The Sticky Tongue Project + BERUS Herp Magazine = Love..

Taken from The Sticky Tongue Project-site:

“The Sticky Tongue Project has now teamed up with BERUS Herp Magazine!

BERUS magazine is published by Mr Leif Westrin and Mr Pierre von Rahmel.

“The aims of the the paper are to promote a greater understanding for amphibians and reptiles in nature and in terrarium environments; to encourage research; to stimulate the development of sound and  healthy techniques to maintain and propagate amphibians and reptiles in captivity, and to initiate and support measures to protect threatened species.

This digitally paper is religiously and politically independent, as well as noncommercial.

Foreign authors are welcome to contribute with articles in the English language. Our goal is to make the magazine more international and not just in Swedish. We warmly welcome more articles in the English language so that our magazine can be read by all animals and nature lovers around the world.”

You can check out their website here: 
http://www.berusmagazine.se/

Download the latest issue here: 
http://www.berusmagazine.se/latestissue.html

You can also find them on Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/BERUSmagazine
“

 

Slo Exo 2010

Is presenting you the first Slovenian Exotic Animals selling exhibition!!

 

WELCOME DEAR VISITOR!

Because every day increasing demand for exotic animals specially reptiles, we decided to bring Expo fair to peoples. Everyone can get there informations, exotic animals and equipment at one place directly from breeder or seller. This is the first exotic animal Expo in Slovenija. We hope that a lot of different breaders from Europe will come. First time you will get better information, lower prices and a lot of variety at one place.

WHERE?

GOSPODARSKO RAZSTAVIŠČE V LJUBLJANI

Dunajska cesta 18

Name of place: Gospodarsko razstavišče Ljubljana – Parking

Adress of place: 1000 Ljubljana

WHEN?

October 17th 2010 from 10.00 till 16.00.

HOW MANY SELLERS?

Since this is the first time in Slovenia we will try to join as much an possible number of sellers. We are hopping to ger around 200 different exhibitors. Peopels can see there all type of things and animals from terraristic area of animals fans.

ENTRY:

Adults: 6€

Children from 4 to 14 years old: 4€

Children under 4 years old: FREE!

Group of ten persons (announced in advance on our mail): 5€/person

Link:
http://www.slo-exo.com/index2.html

Breeders’ Expo changing date and location!!

The following message is taken from the official site of Breeders Expo Europe:

21. April 2010 – WICHTIG – IMPORTANT – WICHTIG – IMPORTANT

Dears visitors of the Breeders’ Expo homepage!

So far many of you came to know the BEE as a show with pleasant atmosphere and lots of friendly service and cooperation. Unfortunately I must shift the show in Duesseldorf scheduled for the 1. Mai 2010 in date and location because the respective authorities in Duesseldorf not only make it impossible to keep this tradition alive, but the constraints issued two days ago also make the show impossible looking at any aspect of common sense, economy, and also aspects of animal welfare. To hold the show despite of these constraints would mean substantial legal conflicts.

The Duesseldorf public order office has taken all measures to stop the BEE – apparently backed by the Duesseldorf political regime. In a first step the permission for the BEE unlawfully wasn’t granted. After a painful and complete defeat at the Duesseldorf administrative court the authority had to accept they must issue the permission, and as a last desperate attempt has issued these constrains which, according to veterinarians, my lawyer, some vendors and others show the following attributes:

• partly they are simply unusual for events like this and show all signs of harassment without any functional background
• partly they have no juristical fundament
• partly they contradict themselves
• partly they are simply non-dischargeable, and of course not in the narrow time frame given by the show date and some deadlines set by the authority
• partly they contradict nationally and internationally accepted and proven knowledge of practical animal welfare
• partly they reduce animal welfare aspects to absurdity
• partly they cover aspects which are simply not in my responsibility as an organizer, partly I’m not even allowed to cover these aspects
• partly they unlawfully restrict the type and extent of the show

Since the respective veterinarian for the show indicated on the phone that he’s not willing to discuss content-related aspects with me, it appears absolutely useless to convince him with arguments and facts. Obviously this was never a question of animal welfare but still is a question of rendering the show impossible via constraints and this way to find a legitimation for the unlawful behaviour which was determined by the administrative court. Any productive collaboration is made completely impossible on such a fundament.

