Reptile Myths Busted Part 1

Due to the misconception regarding reptiles, I thought that for a few upcoming posts, I will write about various myths surrounding reptiles and what the truth is behind the myths. Hopefully the articles will allow people to see how wonderful reptiles are and how rewarding working with or keeping them as pets can be.

Myth 1: Are snakes slimy?

The answer to that is no, snakes are not slimy. In fact they are dry and soft to touch and can be a joy to handle. They do not feel like eels and other likewise creatures. I myself love handling snakes and find that they can sometimes tickle when you hold them!

The misconception that snakes are slimy comes from the fact their scales are iridescent and this makes them appear wet and slippery. The only time that a snake may feel sticky is during the shedding process as the animal releases a secretion under their old scales to help them slide of the skin more smoothly. 

Snakes skin is made up of the protein keratin, this is the same material that makes up human hair and nails! 

Snake Scales

Myth 2: Why does that snake not bite you?

Snakes normally do not attack people without good reason. They normally strike because of two reasons: to defend it's self when threatened and to a feeding response. It also depends on the breed of snake as some are naturally more aggressive than others. Others simply seem to enjoy handling.

Other reptiles eventually get conditioned and tolerate handling. It's also important to always respect the animal and be as gentle as possible. If you are handling a snake aggressively this may provoke a defensive strike. The difference between a defensive strike and a feeding response is: If the snake strikes quickly and lets go, it's probably a defensive strike. If the snake bites down and will not let go, this is normally due to a feeding response. Although this may not always be accurate, for example venomous snakes will bite and let go due to both reasons. Although venomous snakes should ONLY be handled by trained individuals.

The keeper of the snake will understand the animal and know when their animal is not in the mood to be handled. If the snake is showing signs of aggression or distress then it is better left alone. I myself have experienced this with my royal python.

Myth 3: Can a snake hurt you with it's tongue? Can it envenom you by licking?

The answer to this myth is no, their is no way any snake can hurt you with it's tongue alone weather the snake is venomous or not! For venom to work it has to be injected to reach the blood stream through the animals needle like fangs, although some snakes can spit venom by ejecting it from their fangs.

Snake venom works by immobilising prey whilst also aiding the snake to digest it's meal. The venom is made via the animals venom glands that are located behind the eyes or on either side of the head. The glands work by storing venom in the alveoli before being conveyed to a duct at the base of the fangs, allowing the snake to inject or spit.

There are many different types of toxins carried in the venom which work in a number of ways. Neurotoxins, cytotoxins and hemotoxins  are most common. Neurotoxins work by attacking the nervous system and the brain. Hemotoxin induces swelling, cardiovascular damage, and eventual necrosis. It also effects the functionality of blood and other body tissues. Cytotxins attack immune cells and can cause necrosis. Necrosis can induce patients to lose membrane and shut down metabolism.

For more information on venomous reptiles click here

Snake Venom

Myth 4: When a snake stretches out beside me is it going to eat me?  

The short answer is no, it is not sizing you up to eat you. Snakes prey depend primarily on the girth of the prey compared to the girth of the snake as they can consume food 1.5 times their girth. Most likely reason for a snake stretching out beside you would be to acquire heat radiating from your body. You will find that people will say something like "My snake tried to eat me because it laid next to me" but if you think about it, when you feed a snake it doesn't stretch itself out beside the rodent, measuring it. 

Burmese Python with a Child

Myth 5: Do snakes kill people for fun?

I have never encountered a situation in which this has been documented. Snakes do not kill for sport or for fun. Like most animals, snakes only kill when they are hungry and it will be prey of appropriate size. For example, a snake wouldn't kill a fully grown elephant for obvious reasons. If a snake feels threatened, it will either try to shy away or strike out of fear, not because they find it fun to do so. Snakes, as cold blooded animals, need to conserve as much energy as possible, therefore they would not attack as long as they are not provoked.

Loads of Snakes!

Hoarding Reptiles

In this industry it is highly common to meet other people that have large collections of reptiles, ranging anywhere up into the thousands. This poses the question: when does collecting reptiles become problematic and when does it become 'hoarding'?

Lets start by looking at the definition of hoarding after a quick search on the Internet. 

