Herpetoculturemagazine.com
erpetoculture agazine Issue #10 - August 2020
Remembering Justin Wilbanks of Appalachian Arboreals
o n i Rh
s e k a n S t Ra
Herps In Wyoming! The importance of obscurity in collections
Industry Spotlight: Peter Birch Vipera berus: The Most Successful Snake?
Palmetto Coast
Exotics
Unquestionable Quality Colubrids - Chondros - & More
This Issue... Pg. 4 Herps In Wyoming
Pg. 6 Book Review: Historical Snakeys
Pg. 7 Industry Spotlight: Peter Birch
Pg. 11 Rhino Ratsnakes & Gonyosoma
Pg. 20 Product Review: Reptilinks
Cover Photo By Zac Herr of ZTH Photography
Pg. 21 Vipera berus with Nipper Read
Pg. 26 An Appalachian Legend - Justin Wilbanks
Pg. 30 Morelia Spotlight: The Gamma Diamond Jungle Jag
Pg. 31 Success with Import Chondros
Pg. 34 The Importance of Obscurity
Copyright Š 2020 by Herpetoculture Magazine all rights reserved. This publication or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Tenth Edition www.herpetoculturemagazine.com
Contributors
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Riley Jimison Phil Wolf - Executive Contributor - Editor -
Justin Smith - Publisher -
Billy Hunt - Publisher -
Isabella Carroll - Contributor -
Thaddeus Sauls - Contributor -
Peter Birch - Contributor -
Rob Stone - Contributor -
Eric Burke - Contributor -
Carley Jones - Contributor -
Nipper Read - Contributor -
Ryan Cox - Contributor -
Brian Fischer - Contributor -
Mark Huffman - Contributor -
Harlin Wall - Contributor -
From The Publishers Desk Welcome to issue number 10! Hope everyone is staying safe during this crazy time we are living in. A few things have happened since the last issue was released. The biggest being the new legislation banning Tegus and Iguanas here in Florida. Its no secret that Florida has its issues, but we as a hobby have to show how big we are and that taking things away from the hobby is not the answer. One thing I think gets forgotten is that most of the nation’s largest reptile breeders that supply most of the pet stores and shops reside here in Florida. So even if you don’t live in Florida, these law changes can still affect you. So, this is a great time to become a member of USARK or USARKFL and help anyway you can. If you can donate, that’s great. Any contribution helps the USARK and USARKFL team continue to fight for our rights to keep these amazing animals that we love and enjoy on a daily basis. If you can’t donate, you can still contribute by contacting State representatives and respectfully voicing your concern over new laws that are in the works or that have passed. As of this writing, USARKFL has filed a lawsuit to hopefully fight the laws that were just passed here in Florida. If we can show the state that we are a community that stands together and that we are a lot bigger than they realize. We have a shot at reversing some of the damage that has been done. Now with all that out of the way. Enjoy Issue #10!
Justin Smith & Billy Hunt -Publishers-
Herpetoculture Magazine
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Reptiles and Amphibians in Wyoming By Isabella Carroll
When you hear the name Wyoming, you normally wouldn’t think it would be a place full of all sorts of reptiles and amphibians. Wyoming is a huge landlocked state in North America with the smallest human population of only 578,759 residents. Wyoming’s climate is generally semiarid, being drier and windier in comparison to most of the United States with greater temperature extremes. The heat in Wyoming ranges from 85 and 95 °F in most of the state. The winters, on the other hand, are a whole different story. They can get 20 below 0 with snow showers and blizzards lasting well into May. Despite the weather, reptiles and amphibians still thrive in Wyoming, which is home to some incredible and rare amphibians and reptiles.
Invasive & Native Amphibians in Wyoming Wyoming does have an invasive amphibian that is messing up ecosystems; that is the bullfrog. The bullfrog is found in the eastern states but has found itself living in Wyoming. Bullfrogs are relentless predators and will eat other frog species and fish eggs even their own kind.
The Wyoming toad Before the 50’s the Wyoming toad was everywhere, but in 1975 the population crashed. What happened? There are many theories surrounding what had happened, but a common theme suggested that the toads had a short lifespan compared to most toads. Other possibilities included a cold snap in the early 70’s that killed a lot of the tadpoles and salamanders that would feed on their eggs or a fungus found in one of the lakes they inhabited that caused a large die-off. The species was listed as endangered in 1984 and was declared extinct in the wild in 1991. But there is good news! Slowly, conservationists have been breeding the Wyoming toad with the few specimens they have in captivity. Since 2012, 800 toadlets were let go and it was found that 507 toads were found living happy and healthy. It’s a remarkable story of people helping a species they thought was gone then make a comeback. It might take a long time, but maybe someday the Wyoming toad will be seen as a common toad again.
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Reptiles in Wyoming The Pygmy ShortHorned Lizard
The Wyoming Toad Bufo baxteri
The pygmy short-horned lizard (Phrynosoma douglasii) is a small horned lizard that can be 1.5- 2.5 inches in length snout to vent. Depending on where you are in Wyoming, they can be darker or lighter in color, but overall they are a gray yellowish with orange on their back. Much like the one in the photo, the babies are way lighter than the adults. Though hard to find, you can find them in hilly areas where there is plenty of rocks and grass to hide in.
The Great Plains Toad Much like the Wyoming toad, these are large beefy toads found in Wyoming. These toads, much like many other toads, will bury themselves and only come up at night. They live in loose soil and are primarily found in grasslands, although I have found a few near a lake called a keyhole. They make a loud chirping noise that can be heard from quite a ways. The common garter snake will feed on younger toads. The young toads feed on insects like ants and termites. They are a fairly large species of toad reaching 4 inches. This toad has parotoid glands on its shoulder that will secrete a white liquid that can make an animal sick when it gets in its mouth (it also really hurts when it gets in your eye, trust me I know).
The Great Plains Toad Anaxyrus cognatus
Painted Turtles : Native or Released Pets? In the town of Gillette there is a lake with tons of painted turtles and some common snapping turtles that can be seen basking on the shore. When I say there are tons of these turtles I mean you will look on a rock by the reeds and see 30+ of them. It is clear to see that people must have let their turtles go when they got too big or bored of them and just tossed them in the lake. You can find both painted turtles, with their classic red plastron, and what seems to be a yellow belly slider. If this identification is right, that means there could potentially be hybrids between the painted turtles and yellow belly sliders. At times at the lake you will find a turtle with strikingly similar face markings to a yellow belly slider and the shell that is a very light red. If this is the case that the two turtles are breeding, it goes to show that you shouldn’t get a pet reptile (or any pet for that matter). You aren’t ready for, or don’t fully understand, how big it will get. It’s really sad to see all the painted turtles on pet adoption sites that just got too big. Yes, it may seem cool to get a turtle for 15 bucks when it’s the size of a waffle, but you need to be prepared before you get an animal, especially a reptile.
Conclusion
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Wyoming is a diverse and incredible state with tons of potential for people who want to go herping. If you ever drive through this amazing state, take 30 minutes to look around; you are almost guaranteed to find something amazing.
Herp Book Review:
Historical Snakeys by John Cann Review By Carley Jones So when I buy books I have a bad habit of not doing any research on the titles I’m interested in. I’ve been burned by this bad habit before when I’d spend 30-40 bucks on a book and it turned out to be 95% pictures. My friend Chris would usually chime in at this point with “well that means it’ll be perfect for you!” Implying that I have the reading intellect of a first grader. Hardy har. The book I’ll be writing about now isn’t a bad book by any means. All in all I’m glad I bought it and took the time to read about people that have come and gone in the industry. It’s always fun to learn about how things were done back when herpetoculture was first getting its feet firmly planted in the world. I’d humbly rate this book a solid 6/10 for reasons I’ll express later. I had no idea what to expect when I cracked open Historical Snakeys. I thought “snakeys” was just being used playfully or sarcastically in the title by the author. I learned immediately that it was instead referring to Australian showmen and women who freehandle venomous animals on display to scratch out a living, carnival style. If I had taken five seconds to actually read about the subject of the book instead of seeing an iteration of “snakes” and clicking “buy” I would have already known this. Anyway. This book does a great job at illustrating the greats. It talks about people who have lived through this exciting era of Australian herp history and are still around to publish a book about it today, as well as the people who have succumbed to envenomation from the very animals that put food on their table. The author is a former snakey who comes from a long line of snakeys. In the first chapter I remember thinking “It will be interesting to hear if he has any afterthought on his time as a showman, or if he’d do anything differently. I hope he writes about his opinions whether snakeys have molded the public’s perception of reptiles, and in what way.”
