...pg10 ...pg30 ( Story of the Palmetto Corn Snake Regurgitation Vol. 14 | No. 01 | Januray/February 2020 the #1 reptile and exotic pet website Ultimate .co.za House exotics Snakes Care and Breeding The Large-eyed Pitviper (Trimeresurus macrops) How Much Should I Feed My Bearded Dragon And When? Bismarck Ringed How Do I Know if My Pythons Pg. 34 Tarantula Is in Premolt? Pg. 38 www.ultimateexotics.co.za | january/february 2020 | ultimate exotics 1 Contents Volume 14 | Number 01 | 2020 Jan/Feb 2020 South Africa’s only Reptile and Exotic Pet Magazine! features HOW MUCH SHOULD I FEED MY 04 BEARDED DRAGON AND WHEN? Baby bearded dragons have a very different set of nutritional demands compared to adults. In the wild, baby dragons try to gain weight and grow quickly. This is so they’re not so easily picked off by predators. 10 PALMETTO CORN SNAKES In this article we learn all about the story of the Palmetto Corn Snake. An adult male Palmetto Corn Snake was first found in the wilds of South Carolina in 2008 –and still is–the only wild Palmetto known to 10 exist in captivity. SPRINGTAILS – CULTURING AND 14 CARE Once a sustainable population is established, the Springtails can also provide an alternative food source for terrarium animals, such as dart frogs and smaller geckos. AFRICAN HOUSE SNAKE CARE 18 GUIDE In this article we will refer to the care of African House Snakes from the genus Boaedon, as in most cases the House Snakes under the genus Lamprophis have much more specific requirements within their individual species. 26 THE LARGE-EYED PITVIPER At first glance one may mistake these beautiful arboreal 26 vipers for the more common White-lipped Tree Vipers but once you take a closer look you will see this species is quite different and very unique in it’s own way. ALSO IN THIS EDITION: 34 Bismarck Ringed Pythons 30 Regurgitation and Vomiting in Snakes 38 How Do I Know if My Tarantula Is in Premolt? regulars 03 From the Editors 39 Breeders Most Wanted 38 40 Advertisers’ Index 2 ultimate exotics | january/february 2020 | www.ultimateexotics.co.za From the Editor... he new year has begun and it has been a busy start to the year at the Ultimate Exotics Reptile Breeding facility. We have had allot of babies hatching at the beginning of T volume 14 | number 01 this year so it has been very exciting and has kept us very busy. With lots of new babies it means that there are allot of mouths January/February 2020 to feed and some of the species that we work with need special attention to get them onto pinky mice so this takes allot of time Managing Editor and patience, but it is very rewarding in the end. Rolf Dennison Design Layout Rolf Dennison As you can see by the beautiful front cover marked with beautiful red scales. Overall they Advertisements of this issue of Ultimate Exotics our feature are a very attractive species of arboreal viper Ralphie Riggien article is on the African House Snake. Out of which makes them a great display animal. Accounts all the different species of snakes we keep at Pauline Visser Ultimate Exotics, House Snakes are one of To stay up-to-date with everything happening Orders our favorite species of snakes that we work at Ultimate Exotics, please don’t forget to like with. Although these snakes are considered to our Facebook page, follow us on Instagram Nonto Gwala be hardy and tough, they should not be kept and also subscribe to our YouTube channel Free Digital Subscriptions under the impression that they do not need where we are doing weekly videos! Send us your email address any special requirements or can be neglected Sales for Reptiles and Products for long periods of time. Like any other snake Well, finally, we would like to wish everyone Ralphie Riggien they have a few important requirements in a successful 2020. I am sure this year will captivity that are essential for them to do well have its challenges especially in South Africa Disclaimer: The editors and publishers of Ultimate Exotics do not accept any liability whatsoever with regard to any and thrive. In this article we will refer to the with our load shedding schedules which can statement, fact, advertisement or recommendation made in care of African House Snakes from the genus affect the heating of our incubators and reptile this magazine and do not necessarily agree with the viewpoints Boaedon, as in most cases the House Snakes enclosures. Just remember to make sure your expressed by contributors to Ultimate Exotics. under the genus Lamprophis have much more incubators and rooms are well insulated so if specific requirements within their individual the power goes off for two hours at least