• Acquiring and failing to dispose of a large number of items that have little or no meaning to others. 
• Severe cluttering of a person's home so that it is no longer a viable living space. 
• Significant distress or impairment of work and or social life.  -About.com

Reptile hoarder's collection being seized

Dictionary Meaning

noun

1. A supply or accumulation that is hidden or carefully guarded for preservation, future use, etc.: a vast hoard of silver.

verb (used with object)

2. To accumulate for preservation, future use, etc., in a hidden or carefully guarded place: to hoard food during a shortage.

verb (used without object)

3. To accumulate money, food, or the like, in a hidden or carefully guarded place for preservation, future use, etc. -Dictionary.reference.com

Keeping too many reptiles

When it comes to keeping reptiles or any other animal, a few keepers tend to buy large numbers and a selected few owners purchase the animals regardless of their needs. According to most reptile keepers this is when the definition of 'hoarding' should be applied. This behaviour can become a major problem for the animals as they can become sick and are left unaided. If any keeper has more animals than they can adequately care for then it becomes hoarding. 

I myself believe that there are probably many owners of reptiles who have collections exceeding what they can properly care for, so I have found myself asking: Is there a specific number of reptiles one can keep before their collection becomes a problem?

To this I would say there is not a definitive number as everyone has different circumstances. If that was the case, reptile shops would be hoarding as would specialists breeders. As long as the animals have their needs adhered to; for example space requirements, housing needs, clean enclosures and food in their stomachs: should the number of animals matter? As long as the reptiles are receiving the care and attention they deserve, does a collection of 10 to 10,000 pose a problem?

The word 'hoarding' should only be applied if the animals are neglected and not getting cared for properly. Everyone has their own opinions on this topic, for example, someone may say that keeping a rack system does not allow the animal enough space. Others may say that you are neglecting your reptiles if they are not being handled as all domesticated animals should be handled regularly. Each individual has their own opinions and it's up to you to make your own. 

In conclusion, if a person keeps 10 cats but treats them correctly, keeps them clean, separates them if they fight, feeds them properly, takes them to the vet when they need a shot or take ill. Is this person a hoarder? Apply the same logic to a reptile keeper. 

Comment below with your thoughts and opinions. Keep it polite and don't be nasty or harsh, otherwise comments will not be published.

African Rock Python / Python Sebae

Following a recent incident involving an African Rock Python. I have decided to create a blog post about how wonderful and amazing these animals are. When it comes to reptiles, people generally fear them because they don't understand them, so education is important to us keepers that are in the hobby.

Habitat

African rock pythons are large animals that live in sub-Saharan Africa and are one of the seven species of genus Pythonidae. There are currently 26 species of python recognised. They can be found in a wide range of habitats although they are usually found in both forests and near deserts and furthermore near water sources.

Pythons are a non-venomous snake that constrict their prey by coiling themselves around prey and squeezing every time a breath is taken until the victim succumbs to asphyxiation. Their prey can be anything from rodents, lizards, birds to antelope and even the occasional crocodile.

Size

African Rock Pythons generally grow to be 14ft although some have been found to measure as large as 20ft+. They typically weigh around 44-55kg with a few weighing much more. In general they are smaller in highly populated areas such as Nigeria, only reaching maximum size in places such as Sierra Leone where population is less dense. Males are also typically smaller than females. Python Sebae is one of the world's largest snakes, along with anacondas, Burmese Pythons and Reticulated Pythons. There are records of african rock pythons growing to 20ft+.

Reproduction

The mating season for the pythons normally begins in the Spring. Due to African Rock Pythons being Oviparous, they lay between 20-100 eggs. Surprisingly, mothers show a stunning level of maternal care for their young and can even be defensive over eggs and hatchlings. They even incubate the eggs and protect them from predators until they hatch and this is generally for up to 90 days. This is interesting as it is unusual for a female snake to protect their eggs.

Hatchling African Rock Pythons are between 18-24 inches in length and look the same as adults, apart from carrying more contrasting colours. In captivity they live for up to 12 years.

Sabae Baby

Human Interactions

Not recommended to be kept as pets for first time keepers and they tend to be temperamental and unpredictable. It is also documented that any python over 15ft should not be handled. Also remember to always handle large snakes with safety in mind. Ensure that you never handle such an animal alone. If the feeding response is triggered, an African Rock Python could easily constrict and kill a person. Always use a snake hook and treat the animal with caution and respect. Also ensure they have a completely safe and secure enclosure that can be locked. 