I was delightfully surprised to read that John Cann, the author, is a genuine herpetologist. “Freehandler” and “academic” are not typically descriptors used in combination to define someone in herpetoculture. We all have our opinions of the people who choose to put the hobby at risk for clout from ignorant keepers or the public that simply doesn’t know any better. Forgive me, I couldn’t write the previous sentence without it either dripping with sarcasm or slapping the persons reading it across the face with a dozen four lettered words. This book made me think of it as an Australian version of The Dragon Traders. The included letters from Fred Fox to and from his wife were very interesting even though it was a pain and a half to decipher the cursive. Any cursive hand-written notes were very enjoyable to read when you were finally able to understand what they were talking about using context clues. For this reason it took me twice as long to finish Historical Snakeys than it usually would and YES I am a big baby who would (and did) complain about it to anyone who would humor me and listen. God bless my coworkers and my family. This was a great book if you’re a history buff. There’s tons of really neat old photos and names of people that I never would have known existed before. Sprinkled throughout the book are photos of cool Australian herps with short informational blurbs about them. A nice touch. I especially had fun reading about Snakey George and I truly hope you will too.
Herpetoculture Magazine
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Industy Spotlight Peter Birch of Critta Cam & Peter Birch’s Colourful Critters
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Peter Birch has become a mainstay in the hobby in both Australia and the U.S. You may recognize him from his Youtube channel that has garnered over 26,000 subscribers worldwide! Since a majority of us here in the states aren’t familiar with the hobby in Australia, we thought Peter would be an excellent choice for our first international Industy Spotlight! HM: What species got you into the hobby?
like
PB: Not really sure about this one as my interest started before there was an established hobby as such here in Australia. I’ve always been fascinated by reptiles and in my younger years it was lizards that got me, in particular blue tongue lizards.
HM: You’ve traveled to the states and have seen the herpetoculture here. How does it compare to the Australian hobby?
HM: Have you bred any other herps outside of snakes? PB: Believe it or not it’s not always been about Antaresia, I have kept and bred a variety of Elapids as well as Australian lizard species from skinks, geckos and monitors.
HM: What’s one species you wish you could focus on more? PB: I would love to work with more often unkept obscure species not for the monetary value but more for interest
the
Chameleon
Dragon,
Chelosania
brunnea.
PB: The Australian hobby is a shadow compared to the U.S. We are growing rapidly but there seems to be a rapid turnover of keepers more so than ever before. Too many people I think get caught up in the dream of being a full time reptile breeder here in Australia but we don’t have the population to support it yet. They come into the hobby and buy up BIG only to find out they dont have the reputation or name to back up the goods. Then they do a fire sale and undercut everyone’s prices to get out. So i think we are similar but very different.
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Specializing in GTPs and arboreal boas
See our available animals at morphmarket.com/stores/sjreptiles
/SandJReptiles
sjreptiles.com
@sj_reptile Herpetoculture Magazine 8
HM: A lot of people in the states know you from all the cool Antaresia you work with but what else do you focus on species wise? PB: I love my Antaresia “DIRT SNAKES ‘’ but I also work with small monitors (Odatria), in particular the Varanus brevicauda and Varanus primordius. I find them very challenging and rewarding at the same time.
HM: Is it ever frustrating for you that you’re limited to the native species over there? PB: For most Australians I guess it is, we see all the cool reptiles from around the world that you guys get to have and work with, but I’m happy working with our native species. I think it makes us more aware of our native species requirements, struggles and environmental impacts that we as humans have on their environments.
HM: What is the most underrated species in the Australian hobby, in your opinion?
“I believe these little pythons are Australia’s answer to corn snakes. Working with natural colour and locality variants has led to us better understanding of Polygenics but as new genetic colour variants have been discovered its opened up into a whole new colourful world for the dirt snake.”
PB: Antaresia, not that I’m biased. I’ve been in love with these guys for nearly 2 ½ decades and many have always overlooked them as their size and colours were not very impressive. I believe these little pythons are Australia’s answer to corn snakes. Working with natural colour and locality variants has led to us better understanding of polygenics but as new genetic colour variants have been discovered its opened up into a whole new colourful world for the dirt snake.
HM: Do you think the export laws for the country will ever change? PB: NO, The Australian government does not like anyone making profit from our fauna including our hobbyists.
HM: What’s your advice for someone wanting to pursue the business side of herpetoculture? PB: Think very hard about this decision as working long hours with animals is not always pleasant and can be demanding. You could burn out the passion for what you love most. Pursuing a business in Australian Herpetoculture is almost impossible, with our small population, individual state requirements, licensing and documentation makes it virtually impossible. I’m sure not many of our larger reptile breeders are fully financially supported by reptile sales alone. You would need to offer more than animal sales to become a financially viable reptile business in Australia.
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Pick your poison... Available anywhere podcasts are found
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Rhino Rat Snakes & The Gonyosoma Gang 11
Rob Stone of High Plains Herpetoculture breaks down Rhino Rat Snakes and other members of the Gonyosoma genus!
Observations on the Captive Care & Maintenance of Rhynchophis boulengeri Introduction & Taxonomy Photo >> Zac Herr
The longnose, rhinoceros (‘rhino’) or Rhyno ratsnake is a medium sized colubrid snake native to northern Vietnam and southern China, often in mountainous tropical forests in karst regions around waterbodies (Schulz et al., 386-88); between its description in 1897 and the 2014 paper detailed below, it has been a monotypic species within the genus Rhynchophis, but for a duplicative description as Proboscidophis versicolor in 1931 (Fan). The occasionally used moniker Vietnamese longnose ratsnake is disfavored as it implies an inaccurately limited range distribution excluding animals of southern Chinese origin. Save a slight elliptical pupil under light illumination and the nominal rostral appendage, Rhynchophis boulengeri is generally physically comparable to Rhadinophis frenatus, including a similar ontogenic color change process (Schulz et al., 386). To this end, in 2005 one of the first known wild caught Rhynchophis boulengeri to arrive in the United States was imported from China with a damaged rostral appendage; the rostral appendage was nearly disconnected from that male’s face and was removed entirely by the first captive ecdysis (‘shed’), such that save the pupil distinction referenced by Schulz et al., he appeared as a some what atypical Rhadinophis frenatus. In 2014, Chen et al. attempted to clarify the phylogenetic position of the Rainbow Tree Snake Gonyophis margaritatus of Malaysia and Indonesia (Kalimantan), by proposing elimination of the established genera Gonyophis, Rhadinophis (frenatus and prasinus), and Rhynchophis (boulengeri), in favor of lumping the contained species therein with those previously ascribed to Gonyosoma (jansenii and oxycephalum); this conclusion was presented as one of at least three viable taxonomic options to eliminate polyphyly in Rhadinophis while implying a relationship amongst these six species (Id. at 535). This preference for a singular genera comes at the stated expense of ignoring the sister-relationships amongst the taxa, such that the least related species in the broadened genus is Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Id. at 536), the quintessential Gonyosoma species for which the genus was named in 1828.
