Scales & Tails

31/01/2022

09/01/2022

The Ameiva ameiva, or "jungle runner" growing upto 50cm long these guys do great in large 5ft + enclosures with extra deep substrate with basking and climbing opportunities. They're found in south America and will thrive with subtropical forest set ups. If you allow enough substrate they will create burrows and tunnel systems beneath the layer which is an interesting process to watch. They enjoy climbing and hunting, they're very skitty and are not keen on being handled. I think their amazing blues and greens makes it just as satisfying watching them from a distance.

This is our female, who are typically known for being less vibrant in colour than the males. We have a pair we're hoping to breed later this year😬.

18/08/2021

26/07/2021

22/07/2021

;)

20/07/2021

Here's someone who you dont see alot of. Kiwi, shes a gekko smithii, known as a green eyed gecko.

She doesnt like us much, and she isn't afraid to tell us both vocally and physically every time we go to get her out🥲😅

15/07/2021

🥲

15/07/2021

Ohh gypsy, you do know how to show off for the camera 😍

14/07/2021

The giant day gecko at Kernow Exotics - Dinner-time Pets is just begging for a new home🥺 so wish we had the space!

14/07/2021

Dinner time!

Longtailed grass lizards (Takydromus sexlineatus)
Blue poisonous dartfrogs(Dendrobates tinctorius)
American grey tree frogs (Dryophytes versicolor)

All getting along rather nicely. It's amazing to stare into such an active viverium😍

11/07/2021

Yes Opal, we see you…👀😍

08/07/2021

For anyone frightened or nervous about advancing to loose substrate.

Loose substrates can be a very enriching and aestheticly pleasing addition to your setup. BUT there are substrates out there, on the market, that simply should not be used. Especially if husbandry standards aren't met.

Instead of listing what shouldn't be used, we'll list what has proven to be 100% safe and cost affective. Links will be in the comments!

1. On the pricier side, Arcadia earth mix arid. This is about the safest there is, packed with safe organic plant foods, minerals and volcanic ash for better drainage. Bringing you one step closer to bio-activity. Best of all it can be used in desert, arid or forest setups without any additional products.

2. Organic top soil and play sand mix. We use this for every species we have. It's a cheap and easy way to achieve a safe naturalistic or bioactive substrate. Top soil has to be 100% free of any chemicals, pesticides or fertilizers. The sand has to be heavily sifted and washed, childrens playsand.

Be assured that if your reptile has the correct basking and ambient temps, the correct exposure to uvb, the correct vitamin/mineral supplements and a healthy diet with 24hr access to water they will not get impaction through these substrates. So, why not try just 1or 2 bags? If your reptile enjoys it and you find joy in watching them use it, add more.

Here's why we think more is necessary:
https://fb.watch/v/BAzX9pHN/

If you're worried about lingering bacterias from f***s and can't be dealing with regular substrate changes, then take a look at going bioactive?

See what bio-activity is all about here:
https://www.facebook.com/101201361949337/posts/173920624677410/?d=n

Also, for help achieving a "true basking spot" to assure your reptile is getting the best possible treatment see here:
https://www.facebook.com/101201361949337/posts/167372138665592/

https://youtu.be/IQPEA6qxz7w

Does loose substrate cause impaction in bearded dragons & other reptiles?Impaction! Otherwise known as a blockage of the Gastrointestinal tract. But should l...

08/07/2021

Enjoying some freshly picked greens from the garden with some scrumptious wet food. 😋

08/07/2021

I can feel the judgment...🧐

08/07/2021

Oh my😍

08/07/2021

Gypsy and Faith visiting Petz of Mullion today.

06/07/2021

Hunt mode🧠

06/07/2021

Is it dinner time?

03/07/2021

Juniper has many great talents, hunting isnt one of them...

03/07/2021

One of our blue poison dart frogs { Dendrobates tinctorius azureus} enjoying some fruit flies, lightly dusted with some this morning.

Thanks too Kernow Exotics - Dinner-time Pets for supplying the goods!

27/06/2021

Mushu, being the forever confused derp she is 😅

Is it Herpetological or Derpetological? 🤔

26/06/2021

This is what you call "cryptic basking".

Nocturnal and crepuscular species, this is generally how they will expose themselves to the necessary heat, light and uv.

She has openly basked in the past and she can completely vanish beneath this hide but for the most part, species that have been misunderstood such as the Royal python, they will do this quite regularly when given the opportunity.

UV, NIR and IR all have their own benefits, so provide it and watch them thrive😍😍

24/06/2021

Opals tuft😅

When we come across stuck shed, the first step is not to stress. We simply spray down the enclosure, giving it a humid spike (perfectly natural for arid species) and nine times out of ten the animal takes care of the rest.