Humans being killed by African Rock Pythons are rare, in fact only a few have ever been reported. They do not intentionally kill people! It has been documented that there is no reported evidence of one consuming a human being. Although a few have been injured and two deaths have occurred of a 8 and 13 year old boy being constricted which occurred in 1979 and 1999. 

In August 2013, an African Rock Python allegedly killed two young boys in Canada as they slept. The snake did not consume the boys and there were no signs of the snake attacking them which sparked a few questions like what really did happen? It was later discovered that the boys were not killed by the snake and an investigation has been opened. Due to the initial assumption the snake was euthanised which has infuriated reptile keepers worldwide.

I can't stress enough that it is vital to ensure your snakes are kept in a secure enclosure as one keepers mistake can effect a lot of people and even lively hoods. This makes the hobby look bad. Check out the Reptile Laws post I blogged recently to find out more about lawfully keeping such wonderful animals.

Reptile Laws

I am doing this post after seeing a few stories circulating in the media about reptiles and how they are deemed dangerous. I currently live in the UK so thankfully the restrictions are lenient. However, if you live in places like Canada, it's a different story. The laws there are more strict, sometimes to a ridiculous extent.

After reading stories on Facebook, I am shocked at how these laws effect the animals. Yes they are illegal but should they be slaughtered because the owner does not have a permit? To me that is inhumane. No healthy animal should be put down. To me it makes more sense to re-home the animal.

New England Reptile Distributors have posted on Facebook today;

"In the next town/city nearby it is illegal to have ANY exotic pets if your dwelling is 75' from another or less. So if you have an apartment you can not keep them... or your house is close to another you can not keep them. This means : Bearded Dragons, Leopard Geckos, White's Tree Frog, Red Eyed Tree Frog, Tortoise, Corn snake, Emperor Scorpion, Rose Hair Tarantula down the line. It is illegal but not enforced at the moment."

This information refers to the law in Canada, be it in selected towns/cities. So if you live in a terraced house or semi-detached, it is illegal to have even a corn snake in your home because it is within 75 inches of another home. A corn snake is not life threatening, their bites may break your skin but the likes of a vicious dog would do far worse. It seems that reptiles are being discriminated against, simply because they are different from a conventional pet.

One story that hit me hard was Jay's story that he shared on NERD's Facebook page;

Jay's story : "Hello, I would like to take the time and let you guys know the truth about what happen. The 56 reticulated pythons were killed on site when my landlord was illegally evicting me from my home. I was then notified that the spca was called and called the conservation Officers they had the house police taped off and they deemed the animals dangerous to the public.

Then once I got there as I rushed home from work to see what was going on. With no notice of what was happening I showed up to about 12 Conservation Officers. These conservation officers then said the animals were illegal. Even though they were not past the 3 meter law except one large female Tiger het anthrax. They called the reptile vet to come ID the animals. As I was sitting there they told me they were euthanizing them. They never asked if they had permits which a few had permits. One is a Calico Golden Child that you guys produced from the first breeding. All of the animals were locked up in cages and healthy. The decision fell on the vet and he said to euthanize them.

There are 3 reasons a vet will euthanize a animal
1 They post a risk to the public
2 They are ill or dieing
3 Is political reasons.

Bottom line is the vet works for them. And in BC they kill and ask questions later. I feel the vet is a mercenary for the conservation officers killing animals without due care. He also gets paid for ever animal he kills so a big payout is heading his way. If he really cared about the animals he would have said he cannot do this and there is a better way to handle this then destroying these rare animals.

These animals they killed posted no risk towards the public. They were all healthy animals. They killed Super dwarf and Dwarfs. They killed babies that were only a few months old, 35 to be exact and could easily be transported. All the snakes were tame and could be easily handled. The vet also left needles in water dishes and in enclosures.

I honestly thought Conservation officers were suppose to conserve life not destroy it and ask questions later.

This is wrong and inhumane to do. If someone was keeping bears or tigers animals that seriously can harm or kill someone. They would have took these animals to a sanctuary or a zoo. Not destroy them. Around 100K worth in animals were killed. The money means nothing to me. The years it took me to acquire this collection 10 to be exact all gone within a few hours. They also carried the animals out in garbage bags. And threw them in the back of a CO truck.

As they killed animals they mistook 9 animals that were not retics. I am seeking advice from 2 lawyers at the moment and going over the next steps I will be making and who I will be going after first and I am meeting with Global news to uncover these people for the killers they are.

These animals were everything to me. Some were the only ones in Canada."

