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Von Höhnel's chameleon
- Trioceros hoehnelii

Origin: Kenya, Uganda

Gender: Trioceros

Life expectancy: 4 - 6 years

Length: Head - torso, until 10 cm.

The Von Höhnel's chameleon (Trioceros hoehnelii) is a high-altitude species that ascends to more than 3.000 m on Mount Elgon.

Content

Origin / Distribution

The Von Höhnel's chameleon (Trioceros hoehnelii) found mainly in Kenya, but is represented by a wide range of local variations. The form found on Mount Elgon, in Uganda, is called Trioceros hoehnelii «altaeelgonis«. Whether there are subspecies within this species is disputed.. But, regardless of official status, the breeder and caretaker community has adopted the term "altaeelgonis» for varieties from Uganda.

Characteristics / Appearance

The Von Höhnel's chameleon has a very pronounced helmet, which is much more marked in males than in females. Also noteworthy is a small nasal process, which is also higher in males. There are a large number of local and location variations. Especially the helmet and the nasal process are quite different. The species has a coarsely spiny dorsal crest that extends the entire length of the body and tapers towards the end of the tail.. The throat and ventral crest are formed by large spiny scales.. Both sides of the body usually have 2 greatly enlarged plate-like scale rows. Scale and body coloration are highly variable, consisting mainly of shades of brown and green with partially light transverse bands.. There are reddish or brown animals, as well as a well-known color form with a yellow head and green body.

Male hemipenis pouches are clearly developed by the time they reach sexual maturity. Females show a much more homogeneous scaling, secondary sexual characteristics are less pronounced in them. Males grow to a maximum length of 25 centimeters, females reach a maximum length of 20 centimeters. The life expectancy is of 2 to 4 years.

Habitat

The Von Höhnel's chameleon is a high-altitude species that ascends to more than 3.000 m on Mount Elgon. They have developed the ability to regulate their body temperature through sunlight to take into account low ambient temperatures.

Behavior

The Von Höhnel's chameleon shows very interesting defensive behavior in the wild. The greatest danger for this species of chameleon is the snakes that live in the trees, as the green mamba. If the chameleon sees a snake, immediately turns deep black, he rolls up his body and drops to the ground, where the snake does not usually follow. Next, the animal remains motionless on the ground until the danger has passed.

Threats to the species

State of conservation ⓘ
Minor Concern ⓘ (UICN)ⓘ

This species has a wide distribution and seems to have the ability to adapt to a degradation of its natural habitat., since it also occurs in agricultural and semi-urban areas. It has therefore been classified as a "species of least concern" by the UICN.How is it being captured for the wildlife trade?,The species has been included in Appendix II of CITES to limit its effects.

The "Von Höhnel's chameleon" in captivity

"The Ugandan Variation of the Trioceros hoehnelii rarely seen, since Africa's exports come from Kenya, having different varieties of color. There are several populations at different heights, each with a different color scheme.

Care is very similar to Montane side-striped chameleon (Trioceros ellioti). Thrives in a well planted terrarium. They have been kept in groups from one male to multiple females, but the females can have two litters a year and, therefore, are almost always at some stage of pregnancy and must be separated. So, despite reports that they are not aggressive, the saying is still valid: One chameleon per cage and not to worry.

They seem to be enjoying their morning sunbath. Taking into account the drastic drop in nighttime temperature in your home environment, they are experts in absorbing all the sun's rays they can. And the decrease in night temperature is important for health. Special care must be taken with the young and the heat.

Hydration is through a standard chameleon protocol of around three hours of night misting in the early morning with 15 minutes of fogging in the morning and 15 minutes in the afternoon.

Breeding is not difficult. The gestation is 4 to 6 months. Young females can produce 6 offspring while a mature female can produce 20. They can have two litters of pups a year and become receptive again 40-50 days after delivery. The young are sexually mature after one year..

The terrarium

the bigger, best!. Minimum (45 x 45 x 90 cm.).
Full or hybrid mesh (combination of mesh and glass or panel).
UVB source (inside or outside).
natural light source (inside or outside).
Heat source (exterior).
Nebulizer at night.
Manual fogging in the morning and at night.
full mesh.
Small fans when using a hybrid cage and/or the air is stagnant.
live plants (not fake)
natural branches (no fake vines, no strings, or bleached wood).
No substrate or bioactives

Food

In captivity, animals eat crickets, domestic crickets, all kinds of flying insects and small cockroaches. It also, get vitamins and minerals (pollinating insects). Animals can cover their water needs by lapping up the sprayed water.