I will possibly announce further information on the BEE homepage, further juristical steps seem possible. Due to the narrow time frame another summary proceeding at the administrative court is not promising.

I deeply regret this decision and would like to send you my apologies for any possible inconvenience you might have to face even though I am not responsible. To hold the show despite this situation would most probably mean to confront visitors and vendors with severe dangers and problems. Thanks for your cooperation.

Lutz Obelgönner

<!–Go here to get our newsletter for latest updates …
Go to online booking …
Open for visitors: entrance from 9 to 15 hours, exhibition areas from 10 am
Open for vendors: from 6 am
Adress: Philipshalle, Siegburger Straße 51, D-40591 Düsseldorf-Oberbilk, www.philipshalle.de
Accomodation: To book hotels please make use of this link and the online booking form of the city of Duesseldorf.

–>
———
13. April 2010: Since his own show mid of March the organizer of another reptile show spreads the information that the BEE will not take place due to a missing permit from the City of Duesseldorf. So far I didn’t reply to this. Today I’d like to share the following facts:

1. The City of Duesseldorf indeed has refused the permit.
2. I find it quite puzzling that he, my competitor, of all people spreads the information about this decision. This allows interesting conclusions, I leave it up to you to draw them.
3. On my objection the administrative court of Duesseldorf today has decided that the respective authority has acted unlawfully and arbitrarily. The authority must issue the permit for the BEE.

In short: The BEE will take place. Details about the above mentioned court process will be kept under cover since I like to install a working cooperation between the authorities and the BEE in the future.

Link to Breeders Expo Europe

Link to a form that will allow you to order the newsletter.

Caresheet for Jeweled lizard Lacerta lepida/Timon lepidus

This lizard is mainly a ground-dwelling species that can be found in Spain, Portugal, southern France and northwestern Italy and the northwestern parts of Africa.

In the wild it is living in sunny, rocky and bushy slopes or stone walls. It is one of the largest species in Europe, up to 80cm´s including the tail (body 1/3 and tail 2/3 of total length). It is a heavily built and strong animal. The colour is green, brown or a mixture between those colours. The young animals (juveniles), colour are yellowish brown to green, with ”eyes”/spots. Both sexes have as adults blue spots (Jewels/Eyes), but the males have
often more spots that are brighter in colouration. The head of the male is bigger than the females. Males have clearly visible Feromalpores.
The terrarium:
• For a pair (2 adult individuals) a terrarium that measures L=120cm´s, D=80 cm´s, H=60cm´s is appropriate.
• Sand is a good substrate, 5-15 cm´s thick layer.
• The temperature should be between 24-27 ºC, with a baskingspot that keeps a temperature of 30-35ºC. Spray the terrarium every 2-3 day in the evenings(60-70% humidity), a little extra when the animal/s is shedding.
• Uv-B is necessary for the species.
• Big stones and roots/branches make good interior. Provide the animal/s with a lot of hiding places. Make the interior as a steppenvironment.
Diet:
• In the wild the species consumes insects, snails/slugs, new hatched birds, small rodents and some sweet fruit. In captivity it eats almost anything that is served.
Pinkie-mice, cockroaches, snails/slugs, bushcrickets, crickets, small pieces of
non-fat meat and some sweet fruit such as: Banana, Apricot and Strawberries.
They will also eat egg.
• Dust all food with a vitamin and calcium supplement.
Water:
• Allways provide a waterbowl with fresh drinkingwater.

Breeding:

This species require a hibernationperiod of 2-3 months, with temperatures from+4ºC to +7ºC.• Mating will occur about 1-3 weeks after the hibernation is over and the temperaturesin the terrarium is back to normal.  About 1 week before depositing of the eggs, the female will be acting restless,with a lot of digging and searching in the terrarium. She might stop eating as well.Provide the female with a egg-layingbox, filled to 2/3 with moisted Vermiculite® ormoisted peat/soil (unfetilized). IMPORTANT! Vermiculite®, should be moisted in aratio of 1:1. By weight, not by volume! The clutchsize will be 8-20 eggs and should be incubated in 28ºC – 30ºC in a humidityof 80% – 90%, with a nigt-temperature about 24ºC – 25ºC. The young lizardsshould hatch in 85 – 120 days, with theese temperatures. 1 – 3 clutches are laid inone season.• Juveniles are about 5 cm´s when hatched (tail included), and should be fed withthe same food as the adults (1 – 3 times a week), but smaller in size. Dust all foodwith a vitamin and calcium supplement. Do not overfeed! The young lizards will reach sexual maturity in about 2-3 years.