This is heartbreaking. The fact that the vet could have easily re-homed the reptiles in question but instead, they opted for euthanizing them. Yes, he may not have had permits for some of them but they didn't even ask to see the permits. Some, if not most, of those reptiles could have been saved.

My next point is to ensure you know the law that applies to you. If you lived in a country that requires you to have a permit to keep one of these animals, then ensure you have one for each animal. Just like buying a vivarium before the animal, the same should apply to getting the permit before the reptile. In the UK, you do not need a permit to keep an exotic reptile unless it classifies as a dangerous wild animal, in which case you require a DWA license. The DWA license covers crocodilians  and venomous animals. Read more about venomous reptiles here.

To find out what species are restricted for Canada, please see this PDF.

To conclude, my heart goes out to Jay and anyone that is effected by the strict laws of keeping these wonderful reptiles. Reading what the authorities have done to the snakes has upset me greatly. Hopefully this will not happen again. 

Could Not Agree With This More

 

Humidity

After photographing my geckos yesterday, I noticed that one had an incomplete shed. Today I helped her get the stuck skin off as I do not want her becoming ill. To help Violet remove the shed, I filled a plastic container with spaghum moss. I left her in the box with the moss for 10 minutes, spraying her with water every so often. I then used a cotton bud, cue tip if you live in the USA to gently rub the skin off. This worked and now the stuck shed has been removed completely. 

If your gecko has a stuck shed, I recommend using the advice above for baby geckos. If you don't have the moss you can replace this with damp paper towels. For adult geckos, you can give them a luke warm bath for 10 minutes. Ensure that the water is around half an inch or so deep as if it is too deep, the gecko might drown. Always keep an eye on your gecko while they are bathing to ensure their safety. Then once again gently remove the skin with a cotton bud. Tip: always ensure when using a plastic box, that there is a steady air flow. I used a container that has small holes soldered into the plastic. 

If you are too nervous to try the above, take your gecko to a vet or reptile shop. They deal with stuck sheds all the time. It is VITAL to be as gentle as possible as you don't want to hurt or injure your gecko. 

When keeping a gecko, always provide them with a moist hide. This allows them access to higher humidity levels when needed. I ensure both my geckos have a moist hide which I made using a plastic container that I have cut a hole in. To make sure there were no sharp edges I added a  rubber grommet. Alternatively, you can use a file to smooth the edges. Inside the box I place fresh sphagnum moss  daily. 

If you look closely at Violets nose you can see the stuck shed.

Humidity

This brings me to today's topic which is the importance of humidity. Like temperature, it is important to ensure the correct humidity for your reptiles. Having too high a reading can lead to Respiratory Infections. Signs for such infections include bloated body, loss of appetite, wheezing, clicking noises and mucus in their mouths. In snakes, their forked tongues may stick together and they will raise their heads to breathe more clearly. This condition is very dangerous in colubrids, due to them having only one lung. If your animal shows any of these symptoms decrease the humidity and get to a vet a soon as possible. 

Lack of humidity can also be a problem for reptiles, especially during the shedding process. If levels are too low, animals will retain their shed. Stuck sheds (if not removed) can seriously impact your reptile. It can lead to loss of circulation resulting in lost limbs, skin infections and retained eye caps which can even result in blindness. 

To reduce the humidity levels there are many things a keeper can do:

• Add more vents to the enclosure
• Place a fan beside vents
• Use a smaller water bowl
• Change bedding

To increase the humidity:

• Use larger water bowl
• Mist the animals with a spray of water
• Add sphagnum moss to the inside of a hide

If you are concerned about humidity you can purchase a humidity reader and place it inside your reptile's enclosure. They are available in many different options and some can also read temperature. If you can, buy a digital one with a probe.

In conclusion here is a list of correct humidity levels for various reptiles. For species that vary, please speak to your vet or local reptile store. 

• Amphibians 60-95%
• Anoles 25-75%
• Boa's and Pythons 25-75%
• Garter Snakes 25-75%
• Green Iguanas 60-95%
• King/Milk Snakes 0-40%
• Monitors and Tegus (varies)
• Skinks (varies)
• Tortoises and Turtles (varies)
• Geckos (varies)

Here are a few useful links to other related posts
Heating
Cooling Reptiles Down
Shedding

My Favourite Morphs

This blog post is all about morphs and which of them are my favourites. With there being so many different colour variations and morphs available, it is difficult to choose what ones to add to the collection. I myself love royal pythons, leopard geckos and corn snakes for the amount of varieties available.

