NEWS STORIES

OPMV strikes yet again - On Saturday 21st of October Steve Cato announced on ARK that a Diamond Python in his collection had gone downhill quickly showing neurological signs. The Diamond was euthanised and tested by Dr Mark Simpson of Sugarloaf Animal Hospital with the diagnosis coming back showing Demyelinating encephalitis consistent with paramyxoviral (OPMV) infection.

This has come as very sad news to all who know Steve and Naomi and we'd like to thank them for making this information available as it happened.



ARKTICLES

Keeping Your Reptile Hobby In Your Budget - by Judith

Obtaining most of what you need to house a reptile needn’t be expensive and there are so many different ways that you can cut costs without compromising the safety and health of your pet. Knowing where to look is often the hardest part, along with knowing the names of the cheaper items. I set up my reptile home for minimal costs and am prepared to share those details with you. Some things you can pick up for free, others you may need to pay a small amount for. Some things though, you will need to go to the reptile specialists in order to obtain them.

When purchasing your reptile, make sure you squeeze every bit of information from the breeder that you can. You will learn things this way that you won’t learn from books or possibly on the internet. Find out what they feed their animals, where they buy their food (or if they maintain their own breeding colonies), what type of enclosure they keep their animals in, etc.

In the list below, there may be some things that were missed out but it is so hard to take account of all the little things in such a short amount of time. The best bet is to do your research and work out what suits you and your budget best.

Item	Approximate Price	Location
Sun Seeker Mercury Vapor Lights - 100W	$25-$30	Some pet shops
NEC T10 fluorescent 2' tube	$9.50	Bunnings (some wait expected on delivery - extra cost for a more speedy delivery)
White Sand	$8 for 20kg bag	Bunnings
Butchers Paper	$3 for 10 sheets	Art/Stationary Shop
3 foot fish tank	$50	Caboolture Markets, QLD (Sunday's only)
Glass Off cuts	?????	O'Brien's Glass
White Light - down light reflector globe (for heat and light)	$3	Bunnings
Reptiles	?????	Direct from the breeder
Water dish (small dog water dish)	$1.50	Warehouse
Food dish - glazed or un-glazed pottery pot base	From $1	Bunnings
Hide - small cardboard box (small cereal box etc)	?????	Around the house
Basking rock	$0 - $20	From your own yard or a creek, or you can buy from a landscaping shop
Heat pad/cord	Price is dependent on size	eBay

Obtaining Driftwood (I am unsure on the exact laws outlining this and it may vary from state to state) You may have been told that you shouldn’t remove wood/hollow logs from the forests or scrub. I would advise against this as it is more likely to house some reptile or their food. Also, the wood from forests and scrubland tends to break down more then that you can collect on the beach, or make yourself. When collecting driftwood from the beach, only take as much as you need and then only what is not already been used as a home by other animals. You will need to clean and disinfect this wood when you arrive home. To make your own, you can use branches from trees in your own yard, or the roots from a dug out bush or tree. To disinfect those awkward pieces you can cut them down to size and roast them in a slow oven (no more then 150 Celsius, no less then 100 Celsius) for up to an hour, boil them in a large pot on the stove (minimum 30minutes, or until it sinks and stops floating) then dry them in the sun or in the oven on a low temperature.

Backgrounds can be made out of polystyrene. Click here for more info

Freecycle http://www.freecycle.org/ This site is great for obtaining those things that you need and are second hand, or even getting rid of those things you don’t want. As the name suggests, it is free. No money is exchanged for goods. Some things aren’t so good but others are pretty good and it is very popular so there is always heaps going on.