Reproduction

The Helmeted Chameleon is viviparous in the egg., and there is also fertilization by storage; can get pregnant again right away. In courtship, the male approaches the female, nodding and flattening to one side. When the female is ready to mate, he remains seated and mating occurs, this process can be repeated for several days. Gravid females repel males willing to mate.. If the stress is too great for a pregnant female, must be separated. During pregnancy, females have a greater need to drink and feed. After a gestation period of 150 to 180 days, females give birth between 4 and 22 pups. Before this, the female becomes restless and egg laying takes place in the early morning hours, preferably on thick bark or rough branches. The young are released from the egg case and are immediately independent.. Sexual maturity is reached around 8 months. But, should not be mated before one year.

For sale "Von Höhnel's chameleon"

The price of a "Von Höhnel's chameleon" at the exotic animal market, ranges between 50 – 150 EUR.

Videos "Von Höhnel's chameleon"

MOUNTAIN CHAMELEONS 🦎 Trioceros hoehnelii ⛰ Care, information... Watch this video on YouTube.	George the Trioceros hoehnelii Chameleon Watch this video on YouTube.

Alternative names:

1. Von Höhnel's chameleon, Helmeted chameleon, High-casqued chameleon, Kenyan high-casqued chameleon (English).
2. Caméléon à casque élevé (French).
3. Helmchamäleon (German).
4. Chamaeleo hoehnelii (Portuguese).
5. "Camaleón de casco" (español).

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Black iguana
- Ctenosaura similis

Origin: Central America and Mexico

Gender: Ctenosaura

Life expectancy: 22 years (captivity)

Length: 1.3 m (Including the queue)

The Black iguana it is a large and bulky lizard, and adult males reach 45 cm long with a tail of 30 cm..

Content

Origin / Distribution

The Black iguana (Ctenosaura similis) is native to Central America, and has the widest range of all Ctenosaura species from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec to northeastern Nicaragua and western Panama on the respective Atlantic and Pacific coasts. It is commonly found throughout Costa Rica, Honduras and has been reported in some Colombian islands both in the Caribbean Sea and in the Pacific Ocean.

It has been introduced to southern Florida and breeds in the wild in several feral populations.. On the southwest coast of Florida, has been discovered from Collier County north to Tampa Bay. On the southeastern coast of Florida, black spiny-tailed iguanas have been found in Key Biscayne, Hialeah and in Broward County. This iguana has also been introduced to several Caribbean islands. As this species feeds opportunistically on small vertebrates, like fish, rodents, eggs, birds and even hatchling sea turtles, may pose a threat to native endangered species.

Characteristics / Appearance

The Black iguana it is a large and bulky lizard, and adult males reach 45 cm long with a tail of 30 cm.. They are predominantly black, but the dorsal surface may show black bands on a greyish background. Most have black mottling on back. The color may also lighten after sunbathing with yellowish and orange markings becoming apparent along the sides..

Adult males and females are dimorphic. Adult males have well-developed dorsal crests and small dewlaps.. double chin, the crescent of skin that may extend under the throat, it is not inflated. A small spine bends to extend the jowls during moments of threat, courtship or defense of territory. Females lack obvious crests. There is considerable variation with age and sex, so identification can be difficult.

These iguanas have ringed tails with rows of sharp, curved spines., hence also the name Spiny-tailed Iguana. The spines on the back are short. Juveniles tend to be olive green, turning tan and finally grayish as they grow.

Habitat

These lizards are great diggers and hunters.. They are around ruins, stone walls, open rocky slopes and branches of large trees along the open edges of forests. They usually live in dry land, arid and open.

Behavior

This species can be belligerent and can bite or injure an aggressor with its spines.. More terrestrial than aboral, can run bipedally. Highly gregarious and territorial, these iguanas live in colonies, governed by a strict pecking order. One male of the colony is the dominant, and although the other males have territories, they only defend them against each other and not against the leader. Territorial deployments include color changes, body inflation, jaw clicking, "push-ups" or rapid movements of the head and, sometimes, bite and tail swipe battles. Larger males tend to have bigger and better territories and mate more often. Fighting usually occurs when iguanas gain or defend territory or a mate..