Genetics are important to some keepers when purchasing a reptile due to future breeding projects. For example, a two to three gene animal could produce more interesting babies than a single gene animal. Also snakes and lizards that have a higher number of genetics increase in value.

Royal Pythons

I myself prefer high contrast morphs when it comes to royal pythons. I love high yellows and oranges with black markings. I actually made a wish list the other day of ball pythons I would like to own using the World of Ball Pythons iPad app. I found myself writing out so many that I decided to be logical and pick what I would like to breed to my bumble bee male. This is what I came up with.

Butter Enchi

All Royal Python images are by World of Ball Pythons visit their page by clicking here

Firefly

Lemon Blast

Spinner Blast

Pin Stripe

Corn Snakes

When it comes to corn snakes, sadly I do not plan on breeding my two females although if I was planning on pairing corn snakes I would think about purchasing the following morphs because I like them and would find them interesting to work with.

Diffused Corn Snake

Gold Dust Corn Snake

Lavender Corn Snake

Sulfur Corn Snake

Leopard Geckos

I also have two leopard geckos and again I do not wish to breed them at present but would consider it in the future. Like corn snakes and royal pythons, leopard geckos are available in different morphs. They are also a popular pet and loved by both adults and children. My favourite leopard geckos are as follows.

Bold Stripe Leopard Gecko

Blizzard Leopard Gecko

Carrot Tail Leopard Gecko

Tangerine Leopard Gecko

Finally my last favourite morph is that of a reticulated python. Sadly due to the space needed to keep a retic, I would never keep one to breed or as a pet. However, after seeing a stunning morph by New England Reptile Distributors I had to add this to the list.

Orange Ghost Stripe Tiger by NERD

 

Fear of Snakes/Ophidiophobia

Ophidiophobia means fear of snakes whereas herpetophobia is a fear of reptiles in general and amphibians. The term phobia is an irrational fear that can sometimes be severe and effect peoples lives in many ways.

Care should be taken to gain an understanding of the severity of a persons phobia. For example, someone with ophidiophobia would find it difficult not only to see a live snake but also see pictures either on the television or Internet. Whereas others may only have a fear of venomous snakes. There are different levels of fear from being a little nervous to being terrified.  Having a fear of snakes is nothing to be ashamed of and almost one third of the world's population have a fear of snakes. I myself have a phobia of spiders and can't bare to be in the same room as one, I can just about look at a picture of one but this leaves me shaking. This may seem stupid to some people but to me, a house spider is terrifying. 

Scientists that have conducted a study have suggested that fear of snakes/reptiles has formed from evolution stretching back to a time when mammals had to survive and bare young in an environment dominated by reptiles.

 How do I beat my fear of snakes?

Research into snakes as there are lots of interesting facts about snakes. For example many snakes do not have venom nor get really big and also some snakes can't hiss. The best way to conduct research into these wonderful animals is: reading books, watching free videos online, documentaries and of course looking on the Internet. You have already made a start by viewing this blog all about snakes and reptiles even if it is only reading this article. Remember to take little steps or even try to set goals. 

Visit your zoo and visit the reptile section. Animals in zoos are used to small enclosures plus are generally domesticated. This is a great way to view the animals and not get too close.

Get to know someone who keeps snakes in your area. This is a great idea for wanting to overcome your fear. Most pet snakes are used to being around people and will not act aggressive. Many people own snakes and find that they make rewarding pets. If you happen to come across a wild snake, the animal will more than likely try to flee as they are shy and timed creatures.

It is probably more scared of you than you are of it! Snakes can show fear too. In fact they become frightened of sudden movements and will often shy away. Although if you try to run away from a snake, this may provoke it to strike. It is best to treat snakes as gently and kindly as possible.

Confront your fear, when you feel ready to face your fear, you could try and touch a snake's skin. They do not feel slimey and are soft to touch, in fact they can tickle! When you are then comfortable with the feeling of a snakes skin, you can then try holding one. It does not have to be a large snake or dangerous one. The first snake that I held was at my local reptile shop and was a baby python which was scary. After handling a snake you will ask yourself why was I scared. Just be aware that some snakes can move fast although speed will depend on what you decide to handle. Good luck and hopefully following these tips will help you to endure snakes.

For information about what snakes are really like click here