Growing the Hobby - By Luke Ludwell

There are usually three ways we are introduced into reptiles, the first being lucky enough to see them in the wild in the areas in which we inhabit around our homes, the second being introduced to reptiles through someone who already keeps them, and the last usually through some sort of display like a Zoo display or maybe even a book, or a show at a Shopping Centre. What ever the reasons behind the introduction to reptiles are, the intention is clear when the first reptile is brought home for the first time, and that is to learn as much as possible. We set up the snake or Lizards cage, we buy a book, we jump on the net and we ask every question we can think of to further the knowledge with-in ourselves to make sure that we know as much as we can about the animal we are keeping. This is human nature, this is what we do with everything, no matter if it was a computer or a T.V or a brand new D.V.D player, and we always want to know how it works, and reptiles are no different.

In the United States the Reptile Industry has boomed to the point where it is said that more reptiles are kept in captivity then cats and dogs. This has been worked out per household. Which means the ‘disgusting’ slithering’ slimy’ creatures of yesterday are taking over from our four legged friends, why? The reason for this is knowledge. You can take a cat or a dog down to the vet and 9 times out of ten the vet will straight away say to you what is wrong. Sometimes it will take a little longer but it is very rare for the problem that your animal has to not be sorted out one way or the other; this is because the knowledge has been shared. It has taken years, but vets from around the world have shared the knowledge that they have learnt from cases and all vets have benefited from it. Herpetologists in the States are much the same, which is a big factor why the hobby is so advanced in the States. The population base does play apart, and species that can be kept, but everyone is willing to help and willing to share, which is the biggest contributor. The information they give is also correct or they will tell you “I am not sure about this one”. So basically what I am saying is with all this information being shared animals will benefit and the hobby grows in terms of technique and husbandry ideas.

If you look at Mike Swan’s website, 95% of the books come in from overseas, the books are written by people who have kept and are willing to share what they know about reptiles, granted some have kept longer and are sharing what they know, some are contributing authors and have added into other people’s works to get the information out there. This newsletter is one of the avenues to get information out to the public, and this hobby grows faster when people release the information they are holding. There are many ways to do it, through society magazines, or forums, or maybe a group of you know enough to write a book. Reptiles U.S.A magazine is always looking for Australian authors as well as they can’t always get Australian species for their Magazine. Together this hobby will grow if we all give something back for the information we take. No matter how insignificant that piece of information may seem it may be relevant to someone else.


Scrub Pythons for Beginners - By Naomi

Over the last year, it has been noted that more and more newbies to the hobby are considering taking the plunge and getting a larger python as one of their first reptiles..notably Olive pythons (Liasis olivaceus) and Scrub pythons (Morelia amethystina). The appeal with these larger pythons is obvious - they grow BIG. There's something exciting about having a species of snake that has the potential to grow so large, especially in the scrub python's case where they have been known to reach lenghts of 20+ feet.

I have had some experience with this, little after two weeks of obtaining my reptile license in QLD, I purchased a scrub python hatchling. I was not experienced enough to ask the right questions and I wasn't deliberately in the market for a scrub python. I was after a second snake, and it was the only one available from a breeder that lived locally to me. All I knew about scrub pythons were that they grew large. Well, I thought, I have years before I have to worry about that! A few more python purchases after that, and little over a year later when I moved in with a large collection, I did realize how different my little scrub was to raising other Morelia pythons in general.

There are a few things that the inexperienced new owner may have problems with. Firstly is their 'musking' smell when they are pulled out of the cage to be handled. No matter how big or small, scrub pythons seem to let off a river of liquid and solids, smelling highly offensive when they are taken out of their cages. Secondly, and this may not happen for a few months or years, is their temperment. Put simply, they like to bite, and they bite hard and differently to other pythons. Scrub pythons have longer teeth than most Morelia's and they no doubt have stronger jaws. They like to chew when they bite, and what is often underestimated is the force of their strike as they get bigger. I have heard of larger ones breaking ribs and dislocating shoulders. They are smart too, they don't often miss their target. Thirdly is their size and fast growth. If they eat, they grow fast, they grow long and they grow big. Their head grows large quickly too. When eating well, the scrub python quickly out grows smaller enclosures. Because of their size and temperment, many people house them in outside avairies, but you need to live in the appropriate climate to do so. On the other hand, it's not uncommon to hear of them having feeding problems when young. Personally I think this is due to their high strung nature, they feel almost vulnerable to eat and are suspicious doing so. Their temperment seems to be something that becomes more prominent and certainly more confident as they grow larger. And the last thing that inexperienced keepers need is a large angry snake that does have the ability to kill a person.