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Having maintained five of the six species described herein (all but margaritatus), I have observed notable physical differences between the three groups of sister-species pairs (535) found by Chen et al. Phylogenetically jansenii and oxycephalum comprise a pair of taxonomic sister species, Gonyophis margaritatus and Rhadinophis prasinus comprise another pair, and Rhadinophis frenatus and Rhynchophis boulengeri comprise a third pair (Id.). As stated above, I have no in-hand experience with margaritatus (I am unaware of any live specimens entering United States herpetoculture in at least the last 25 years), so my experience with that pair of sister species is restricted to Rhadinophis prasinus, which is beyond the scope of this note. However, Rhadinophis frenatus and Rhynchophis boulengeri are markedly different in hand than both Gonyosoma jansenii and oxycephalum.
Rhadinophis frenatus and Rhynchophis boulengeri share generally similar eye and head structures, scalation features, overall body size and morphology (including lacking the air sacks that facilitate a puffed throat defensive display characteristic of jansenii and oxycephalum), and details of egg physiognomy and incubation duration; further, both undergo an ontogenic color change from silver/ grayish brown neonates with black, white, and yellow pattern inclusions to generally green adults. In each instance, these commonalities between boulengeri and frenatus are juxtaposed to differences in jansenii and oxycephalum which have characteristically different eyes, scalation, body form, egg characteristics, and possess an exemplary puffed throat display. Jansenii undergo an ontogenic change where they are born essentially indistinguishable from oxycephalum and later develop their adult black and cream coloration (save the Selayar Islands ‘Black jansenii’ population that maintain the oxycephalum coloration but are subject to a gradual increase in melanin, akin to the ontogenic process of Lampropeltis triangulum gaigeae, ultimately yielding a melanistic animal); this example of an entirely different process of ontogenic change further highlights both the taxonomic sister species relationship between jansenii and oxycephalum and their difference from the taxonomic sister species boulengeri and frenatus.
Gonyophis margaritatus
Gonyosoma jansenii
Rhadinophis frenatus
Accordingly, based on my observation, experience, and predilection to acknowledge commonalities and variation in physical form, my preference is to acknowledge the phylogenetic (Id. at 535-36) and phenotypic relationship of boulengeri and frenatus under Rhynchophis.
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Gonyosoma oxycephalum
Overview Captive husbandry of Rhyno ratsnakes began in association with a field study led by the Russian Academy of Sciences in Tam Dao and Chapa, Vietnam between 1993 and 1995 (Orlov, 180); I am unaware of any records of this species in captivity prior to this field work and appurtenant collection of specimens. Descendants of this stock collected at Tam Dao, Vietnam comprised the captive lineages of this species, at least in the United States, until spring 2006 when eight adult (6.2) wild caught specimens were imported by Bushmaster Reptiles from China over two shipments, all of which my business partner Tom Weaver and I acquired for High Plains Herpetoculture. Over the subsequent ten years a handful of additional shipments have been received by various importers in the United States, likely consisting of fewer than 50 total animals. There are no known distribution breaks or substantial changes in range condition that would suggest phenotypic variation amongst different populations / localities within this species. In my experience, wild snakes generally have less visible interstitial black or white patterning, giving them a more generally uniform green appearance than captive produced animals.
“There is no consensus on the purpose of the rostral appendage / ‘horn’; it may be used to “detect fluctuations in water surface movement” associated with aquatic prey items, particularly in neonates and juveniles, or predators”
This species undergoes an ontogenic color change which typically starts between six and eighteen months of age, or upon having at least doubled in length, and can take up to three years to be complete though more typically 24 months (Schulz et al., 386-87). The species is generally considered sexually mature at 1000mm total length (Orlov et al., 8), with an adult size range of 1200 - 1500 mm (Schulz et al., 387); exceptional males older than ten years can attain approximately 1650 mm. There is no consensus on the purpose of the rostral appendage / ‘horn’; it may be used to “detect fluctuations in water surface movement” associated with aquatic prey items, particularly in neonates and juveniles, or predators (Schulz et al., 390). In captivity they often leave their horn halfway sticking out of the water when laying submerged (Id.). The horn does not appear more sensitive than any other part of the snake: they will freely explore and push it into various positions and crevices; no ill effect or obvious bleeding or deformation was evidenced in the male that shed his horn off, as described previously.
Photo >> Justine Janin
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Set Ups Rhynos are extremely adaptable captives; the species is generally arboreal if the terrarium permits (Schulz et al., 390), but can thrive in terrestrial setups. At present, I maintain adult pairs in Neodesha two-foot cube enclosures with cork bark basking platforms and hides, a container partially-filled with damp long-fibered sphagnum moss, and a water bowl with an indented kraft paper substrate. Cork bark flats and tubes provide hiding places and increase the usable space in the enclosure. These enclosures have UVA bulbs during the warm season (generally mid-March through mid-October in my conditions) and a small refracted flood light during the colder time of year. Run time on these lights varies regularly throughout the year, such that they are on for eight hours a day in mid-Winter and thirteen hours a day in mid-Summer. Previously, I have maintained adults of this species in larger heavily planted display enclosures and sweater-box tubs in racks systems, all to equal success. When housing more than one individual in a cage, ensure the enclosure is large enough that animals can get far away from any cage mates while remaining in good microhabitats. Males, particularly during breeding season, will engage in combat behavior and aggressively pursue females, including copulatory bites. Multiple males, particularly in the presence of females, should not be maintained together in all but the largest enclosures, as
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males will engage in aggressive combat behavior including biting. This species sits on elevated perches in a flat coil, akin to Solomon Island Tree Boas (Candoia bibroni australis), rather than a Northern Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus). I have successfully used a variety of substrates with this species including paper products, shredded aspen, dry long-fibered sphagnum moss, and cypress mulch; each have benefits based on the relative humidity in your location, though all must be able to drain thoroughly. These are generally problem free and hearty snakes; however, they are susceptible to skin decay if kept too moist or in a dirty environment. Using a particulate substrate like shredded aspen or cypress mulch, enclosures should be spot cleaned when waste is observed. If using a solid paper substrate like paper towels or newsprint, the whole sheet should be changed. The substrate should be kept dry for juveniles and adults and may be kept lightly moistened for neonates. I utilize an 8-ounce disposable water cup for this species at all ages; in adult display enclosures I use them as disposable liners to ceramic bowls. Generally, females of this species tend to soak more than males, though this behavior overall has decreased to essentially never in my collection over the last five years. Based on observations of neonates and juveniles, I believe the greater tendency for females to soak is a reflection of breeder’s tendency to offer more food to mature females than mature males; in my collection neonates and juveniles soak for 24-36 hours after consuming heavy meals relative to their size (even a mouse pinky will elicit this behavior in neonates), presumably / inferentially the snakes exhibit this behavior to decrease the weight burden of the food bolus akin to the reduced weight and gravitational pressure associated with floating in a pool.
These are very hardy snakes that do well at most temperatures between 60 and 82-degrees Fahrenheit. Especially as neonates, they are susceptible to overheating if exposed to continual temperatures above 85 without an opportunity to reach cooler temperatures. If ambient temperatures are below 75 continually, a basking spot that allows them to reach 85 to 90-degrees should be offered for at least some portion of the day, either using an under-tank heat pad or elevated basking spot and low wattage bulb. During the periods of activity observed by the Russian Academy of Sciences field study, temperatures in Tam Dao, Vietnam ranged from approximately 78 to 84 during the day and 62-70 at night (Orlov, 180). In the wild, Orlov et al. (8) reports the species to be nocturnally active during the first half of evenings from April through June when temperatures were approximately 68-80 with elevated inactive basking behavior during the day. In captivity the species tends to be diurnal, basking and actively moving during the day, particularly when the temperatures in the enclosure correspond to those described in the wild above, though crepuscular behavior is common April through August.
