Reptile Research Information » Information

Bearded Dragons as pets.

dwoo — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:12:18 +0000

Popular as pets, bearded dragons or are moderately sized lizards
While they are generally considered great pets even for beginner reptile owners, they do have fairly complex nutritional and environmental requirements so need special equipment and plenty of time to care for them properly. Bearded dragons are social and easy to tame and handle, and show a range of fascinating behaviors that make them interesting to watch.Having two bearded dragons is usually better for them.The expected life span of a bearded dragon is close to around 10 years if cared for properly, although longer life spans have been reported.

Where do alligators live ?

dwoo — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:39:32 +0000

American alligators live in freshwater environments, such as ponds, marshes, wetlands, rivers, lakes, and swamps, as well as brackish environments.Southern Florida is the only place where both alligators and
crocodiles live side by side. The Chinese alligator currently is found only in the Yangtze River valley and is extremely endangered, with only a few dozen believed to be left in the wild. Indeed, far more Chinese alligators live in zoos around the world than can be found in the wild. Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in southern Louisiana has several in captivity in an attempt to preserve the species. Miami Metro Zoo in Florida also has a breeding pair of beautiful Chinese alligators. The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park has successfully reproduced Chinese Alligators and been fortunate enough to release some of their offspring back into the wild in China.

Tortoise lifespan

dwoo — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:03:56 +0000

How long will my Tortoise live ? After doing some research I found out that generally they have lifespans comparable with those of human beings, and some individuals are known to have lived longer than 150 years. Because of this,they symbolize longevity in some cultures, such as China. The oldest tortoise ever recorded, and one of the oldest individual animals ever recorded, was Tu’i Malila, which was presented to the Tongan royal family by the British explorer Captain Cook shortly after its birth in 1777. Tui Malila remained in the care of the Tongan royal family until its death
by natural causes on May 19, 1965. This means that upon its death, Tui Malila was 188 years old. The record for the longest-lived vertebrate is exceeded only by one other, a koi named Hanako whose death on July 17, 1977 ended a 226 year life span. Amazing that my turtle will out live me by probably many years.

Do lizards have emotions

dwoo — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 06:21:44 +0000

Yes, they do have emotions, but not in the way you’d normally interpret them. Their emotions are very limited, when compared to mammals. This is mainly due to the evolution of mammals, which use emotion to communicate in different ways. Snakes, for instance, can be satisfied, curious, scared, stressed, angry, defensive, and, in rare cases, lonely. I bring up lonely, because I’ve owned snakes before that would, if seperated from their cage mate (they were corn snakes), would never come out of hiding. But as soon as their cage mate was put back in, they would explore together and coil up together (never on different ends of the tank, always together). Of course, there may be a scientific reason for this “pack” behavior that I don’t know yet, but everything else I know for sure.

If you’re really interested in a reptile’s emotions, you have to look at their body language. In your case, the lizard has probably seen hundreds of people all doing what you’re doing trying to get its attention, and it doesn’t respond to it anymore. I’ve played nodding games with bearded dragons before (I nod my head, they nod their head, back and forth).

Second best pet lizard

dwoo — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:44:33 +0000

The Bearded Dragon can still be viewed as a small animal if you consider lizards’ highest possible dimensions. With a 50–60 cm extent, the Bearded Dragon needs to be housed in a considerably sized terrarium: 90×50x50 cm is the ideal size for an adult specimen. This kind of lizard is actually an easy pet to find at sale.

The Bearded Dragon is a sociable, rather expressive pet that suits as an ideal lizard for contemplating purposes. It is also probably one of the best lizards when it comes to interaction with its owner. Besides interacting, it also tolerates being handled quite well, especially if you consider that this is a cold-blooded animal. It is a quite active pet in its terrarium.

Being an omnivore animal, the Bearded Dragon eats both insects and vegetables. This means its diet is a little more complicated to be followed by inexperienced owners. The ratio between the amount of insects and vegetables varies throughout this lizard’s lifetime. It is also recommended that you set a diversified feeding plan.

South Atlantic Trip

admin — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:36:28 +0000

Researchers have found that the Leatherback turtles swim thousands of miles across the South Atalantic to get to their feeding grounds. The trip can take up to 150 days to complete.

The five year study is important because the turtles travel through alot of routes that are high risk from fisheries so its important that we figure out ways to protect them while they undergo these trips every year to ensure their safety.

Tortoises Get New Home

admin — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 03:28:07 +0000

The San Diego Zoo gave its tortoises a new home. Not just any regular home. A new $1 million upgrade.

