Home >> January, 2009

Feeding Captive Savannah Monitors (Varanus exanthematicus) and Black and White Tegus (Tupinambis merianae): Zoo Med’s Canned Tegu and Monitor Diet

Posted on: Friday, January 30th, 2009 in: Lizard Articles, Product Reviews, Reptile and Amphibian Health

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
Browsing the pages of Herpetologica and other journals over the years, I several times came across field studies indicating that certain populations of savannah monitors consumed diets composed entirely of invertebrates.  In certain seasons, the lizards gorged on either locusts or land snails exclusively for months on end.  When some captives fed [...]

Reptile and Amphibian Conservation: Volunteer Opportunities Involving Field Research

Posted on: Wednesday, January 28th, 2009 in: Field studies and notes, Recent Research

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
The Partnership for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (http://www.parcplace.org/) presents a unique opportunity for hobbyists and others to work in the company of professional herpetologists.  The organization is unique and, in my opinion, far-sighted, in focusing on common as well as rare amphibians and reptiles.  Membership is open to all interested persons.
Working groups [...]

Captive Care of the Mexican Axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum – Part 2

Posted on: Monday, January 26th, 2009 in: Salamander Articles

Check out: Captive Care of the Mexican Axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum – Part 1, for the first part of this article.
Feeding
Repto-min, trout chow or salmon chow serves well as a mainstay; alternate this with Hikari Massivore Delight or a pelleted cichlid food, freeze dried prawn, live blackworms, earthworms, minnows, shiners and guppies.  Axolotls will also take [...]

Captive Care of the Mexican Axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum – Part 1

Posted on: Friday, January 23rd, 2009 in: Amphibian Articles, Salamander Articles

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  Please see Natural History of the Axolotl for information on axolotls in their natural habitat.
I highly recommend the Mexican axolotl as an aquarium animal for both beginning and advanced hobbyists, and include them whenever possible in the zoo exhibits that I design.  Assuming that attention is paid to temperature and water quality (please [...]

Turtle Docks and Basking Platforms in Professional and Private Collections – Product Review

Posted on: Wednesday, January 21st, 2009 in: Product Reviews

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
Plastic turtle docks and basking platforms are wonderful innovations that I have found very useful both at home and in public exhibits that I have designed.  The models I mention here look quite natural right out of the box, and when covered with some live algae and surrounded by live or artificial [...]

Medications Based on the Immune System of the Mealworm or Darkling Beetle (Tenebrio molitor) may someday prevent the Emergence of Drug Resistant Microbes – Research Update

Posted on: Monday, January 19th, 2009 in: Recent Research

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
The mealworm has long been valued by pet keepers, but medical researchers are now giving it some respect as well.  A recent (December, 2008) article in the journal Science reveals that antimicrobial peptides manufactured by the mealworm beetle destroy any bacteria that happen to survive the original onslaught launched by the beetle’s [...]

The Orange (or Guyana) Spotted Roach, Blaptica dubia: an Interesting Pet and Valuable Food for Reptiles, Amphibians, Invertebrates, Birds and Fishes – Part 3

Posted on: Friday, January 16th, 2009 in: Insect Articles

Note: Please see Part I and Part 2 for further information on the captive care and natural history of this insect.
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
Social Grouping
The orange-spotted roach is sexually dimorphic – males have full wings (but rarely if ever fly), while females have only wing-stubs.  A ratio of 1 male per 3-5 females is ideal…excess males should [...]

Methylene Blue as a Treatment Option for Fungal, Protozoan and Bacterial Infections in Frogs and Salamanders: Amphibian Health

Posted on: Wednesday, January 14th, 2009 in: Reptile and Amphibian Health

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
A common drawback in dealing with pathogen outbreaks among captive amphibians is the great sensitivity of most species to available medications.  Drugs formulated for fish, used as a soak or bath, have great potential.  However, amphibians absorb liquids over a much greater surface area than do fishes – in some cases with [...]

Conserving the Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizi): why good intentions must be paired with knowledge

Posted on: Monday, January 12th, 2009 in: Recent Research, Turtle and Tortoise Articles

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
The desert tortoise was at one time collected in huge numbers for the pet trade.  Unfortunately, most were not properly cared for, and survival rates were abysmal.  This, combined with massive habitat loss in the American Southwest, led all states within its range to adopt protective legislation, and to its listing with [...]

The Natural History of the Ball Python, Python regius: Ball Pythons in the Wild – Part 2

Posted on: Friday, January 9th, 2009 in: Non-venomous Snakes, Snake Articles

Click: The Natural History of the Ball Python, Python regius: Ball Pythons in the Wild – Part 1, to read the first part of this article.
Status in the Wild
This species is threatened across large areas of its range by collection for the food, leather and, in the past, pet trade.  Today the vast majority of [...]