Hygiene:

The terrarium should be kept clean. Excrements, urine and leftover food should beremoved as it appears. Clean the terrarium and everything inside it carefully 1-2times/year, exchange the substrate at the same time. Allways wash your handsafter holding the animal or after you have been doing something in the terrarium.

Good luck with your animal!

This caresheet is available on the Terrarium Morbidum site, as a free downloadable pdf-file.

Hundreds of sand lizards released

Hundreds of rare sand lizards are being released into the wild at locations in England and Wales from where they had previously disappeared.

They will be reintroduced at five sites in Surrey, Dorset and mid-Wales.

The sand lizards were bred in captivity so they could be released into the wild

The sand lizard was once a common sight across heathland, but the gradual destruction of its habitats has led to its extinction in many places.

Some 400 of the creatures would be set free within a fortnight, the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation group said.

The first release of about 80 two-inch-long baby lizards, reared in special hatcheries, will take place at a National Trust nature reserve in Surrey on Thursday.

According to the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation group (Arc), the lizard was lost altogether from a number of counties including Kent, Sussex, Cornwall, Cheshire and north and west Wales.

More than 90% of suitable habitat has also vanished from Surrey, Merseyside and Dorset.

Reptiles and amphibians are coming under pressure from an increasing number of factors including habitat loss, disease and a future of climate change Dr Tom Tew, Natural England

Frogs, toads, newts, lizards and snakes have all been affected by the loss of their habitats, often because of changes to agricultural practice, the planting of forests and building developments.

But Arc, formed by the merger of Froglife and the Herpetological Conservation Trust charities, said the animals and their habitats were now protected by law.

Nick Moulton, of Arc, said: “It’s great to see them going back, now safely protected, where they belong.”

The reintroductions were part of efforts to “turn back the clock on amphibian and reptile declines” in Britain, a statement from Arc added.

‘Reverse the decline’

The young lizards were bred in captivity at locations that include the zoos at Chester and Marwell, and also specially modified back gardens.

The breeders minimised contact with the reptiles to prevent them becoming too tame, which would leave them at risk of being eaten in the wild by their main predator, the smooth snake.

The reintroduction of the sand lizards is part of a 133-point action plan, intended to reverse the decline of the UK’s frogs, toads, lizards and snakes.

The plan includes research, monitoring species and encouraging land-owners to create habitats such as ponds to help wildlife flourish.

Dr Tom Tew, chief scientist at Natural England, the government’s conservation agency, said: “Reptiles and amphibians are coming under pressure from an increasing number of factors including habitat loss, disease and a future of climate change.

“This important reintroduction programme is an example of the action that must be taken to reverse the decline in England’s biodiversity and to conserve the habitats that our unique wildlife relies upon.”

From BBC NEWS.

Breeders’ Expo Europe

 

The idea for the Breeders’ Expo Europe was born from lots of stimulation from herpers from Germany and around Europe. The fair concept reflects these suggestions in four main issues:• sufficient room for animals and people
• comfortable room climate
• user-oriented organization/reservation
• a real meeting point for herpers in EuropeThe A2 Forum in Rheda-Wiedenbrück provides ideal conditions to put these ideas into action. The modern event centre integrates enough exhibition area plus other facilities and is located directly at the A2 highway in Germany, right in the heart of Europe. The fair concept includes a market place, an attractive program of lectures as well as quiet areas.
You can see our approach in the event’s logo: The BEE shall be a ‘friendly place’ allowing people to meet and exchange with their friends or business partners having a coffee or a good beer.