Maintenance Established Rhynos readily feed on rodents; the Russian Academy of Sciences field study found faeces in the wild contained rodent hair, and large animals were found with scars from apparent rodent bites (Orlov et al., 8). The species generally prefers multiple smaller food items such as halfgrown to weaned mice (Schulz et al., 390), whether in a single offering or one at a time over a condensed period of several days. In my collection this species feeds seasonally, with mature animals eating between mid-March and mid-October. Males typically fast after brumation through the time females ovulate or even lay eggs (typically this is mid-March through June/ July in my collection); this can result in mature males going eight or nine months without feeding without detriment. Females generally eat readily as the weather warms in spring, fast once they begin to develop enlarged follicles, and eat readily upon egg deposition. I prefer to feed crawler or hopper mice to my adults; there are times of year when my adults will feed on a single item daily for seven or eight days in a row. I maintain neonates and juveniles with access to supplemental heat year-round, so they are offered an appropriately sized (bearing in mind the predilection for smaller items) mouse once every five to fourteen
days. Typically, at least by the time their ontogenic color change is initiated (six to eighteen months) Rhynos feed aggressively on frozen/ thawed items offered on hemostats. It is imperative not to overfeed Rhynos; this species tends to develop masses of dead cells between the muscle and skin if overfed. This appears to be a product of an inability to process excess fat when domestic rodents are offered at too frequent a rate; this issue is exacerbated by feeding overly-large rodents. These masses of fat and dead cells have appeared to cause, or develop into, fibrosarcoma tumors that can appear over the snake’s body. Sometimes this species will be offered for sale showing a dark stain in the center of each scale over portions of the snake’s body; this is usually a product of previously having had scale degeneration or subcutaneous masses in the affected area, and occasionally may be accompanied by a distortion or elongation of the scale structure. Once established feeding, and often around the time of their ontogenic color change, this species can become food aggressive, often lunging out of their enclosure openmouthed for food. For animals that display this behavior, it is useful to hook them out of the enclosure, at which point they will be completely tractable. Captive bred juvenile and adult specimens do not bite out of aggression; all bites I have received have been the result of a food mistake. Some neonates will bite defensively, particularly when restrained, but these are inconsequential. Wild caught specimens generally are much more willing to bite defensively than captive bred specimens, though it is still uncommon. On the rare occasion of a bite from this species, I have not observed any complications or effects, unlike bites from Gonyosoma oxycephalum and jansenii, both of which seem to have some negligible anti-coagulant properties in their saliva. This species does not tend to bite once in hand, and does not tend to bite the hand restraining it, unlike many of the Oreocryptophis porphyraceus ssp.
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These shed on a fairly regular basis: perhaps three or four times a year in adults, and up to five or six times a year as juveniles. They take a relatively long time to shed after going opaque compared to other species; they often take 10 to 14 days between initial cloudiness of the spectacle being observed to ecdysis. This species generally matures slowly if fed conservatively; males may breed at 2.5 years of age, but females often will They should shed in a single piece without complication not breed successfully until they are 3.5 or 4.5 years of age. as long as they have access to drinking water during Both males and females tend to grow to their mature length of the period of opacity. This species has thick and durable approximately 1000mm (Orlov et al., 8) before attaining their scales compared to other colubrids; it is resistant to adult girth; some females do not attain their adult proportions most damage besides bites from conspecifics during until the hormone shift associated with being paired for breeding attempts (males of this species utilize a breeding. I am not aware of anyone ever successfully double copulatory bite on females that can result in pronounced clutching this species in a single breeding season. Fertility is wounds, particularly if the female’s skin is weakened). typically best in animals younger than 10 years old, though I have had success with males and females in their mid-teens.
Reproduction
Though some report success breeding this species without subjecting them to deliberate seasonal temperature or light cycle variations (acknowledging intrinsic ambient seasonal pressure and humidity changes), my best results have been achieved utilizing a seasonal cooling period between November and March, where the daily temperatures fluctuate from the mid-50s to low-70s with brief isolated access to temperatures into the 80s should the animals desire it.
The gorgeous, R. frenatum
I have observed this species active, though their movements are exceptionally slow and deliberate, at 38-degrees Fahrenheit. It is generally inadvisable to leave this species at a constant temperature below approximately 52; variation in temperature mimics their natural range and prevents the possibility of neurological damage occasionally observed in Rhynos kept consistently cold throughout the cooling period. In the wild, gravid females have been observed in May and June (Orlov et al., 8). In captivity, eggs are typically laid between June and early August (Schulz et al., 387), though I have had some females that regularly laid as early as late April. Rhynos generally lay five to fifteen (typically six to eight) elongated eggs (Id.), often stacked together in a packet (Orlov, 180), which is laid either horizontally or vertically inside a cavity or hide. The largest clutch in my collection to date consisted of seventeen eggs; interestingly, there is greater variation in egg consistency (size and shape) as the number of eggs increases. Most clutches in my collection of six or seven eggs appear as uniform packets, while those over twelve or thirteen tend to produce a variety of egg dimensions including some that are nearly circular.
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Fertile eggs are typically deposited ten or eleven days after completion of the post-ovulation shed (Schulz et al., 387). It is common to have unfertilized or non-viable eggs laid inside or accompanying the post-ovulation shed when these are nearest the vent. Such non-viable eggs can be laid throughout the period preceding the anticipated time of egg deposition; generally, eggs laid sooner than seven days after the post-ovulation shed will not be viable. Occasionally, follicles will get so large before ovulation that they will induce a pre-ovulation shed; in such instances it is possible to get two sheds from the same female within a five or six week period, with egg deposition coming approximately ten to fourteen days after the second shed. As a note of potential distinction relative to most colubrid species, after egg deposition females will regularly encircle and seemingly guard their eggs or lay adjoining them in narrow/ essentially inaccessible places for at least a week; I cannot say how much longer they would remain with them, as I’ve never left the clutch in situ longer than a week to avoid egg desiccation. Interestingly, even once the eggs have been removed the females seem to have a very strong affinity for the spot of egg deposition. Anecdotal evidence suggests genetic sex determination may be overridden by incubation temperature in Rhynos, as well as the Oreocryptophis porphyraceus ssp.; novel access to commercial genetic sex determination for colubrid snakes is certainly intriguing to examine and potentially validate this phenomenon previously known in other reptiles but not validated in snakes. Initial herpetoculture of this species utilized higher incubation temperatures of 82.5
to 84-degrees with offspring hatching after 57-61 days (Orlov et al., 6); in my experience this tends to lead to the production of a higher number of males, as well as non-viable or deformed offspring. 78-degrees is a generally-accepted safe incubation temperature that generally produces an approximately even sex ratio. I have incubated a clutch at variable temperatures in the 60s Fahrenheit; the offspring, all of which were female, took twice as long to hatch (117-121 days). I have utilized a variety of egg incubation methods successfully including halfburying eggs in damp vermiculite or perlite or suspending them on light-diffuser panel over either water, saturated particulate substrate, or damp long-fibered sphagnum moss. There are no identified and proven single gene mutations in Rhynos as of this writing. Since the Russian Academy of Sciences field study there has been a report of a single mature animal that had retained its neonate coloration (Schulz et al., 388). In general, the normal male phenotype presents as a green snake with yellow ventral scales, while females tend to be green or bluish green snakes with white ventrals. Some of the original captive stock descended from Tam Dao animals have a propensity to produce blue, bluish green, or turquoise adults (Id.); this appearance appears to be inherited polygenically. Additionally, like Green Pythons (Morelia viridis complex), a blue phenotype is possible through reductions in the amount of yellow-appearing pigment. Reproductive cycling and egg production in females appears to utilize hormones that either produce or cause yellow pigment to be present in the skin, causing mature females to become continually more ‘hormonal blue’ with each consecutive clutch. Accordingly, determining a
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truly genetic blue mutation would benefit from the production of phenotypically blue males, which necessarily will not be ‘hormonal blue’ at least pursuant to the same mechanism. Finally, exposure to UV-light has anecdotally been observed to cause green animals to appear bluer or vice versa in some lizard species including those in the genera Abronia and Crotaphytus. Neonates average 6mm in diameter and are approximately 250mm long (Schulz et al., 387). In light of their thin proportions, newborns are best kept individually in lidded enclosures or tubs; newborn Rhynos can escape from exceptionally small tolerances between tubs and a rack system. Neonates occasionally will eat other neonates when kept in groups. They can be hesitant to start feeding on rodents. Some breeders report success leaving frozen/ thawed pink mice in the enclosure or floating them in the water bowl. Historically, I tease-fed reluctant feeders pink mouse heads offered while holding the snake in my other hand to limit a flight behavior response; this is effectual for snakes that will bite and hold the prey item, but not valuable for ‘runners’ that cannot be provoked into a strike response or those that strike and immediately release. Now, I offer live fish or tadpoles to those that will not voluntarily feed on mice, sequentially reducing the number of alternative feeders offered and replacing them with a floating frozen/ thawed pink. This transition process is typically effectual and avoids unnecessary stress on both the snake and I. Neonates shed between one and two weeks after hatching; the rostral ‘horn’ is typically flattened to the top of the head upon hatching to expose the egg tooth and flattens out after the first shed (Schulz et al., 387). There is variation in horn length and shape, and the angle at which it extends from the face, all of which seem to be inherited polygenically.
