Sculpted Scales and Rat Tails

14/11/2024

14/11/2024

14/11/2024

🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️😂😂😂

14/11/2024

05/11/2024

This is a good one 😆 🤣 😂

😂😂😂😂🤦‍♀️

04/11/2024

How amazing is this morph?! Europe is doing good things over here! Any guesses what it is?

31/10/2024

Happy Halloween from USARK!
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Learn more about USARK, the United States Association of Reptile Keepers at https://usark.org/
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The illustration used in this post was made by Adeline Robinson Art .

24/10/2024

24/10/2024

GUESS WHAT WEDNESDAY?!

Each Wednesday we’ll post a close up of an animal and a small hint - and we want your guesses on what the animal is! The answer will be posted the next day at 7PM EST so make sure you come back and check to see if you’re right!!

Today’s hint: This tree boa species is more often referred to by its genus rather than its common name.

Comment below with your guesses!

24/10/2024

24/10/2024

It's time for the Halloween Giv3@way!! Rul3s to ent3er are simple.

1. Be a follower of Vicky's Vivariums & Spoiled Spoods

2. Like & SHARE this post

3. Comment your favorite way to celebrate Halloween.

Comments will be turned off @ 12pm EST October 30th
Dr@wing will be held @ 12pm EST October 31st via Facebook live.
Good Luck & Stay Spoiled! 🎃🕷

🇺🇸 - US Residents Only

**A general warning about spammers: Vicky's Vivariums & Spoiled Spoods will NEVER ask you to perform a secondary task in a comment beyond what is listed in the post itself. All winners will be selected and notified in a separate, dedicated post within 24 hours of the dr@wing. Messages will come directly from this page.

23/10/2024

23/10/2024

Support the stream: https://streamlabs.com/jmhreptiles1

21/10/2024

Happy !

October 21st is Reptile Awareness Day, a day to promote conservation and appreciation of the phenomenal world of reptiles. Through educational outreach efforts, truth and understanding of these fascinating animals can be spread. In the name of education, we will use this day to encourage more appreciation for these wonderful animals.

As a group, reptiles are poorly understood by much of the public. Myths and urban legends often ascribe aggressive, malicious, and even supernatural abilities to these animals, reinforcing them as sources of revulsion and fear. Those familiar with reptiles know well that such negative associations are as false as they are unjustified. Nonetheless, it can be difficult to convince people that these animals are both in need of and worth conserving.

Modern zoos do invaluable work in this direction, but often, the interactive educational programs offered to schools, libraries, and other informative outreach events by private animal keepers are the most effective in changing minds. These programs often spark lasting, significant interest in reptiles. Such programs inspire children to become tomorrow’s veterinarians, zookeepers, biologists, and conservationists. People will conserve what they love, and these interactive programs, providing reptile admiration, will ensure ongoing conservation efforts for reptiles.

Due to the increased reverence and understanding of these exceptional animals, reptile pets are not uncommon. They are increasingly popular, now being kept in around 5% of U.S. households (roughly 1 in 20), and fitting well with a number of modern lifestyles. Many pet reptiles have needs that are much easier to meet than more commonly kept pets. While the physical and emotional health benefits associated with pet ownership are becoming more well-known, reptile pets are also helping to make those benefits more accessible to people with allergies, in urban settings, or very busy schedules – people who would not otherwise be able to benefit from having a pet.

Some would argue that reptiles are associated with a risk of disease for people, however, this risk is in fact very similar to, or even slightly less than that encountered from the more mainstream pets, and even other people. Disease transmission from pet reptiles is easily prevented with good hygiene practices. These practices include keeping the reptile’s cage clean, washing hands after handling reptiles, not eating while holding reptiles, and not putting reptiles near your mouth, your food, or any places where you prepare meals.

Any pet should be seen as a major responsibility, requiring species-appropriate care for its entire life – and many reptile species are long-lived! Exactly what appropriate care consists of can vary widely, and should be carefully researched before bringing any pet home, reptile or otherwise.

When we do right by the animals under our care, we help promote others’ appreciation of them. It is not just our pets who benefit, but the people who interact with them, and conservation efforts for wild reptiles and their associated ecosystems as well. This is part of why USARK - United States Association of Reptile Keepers works to prevent misinformed legislation and government overreach; the benefits associated with reptiles kept under human care are far-reaching and multi-layered.

If you already love reptiles, please share your adoration. If you think they are slimy (reptiles are not slimy) and you do not like them “just because,” please take some time to learn about these incredible animals to overcome your fears, and even clear up some misconceptions. Reptiles are remarkable animals and we want everyone to know it. Have a great Reptile Awareness Day!

If you want more reptile appreciation, you can find plenty of educational posts and fantastic photos on our page at USARK - United States Association of Reptile Keepers and our Instagram ().

Relevant Links on Responsible Herpetoculture:

Click here to read the USARK Keepers' Code of Ethics: https://usark.org/keepers-code-of-ethics/

Click here for expanded thoughts on ethical herpetoculture: https://usark.org/expanded-keepers-and-breeders-ethics-discussion/
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Adobe stock photo showing a pet common boa (Boa imperator), the species featured in the winning design in our recent poll for our next USARK t-shirts.

30/09/2024

See you in Minneapolis this Sunday October 6th!! We will be at the MN State Fair Grounds North End Event Center. We will have a great variety of reptiles, feeders and supplies. Tickets Do Not sell out. You can pay via credit card or cash at the door (there is a discount using cash). VIP entry starts at 9am and can also be purchased the day of the show at the admission booth.