The male always courts, but you can only move forward if your partner provides you with the right stimuli. She must respond with sexual stimuli, and as one of its own kind; with a female of the wrong species their reproductive investments would result in sterile hybrids, if there is any baby. You should also point out that you are receptive, with mature eggs ready for fertilization. Some of the visual cues that are often important in courtship are that males often bite, scratch or lick females that have signaled their receptivity.

Juvenile iguanas usually come out of the nest hole together, a strategy against predators in which many eyes are better than two and large numbers make individual capture less likely. Young iguanas usually remain in a group and one of them temporarily behaves as a leader. They lick each other's tongues and groom each other, and rub their body and chin. At night they usually sleep together in the branches.

Reproduction

This species reaches sexual maturity around 3 or 4 years of age. They gather and mate during specific times of the year that vary between populations. Male iguanas have a pair of intromittent organs., los hemipenes. when they are not used, hemipenes are found adjacent to the cloaca at the base of the tail.

During sexual activity, one of the hemipenis everts by the action of the muscles and fills with blood.. in copulation, that follows courtship behavior, only one hemipenis inserts into the female's cloaca, and the sperm travel along a groove in the hemipenis. The retraction of the hemipenis is carried out by draining the blood sinuses and activating the retractor muscles that invert the structure when withdrawing it..

In the breeding season, oviparous females migrate to suitable nesting areas. After digging a burrow half a meter deep, the female lays from 2 to 25 eggs in the nest. She then defends the burrow for some time to prevent other females from nesting in the same place.. Young iguanas are born between 3 and 4 months later and take a week to leave the nest. These little iguanas fit easily in the palm of one hand.. If they survive the difficult first years of life, where food is often scarce and predators, like hawks and owls, they are a danger, these iguanas can live more than 60 years.

Food

Diet Black iguana it is generally herbivorous, especially leguminous fruits, but it is also known to have a diverse carnivorous diet consisting of small animals.

The Black iguana has eaten rodents, bats, frogs, small birds and a wide variety of insects. They have even been observed to eat the eggs of their own young and, in a case, the tail of a juvenile was found inside an adult male, suggesting cannibalism. The young are mainly insectivorous., transitioning to herbivorous habits as adults.

Threats to the species

State of conservation ⓘ
Minor Concern ⓘ (UICN)ⓘ

Man and his domestic animals are inevitably destroying the environment of these iguanas. The domestic animals, like the cows, devour most of the vegetation, what is the food source of iguanas. Its meat is savored in many parts of the world, but it is not exploited in excess. In some parts of South America, iguanas are hunted by men who imitate the cries of hawks. The iguana's reaction to screaming is to "freeze" and are then easily caught.

The presence of human settlements in coastal areas is an important displacement factor for many species; as well as the fragmentation of the forests and the devastation of mangroves.

In Mexico, the NAME-059-SEMARNAT-2010 considers this iguana as Threatened; the IUCN 2019-1 like Least concern.

The "Black iguana" in captivity

To keep the Ctenosaura similis (Black iguana) as appropriate as possible to the species, we recommend the following conditions. Especially when the minimum size is specified, note that optimal conditions can only be achieved in much larger terrariums.

temperatures during the day: 25°-35°C (place of asoleo local approx. 40-45°C)
Night temperatures: 18-22°C
Humidity: approx.. 50% during the day and 80-90% At night
Minimum size of the terrarium: starting at 300 x 250 x 180 cm for two animals

The terrarium

The Black iguana often found in nature in multiples. has been individually maintained, in pairs or in a group with a single male and three to four females. But, the terrarium must be large enough and have enough structures. It is best to plan an indoor terrarium for a group. For a terrarium for two animals, should have at least 300 x 250 x 180 cm.. For a group, terrariums of more than 400 x 350 surface cm.