Many experienced herpers think they should be on a restricted license the same as venomous species. I tend to agree. Even though I was inexperienced and owned a scrubby, it was only because after a while that I am now living with an experienced keeper that it worked out. If you love the appeal of these beautiful snakes like I do, make sure before you purchase one, you think about the long term consequences of owning a scrub python. Do you have the adequate resources and space to look after it as it grows and grows? And if you have little larger python experience and haven't been keeping for long, I strongly recommend you buy an older coastal carpet python or similar and get yourself some good keeping experience with a larger python before you consider buying one that's both large and likely to turn out a bitey snake.

The best reason for owning a scrub python is to love the whole snake, that means temperment and all. Living with a scrub python is about appreciating this unique Australian python and actually appreciating it's confident and intelligent temperment, bites and all.


Trip to FNQ - By Tiger

Purely from a herp perspective the trip was a little disappointing. The weather was unseasonably cool with daytime temps no more than 28 and nights dropping to the mid teens. The moon was against us early on as well with a full moon on the night we arrived, but we were aware of that end expected things to improve as the week went on. Unfortunately cold rain and very windy conditions mid week coupled with the cool temperatures made the reptiles just that little bit harder to come by. Having said that we still saw some amazing animals including a lot of never before seen reptiles for both of us.

We hired a car from Cairns airport and over the following eight days racked up over 3000k's, most of which was at night except for a couple of trips up to Cooktown and down past Innisfail. Davo is very familiar with the area but for me it was a first and I can recommend it to anyone even remotely interested in herps. Some amazing areas such as Black Mountain National Park, Hinchinbrook Island, the numerous falls, national parks and mountain ranges reknowned for their Jungles are all herp heaven. There are plenty of traditional tourist venues as well to keep the kids and non-herping partners more than happy. We met some really nice people both herpers and otherwise and their hospitality, advice and friendship was memorable. In fact we only had to sleep by the roadside one night of the eight which was just as well because Davo was attacked by a savage giant marsupial which chewed a hole in his new swag. That was the story I got in the morning anyway.

Keating Swamp, Cooktown Queensland

Carpet Python Morelia s. mcdowelli

Carlia longipes

The reptiles and amphibians found are listed below:

Three Coastal Carpet pythons, two of which were in a cane farming community with limited habitat located adjacent to the farmhouse and sheds. The area was littered with skins and the property owner said that just a few weeks before there were literally pythons everywhere. A special mention to this bloke too he was obviously a committed naturalist as well as a farmer and really cared especially about the reptiles. Two Scubbies one which had an unusual vertabral stripe from head to tail. Four Slatey Grey snakes all cranky little buggers except the one the truck hit just before we got there. Three Brown Tree snakes one of which was an exceptionally dark animal with very little patterning. Two Green Tree snakes one which was jet black and bright yellow. Unfortunately he had been killed by a vehicle, but the nearest tree was hundreds of metres away in the middle of a paddock. One Eastern Brown again a victim of the roads.

Glaphyromorphus_nigricaudis

Stoney Creek Frog Litoria wilcoxi

Pink Tongue Skink Glaphyromorphus_nigricaudis

One Northern Death Adder probably the most stunning animal of the trip, with vivid banding. As we struggled to get out of the car on the main inland highway to Cooktown an eighteen wheeler came over the crest and took him out, we could have cried.