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References / Bibliography Brachtel, N. (1998): Rhynchophis boulengeri Mocquard. – Sauria, 20(1): 2. Chen, X., McKelvy, A.D., Grismer, L.L., Matsui, M., Nishikawa, K., & Burbrink, F.T. (2014): The phylogenetic position and taxonomic status of the Rainbow Tree Snake Gonyophis margaritatus (Peters, 1871( (Squamata: Colubridae) – Zootaxa, 3881(6): 532-548. Fan, T.H. (1931): Preliminary report of reptiles from Yaoshan, Kwangsi, China – Bull. Dept. Biol. Coll. Sc. Sun Yatsen Univ., (11): 1-154. Orlov, N.L. (1995): Rare snakes of the mountainous forests of northern Vietnam – Russian J. of Herp., 2(2): 179-183. Orlov, N., Ryabov, S. & Schulz, K.-D. (1999): Eine seltene Natter aus Nordvietnam, Rhynchophis boulengeri Mocquard, 1897 (Squamata: Serpentes: Colubridae) – Sauria, 21(1): 3-8. Schulz, K.-D., Ryabov, S. & Wang, X. (2013): A contribution to the knowledge of the Oriental rhino ratsnake, Rhynchophis boulengeri Mocquard. In: Schulz, K.-D. (ed.): Old World ratsnakes – A collection of papers. – Bushmaster Publications, Berg SG: 385-394.
Product Review
Reptilinks
Right now in the hobby we see a buzzword a lot, the million dollar word, enrichment The formal definition of enrichment is the action of improving or enhancing the quality or value of something. Now we can do all kinds of things to enrich our critters’ lives as keepers. We can add sheds, make arboreal hides, and ropes to climb. We can also add variety in their diet, which is the most benign way enhancing their captive existence. I will admit I’m biased of this type because I’m very hip to it. As a snake keeper it’s very easy to fall into the rut of white lab rodents on a 3 week schedule. So this is where the one, the only, and the infamous Reptilinks come in.
Review by Ryan Cox
causes a mess and you trying to clean ground meat off a cage. If I could get an animal to drop feed though, they were A++. In the end in my experience, I would buy Reptilinks again, but maybe not for my animals in particular. Between the high cost of entry and mess that it can make with an overzealous python python, these links may not be for everyone. I’m not knocking them by any means. I think it’s a great out of the box idea we need in our hobby.
Reptilinks are cool. They are honestly one of the most outside the box ideas to come about. They are whole prey cased sausages, which can come in a wide variety of blends. And I mean a WIDE variety. As of today (7/2020) they offer everything from chicken, rabbit, quail, iguana, 50/50 plant and rabbit meat mixtures, and many more. They also come in everything from .5 gram micro links up to 100 gram links. To top it off they are packaged in nice, vacuum sealed packs. So be mindful of telling roommates or significant others that those are not the brats they are looking for. I took the dive and bought about $120 worth of Reptilinks to try them out. I got everything from hopper sized ones all the way up to the 50 gram links. I tried to order less, but one down side of Reptilinks is that they are made to order, so you get exactly what you want. They also have a 75 dollar minimum order, so you can’t just order a pack to try it out. However, it doesn’t take long to get to 75 dollars when ordering rabbit and frog blend snake sausages. Being made to order, these shipments take time to deliver, unlike your traditional frozen rodent seller where you order on Monday and get it on Thursday. It took about 2 weeks to get my package. I found all of the items neatly sealed and in a very, very cold box with dry ice when they finally arrived. Luckily, when they arrived it was feeding day and I thawed out a frog and rabbit 50 gram link for my 2 old year super dwarf cross retic. He isn’t a garbage disposal so he took the prey item no problem. I discovered a problem very quickly, however. If an animal gets overzealous with constricting prey it will rupture, which
A Red MBB jaguar carpet enjoying a “link” >> Erick W. Hernandez Chacon Herpetoculture Magazine 20
Vipera Berus the most successful venomous snake? By Nipper REad 21 Herpetoculturemagazine.com
Vipera berus is a relatively small species of viper, with a massive distribution; it is in fact, the snake species with the largest distribution of all snakes, even extending into the arctic circle. Three subspecies occur, although there is debate as to whether there are more subspecies or in fact separate species within the complex. Herpetoculture Magazine 22
Vipera berus berus appearance
Venom
This is a small, slender viper with a relatively small head, distinct from the body. The average length ranges between 60 -85 cm but larger adults may occur occasionally. There is a notable difference between male and females, with females growing bigger on average and being more solidly built. The colouration is usually the iconic silver grey with black zig zag markings or the bronze, brown with zigzag markings often associated with females. However there are many different colour variations, with blue or melanistic individuals being occasionally encountered. Like all vipers the pupil is horizontal.
The LD50 is 0.55 mg/kg in mice, which although relatively low, has caused a number of deaths throughout Europe.
Distribution Vipera berus has a vast distribution, occurring from the UK, where it is the only venomous snake, throughout mainland Europe, including Scandinavia and into the Amur region of Asia. Vipera berus berus occurs from sea level to 3000m above sea level.
Habitat & Biology Vipera berus berus occurs in a broad range of habitat, in the UK the adder is associated with chalk down land, and dry scrub habitat, in Europe it is found within pine forests, damp meadows and coastal dunes. Vipera berus berus is a reptile, amphibian and mammal feeder. Neonates feed on small frogs, juvenile lizards and potentially insects. Adults feed on larger lizards and frogs as well as mice and voles. Males emerge from hibernation in late February, and aggregate around the hibernaculum. Females emerge slightly later. Mating occurs in June with females giving birth in late august or September. Males can be seen duelling with each other prior to mating in the same way as Vipera aspis and Crotalus.
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Local symptoms include immediate and intense pain, followed after a few minutes by swelling and a tingling sensation. Reddish lymphangitic lines and bruising may appear, and the whole limb can become swollen and bruised within 24 hours. Swelling may also spread to the trunk, and with children, throughout the entire body. Systemic symptoms resulting from anaphylaxis can be dramatic. These may appear within 5 minutes post bite, or can be delayed for many hours. Such symptoms include nausea, retching and vomiting, abdominal colic and diarrhoea, incontinence of urine and faeces, sweating, fever, vasoconstriction, tachycardia, lightheadedness, loss of consciousness, blindness, and shock.