Facilities and equipment of the A2 Forum allow the chance to adapt to increasing needs step by step – providing room for more stands or the integration of additional program items. We are currently working on a convention for the friends of poison dart frogs, more cooperations are expected to come. Do you have an interesting idea or is your group of herpers looking for an opportunity to meet and exchange at a central European meeting place? Contact us, flexibility is part of the agenda.

By the way: This principle guides us through the organization of the whole event. For example we will separate exhibitors offering live rats or mice into an extra room to optimize the quality of air in all the other areas. A really good ventilation is standard at the A2 Forum anyway. Another plus: You can book your stands for the next expo on the day of the event. There’s no need to hassle because there’s enough room and stands for everybody. This will help especially our foreign exhibitors to reduce effort and costs alike. We strive to make your visit to the BEE as comfortable as possible and help you with every possible challenge. If we fail in some parts during the first expo your positive input will help us to improve the second time. You can leave your suggestions in writing at the information desk on the day of the event or by e-mail. The service personnel reflects exactly this approach: How can we help you to make you love to come back?

Of course an attractive event needs an attractive supply and demand alike. We are working on both aspects with full intensity and are very pleased having received bookings of a number of well known breeders from Germany and foreign countries at this early stage. You will find a list of exhibitors including their stand numbers beginning with February 2008 under Downloads.

Have you always wanted a real meeting place for you hobby? Then don’t look any further but arrange to meet with your friends at the BEE and make use of our offer. Do you have important questions not covered by the FAQ? Please ask. Do you like to link to the BEE from your web site? Under Downloads you will find the copyright-protected logo of the BEE meant to be used for exactly this purpose.

Time Author Topic
11.30 hours Karsten Wöllner Thinking big – a life with retic pythons (German, questions in English possible)
http://www.breeders-expo.de/home-E/lectures-E/retics-E.html
13.00 hours Jason Wagner (USA) & Christian Langner Abronia – jewels of the cloud forest (English + German)
http://www.breeders-expo.de/home-E/lectures-E/abronia-E.html
14.30 hours Lars Fehlandt Ranitomeya imitator, the frog with the “mask” (German, questions in English possible)
http://www.breeders-expo.de/home-E/lectures-E/ranitomeya-E.html
15.30 hours Peter Nowark Practice workshop: arranging and equipping a terrarium for poison-dart frogs (German, questions in English possible)
http://www.breeders-expo.de/home-E/lectures-E/workshop-E.html
16.45 hours Thorsten Mahn Oophaga pumilio – differences between habitat and husbandry (German, questions in English possible)
http://www.breeders-expo.de/home-E/lectures-E/oophaga-E.html

Urban critters: European wall lizard

What it’s called: The European wall lizard, or in Latin, Podarcis muralis.

What it looks like: It’s small. The longest males are only 23 cm from the points of their noses to the tips of their tails, so if the word “lizard” makes you nervous, get over it. And given that their tails are more than twice as long as the rest of their bodies, they’re very streamlined too, like scaly whips with legs — four of them all bent at right angles. Their backs are green or brown with black blotches, while their tummies are a light creamy colour. Males also have bright blue spots that run down their sides.

Where to find it: As its name suggests, it’s native to much of Europe, but back in 1970 a roadside zoo east of Victoria closed and stupidly let their lizards go. That means the European wall lizard is an invasive species in B.C. and therefore a potential threat to the native northwest alligator lizard which is similar and occupies similar habitats. These include rock faces, open woodlands and even man-made structures such as walls, railways and roadsides. So far it’s confined to Greater Victoria, but given how comfortably it’s made itself at home there, that could change.

What it eats: Flying and ground insects such as flies and beetles along with many types of spiders. Wall lizards are tenacious predators and have been seen jumping off the ground to catch insects that fly. When they catch a large one, they bite into it firmly and then thrash their heads back and forth ’till the hapless bug stops moving.

What eats it: Raccoons and various birds of prey are known to eat small lizards, but given that the wall lizard is not native to B.C., there’s no predator that’s evolved specifically to include it in its diet.

How it breeds: They hibernate between November and March, so don’t expect to see any now unless it’s warm. Mating occurs in March, and eggs are laid a month later. If it’s a good year with lots of sun and food, a female may produce two more clutches of eggs before the summer is over.

