Department of Environment and Heritage Protection Code of Practice Wildlife management Captive reptile and amphibian husbandry Captive reptile and amphibian husbandry Nature Conservation Act 1992 Page 1 of 45 • 121220 Department of Environment and Heritage Protection www.ehp.qld.gov.au ABN 46 640 294 485 Code of Pactice Captive reptile and amphibian husbandry Table of Content 1. About this code ........................................................................................................................5 2. Reptiles and amphibians of Queensland ................................................................................6 3. Definitions................................................................................................................................. 6 4. Aims of herpetology .................................................................................................................6 5. Purpose of code .......................................................................................................................7 6. Acquisition of reptiles and amphibians ..................................................................................7 7. Selling and giving away reptiles and amphibians ..................................................................8 8. Take from the wild ....................................................................................................................8 9. Repatriation of the progeny of wild-caught amphibians .......................................................9 10. Requirements for safe transport ...........................................................................................10 Containers ......................................................................................................................................10 Thermoregulation ............................................................................................................................12 Airfreight .........................................................................................................................................12 11. Records ...................................................................................................................................13 12. Collection of feed skinks .......................................................................................................13 13. Euthanasia ..............................................................................................................................14 14. Captive husbandry .................................................................................................................15 Hygiene ..........................................................................................................................................15 Thermal biology ..............................................................................................................................15 Water requirements ........................................................................................................................16 Behaviour of healthy animals ..........................................................................................................17 Management of social behaviours in captivity .................................................................................18 Photoperiod ....................................................................................................................................18 Housing requirements .....................................................................................................................19 15. Amphibians .............................................................................................................................19 Eggs and tadpoles ..........................................................................................................................19 Housing ......................................................................................................................................................... 19 Diet ................................................................................................................................................................. 20 Frogs ..............................................................................................................................................20 Behaviour of healthy frogs .......................................................................................................................... 20 Housing ......................................................................................................................................................... 21 Diet ................................................................................................................................................................. 22 Captive breeding of frogs ............................................................................................................................ 23 16. Reptiles ...................................................................................................................................23 Freshwater turtles ...........................................................................................................................23 Housing ......................................................................................................................................................... 23 Diet ................................................................................................................................................................. 24 Lizards ............................................................................................................................................25 Housing ......................................................................................................................................................... 25 Diet ................................................................................................................................................................. 26 Page 2 of 45 • 121220 Department of Environment and Heritage Protection Code of Pactice Captive reptile and amphibian husbandry Dragon lizards (Family Agamidae) ..................................................................................................27 Housing ......................................................................................................................................................... 27 Diet ................................................................................................................................................................. 28 Monitors and goannas (Family Varanidae) ....................................................................................28 Housing ......................................................................................................................................................... 29 Skinks (Family Scincidae) ...............................................................................................................29 Housing ......................................................................................................................................................... 30 Diet ................................................................................................................................................................. 30 Geckoes (Family Geckonidae) ........................................................................................................31 Housing ......................................................................................................................................................... 31 Diet ................................................................................................................................................................. 32 Legless lizards (Family Pygopodidae) .............................................................................................32 Housing ......................................................................................................................................................... 33 Diet ................................................................................................................................................................. 33 Snakes (Families Typhlopidae, Boidae, Acrochordidae, Colubridae, Elapidae, Hydrophiidae and Laticaudidae) ..................................................................................................................................33 Housing ......................................................................................................................................................... 34 Blind snakes (Family Typhlopidae) ................................................................................................. 35 Housing ......................................................................................................................................................... 35 Diet ................................................................................................................................................................. 35 Pythons (Family Boidae) .................................................................................................................36 Housing ........................................................................................................................................................