Vipera berus bosniensis appearance Vipera berus bosniensis differs greatly in appearance to Vipera berus berus, There are obvious differences in terms of colouration, patterning and scaleation. The morphological differences and the different venom composition lead many authors to believe that this subspecies is in fact a separate species in its own right. In Vipera berus bosniensis the zigzag pattern is largely replaced by cross barring with a noticeably lighter, silver grey background, this colouration occurs in females as well as males, unlike the nominate Vipera berus berus form. There are lowland populations where the background colour is predominantly brown.
Distribution & Habtat Vipera berus bosniensis occurs in Southern Slovenia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Bosnia and Greece. Vipera berus bosniensis was originally thought to be a completely montane species, occurring on south facing slopes, often with low juniper bushes, and montane meadows. However, populations have been recorded in Slovenia in lowland, marshland habitat.
Biology The biology of Vipera berus bosniensis is similar to that of Vipera berus berus, however montane forms will emerge from hibernation later in the year due to the lower temperatures at altitude.
Venom The venom of Vipera berus bosniensis differs from that of Vipera berus berus in the fact that it contains a neurotoxic element not found in the nominate form.
Photo >> Alexander Eppler Herpetoculture Magazine 24
Vipera berus sachalinensis appearance Very similar to Vipera berus berus, but somewhat stockier.
Distribution Far East Russia, Amur, Oblast, Primorskye Kray, Khabarovk Kray, Sakhalin, North Korea, Northeast China.
Habitat, Biology& Venom In all of these aspect this subspecies is virtually the same as Vipera berus berus
Associated Species Several other species have previously been included in the Vipera berus complex:
- Vipera seonei, the Spanish adder, now a full species, found in mainland Spain. - Vipera Nikolskii, Nickolski’s adder, often melanistic, debatably a full species, found in Moldova and Ukraine - Vipera barani, Barons adder, currently a full species from Turkey.
Captive husbandary of the Vipera berus species Vipera berus is a very sought after species in the hobby, due to the striking pattern and small size, however, this species does not do well in captivity. It is extremely rare for a wild caught specimen to acclimate to captive care. The temperature, humidity and seasonal feeding required by this species is extremely hard to reproduce in captivity.
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For best success with these species a large outdoor terraria seems to work best, with captive bred examples of this species. The terraria will need suitable basking sites, hide areas, hibanecular, and a water source, ideally in the form of a small pond. Live amphibians, lizards and mice make suitable prey items. If keeping Vipera berus indoors, a vivarium larger than that for other vipers of the same size is required. Vipera berus is a very mobile species. Clean water and good ventilation is essential. As with all European vipers, high quality UV is a must for maintaining health in the vivarium.
Vipera berus is an iconic species in Europe, embedded in folk lore and protected throughout much of its range. It still remains one of my favourite species to photograph and observe in the wild.
An Appalachian Legend Remembering Justin Wilbanks of Appalachian Arboreals. August 11, 1989 - June 30, 2020 Herpetoculture Magazine
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“Well man, congrats you’ve done it. Welcome to the cult.”
Was the message I received from Justin after hatching my first clutch of chondros. He had been helping me get ready for “the big day” for many weeks leading up to my first batch of chondros. Justin was one of few guys in the green tree community that I consulted about incubation and tips for success with eggs. Over time our messages back and forth evolved into stupid memes and videos almost as if we were trying to “outstupid” each other which resulted in some good laughs. I loved that I could always message him to gripe about something and he would completely get it, usually agree. I keep my circle small but Justin was definitely in it as one of a handful of chondro buddies that I 27 Herpetoculturemagazine.com
talked to on a regular basis. One of the biggest things I appreciated about him was his love for the projects that were what he liked, not being hyper focused on the designer line projects. He was part of a small group in the chondro community that was really focused on producing USCBB biak chondros and he did it well! He’ll be missed by many, myself included and I hope that the community can continue to carry on his legacy through his animals.
- Justin Smith Publisher
“He always exuded passion and positivity...” Justin was a class act. In a world getting more and more polarized, one where petty bickering is all too common, he always exuded passion and positivity. He and I crossed paths frequently over the years sharing our mutually specific interest in Biak chondros. We’d share observations and ideas often, always met with a positive and intelligent dialogue I deeply miss. He was one of my very few sounding boards in this community and one of the first I shared exciting news with. We lost one of the genuinely good guys way too soon and we are all better for having had him in our lives. I can only hope to have as widespread and positive an impact on others. Rest In Peace Justin. I’ll do my best to keep that Biak passion burning!
- Brian Fischer Front Range Arboreals Herpetoculture Magazine 28
Thank you Justin Smith at Herpetoculture Magazine for honoring Justin Wilbanks. Justin passed unexpectedly, far too soon at the young age of 30, leaving behind a devastated family, his girlfriend and her daughter who adored him, and a tremendous number of friends. Justin was a friend to everyone who was lucky enough to cross paths with him and a pillar to the chondro community. Justin and I met six years ago on a motorcycle trip around the Canton, Ga. Area, where he was living at the time. Justin reached out to me since we both kept chondros and both equally enjoyed our other main hobby of riding motorcycles. Justin was on a street legal dirt bike, this was one of the first Supermotos I had ever seen in person. After he let me take it for a ride, I sold all of my other bikes and have only rode a Supermoto since. We spent the day riding around Red Top Mountain and other local areas taking frequent breaks to talk chondros. His passion was infectious, as many of you reading this already know. It was quickly apparent that he spent much time lurking on Morelia Viridis Forum and we shared many observations of the greats, it was obvious his knowledge of everything chondros was vast. Justin was the type of person that never met a stranger and I felt that we had been friends for much longer than just a single day. We continued the motorcycle trips and he further grew his collection, adding very particular animals and bloodlines with focused breeding plans. After a couple years Justin took on a great job opportunity near his hometown and moved back to the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains in Seymour, Tennessee. After a weekend together in his hometown, spending time with his childhood friends and visiting his old stomping grounds via our preferred method of transportation it was obvious that Justin lived his life to the fullest. Justin lived life in the moment and never let a good time or opportunity to help another pass. Justin attempted his first pairing that year and I was fortunate enough to be visiting the weekend they hatched. To see all of his hard work pay off in-person as the hatchlings emerged was truly a sight to behold, a weekend I will always cherish. His passion for keeping and breeding chondros was among the finest in the community. Justin went on to have multiple clutches and a perfect hatch rate of all fertile eggs, something I’ve never heard of anyone else doing. He used this as an opportunity to continue to grow his collection and purchased
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some yearlings from bloodlines he desired to work with. Since Justin’s passing, his immeasurable influence on others was evident as there were hundreds of family and friends at his funeral, far fewer seats than those in attendance. He spent a large portion of his personal time communicating with others in the chondro community, be it to help another out or just a friendly conversation – he was always there. His work in this community was just getting started and has already made an enormous impact. I know he could not have anticipated his early passing and had big plans for the future of his collection. A tiger-stripe project was in the works and he was more excited about this project than any other. Although the TS animals were more recent additions to his collection, his Tad Duane mustard male and JG Biak female were the foundation of his collection and I believe he would have parted with anything else before these animals. Justin’s passion and devotion he carried throughout his time working with reptiles carried on to all aspects of his life. He purchased a brand new KTM dirt bike, a bike he spent far more time cleaning and modifying than he ever did riding it. Outside of friends and family, if there was anything he cared for as much in this world as his chondros it was that bike. I will forever miss Justin’s spot-on advice, his amazing sense of humor as he could always get a laugh out of anyone around, his love and patience towards others, his meticulous ways of maintaining his collection, and just the all around great person that he was. His passing has left a gaping wound in many that can never be healed, a testament to how fortunate we were that he graced this world and are better for it. Justin was a friend to all and will be missed beyond measure. Rest in peace Brother.
