Author Archive
Posted on July 24, 2010 - by admin
Leopards and Beardies
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Long considered your best bet if you’re a beginner, leopards and beardies remain favorite pets.
By Joe Hiduke and Bill Brant
Younger readers of reptiles may be surprised to know that few captive-bred lizards have been available in the recent past. While there are far more species and specimens available now than there ever have been, those species, that have been with us the longest are still among the best pet reptiles. (more…)
Posted on July 23, 2010 - by admin
Venomous Snakes: Steer Clear
Most Top End’s venomous snakes are not considered deadly.
by Graeme Gow
The northern half of Australia is home to many species whose bite requires medical treatment – so it is wise to steer clear. (more…)
Posted on July 22, 2010 - by admin
Tiger Snake for Breakfast
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Tiger Snake: an unlikely breakfast?
Gold Coast naturalist David Fleay recalls the time, collecting snakes for Commonwealth Serum Laboratories anti-venene research, he and his companion hit on the idea of the snake as food.
Moira Lakes upstream from Echuca, along the big bend of the Murray crawls with snakes.
Only droughts knock their numbers back and even these natural disasters serve merely as temporary checks.
I first came across this ‘snakiest’ place in all Australia in 1926 as a wandering kid on a push bike marveling at first of the river swamps and their mighty flocks of birds. (more…)
Posted on July 21, 2010 - by admin
Snake Catchers Snakes Alive!
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The snake catchers of Alice Springs rush to answer residents’ cries for help – to ensure the safety of the reptile causing the panic.
Story by Liz Johnswood
Pictures by Peter Watkins
If you discover a snake at the bottom of your garden and you live in Alice Springs, don’t panic – just send for the snake catchers of the Alice. There’s Bruce Munday, an incredibly laid-back, fiercely mustached chap who will come to the rescue as quick as a flicker of fang. Or there are the rangers of the Northern Territory Conservation Commission (NTCC), big willing fellows who’d rather face a snake any day than a nasty bush litterer. (more…)
Posted on July 20, 2010 - by admin
King Of The Croakers – the Mighty Green Tree Frog
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It’s hard for many of us to look back on the invention of septic tanks, sewerage farms and reticulated water without shedding a few tears for auld lang syne and a few for old green tree frog.
by Steve Van Dyck
For there, among the galvanized clutter of overflow drains, slimy tank stands, thunderboxes, stink pipes and dripping taps, dozed the king of croakers, the mighty green tree frog, undisputed lord of the outside loo. (more…)
Posted on July 19, 2010 - by admin
Frog In The Throat for Eastern Green Snake
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It ain’t easy bein’ green – especially when there’s a mother of an eastern green snake hanging off your backside.
Yes this little frog was a dead certainty to croak, but not without a struggle.
He knows instinctively that serpents, particularly the eastern green snake, like to attack from the front and wrap their fangs around the head. Notice how froggie’s got his front toes firmly attached to a reed to prevent the enemy from turning him and getting a head!
Eastern Green Snake and its Struggles
He has also flattened himself out in a last ditch attempt to dissuade the eastern green snake from going ahead with the meal. But the wide-mouthed snake seemed determined to dine on frog in any shape. Anyway the frog didn’t give a stuff after a while when the paralyzing poison of the eastern green snake took effect.
These snakes should come out here and work in a Queensland cane field for a while and see how they like it with a toad in a hole. The eastern green snake don’t know how easy they’ve got it over there in Europe.
Posted on July 19, 2010 - by admin
Ferocious Crocodiles
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Crocodiles come in different forms but they are pretty all the same, sharp teeth, ugly head, and pretty skin.
Of all the crocodilians including alligators, caimans, garial, false garial and crocodiles, Crocodylus Porosus is the largest. Where do they live? Right here in the land downunder. That’s right; the saltwater or estuarine crocodiles, the world’s largest, still calls Australia home.
We also have the freshwater crocodiles – Crocodylus Johnstoni – taken from the Johnstone river in Queensland where they were discovered. They are called freshies and are less aggressive than the estuarine croc. they feed primarily on fish and some small rodents. No! this does not mean you can walk up and pat them. They live in fresh water, rarely grow over three metres and are basically passive, when left alone. They are unlikely to stalk you, however, will bite if annoyed, threatened or if they have young. (more…)
Posted on July 3, 2010 - by admin
Care Sheet: Water Dragons
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Introduction
This care sheet is for beginners and covers the basic maintenance of the Eastern Water Dragons (Physignathus leseurii).
You should join your local herpetological society, where you can meet others and obtain more detailed information on keeping these lizards. Water dragons are very hardy animals and one of the best dragons for beginners to keep as long as a few important guidelines are followed. These cover cage size, lighting and diet. (more…)
Posted on July 2, 2010 - by admin
Eastern Bearded Dragons (Pogona Barbata)
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Eastern Bearded Dragons Care Sheet prepared by Sue Davis
The most important thing to remember if keeping eastern bearded dragons outdoors, is to provide an escape-proof enclosure with plenty of high perches and basking spots, offer plenty of food and let lizards do the rest.
Eastern Bearded Dragons belong to the Agamidae family and average snout to vent length in adults is 25 centimeters. They have a well-developed “beard” and a strongly depressed body. The inside of their mouth is usually bright yellow. There are many colour variations from grey, yellowish-brown, brown, to reddish-brown etc. Mature males develop a dark grey to black beard and a pale green to blue tinge on the forehead. (more…)
Posted on July 1, 2010 - by admin
Eastern Blue Tongue (Tiliqua Scincoides)
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Eastern Blue Tongue Care sheet prepared by Sue Davis
Blue tongue lizards are native to Australia and New Guinea and will live happily in your backyard and are helpful by eating snails and other pests in the garden. They will eat canned cat food (not fish varieties), soft fruits, tomatoes, apples, mushrooms, chopped green vegetables, mince meat and thawed frozen pinkie mice. They will also lap water from a shallow dish and like a hollow log or similar hide box to hide in. (more…)