The refurbished digs are meant to be more comfy for the animals, more eye-catching for zoo visitors.

The zoo has 17 of the Galapagos species, most having arrived as part of one of the first expeditions to the archipelago off Ecuador — the islands that gained fame nearly a century earlier from the work of Charles Darwin.

As part of the upgrade, the enclosure now has more water holes and mud wallows, new vegetation and better signage explaining the history (and endangered status) of the species. There is also a small pen where visitors will be able to pet the tortoises, under the watchful eye of a volunteer docent.

The upgrade also includes an expanded area behind the enclosure with improved lighting and ventilation. In colder weather — or what passes for cold weather in balmy San Diego — the tortoises come inside for protection.

Unusual Reptile

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:08:38 +0000

Accordingly to the Associate Press, an alligator-like reptile has been found in the Patapsco River, just south of Baltimore. The 2.5-foot to 3-foot caiman was found near Glen Burnie.

The Anne Arundel County Animal Control is contacting area zoos in hopes of finding a home for it.

Why do corn snakes make great pets?

virginia — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:27:51 +0000

Cornsnakes (Pantherophis guttatus) are enjoyed around the world by numerous peoples of all ages. Once you are introduced to your first corn snake, any misconceptions and fears about snakes will vanish.

Corn snakes make wonderful pets. I should know since I have had one.

By their very nature, they are calm and easy to handle. Like any pet, they take a little time to get used to you, but with handling and just being around you, they quickly fit into your life.

Don’t be misled by the skiddishness of a baby cornsnake. These hatchlings, come genetically disposed for self protection. So, even though they hide and try to get away when handled, and even sometimes nip at you, this is just the baby instinct in them that helps to keep them alive in the wild.

For the most part they are very nice and gentle animals once they get used to you. So have some patiences.
Corn snakes are not venomous, and the nip of a baby cornsnake doesn’t even hurt. As they get older, they naturally become more tame and more docile. All of my adult snakes are great to be held, and none of them would ever think of biting us. I have seen some pet corn snakes that seem to have gotten so used to people that they are happy to just sit on top of a cage and not even try to get away.
Corn snakes have many advantages. First, they are very low maintenance. Baby cornsnakes only need to be fed every 3 to 7 days (depending on how fast you want them to grow), and adults only eat every 7 to 10 days on the average. So the cost of food for the cornsnake is very low. Also, if they are kept at the proper temperature and you give the cornsnake the right care, they will usually stay healthy and will seldom, if ever, need to go to a vet.
Corn snakes can go a very long time without eating. So if you are going on a short trip, you don’t need to worry about finding someone to baby sit your snake, like you would with a dog or cat. Just make sure that they have a nice big water bowl filled with clean water before you leave.
Cornsnakes come in a variety of different colors and patterns, so once you get one and see all of the possibilities, then you may just want to get another one, or two, or three. Some of us find it difficult to control our desires for just one more different type.

Incredible New Species Discovered in Ecuador

virginia — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:04:29 +0000

Here is the latest amazing new species discovered in Ecuador.

One look at a newly discovered species of Gecko, small enough at its full-grown size to rest comfortably on the eraser of a pencil, and it’s difficult not to be mesmerized by the seemingly boundless forms of biological diversity. While simultaneously reminded of its fragility.

For the last seven years, the Ecuadorian Biodiversity Project has scoured the Amazon to observe and record the rainforest’s unique wildlife, and to draw attention to the imperiled ecosystem in which they live. So far, the organization has catalogued almost 6,000 species, taking roughly 25,000 photographs. Recently, 30 new species of reptiles and amphibians have been discovered, though sadly they could all become extinct due to the various factors that have long threatened the region.

The organisms were found in the mountains of Cerro Pata de Pájaro, in Ecuador a few minutes from the Pacific Ocean. The project to record and study the diverse wildlife in this area is not without a sense of urgency; like many places in the Amazon, all the biodiversity is threatened by livestock, crops, hunting, and the consequences of climate change.

Here is a photo of the species.

One look at a newly discovered species of gecko, small enough at its full-grown size to rest comfortably on the eraser of a pencil, and it’s difficult not to be mesmerized by the seemingly boundless forms of biological diversity–while simultaneously reminded of its fragility. For the last seven years, the Ecuadorian Biodiversity Project has scoured the Amazon to observe and record the rainforest’s unique wildlife, and to draw attention to the imperiled ecosystem in which they live. So far, the organization has catalogued almost 6,000 species, taking roughly 25,000 photographs. Recently, 30 new species of reptiles and amphibians have been discovered, though sadly they could all become extinct due to the various factors that have long threatened the region.