the © 2020 by Ultimate Exotics. All rights reserved. species. temperature won’t drop too dramatically. If Reproduction of any material from this issue there are no sudden changes in temperature in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. For our venomous keepers we have an then you will not have any issues if the excellent article on the Large Eyed Pit Viper power goes off for a few hours. Besides our www.ultimateexotics.co.za (Trimeresurus macrops). At first glance one load shedding issues, we hope everyone may mistake these beautiful arboreal vipers has a successful year with their reptiles and Physical Address for the more common White-lipped Tree remember to always keep learning. 83 Niagara Drive Vipers but once you take a closer look you Waterfall will see this species is quite different and Don’t forget to take a look at our website Kwa-Zulu Natal South Africa very unique in it’s own way. As their common www.ultimateexotics.co.za where we have name suggest macrops means large eye an ever increasing range of specialist reptile Tel: 031 763 4054 and this is one of the first things you notice products, reptiles, scorpions and tarantulas Whatsapp: 083 785 54054 with this species. It’s large yellow eye with for sale online. Our website has been updated a vertical black pupil. They have a beautiful and we are always trying to improve our Editor: [email protected] overall green colour with blue tinges around online service to be the best there can be to Adverts: Rolf Dennison the scales. Their skin in-between the scales make sure getting your products and supplies email: [email protected] often revels slight black bands. They have for your reptiles is as easy as possible. a white lateral stripe that runs along either Bank Details side of their ventral scales down the length of We hope you enjoy this issue and we hope The Standard Bank of S.A. Ltd their bodies. The males have a more defined to see you soon! Happy herping and happy Hillcrest Branch 045726 stripe that runs up along the side of their face reading! Ultimate Exotics underneath their eye and their green colour Acc no. 062 557 971 has more of a blue tone in it. Their tail is The Editor Subscribe now! Subscribe now to receive the free ultimate exotics digital magazine! Receive professional articles on the care and breeding of reptiles and exotic pets! Stay up-to-date with the latest information from reptile and DEADLINES exotic pet breeders. Up-to-date articles on health, hygiene and disease in reptiles! Send us your email Issue Colour Adverts address and we will add you to our free subscribers March/April 2020 20 February 2020 mailing list or visit www.ultimateexotics.co.za! July/August 2020 20 April 2020 September/October 2020 20 August 2020 Cover Photo: T-Albino House Snake November/December 2020 20 October 2020 Boaedon capensis www.ultimateexotics.co.za | january/february 2020 | ultimate exotics 3 Lizards* “Juveniles will gradually switch over from mostly live food to mostly vegetables How Much Should over the course of about 6 months. This will start from about the age of 4 to 6 I Feed My Bearded m o n th s.” Dragon And When? By Steven Brown Diet Differences Between Baby Bearded Dragons and Why Is The Right Diet Balance Important? Adults In captivity, too much protein leads to obesity, fatty liver and aby bearded dragons have a very different set of kidney problems. Well worth avoiding. Most dragons in the nutritional demands compared to adults. In the wild, wild never live long enough for this to become a problem. baby dragons try to gain weight and grow quickly. Too many soft treats such as soft fruits, soft worms or B soft bodied insects can lead to tooth decay problems. Too This is so they’re not so easily picked off by predators. The strongest, fastest and biggest will be more likely to reach much sugar from fruits can also lead to digestion problems. maturity. The survival of the fittest. Bearded dragon digestive systems rely on a fermentation process which sugar interferes with. Equally however, Once they reach maturity though, their biggest goal in life is too many hard shelled insects can cause problems with now achieved. They don’t need to gain more weight to survive. impaction, particularly in babies and juveniles. In fact, too much weight in adulthood becomes a problem for their survival as it slows them down. Slower dragons find it Too little calcium will result in Metabolic Bone Disorder, more difficult to fend off predators. So, over the millennia they and too much calcium can lead to hypercalcaemia and other have evolved these changes in diet to enable them to be the complications.