Can't Get Enough of Rhino Iguanas!

I had one of the best days ever at my local reptile shop in Belfast. I'm sure a lot of people would think that's crazy but some of my happiest memories are of being around reptiles and other herpetologists. I have talked about my experiences regarding these wonderful cold blooded creatures in many of my posts and how I feel lucky to have interacted with them, but today tops it. 

A year ago my favourite reptile shop, Reptile NI, closed down and I was deeply saddened as I fell in love with one of their animals, in fact their mascot: a rhino iguana. I always wanted to see him every time I was in the shop as I found him adorable. Sadly I was too shy and scared to interact with him due to his size and my lack of reptile experience. When the shop closed I was deeply saddened as I got two wonderful corn snakes from them and loved going in to speak to the staff, and of course to see the rhino iguana. 

A few months ago Reptile Hunter opened and Saddam, the wonderful rhino iguana, was back in the new shop and I was so happy to see him again. After having more experience with reptiles and getting to know the shop owner, today I was able to have the rare opportunity to hold such a magnificent creature. What can I say, other than I feel lucky and hope one day to be able to keep such a beautiful and impressive animal. After a year of admiring him and being a little scared to hold him, I finally did it. 

If you are ever in Belfast, I recommend that you call into Reptile Hunters. The staff are lovely and animals will leave a major impression! Visit Reptile Hunters Facebook.

Myself and Saddam!

                                                                                    

My partner and I with Saddam

Now that's what I call a lizard!

Have a look at this video of the same iguana as shown above! 

Captive Bred vs Wild Caught

Today my blog post will be about what animals are better to keep and work with: whether it is captive bred or wild caught. This is a controversial topic depending on who you talk to. After all the very first reptiles had to be wild caught for us to be able to breed them in captivity.

In the reptile market around 90-95% of animals have been bred in captivity and these animals are more sought after due to their selective breeding. Consumers are looking for animals that are not very defensive and aggressive, can be housed with ease and have hardy nature and are bright coloured and attractive. This is generally achieved when selectively bred.

Wild Caught

Wild caught animals, are generally more aggressive/defensive and can be harder to house. They also are more easily stressed with being transported and housed in small enclosures. The biggest draw back from dealing with a wild caught animal and introducing it into the pet trade is the fact that they carry more parasites and worms. This can lead to very poorly animals and huge veterinary bills. It is also vital to quarantine such animals from others to prevent further problems.

Bare in mind that without wild caught, there would be no reptile industry and we would not be able to keep such wonderful and rewarding pets. Without scientists, zoos and industry breeders we would not be able to keep chameleons as they were seen as impossible to keep and furthermore crested geckos were know to be extinct. Perhaps without working with wild caught animals and extensive breeding programs, animals like the crested gecko would be extinct. 

There is no doubt that wild caught animals do suffer stress when being captured and some may die during transportation. I am not qualified to discuss the right and wrong in this and philosophy human contact with animals and the need to have animals as companions but as long as the animal is healthy and being cared for that is all I wish to discuss. I do not wish to get into a debate with animal right campaigners.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, captive bred animals would not exist without animals being wild caught, although it is better to research into the animal that you are intending to purchase and find out if it has been captive bred or wild caught. I would highly recommend ensuring that your animal is captive bred unless you have expertise in working with and housing wild caught animals and ensure you can take them to a vet that works with reptiles as soon as possible to check for parasites and other problems. I myself would only purchase an animal that has been bred and born in captivity.

To read more information on the topic click here

Reptile Shows UK / Europe

Reptile expeditions are a great source for going to see lots of wonderful animals and for meeting breeders that have a passion for the hobby. If you are a fan of reptiles, such shows are worth going to.

I am privileged to be going to the IHS show in Doncaster England next Sunday.  This will be the first reptile show that I have ever been to, therefore I have no idea what to expect and I'm very excited. The only part I am not looking forward to is traveling as I am based in Belfast so it will be a long day and 500 mile drive! Will I be purchasing any reptiles that day? I have no idea as I'm looking to get a pinstripe ball python from a local breeder soon. You guys and girls will have to stay tuned and keep reading my blog to find out. I will also be posting on Facebook about the show and what wonderful animals I have seen.

Last weekend was the date for one of the biggest reptile expeditions in Europe and if not worldwide which was in Hamburg Germany. At the show there were many animals on offer from famous breeders worldwide. This included various royal pythons, lizards, colubrids and venomous reptiles. Furthermore, also available is an array of equipment and dry goods.

The next large reptile show following Doncaster, is on December the 1st 2013 in Houten Holland. For a list of shows and events please click here For reptile enthusiasts in the USA click here

Picture of myself holding an albino Burmese python

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