You dont need to worry about bathing them or giving them a "sauna" right away, its unnecessary stress and can potentially cause more issues than its solving. Having a humid spike for species such as leopard geckos and bearded dragons {where a humid hide should also be offered} is perfectly safe and naturally accurs in the wild.

Tonight opal managed to get off her whole shed, apart from her desirable mullet. A quick spray down and ten minutes later it was gone, couldn't have been easier🥳

18/06/2021

Introducing faith, our new 2-3 year old pastel royal python.

This was today's spontaneous purchase. Shes now in a 4x2x2 with an incandescent heat source crossed with jungle dawn LED and shadedweller UVB. The perfect basking concoction for any species.

Isnt she something 😍

12/06/2021

10/06/2021

This male longtailed lizard has truly earned his name😍📏

08/06/2021

See lots of awesome things on our Instagram page! https://www.instagram.com/thereptilereportofficial/

The shed skins of an East African Gaboon viper, photo by David Frohlich. TRR is made possible by RodentPro.com

06/06/2021

Starting a bioactive enclosure can be daunting, but its super easy and quicker than you might think. Here is a quick guide on what its all about and where you can order the majority of what you need.

Bioactive enclosures can be amazing to look at, enriching for your reptile and in the long run easier and cheaper to maintain. The correct substrate mix (arid or humid) makes all the difference when it comes to microfauna and choosing the wrong one will ultimately cause you issues in the future. Arcadia do some excellent environmentally specific substrates readily packed with all the nutrients your microfauna will need. A cheaper option is to create your own mix using organic top soil, playsand, volcanic rock dust(arid), coir fibre(humid), bark chip and crushed charcoal.

A bioactive system is powered by visible light, provided by specific LED's. These lights promote plant growth, the plants then create oxygen and draw nutrients from the soil. To keep your soil healthy in order to keep you plants growing you need a safe, non-toxic way to fertilise it. Microfauna is everything from microscopic bacteria to millipedes. These little critters we introduce to the enclosure are there to keep the cycle healthy , just like they would in our own ecosystem. Leaf litter decomposition creates bacteria, the bacteria is eaten be "X" x is eaten by "Y" and the cycle continues.

During this process isopods eat the f***s produced by the enclosures inhabitant and its bacterias eaten by springtails. Springtails (collembola) ingest a wide variety of food sources, e.g. dead organic matter and algae, but are assumed to be mainly fungal feeders, these play a vital part in your ecosystem and will be keeping everything clean for your reptile. For the most part, any insect is going to play its part in a bioactive enclosure, so the more you can safely use the better. Earth worms play a valuable role too, worms help to increase the amount of air and water getting into the soil. They break down organic matter, like leaves and grass into things that plants can use. When they eat, they leave behind castings that are a very valuable type of fertilizer along with air pockets where bacterias will later grow.

A bioactive enclosure is a self cleaning, sustained ecosystem that creates better air quality and a more enriched environment for your reptile. Its as equally enriching as a non bioactive naturalistic enclosure without the fuss of changing loose substrates every few weeks. A bioactive exposes your reptile to harmless bacteria that inevitably strengthens their immune system and gives you a clear example of the power visible light when watching plants thrive.

If you want one, here are some links to help you find what you need.

Leaf litter:
https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/swell-leaf-litter/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw5PGFBhC2ARIsAIFIMNeTN_Q81BjrSbMRFI-h_I8L6pM7oq1WqIvTtj8ltgxIfL_6CdXsJ9UaAuiEEALw_wcB

Topsoil:
https://www.diy.com/departments/topsoil-beds-borders-top-soil-25l/3663602423737_BQ.prd

Play sand:
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3650574?clickSR=slp:term:play%20sand:1:1:1

Volcanic rock dust{for arid environments}:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B017NLBFFM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_GYHMNFT974HS8FCBGGQ9?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Coir fiber {for humid environment):
https://www.londongrow.com/products/1011?variant=31892247183444&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5PGFBhC2ARIsAIFIMNdkalrlvpeambKSq6IHy_pD2toZVM3G7HBW_uHpehiBgAPvSUx1aAUaAn5lEALw_wcB

Substrate barrier:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07N43CYXW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_C40VNX84030XP2ZBKG3S?psc=1

Drainage layer:
https://www.londongrow.com/products/cannaquaclaypebbles?variant=39359474499668&gclid=Cj0KCQjwweyFBhDvARIsAA67M72K-IBawfvhlH5HARWXQmIhYb0oeT_qIjId5IPZxKDbMY6mBy-wD58aAg6NEALw_wcB

All this is readily available in store Exotics - Dinner-time Pets along with all the lighting equipment you need.

31/05/2021

31/05/2021

A peer reviewed study on 35 ball pythons. Behaviours of all 35 pythons were monitored in both lightless rack systems and furnished viveriums with uv lighting.