Food

Diet Black iguana consists mainly of leafy plants, seedlings, flowers, herbs and rarely fruits. They are also eaten by insects and should also be offered. It also, from time to time it is necessary to make available to these iguanas smaller mammals. Vegetables like carrots, cucumber and tomato are also important foods. Adult animals feed on a 80-90% vegetarian, young feed mainly on insects.

no lettuce, iceberg lettuce or similar, since the calcium-phosphorus content is unfavorable in this case. And cabbage or spinach should rarely be fed due to oxalic acid.

Additional vitamin and mineral supplements are recommended.

Temperature

The temperature for these terrarium animals should be 25-35°C during the day, the solar island 40-45°C and between 18-22°C at night. The humidity should be around 50% during the day and 80-90% At night.

Decor

The terrarium can be furnished with numerous stones, climbing facilities, a bathing area, remained, foliage, cork and bark tubes, which also offer many hiding places. To keep the Black iguana many structures and opportunities are needed to hide.

Illumination

For your well-being, good lighting and ultraviolet light are necessary (30% of UVA rays and 10-12% UVB), as well as a place to sunbathe. UV radiation is very important and absolutely necessary. In the case of females, it is necessary to provide a suitable place for laying eggs or several possibilities.

For fluid intake, an additional water bowl can be placed, that is cleaned daily.

Hibernation

Usually, the Black iguana hibernates for about four weeks at about 18°C.

Reproduction

The Black iguana is sexually mature after two years. A female lays up 80 eggs after about eight weeks. A 28-30°C y 90-100% moisture, the young hatch after about three months. It is essential to give young people enough calcium and vitamins.

Buy one "Black iguana"

The price of a "Black iguana" at the exotic animal market, ranges between 40 – 60 euros for a baby.

Videos "Black iguana"

Black iguana (Ctenosaura similis) Watch this video on YouTube.	Garrobo \| Spiny tailed Iguana \| Ctenosaura similis Watch this video on YouTube.

Alternative names:

1. Black iguana, Black spiny-tailed iguana (English).
2. Cténosaure noir, Iguane à queue épineuse noire (French).
3. Gemeiner Schwarzleguan, Schwarzer Leguan, Stachelig-angebundener Leguan (German).
4. Iguana-Negra, Iguana de cauda espinhosa preta, Ctenossauro preto (Portuguese).
5. "Iguana rayada", Iguana negra de cola espinosa, Iguana de cola espinosa de Gray, Tilcampo, Chiguipile o Tolok (español).

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Striped house snake
- Boaedon lineatus

Origin: Central Africa

Gender: Boaedon

Life expectancy: 20 years

Length: 60 - 100 cm.

the care of the Striped house snake in a terrarium it is quite simple, since it does not pose special demands in terms of humidity levels or temperature.

Content

Origin / Distribution

The Striped house snake (Boaedon lineatus) it is a small harmless snake that is found in almost all of Africa, except in the desert sand.
The English name refers to the fact that they are very often found in the vicinity of human dwellings., and even within them.

Characteristics / Appearance

The females reach approximately one meter in length and are more robust than the males.. The latter are usually half as thick and reach 60-80 cm.. Background color ranges from dark brown to light brown, and the lighter colored specimens usually present a pattern of spots on the anterior third of the body. A characteristic feature is the presence of a light colored stripe on both sides of the head. This stripe can continue almost halfway down the body in some specimens..

Habitat

The Striped house snake inhabits pastures, savannah and cultivated land, sinanthrope, under fallen leaves or rocks, in holes or termite mounds, not in dense forests

Behavior

The Striped house snake It is nocturnal, but sometimes she is also seen sunbathing during the day. They are placid snakes that only attack rarely. If you take it easy, they will not try to attack, but the exceptions confirm the rule also in this case. The Striped house snake feeds on mice, Therefore, it is very easy to care for.

Threats to the species

As many people fear snakes, many of them are killed on sight. Those who know them as harmless appreciate that they feed on mice and tolerate their presence. Fortunately, in many African regions there are initiatives to educate the population about the usefulness of snakes. Teams of tutors travel through their countries and do not just show photos, they show people that live specimens have nothing to fear.

The "Striped house snake" in captivity

Fairly quiet, nocturnal, easy to handle. Good species for beginners.

