colour spectrum and improves mood. Unlike ectothermic species, we still struggle to fully understand how each species interacts with UV. As birds move in three dimensions and are not sun-reliant, there is still much for us to learn but a low UVI of 2-4 for around 5 hours a day has been proven to be beneficial to most species. Specific UV lighting products from brands such as Bird Systems and ZooMed allows for the easy implementation of UV to be installed above a bird’s cage. Depending on the brand of the lamp, these should be positioned 15-30cm away from the animal’s head and provide a gradient from the top down (keepers should check manufacturers guidelines).

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Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla)

TURTLE TALLY

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Summer is almost upon us and as the weather starts to warm up, reptiles are becoming much more active. As well as our native reptile species, non-native turtles are now being spotted across the UK and researchers are calling on members of the public to support vital monitoring programmes.

Turtle Tally UK was established in 2018 to help document the introduced turtle species that inhabit the UK’s waterbodies. As a Citizen Science Project, the initiative asks members of the public to support research by providing details of turtle sightings across the country. This data is crucial in tracking introduced species and understanding the welfare concerns and potential ecological impact of non-native turtles. Led by Suzie Simpson, HE Programme Leader and Animal Management Lecturer at Hadlow College and in conjunction with the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, the scheme aims to assess the invasiveness of non-native turtles and how the release or escape of captive animals affects welfare.

Previously, Turtle Tally was a monitoring programme which last year recorded 225 sightings, including 12 from anglers across the UK. Expected hotspot areas include London, Manchester, Liverpool and Cardiff. Naturally, these urbanised areas will see a higher footfall of people reporting sightings but could also represent greater numbers of escaped pets. Data is also limited in the West Country and Scotland citizens from these regions are encouraged even more so, to report their sightings.

The most commonly spotted turtles and terrapins are the red-eared and yellow-bellied sliders (Trachemys sp.) due to their bold basking behaviours. However, more cryptic species such as common musk turtles (Sternotherus odoratus) and soft shells (Pelodiscus sinensis) have been spotted in the past.

Since its inception, Turtle Tally has been solely focused on monitoring and data collection. “This year, a very small number of non-native turtles will be removed to receive a health screening” explained Suzie Simpson, Project Lead for the Turtle Tally. “We will be screening to assess whether these turtles harbour any diseases or parasites as well as check the overall body condition of the animal. This information will then be compared with captive turtles to understand the impact and potential detriment of releasing these animals into the wild. Turtles that have been removed and checked will then be rehomed into dedicated turtle sanctuaries. Citizens are encouraged not to remove the turtles themselves.

Suzie continued: “There are many myths around turtles and terrapins in the UK, often associated with their impact

FASCINATING FACT

Bearded Dragons and Atadenovirus

Agamid Atadenovirus-1 (BDAdV-1) is often discussed as a life-threatening and very serious disease. It is a type of Adenovirus and causes diarrhoea, lethargy and weight loss in many species and has been attributed to the death of a whole range of captive reptiles. In the latter stages, it presents in the form of physical stretching of the head upwards (stargazing) and can cause animals to flip onto their backs, possibly due to neurological damage. Veterinarians have been concerned with this illness for some time, but emerging research is beginning to de-bunk the causes of this disease in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps).

Similar observations have been made of Iridovirus in wild bearded dragons, with many individuals living happily with the disease. Male specimens that tested positive actually presented as ‘healthier’ than the others based on their robustness and weight. This suggests that the symptoms we observe in captivity could arise from subpar husbandry as opposed to a new wave of lizard pandemics. Naturally, veterinarians will be exposed solely to captive animals and screen only those that show signs of ill-health. It is therefore vitally important that keepers practise good biosecurity and prevent issues with correct care.

on waterfowl. So far, of the turtles we have assessed, we have not noticed any signs of aggression towards birds or their eggs. In the case of grebes (Podiceps cristatus), it is possible that when a turtle pulls itself onto a basking site, it might cause the mother to leave the nest, but we need to understand more about this with further research.”

“Terrapins such as red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta) are invasive globally. Their main impact is on native turtles, which is not an issue in the UK. The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) was native in the UK some 9000 years ago, but since its extinction there are currently no native turtles in the UK.”

Members of the public should record the following details before submitting the vital observation record to www. turtletally.co.uk Date, time, location (what3words, grid reference or address with description) and number of turtles seen. It is important to send a photo if possible, to aid identification.

Although it is likely that non-native turtles have a reasonably low ecological impact, the welfare of these released animals is paramount. Citizens who report their sightings will be helping to protect local ecosystems as well as the general wellbeing of these much-loved turtles. As such, Exotics Keeper Magazine will be running a competition throughout the year to encourage citizens to get on board with the Turtle Tally.