- Mark Huffman -
Eric Burke’s Morelia Spotlight:
History of Gamma, the diamond jungle jag from Morelia Trophy Club
This is my Gamma line jag from the man himself, John Battaglia from MTC. In the carpet python world, there is a snake that is a fantastic neon yellow. Whether you’re into carpet pythons or not, if you saw this snake at a reptile show, it would stop you in your tracks. I witnessed this at the NARBC show in Tinley Park, Il. Everybody that walked by Carpet Row stopped at John Battaglia’s table to take a look at this amazing snake. They kept saying things like, “I didn’t know that carpets could look like this.” So the story starts when John Battaglia from Morelia trophy Club was looking to pick up a jag. John is known for having some of the most beautiful examples of snakes from the genus Morelia. After searching for the best, he could find he came across Jeff Favelle from Canada. Jeff produced a clutch of diamond jungle jags. The sire was a jungle jaguar and the dam a diamond-jungle python, and both were fairly average appearing pythons. In the clutch, two females stood out; one stayed in Canada with Jeff, which he named the offspring from that female the neon line.
The other female went to John, and he named her Gamma; hence the resulting offspring were called the Gamma line. Since then, the line has been bred to multiple subspecies and morphs of carpet pythons to recreate that intense gamma yellow. If you follow breeders like Martin Rosemond, you can see some fantastic snakes that this line produces. People who are new to carpets sometimes get confused by terms like diamond jungle jag and think of all of the names are different morphs. The jag is the morph, but the diamond/jungle refers to subspecies of carpets. So, Gamma is a cross of Diamond python, jungle carpet python, and a coastal carpet python (this is the jag part of the mix). Gamma turned out to be spectacular, both in her bright, clean scales that did not fade or smudge as she aged and the quality of pythons that she produced. I remember when I first saw a Gamma line jag in person. It blew me away, and I had to work with one in my collection. My male has produced a few clutches for me and is still as lovely as he was when I first bought him. John still has the male that sired my gamma line jag, named Gamma5, that is around 11 years old that is just as bright as it was when it was a 2-year-old.
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Having The Best Success With Imported Chondros by Thaddeus Sauls
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Imported Green Tree Pythons are undoubtedly one of the most divisive topics in the Chondro community and you don’t have to spend much time in the forums in order to find a hotly debated conversation about the pros and cons. Regardless of your opinion on the matter, as long as they are being exported from their homeland they will find a way to a table at your local reptile expo. These animals have endured a long journey to get here and they deserve only the best possible care that we can provide. It is no secret that many of the animals in my collection were imported and I want to share with you a basic guide so that you know what to expect and how to manage the many issues an imported GTP can have. This is by no means an all-inclusive manual but I hope that it will be beneficial.
Imported GTPs can come from a variety of sources. Most of them change hands several times after importation before they show up at the reptile expo. You might also find them at pet stores, online reptile dealers, and that random person looking to rehome a pet. There are a few people who take the time to establish and medicate imports before reselling them and those animals are well-worth the extra money (but those are not the animals I’m talking about today). You also need to know what you’re buying (or what you bought). Imported GTPs usually come with two different labels: FB (Farm Bred) and CH (Captive Hatched). It is illegal to export wild-caught GTPs from Indonesia so these animals are filtered through the farms and labeled as FB or CH. Don’t be fooled, adult imported GTPs are almost always wild-caught. Regardless of the label and origin, they should all go through the same quarantine procedures and veterinary checks The first thing you should do with an imported animal is Quarantine! Quarantine! Quarantine! Imports can carry tons of parasites and diseases and you do not want to expose your collection to any of it! I recommend that you quarantine for a minimum of 90 days BEYOND the last clean fecal exam. The most practical way to quarantine is to set up caging in a separate room as far away from your main collection as possible. Always use separate tools (hooks, tongs, etc.) and disinfect them after every use. Try not to work in the quarantine room on the same day as your main collection, and if you do, shower and change clothes before working with your main collection. When you set up quarantine cages keep them simple! Tubs are awesome because they are easy to sterilize. I recommend using white paper or a puppy pad substrate and white water bowl to help spot mites..
An imported Aru with an anger problem
An imported Sorong type male
Imported animals can have anything and everything wrong with them. You will need an experienced reptile veterinarian to assist with establishing the animal. If you don’t have one already, check https://arav.org to find a vet near you. Imported animals almost always have microscopic intestinal parasites and worms of various types. Your veterinarian will need to conduct fecal testing to determine which medications to prescribe. Fecal tests also need to be conducted several times after treatment to ensure that the parasites have been cleared. Imported animals are often kept in poor living conditions. In many cases they are dehydrated and have stuck shed, especially the adult animals found at reptile shows. These animals should be allowed to soak in fresh water to help rehydrate and remove as much of the stuck shed as possible. Open wounds or fresh scabs are also common. Consult with your veterinarian during the initial exam to determine if treatment is necessary. Mites are also common with imports. Your veterinarian will check for mites but they can be easily overlooked. You should always take preventative measures against mites with every new animal and stay alert. Mites can easily go unnoticed and show up in your collection 2-3 months later! Make a habit of checking the water bowl and substrate for mites even if you don’t see any on the snake. Mites can also thrive in common reptile substrates like mulch, Reptichip, etc. Those types of substrates are impossible to sterilize and spot mites so don’t use them in quarantine!
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Green Tree Python Serpentovirus, more commonly known as nidovirus, is a threat that can devastate your entire collection. You’ll want to consider testing your animals while they are in quarantine, especially if you have more than one GTP. More information about testing for Green Tree Python Sepentovirus can be found at https://fishhead-diagnostics-inc.square. site or on their Facebook page, Fishhead Diagnostics. Feeding imported GTPs can push you to the limits of sanity. The first thing I recommend is to wait 1 to 2 weeks before feeding. They have had a long and stressful journey and they need time to calm down. If you’re lucky the animal will take frozen thawed on the first feeding attempt, but not all animals are that easy. If an import refuses frozen/thawed I will try again after 1 week. After about a month of refusing meals I will offer a live rodent. If the snake eats a live rodent I will offer frozen thawed at least two more times before feeding another live prey item. I continue this pattern as long as it takes to convert the snake to a frozen/thawed diet. If the snake is refusing both f/t and live prey then I continue offering various prey items on a weekly basis until the animal eats. I have had adult imports refuse meals for 3 to 4 months before finally accepting frozen mice! (Warning: don’t leave a live prey item in the cage with your snake if it is refusing to eat! Rodents especially can bite and injure your snakes.) You should also try and use different types of frozen thawed rodents. Some animals might not eat a mouse but they will accept a rat or an African soft furred rat. You can also try rodents from different sources. I have seen animals refuse to eat PetSmart mice and then savagely attack a mouse purchased from a quality rodent breeder at the local reptile expo. These are some of the most common issues associated with imports but with the help of your local veterinarian, money, patience, and a bit of luck, you can get your GTP established. I do not recommend an unestablished imported GTP for any new keeper under any circumstances, however, these animals are often purchased as someone’s first GTP. It is my hope that our community can provide the tools and information to help give more of these beautiful snakes a better chance at a good life.
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“I do not recommend an unestablished imported GTP for any new keeper under any circumstances, however, these animals are often purchased as someone’s first GTP.”
The Importance of Obscurity By Justin Smith Herpetoculture has evolved drastically over the last 30 years while simultaneously staying the same in a sense. We’ve seen ball pythons firmly cement their place in the hobby and explode into the incredible (and growing) array of morphs we have presently. Corn snakes have come a long way in the last 20 years. Bearded dragons and leopard geckos have been an industry staple. Hell, even axolotls exploded in popularity just within the last few years. Looking at the ease of care and spectrum of colors and patterns within these species, it is really no wonder why or how they have come to be kept in such high numbers. Now there is nothing wrong with these and other popular species but over the same span of time we have also seen species virtually disappear from the hobby entirely. Off the top of my head Savu Pythons, Madagascar Tree Boas, a majority of Bush Viper species, Mali Uromastyx, and many more are all species that at one time were fairly prevalent in the hobby but due to lack of interest and/or borders closing, eventually dwindled and disappeared from many collections. And who better to ask of their opinion about the matter than Harlin Wall and Rob Stone? These are two guys who have seen so many species come and go in the industry. Harlin in particular says that Monkey Tailed Skinks are the first species to come to mind. “Looking back on reptile species that have nearly fallen by the wayside in captivity, I sometimes think about Corucia zebrata, the Monkey Tailed Skink or Prehensile Tail Skink. In the late 90’s you could purchase them for as little at $35 each from various wholesalers/importers.”
