That Reptile Blog – Reptile, Amphibian and Exotic Pet Care and Information
Asia’s freshwater turtles face an unprecedented extinction crisis, which may soon result in the loss of 90 or more species. In 2001, I joined other turtle enthusiasts in south Florida to help process nearly 10,000 turtles of many species that had been confiscated on route to food markets in China. The magnitude of the response to their plight heartened me, but today, unfortunately, we are still fighting an uphill battle. Please see Part 1 of this article for details. Following is a bit more on this sad situation. Read More »
New Product – Artificial Bromeliads as Poison Frog Breeding Sites – Part 1
Today I’d like to introduce Hagen’s Smart Plants, a new line of artificial plants that hold great promise for those keeping Poison Frogs (Dendrobates, Phyllobates, etc.) and arboreal snakes, tarantulas, crabs and similar creatures. Read More »
The 10 Best Ways to Prepare for a Career in Herpetology – Part 1
It is said that people who make careers of their passions never work a day in their lives…those of us who have turned our hobbies into livelihoods are indeed fortunate. The following ideas have helped me along the way – I hope they are of some use to you.
Speak Up
Interacting with others is very important when you start and progress down your path. I was quite shy as a child, and this certainly hampered me…force yourself to ask questions of your relatives, teachers and folks working in the field. Read More »
Huge African Spurred Tortoise Found Living in Arizona Desert – Part 1
From enormous Burmese Pythons in Florida to Wall Lizards in NYC, introduced species come as little surprise to US herp enthusiasts. But the recent (December, 2010) discovery that a huge African Spurred or “Sulcata” Tortoise, Geochelone sulcata, had apparently been living in an Arizona desert for some time, gave most of us pause for thought. Read More »
Inexpensive Homes for American Toads and Their Relatives
From simple, easily-cleaned habitats to complex environments, herp enthusiasts have many options when it comes to setting up terrariums for reptiles and amphibians. Today I’ll cover everything you’ll need to create an ideal habitat for American, Fowler’s, Southern, Great Plains and Green Toads. With a bit of modification, your set-up will also accommodate Red-Spotted, Colorado River and Marine Toads, and others with slightly different needs. I’ll also mention money-saving alternatives to certain products, along with non-essential “extras” that can be added if you wish.
Enclosure
Toads spend their time on and below the ground, so floor space is the most important consideration. Read More »