As most sightings tend to halt in October, those who report a sighting to turtletallyuk@gmail.com (www. turtletally.co.uk) and share proof (via screenshot, or sighting details) to hello@exoticskeeper.com between now and October will be entered into a draw to win a prize bundle tailored specifically for their pets or interests, worth over £100. Entries will be collated through summer and a winner will be announced later in the year.

Firstly, it is important to note that this disease is extremely contagious and thus any instance of Adenovirus within a captive collection should be treated with the utmost severity. It is spread through faecal matter and the impact of the disease in other species is unknown. However, field research conducted on over 100 Central bearded dragons in New South Wales found that Atadenovirus is widespread and presents no ill effects in wild dragons. Furthermore, the disease is also widespread in wild Gila monsters (Heloderma suspectum) suggesting that both genera have evolved to live with this strain of Adenovirus since their ancestral split millions of years ago.

If an animal is already showing symptoms of poor health, it is important to take them to an exotics vet immediately.

Provision of calcium

Enrichment is the pinnacle of good animal welfare. It converts husbandry goals from “keeping an animal alive”, to “allowing the animal to thrive”. Enrichment is a broad term and a multi-faceted approach is key. Enrichment doesn’t just benefit the animal but gives us keepers new and exciting ways to interact or observe our animals. In this new monthly feature, EK discusses some of the best enrichment ideas that are being used today. Please submit your own ideas to thomas@exoticskeeper.com.

As we have discussed previously in Exotics Keeper, enrichment is now an important cornerstone in the foundation of captive herpetoculture. It allows animals to thrive and not just survive, going above and beyond the bare requirements to keep an animal just physically healthy. Many forms of enrichment are inspired by their natural lifestyles, since replicating ‘life history’ as best as we can with the knowledge and equipment have is the obvious route to bringing out the innate behaviours in our animals.

We know that calcium is important in the diet of reptiles and amphibians for bone, reproductive, immune and nerve health (to scratch just the surface). Many keepers of reptiles such as insectivorous lizards will opt to provide 24/7 access to calcium in a small dish or bottle cap. While this is absolutely fine, a creative and perhaps more ‘nature-inspired’ way to do this is to use a small rock (sterilised if taken from outside), dipping it in water, and coating one side. Many wild animals will lick rocks that have mineral deposits to get additional calcium. Plus, this way, you can change a small amount of fresh calcium each week by just washing and re-coating, rather than wasting a lot of calcium in a bowl (which some lizards will inevitably dig in and make a mess of).

• Remember to use only calcium for this purpose, without any added D3, since D3 supplementation should be

monitored to avoid toxicity – especially when there is access to UVB.

• Consider as well that calcium is also naturally obtained through the diet, and because the plants and livefoods we use haven’t absorbed as big a nutrient content as wild-growing counterparts, it is still beneficial and recommended to both gut load and dust food with calcium and additional vitamins where appropriate.

For tortoises, providing calcium blocks is a great way to play to their natural instincts. Most will relish a good munch on a block of calcium, and this keeps their beaks filed down and healthy too. You should still provide supplementation with food as well, but presenting both options can help work around fussy individuals that may turn their nose up at certain foods, especially if they are dusted. A work around is to try adding something palatable like a flower or fruit they love, or even bee pollen.

A monthly treat of a sugary piece of fruit can help the medicine go down, as they say, if it means getting a good multivitamin into their diet, as well as giving them dietary enrichment.

• Do snakes need additional calcium? There isn’t a solid consensus on this. Logically speaking, many snakes on a rodent or avian diet will obtain plenty of calcium as they eat vertebrates, but there are arguments that younger prey have a much lower calcium content. We really can’t know for sure what the mineral and vitamin content of snake food items are, though there are papers that have been written that can give you a base idea on each type. Treat every situation contextually. There is no harm in adding a light sprinkle of calcium and/or a multivitamin intermittently to snake food items, so you could give that a try.

Replicating high temperatures for breeding doesn’t have to be hard:

• Deep penetrating infrared wavelengths for safe & efficient heat.

• Wide beam for thorough coverage.

• Can be used 24h/day.

ZOO MED SUCCESS:

Banana Iguanas (Ctenosaura pectinata) are large lizards native to hot, dry habitats such as dry forests and deserts in Mexico and Central America where they regularly experience ambient basking temperatures of over 104º F. In our large Iguana Habitat here in the mild climate, we found it difficult to attain the high basking temperatures these animals desired. Although these animals were active and appeared healthy for over 12 years here, we did not have any success breeding them until adding a Zoo Med Infrared Heat Projector above one of their basking sites. The animals seemed to prefer this heat and spent an increased amount of time relaxing under these heating elements, then finally laid a beautiful clutch of eggs that hatched successfully 77 days later. After many years of trying different strategies to encourage reproduction, we are pleased to finally introduce the offspring of our Banana Iguanas!

Adult Banana Iguana Ctenosaura pectinata

Baby Banana Iguana Ctenosaura pectinata