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He also added “I remember gravid females being offered for only slightly higher prices. These are the largest species of skink in the world! Only occurring on the Solomon Islands, they live an arboreal lifestyle in small groups (sometimes referred to as troops). Females only give birth to one or two “pups” at a time and are often reported to display defensive behavior when protecting their young. These omnivorous reptiles move slowly, mature slowly and reproduce at a slower rate than many other species of reptiles. Back when they were being exported in heavy numbers and low prices, we did not stop to consider how quickly this might come to a screeching halt. At the time, I was a younger man, trying to make a living selling to pet stores. And will openly admit that I sold a fair number of these interesting skinks.” As time went on, the combination of habitat loss and over collection for the pet trade left C. zebrata in a tough position. “The mass collection of these animals for the pet trade was simply not sustainable. Especially if you consider the even greater pressures they were under, due to the loss of suitable habitat. Once laws were in place to provide protection against over collecting and exportation of these lizards, the prices went up overnight and they went up considerably!” Harlin recalls. The history of these lizards in the hobby made another value of these “endangered” species of the hobby clear; the value of having them in collections period. “If we are not careful, species that seem overly plentiful or perhaps not so “financially valuable”....The animals that are perhaps not basking in the sunshine of “mass popularity”...we tend to overlook these species and if not properly managed, we could easily and completely lose the blessing of having them available! They could fall by the wayside. If this happens, we will only have memories and photographs or videos to show to the next generations of keepers.” The importance of the oddball hobbyists that focus on the lesser seen species can’t be stated enough. We definitely know that there are trends in the hobby that rise and fall. Mexican Black Kings are a prime example. Not so long ago you could pick up an MBK or even a pair for a humble price but then at some point social media exploded with these “poor man’s indigos” as they came to be called. As a result the demand overwhelmed the supply and prices skyrocketed. Are MBKs a species that will disappear from the hobby? Probably not. But it just goes to show how something as simple as a completely black snake being flashed online can cause a trend almost overnight.
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“Back when they were being exported in heavy numbers and low prices, we did not stop to consider how quickly this might come to a screeching halt”
Rob Stone and I were talking back and forth via Facebook messenger about this very topic as well. In my opinion there’s almost a formula of sorts where all the parts have to be in the right place for a species to really take off in the hobby like we’ve seen with ball pythons. In talking to Rob I mentioned “As far as the “endangered species” of the hobby it really boggles my mind that with so many people in the hobby we can lose so many species. But I also think about the divide between casual hobbyists and serious ones which would leave a pretty large gap for that stuff to get lost.” This gap, I believe, is one of the larger parts of why some species get sidelined. Not everyone wants an expensive, hard to find/reproduce species and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that!
“In the US we have fostered a mindset of Monoculture in Herpetoculture. It has rewarded us in many ways. The US likely has one of the most diverse reserves of reptile morph genetics in the world. Just think about the numbers of different Ball Python, Corn Snake, Blood Python, Boa Constrictor, Carpet Python, Amazon Tree Boa, Bearded Dragon, and Leopard Gecko morphs. Now consider the flip side of this perspective, with the reward of having the myriad of color and pattern forms, also comes the cost of potentially overlooking species that could be just as rewarding....species that could be lost if we are not diligent about showing them some appreciation.” as Harlin explained.
Rob also sent me a link to a recent episode of The Chameleon Academy Podcast with Philippe de Vosjoli. About half of this episode talks about this topic of needing the people that breed the uncommon species. “I really took Philippe’s thing as two parallel, equally important but distinct ideas - the first that we need to consciously chose what we work with, and the second that people can work with stuff that’s rare but has the same requirements as common stuff folks are shuffled to” To that point, Vosjoli brings up the Red-Eared Slider and how Americans have spent millions upon millions of dollars, year after year on all of the hardware and necessities for this incredibly common species but felt that keeping a RES vs a less common species of turtle aren’t that far off from one another so why are red-eareds kept in such high numbers?
Sanzinia were once not so difficult to find in Herpetoculture.
I believe that there’s levels a certain species has to pass to become a mainstay in the industry. It starts from the country of origin and the export laws at a given time then breaks down to price, appearance, care requirements, demand, supply, percentage of the hobby/ industry that is invested which is then broken down by the number of people who can afford and stick with the species. But a lot of It boils down to monoculture.
“In the grand scheme of things, if other less commonly kept species are no more difficult to keep than Red-Eared Sliders, then why did the RES become SO popular in comparison?” Herpetoculture Magazine
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Rough-Scaled Pythons were virtually non-existent in collection until recent years.
Sometimes it isn’t this monoculture per se, sometimes there simply aren’t enough of a species to get into the right hands. Crocodilurus amazonia or the Crocodile Tegu is a species where there was a 2010 re-evaluation of CITES status done on them which gave actual insight into the numbers of them moved between 1975 and 2010. Unbelievably, 17 total (including live, dead, and body parts) came in in that 35 year period. As a result Stone says the $7,000 price tag coupled with the low import numbers “simultaneously justify the price point but also guarantee it won’t work out long term” Fortunately this isn’t the case for a large majority of these unattended species in our industry. The other side to this coin is the success stories of species that were once in very short supply now becoming more common in collections across the country. RoughScaled Pythons were once one of the rarest snakes in U.S. collections but there are now more people breeding them annually than we’ve ever seen! It is these breeders that are the kind of folks helping make the obscure not so abnormal anymore. To this point Harlin said “I hold a soft place in my heart for anyone who is giving attention to...or those who are focusing their efforts on species that may not be so mainstream. Perhaps showcasing species outside of the limelight from time to time in a publication like this...or on a youtube channel...giving credit to those who are putting the time in with species that might not rank near the top of the list with the masses.”
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Then there are species that just don’t get enough attention. If you have listened to me on pretty much any podcast, I’m always talking about how underrated Baird’s Rat Snakes are. Pantherophis species are incredibly popular here in the states but for whatever reason Baird’s rats flew far under the radar and have never really had their “time” in the herpetocultural timeline. Another species I would probably put into this category are Inland Carpets. Everyone I’ve talked to that keeps Inlands says they are some of the coolest carpets they have ever kept! Despite this they too have never taken off to the level the other carpets have. As Harlin says, “We are the stewards of the animals that are available to us here NOW. It is our responsibility to appreciate ALL that is available to us now, before it is lost. It is our responsibility to share these lessons to those newer upcoming keepers...so that when we pass the torch, they too will make sure that they do not become distracted by what is popular...and end up trading the value of available variety for the monetary values that sometimes cloud our vision of the bigger picture.” I can honestly say that within the last few years I’ve noticed people are starting to branch out, seeing all the awesome species this industry has to offer off the beaten path. I’ll end this with Harlins’ parting words. “Exposure creates appreciation and paves the road to a desire for an education about that which is new to you. Perhaps think about species that might not be getting the attention they deserve and make an effort form a side project that strengthens the diversity of availability within our reptile community. They say you never know how much you might miss it, until it is already gone. We have been giving a lucky second chance with the species I mentioned in the beginning...Corucia zebrata...the Monkey Tailed Skink. I hope we are able to transfer the lessons learned from the history of this species and apply it to countless others that deserve our attention and appreciation.” Don’t let them slip away, because we truly don’t know what we have until it’s gone.
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In The Incubator...
- Searching for Vipera walser - Elephant Trunk snakes - Ranitomeya vanzolinii
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