The terrarium

the care of the Striped house snake in a terrarium it is quite simple, since it does not pose special demands in terms of humidity levels or temperature. Your terrarium should not be less than 80 x 40 x 40 cm. , but larger terrariums are advantageous, maybe of 100 x 40 x 50 cm. . Although the Striped house snake not exactly known for her climbing skills, this does not mean that climbing branches are not needed to equip a terrarium for her. From time to time, you will find them wandering around the top of their terrariums, as this is where the overhead lamps create the warmest zone. Temperatures should not drop below 18-20°C at night and hover around 25-28°C during the day. A localized hot spot offering about 35°C under a spotlight is a useful adjunct. A cork tube and a water container complete the terrarium equipment. For aesthetic reasons and to maintain the humidity level, a climbing plant should also be placed (for example, a philodendron) in the tank.

Reproduction

From copulation to egg laying no more than two months pass. It can be made up of 7 and 13 eggs. Placed in an incubator at 25-28°C, after a while quite considerable offspring emerge. They already look like their parents and are up to 15 cm length. This size makes it easy to rear in most cases., because they are already able to feed on mouse pups. Individuals that refuse to feed are rare, but they happen from time to time. Baby snakes should always be fed individually, since they are very voracious. If they are allowed to feed in a group without supervision, it can happen that a snake consumes a brother along with a pink mouse. This is often referred to as an "accident", but it is actually a consequence of poor husbandry practices for the young. Apart from that, create offspring of Striped house snake It is easy.

Buy one "Striped house snake"

The price of a "Striped house snake" at the exotic animal market, ranges between 80 – 140 EUR.

Videos "Striped house snake"

🐍 Striped African house snake (Boaedon lineatus - Lamprophis lineatus) Information :)🐍 Watch this video on YouTube.	Boaedon lineatus female (striped house snake) Watch this video on YouTube.

Alternative names:

1. Striped house snake (English).
2. Serpent des maisons (French).
3. Gestreifte Hausschlange (German).
4. Cobra listrada (Portuguese).
5. "Serpiente de casa rayada", Culebra ratonera lineatus (español).

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Oriental garden lizard
- Calotes versicolor

Origin: Afghanistan , Pakistan , Nepal , Bhutan , India , Sri Lanka , Bangladesh , Myanmar , Thailand , Malaysia , Viet Nam , Cambodia , Laos , China (South), Indonesian ( Sumatra ) and Singapore.

Gender: defaults

Life expectancy: 5 years

Length: 9-14cm. (head-torso length), 27-35cm. (tail length)

Although the Oriental garden lizard can be found relatively frequently and at a fairly low price in the trade, not easy to raise, so many wild-caught animals are still being sold.

Content

Distribution and habitat

I don't know why this beautiful reptile is called Oriental garden lizard, It may be because of the red pouch in the throat or, according to population, for his red head, but this lizard is not a Bloodsuckers. The Oriental garden lizard lives from eastern Iraq to southeast Asia in various habitats, diurnal animals live mainly on insects, small invertebrates and vertebrates to mice, only rarely do they eat plant foods.

Description

The Oriental garden lizard (Calotes versicolor), found in open areas with shrubs and trees, often also in human settlements. They are usually solitary animals, since males are very territorial and females also react aggressively to other congeners. Males have a dorsal crest that extends from the nape to the root of the tail.. Coloration varies, usually have a yellow head and red throat. The transverse bands, which can be light or dark, are visible on the back.

Sexual dimorphism

Males have a distinctive dorsal crest that extends from the back of the head to the root of the tail.. Older specimens have a more massive head and a thicker tail root.. Animals show a remarkable ability to change color. In general, males are less contrasted than females.

The splendid coloration of the male is characteristic. At first there is a pale yellowish coloration of the head and a greenish yellow neck and back. The neck and back end up changing color to a dark blackish brown, while the throat and head stand out for their intense red coloration. A black band emerges from the throat to the cheeks. Limbs become very dark, while the tail clears. Females have a short nuchal crest.

The "Oriental garden lizard" in captivity

Although the Oriental garden lizard can be found relatively frequently and at a fairly low price in the trade, not easy to raise, so many wild-caught animals are still being sold. Unfortunately, these beautiful animals are often kept incorrectly. The Oriental garden lizard must be kept in pairs or groups with one male and several females

Terrarium

Its terrarium it must be big. A length of 180-200 cm., a height of 130 cm and a depth of 70 cm..