What to do if you see one: Because the European wall lizard is an invasive species, scientists are trying to keep an eye on how and where it spreads. So if you see one, contact your local environment ministry office.

From The Vancouver Sun

Lizards alive! Another little giant rediscovered

Naturalists in Tenerife were delighted to reveal the existence of yet another branch of the growing family of Canary giant lizards, this time on the island of La Palma.

In the same week that saw the much publicized discovery of a new species of giant rat in tropical rain forests in the Far East, came news of a humbler, but no less exciting kind for these islands. It concerned the sighting – and capture, on film, at least – of a giant lizard in La Palma which, like its cousins in La Gomera, El Hierro and Tenerife, had been thought to be long extinct until relatively recent rediscovery. The chance find of Gallotia auaritae to give it its Latin name, was in fact made on July 13, but was only made public last week. On that day Luis Enrique Mínguez, out hiking in the mountains of the island’s north-east happened upon an extraordinarily large lizard basking by the side of the track at some 12 metres distance. He had the presence of mind to take several photos of the reptile which, he said, showed no concern and eventually ambled off into the undergrowth. Observations based on a careful study of the photographs, a visit to the location and comparisons with giant lizards elsewhere in the archipelago have led biologists to estimate the lizard to be a male of about four or five years, measuring between 300 and 312 millimetres in length, head to tail, and weighing around 170 grammes. A lengthy search of the area in October by giant lizard experts proved unsuccessful, but neither the time of year nor the weather were on their side. It is now planned to organize an intensive programme to track down examples of the lizard which could eventually result in the establishment of a recovery centre like those in La Gomera and El Hierro.

From Tenerife News

Climate change makes south too dry for lizards

What has happened to the common lizard?

Alarm bells are sounding in herpetological circles because it seems to be no longer living up to its name in some parts of Britain.

	Male common lizard (top) and female common lizard

While habitat loss from development and intensive agriculture are likely to have had an impact, some experts suspect climate change could be the major cause, with the species possibly no longer feeling at home in increasingly warm and dry southern regions.

Inhabiting particularly grassland, heaths, sandy areas and moors, this species occurs over much of Britain and it is the only type of reptile occurring naturally in Ireland.

Lately, however, there have been reports of it becoming less numerous in – or even disappearing altogether from – areas where formerly there was an abundance.

Howard Inns, of the Herpetological Conservation Trust (HCT), highlights this apparent problem in the current edition of the journal British Wildlife. He is asking naturalists around the country to supply information about how their local populations are faring in an attempt to gauge its extent.

It is hoped the new HCT-led National Reptile Survey which began this year may also throw some light on the problem.

It involves checking on the presence or absence of the four most widespread species in 400 areas spread evenly throughout the country. National trends should be indicated eventually through repeating the exercise annually.

Meanwhile Mr Inns’ own experience this summer points to decline in southern England, where he said it is possible to find all six native species of British reptile in a single morning in Surrey, Dorset and Hampshire, providing the weather is suitable and sites are selected carefully.

Finding a grass snake presents the hardest challenge – while, in contrast, the common lizard is normally encountered more easily.

However, during a field trip to two such sites on an “ideal” spring morning this year, only five of the half-dozen species were encountered. The one that was missing – for no immediately obvious reason – was common lizard.

Had that been a one-off experience it might have been regarded as insignificant but over subsequent months, Mr Inns, an HCT trustee, has heard similar accounts from other parts of the country – which is why he’s trying to gain a firmer impression of what might be happening to the species.

He said: “I have heard of instances of people recording common lizards as infrequently as rarer species.

“My own experience over the past 30 years bears out such reports. I can think of places which used to be alive with baby lizards during August and September but that no longer seems to be the case.

“This would be understandable if the sites had undergone major change but I am aware of such situations in locations where the habitat looks ideal.”

Caresheet for Lacerta agilis, Sandlizard.

I have recently made a caresheet for Lacerta agilis, Sandlizard.

 It can be found om my homepage´s page “Downloads”, or here if you don´t want to see my site. (You don´t know what you´re missing..)

Lacerta agilis pdf.file 57KB