We already know which setup is more beneficial, but which set up had the best responses?

Racks vs viveriums.

See for your selfs here:
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0247082

Considering animal welfare, animals should be kept in animal-appropriate and stress-free housing conditions in all circumstances. To assure such conditions, not only basic needs must be met, but also possibilities must be provided that allow animals in captive care to express all species-typical beh...

26/05/2021

A basking spot = Infered (incandescent heat sources) Ultraviolet (linear uvb lamps) AND LED!! ( reptile specific LED bars)

When reptiles bask, it is not necessarily to just get hot, its also for good biological and physiological reasons.

Here are some reasons why reptiles bask;

• Sheer pleasure. – and a feeling of well-being.
• Increase metabolism through warmth, mostly through capture of solar energy but also from long wave IRc through belly contact.
• Digesting food
• Drying and heating to aid in shedding
• D3 synthesis through UVb utilisation
• Parietal eye stimulus/ pineal and other glands stimulation for the provision or facilitation of Melatonin, Serotonin and Dopamine.
• The initiation of the annual cycle; hibernation and spring wake up and the Circadian cycle.
• Use UV and IR for managing fungal and bacterial infections
• Raise temperature to manage viral infections.
• Use NIR for wound healing
• Use NIR for deeper heat pe*******on and heat sinking
• Use NIR for in-body egg and neonate incubation
• Parasite management
We must now recognise the parts that the different wavelength groups play, are individually important and are individually needed.

1. UVb for the provision of D3 etc .

2. Strong visible light for basking (yes basking) as well as stimulation of the parietal eye, the Pineal gland and managing the circadian rhythm. Melatonin, Serotonin and Dopamine and other hormones that are health drivers. Please look up their importance then consider this, if you are not providing the full spectrum then to what extent have you reduced the available hormones?

3. Useable InfraRed for the provision of healing and interaction with the other wavelengths as well as providing obvious heat.

All of the above are cogs in the gearbox that work together, if you miss one out the others are compromised.

Credit on observations of light and its affects~ Roman muryn.

25/05/2021

DHP offers 8% IRA (only when at fully power), 30% less than a tungsten filament lamp.

IR-A is the radiation that passes through skin, deep tissue and directly heats internal organs. IRB and IRC is a longer wavelength incapable of such deep pe*******on, so despite the name, a deep heat projector isnt heating as deeply as you might think.

Understanding that an incandescent heat source offers only a fraction of the Infered spectrum the sun emmits (IR-A, IR-B, IR-C). Knowing that we can only achieve that ultraviolet part of the spectrum with a Fluorescent lamb (UVB and UVA) and that an LED BAR can only imitate a tiny percentage of that very beneficial visible light given by the sun.

A halogen or floodlight is the heat source you should primarily use, anything else is less beneficial.

Its alarming how little of the solar spectrum we can actually achieve even with the best equipment. The sun is responsible for benefits on body repair, hormones such as serotonin helping ease aggression, food digestion, mineral digestion, egg incubation, d3 synthesis, increased metabolism, parasite management, bacterial infections, fungal infections, shed support, circadian cycles, brighter skin pigments, higher energy levels and more.

Even we as humans feel the affects of less sunlight. Theres a clinical term called "SAD" or Seasonal affective disorder, a disorder that literally makes us depressed and lazy in seasons with less sun. What's prescribed by doctors to people with this disorder? A 10,000 lux LED 🤔 hmm

We need all these aspects of light to properly achieve correct husbandry.

See more about Infered (IR) here:

https://www.facebook.com/101201361949337/posts/165465458856260/?d=n

Read more about "SAD" here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/overview/

Credit for studies on light and piechart graphic~~ Roman muryn.

More info found @ Advancing Herpetological Husbandry

23/05/2021

Mlem..... mlem🥰

23/05/2021

An arboreal take down😍

15/05/2021

Nala catching some rays🌞

An enclosure that really needs some work. Not enough space, not a good enough light gradient and not enough light in general.

We tried a long LED bar (arcadia jungle dawn) and noticed it was messing with her parietal eye. Meaning she thought her basking spot was where the light was brightest and not where the heat bulb was.

To correct this, we will be buying two 15w jungle dawns and placing them either side of the basking area. This way, there will be no dought as to where the basking spot should be. She'll have the benefits of all lighting equipment available and in a much larger enclosure too😬.

15/05/2021

The look of mischief.🙄

14/05/2021

More eyessss *Available as prints ;) message for more info

13/05/2021

If only i were a frog😍🐸

Got these guys living the easy life🙄 see that the cohabitants will calmly eat side by side. Showing no signs of threat or stress. This to me is a good sign, showing that theyre comfortable with eachothers presence and that they are happily cohabbing
🥳🥳