In principle, the caregiver of terrarium you can design the tank as you like. It is important that there is plenty of room to climb and that the relative humidity is not less than the 70%. In the warmest place, lizards need a temperature of around 40°C.

for breeding, it is important to have males and females of the same range. Otherwise, there will be no synchronization in sexual maturity and reproduction will remain an unfulfilled dream.

A single female from the population shown here from Vietnam produced no less than 25 eggs! So, breeding can be quite productive.

You can only have one male per terrarium, otherwise there will be murder and manslaughter. terrarium is big enough, can be kept 2-3 females, but it is safer to keep them in pairs.

Diet

Any live food available on the market corresponding to its size can be used as food for the Oriental garden lizard, but baby mice are used very rarely, if they are used. Of course, the diet must be varied and always well pollinated. To cover the low need for plant food, suitable plants can be planted in the terrarium, preferably in pots.

Breeding

After the "dry period", the males will begin to mate, so its coloring is especially attractive, and if they keep well, mating will also occur. The females will put up 20 eggs that must be incubated for about 80 days. Juveniles should be kept as adults, with live food appropriate to its size.

For sale "Oriental garden lizard"

The price of a "Oriental garden lizard" ranges between 15 – 20 EUR.

Alternative names:

1. Oriental garden lizard, Eastern garden lizard, Indian garden lizard, Common garden lizard, Bloodsucker, or Changeable lizard (English).
2. Agame versicolore, Galéote versicolore, Lézard arlequin, Agame arlequin (French).
3. Blutsaugeragame, Verschiedenfarbige Schönechse bezeichnet (German).
4. Lagarto-de-Jardim-Oriental, Lagarto comum do jardim, Lagarto jardim indiano (Portuguese).
5. Lagarto bosque de Emma versicolor, Lagarto de jardín Oriental (español).

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Turtle feeding
What do turtles eat in the terrarium?

The Turtles they can be carnivorous, omnivorous or herbivorous and there are some species that change their diet as they grow and tend to go from a carnivorous diet to a more omnivorous one.

Turtles in captivity — Even if they seem like it, are not porcelain …, are real, alive and well alive – Get this image at: Flickr

Content

TABLE 1
Classification of Some Turtles Terrestrial according to their Diet
herbivores	Omnivores
Sulcata turtle	Box Turtles
Leopard Turtle	Terrapenes Turtles
Yellow-footed turtle	Articulated Turtles
Radiated Turtle	Some Asian box turtles
Chilean turtle
Turtles of the species Testudo

Turtle feeding (chelonians)

The pets, which are very popular today, place high demands on people. Especially when it comes to maintaining and feeding, it is very important to know the conditions in the areas of origin of the turtles and to orient oneself on them. although Turtles can live up to very old, unfortunately it is not uncommon for them to live a few years in captivity. The proper feeding of the species is, therefore, an indispensable factor for successful maintenance. In contrast, incorrect nutrition of turtles is the most common cause of illness and death.

Its original habitat consists of arid and dry landscapes. There, the Turtles you will find slow-growing plants very rich in minerals, trace elements, vitamins, crude fibres and fodder. If you look at this habitat, it is clear that our lush, protein-rich meadows, fruits, cultivated lettuce and vegetables are not part of your natural food supply.

The intestines cannot properly digest this overly soft and sugary food. Even the occasional feeding with fruits, Salads and vegetables lead to an altered balance of microorganisms in the gut. This imbalance in the intestine sometimes leads to severe diarrhea. What, Unfortunately, turtles are not able to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy foods, tomatoes, salads and vegetables are tastefully eaten. The drop, constipation, shell and fatty liver deformities and even death are often the result.

The Turtles they can be carnivorous, omnivorous or herbivorous and there are some species that change their diet as they grow (see tables 1 and 2); for example the aquatic turtles of the gender Trachemys tend to go from a carnivorous to a more omnivorous diet as they grow older; becoming adult vegetarians. This is a reflection of changing dietary requirements, from its phase of greatest development to maturity.

An appropriate one turtle nutrition (chelonians) allows adequate growth, shell conformation and reproductive capacity (48).