One Keelback, very unusual light grey speckled colour again DOR.
One Blind snake species unknown, possibly R. braminus.
One Two Lined dragon, beautifull little critter.
Two Eastern Water dragons, which looked alot different to the SE QLD EWD's.
One Frilly, cheated here though, photo taken at Hartleys Creek crocodile farm.
Numerous skinks including a truely spectacular unbanded Pinktongue, Major skink, Calia longipes, C. munda, C. rostralis, Glaphyromorphus nigricaudis, G. punctulatus, Cryptoblepharus virgatus and a beaut little beasty with red hips and tail about 30mm long that was far too quick for us to photograph. Nactus cheverti, Gehyra dubia and the ever present Asian House geckos. Numerous frogs, most of which I wasn't allowed to stop for including Litoria rothi, L wilcoxi, L. nigrofrenata and Limnodynasties convexiusculos, and of course bucketloads of Bufo's.

Overall it was a great trip, in great company and I'm looking forward to the next one already.


Herping by canoe in the Byfield National Park - By Matthew

Location: Byfield National Park, Queensland, Australia.
Dates: 15-16th October 2006.

Species found:
Water Dragons Physignathus lesueurii
Lace Monitors Varanus varius
Keelback Tropidonophis sp.
Velvet Geckos Oedura sp.
Black Snake Pseudechis sp.
Various Skinks

My trip to the Byfield National Park was mainly to find Water Dragons, which the waterways in the area are well known for amongst other things such as the venomous Bullrout Notesthes robusta a member of the Scorpaenidae family of fish. With access to a canoe the choice was easy, it was time for some herping from the slight comfort of a Canadian canoe. I started off on day one late in the afternoon, it had started to get cool by the time I was on the water, so I wasn't surprised that I didn't come across many Water Dragons at all before it was time to head back. As darkness fell, out came the geckos that had been hiding during the day in my cabin, they were all Velvet Gecko's, but what species I'm not sure, I was just happy to see something other than the usual Asian House Gecko's. A quick search around the outside of my cabin with a torch also turned up a Keelback.



For my last day in Byfield, I really wanted to see some more Water Dragons, so I headed down to the water at 11:00am. It was a really hot cloudless day and before I had even made it to the canoe I came across a Lace Monitor and several juvenile Water Dragons hanging around the river bank where I had left my canoe the previous day, so things were off to a much better start. I was coming across mostly large males with very dark red coloured throats (compared to the water dragons i've seen around Sydney, NSW). I put the high number of males (8/10) down to there size and colour making them a lot easier to see, also they seemed to be a bit more bold basking on more exposed logs around the waters edge, while most of the females i came across were actually half submerged in the water. Taking pictures of the basking dragons proved a great challenge - most didn't hesitate to dive underwater or scramble up the river bank into the thick scrub before I could get within ten meters. The only way to get close enough for a photo was to approach them slowly from behind. Taking pictures of a stationary Water Dragon from a moving canoe is no easy task and nearly all the photos turned out very blurry (which is normal for me at the best of times anyway).

The most interesting thing I witnessed while canoeing was a large Black snake (a species of Pseudechis) being chased to some degree by a Water Dragon down the River Bank. You can find plenty of reptiles and other animals while canoeing and it makes a nice change from being on foot or behind the wheel of a car. Although one reptile that I was happy not to encounter while in a canoe was a salt water crocodile which are occasionally seen in the Byfield area.


WHAT'S NEW AT ARK

New addition to the newsletter team - This month we'd like to welcome member Judith to our newsletter team. Judith has offered her help, support and great articles to our newsletter both last and this month and we are really happy to have her onboard. With her help, we look forward to improving our newsletter each month to become a great asset to ARK and the herp community. Thanks Judith, your input is very much appreciated!

New ARK chatroom - Shane has been working hard on our very own chatroom. Instead of using the AusIRC server, members will be able to register for free to use the interactive new chatroom. It will be run off a domain owned by ARK so it won't affect the site's performance at all. This will stop the errors users have faced often lately trying to log in to IRC chat. The new chatroom offers much more than our mIRC one - easier chatting, no lag, interactive features and at a later date, options for video and audio chat. The chatroom is available now, so watch out on the forums how to register and use this great new feature. www.aussiereptilechat.com/chat

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