Turtle feeding (chelonians) omnivorous

TABLE 2
Classification of Some Aquatic Turtles according to your Diet
herbivores	Omnivores	carnivores or predominantly carnivorous
There are very few aquatic turtles herbivores like Indian Roof Turtle	Painted Turtles	European Pond Turtle
Adult Emidids of North America	Spotted Turtle along with the other species of Clemmys	Crocodile and alligator turtle
	Map turtles	Tortuga Mata mata
	Swamp Turtles	Soft-shelled turtles
	Red-eared turtle	Shield turtle
	Turtles of the genus Phrynops	Long-necked turtles
	South American turtles of the gender Platemys

Most of the omnivorous chelonians they are mainly carnivorous during their youth, but as they mature they increase their consumption of plant matter. It is suggested that their diet in captivity contains plant and animal matter in proportions of 75:25 to 90:10 (49).

In the wild, omnivorous species have access to a wide variety of live foods., frequently insects such as earthworms, snails, slugs, one hundred feet, Pupae, worms, mealybugs, crickets, etc. To get a better idea of the components that a diet may contain for these species in captivity it is recommended to see the table 3 and 4 (50).

TABLE 3
Recommended Components for the Diet of Omnivorous Terrestrial Turtles
Worms, slugs, snails, myriopods, mealybugs, among other invertebrates
Pinkies (newborn mice)
Skinned and chopped adult mouse
Vegetables and pastures (fungi, lettuce)
fallen fruit (bananas, Peaches, tomatoes)
(McArthur et al, 2004).

TABLE 4
Recommended Components for the Omnivorous Water Turtles Diet
Pellets for turtles (Tortuguetas [Petmmal], ReptoMin®sticks [Tetra])
Green leaves
Fruits
Low-fat canned dog food
Low-fat rehydrated dog kibble
Pellets for pond fish
Raw whole fish
Fresh meat (liver)
Insects (red worms, tubifex worms, artemias)
Prawns

Since insects contain more phosphorus than calcium (especially the larvae), should be supplemented with vitamins and minerals (calcium), to avoid the presence of nutritional deficiencies. So insects should be fed a diet rich in vitamins and minerals especially calcium, 24h before being offered to the reptile; this is known as "gut loaded" in English, and moments before offering them should also be sprinkled. Occasionally they may be provided with a small amount of meat, fish or dog food «LIGHT» (Normal foods are high in fat), in order to maintain a balanced diet (51).

The frequency of inclusion of animal matter in the diet, depends on the lifestyle of the animal and the degree of meat consumption of the species, excessive amounts of cat food, dogs or monkey, cause metastatic mineralization problems; as it contains high levels of vitamin D3. Most omnivores will refuse to eat fresh vegetables and fruits., showing preference for mature plant material (52).
As for aquatic turtles, they also develop well with a suitable combination of animal and plant material, dried shrimp lack an adequate balance of vitamins and minerals, while greasy fish in large quantities produce steatosis, fatty liver and vitamin B deficiency due to excess thiaminases. So a proper diet is based on a balance of ingredients, a small amount of low-fat dog food can be given 1 once a week occasionally, and natural ingredients should always be preferred (53).
It should be remembered that high-protein diets have a higher content of phosphorus in relation to calcium, so they should be supplemented with calcium (e.g.. Calciosol with fixative) and some fish contain thiaminases, so you also have to supplement with vitamin B1 (e.g.. Thiaminal B-12, Benerva®. Roche Laboratories), to ensure intake (because the animals feed in the water and the supplements are lost) it is recommended to liquefy all the ingredients and then add grenetin to the mixture, to make a gelatin which prevents the loss in the water of calcium and vitamins ensuring its consumption (54).
The key is to prevent animals from being pigeonholed with one or two foods., as they frequently become addicted to meat or fish; which results in a poor diet. It is important to have a separate tank from the main tank so that the animals are transferred to it at feeding time and thus reduce the contamination of the water in the main tank. (55).

Adequate proportions of a diet for red-eared turtles, painted and swamp turtles and stinky:

60-70% animal matter: sofobas, crickets, waxworm larvae, common earthworm, tubifex, Anemias, aquatic snails, small fish, trout pellets or low-fat dog kibble, avoid using raw or cooked meat, especially in juveniles due to its low calcium content, tubifex and snails can bring parasites.
20-30% green leafy vegetables or aquatic plants.

In the wild they feed on snails, slug, insects, crabs, other aquatic invertebrates, Tadpoles, small fish, carrion, algae and aquatic plants, and as mentioned at the beginning, juvenile omnivorous turtles are more carnivorous and become more herbivorous as they mature. Adults can be fed from 2-3 times a week and only give them an amount of food that they can eat in a 30-40 minutes, it is recommended to give aquatic plants such as duckweed, water lettuce, Water hyacinth along with other aquatic plants and swamp plants, which form a substantial part of adult diets (56).

Feeding of herbivorous turtles

Microbial fermentation of intake occurs in the large intestine, microorganisms digest parts of the intake such as cellulose that the host cannot digest and this flora produces additional protein derivatives by modifying the plant material (57).

The diet of herbivorous reptiles should contain:

High-fiber vegetables that make up most of the diet.
It must be rich in certain minerals such as calcium.
Rich in vitamins such as vitamin A and D3.
Must have an adequate calcium and phosphorus balance, which must be at least 1.5-2: 1 That: P. wild chelonian diets contain at least one radius Ca: P of 4: 1.
Adequate water content.
Low phosphorus.
Low in fats and oils.
low in protein.
Low in thiocyanates, oxalates and phytates. (58).
Should be high in slow-digesting carbohydrates (e.g.. cellulose) and low-carb, high-digesting (e.g.. Feints)

Requirements are easily met when fed with wild plants, like flowers, pastures and weeds (be sure they are free of pesticides and pests), as store-bought greens are often high in protein and low in fiber compared to natural forages. Turtles can graze on their own if they are provided with adequate space for this., without the presence of poisonous plants, even so your diet should be supplemented, the species that benefit most from grazing are the leopard turtles and sulcata (59).

The Turtles have food preferences and will only eat 1 or 2 food to the exclusion of others, which can bring deficiencies. To reduce selective feeding it is recommended to liquefy the food, which is supplemented with vitamins and minerals (e.g.. Vitafort-A and Calciosol with fixative) (see Fig. 5), diet ingredients should be fresh and raw. Food must be washed very well to remove pesticide residues (60).

Turtle eating a salad — Fig. 5. Turtle eating a supplemented salad.

Animal protein should not be offered (see table 5) to herbivorous reptiles as it can affect the intestinal flora and predispose to hyperuricemia and therefore to gout, In addition to causing accelerated and abnormal growth in juvenile reptiles (61).

TABLE 5
Foods to Avoid herbivorous reptiles
Cat food Meat
Dog food
Bread
Milk
Cheese
Refried beans
Bacon
Ham
Recovery diets for mammals (a/d Hill’s)
Insects: worms, sofobas, tenebrios
Meat
To mention a few (McArthur et al, 2004; Walls, 1998).

Although pellet-based diets are very popular, some authors do not recommend them as the majority part of the diet, especially in juvenile animals since they provide them with accelerated growth as most are high in protein (>45%), which is detrimental to growth in juveniles, as the shell is deformed; its use in adults is also of dubious benefit to some; however it all depends on the quality and quantity of the ingredients (62).

As mentioned earlier in the green matter section, care should be taken with vegetables containing oxalates and thiocyanates (see table 6), since depending on the amount of these in the diet mineral deficiencies can occur (iodine and calcium) (63).

The herbivorous turtles differ from each other regarding their preferred intake of fiber, Mediterranean turtles are ramoneadoras so they will be better off if they are allowed to ram in gardens with herbaceous plants; While the leopard turtles and sulcata are better off with a diet high in grasses and hay (70-75%) because they require a higher intake of fiber, although it has been seen that in the wild some eat a greater amount of herbaceous plants, it has also kept a record of growth in freedom that can serve as a captive turtle guide, young and subadults grow 7mm/month, adult females grow 5.7mm/month and adult males 3.2mm/month (64).

A diet recommendation for herbivorous tortoises is:

Mediterranean turtles: 25% rubiaceae (Nubia, white gallium, coffee family), 22% legumes (bean, peanut, broad bean, lentil, soy, pea and chickpeas), 10% asteraceae or compounds (lettuce, Sunflower, endive, chicory, daisy, chamomile and safflower), 8% ranunculaceae (be careful with these because many are toxic like aconite, knight spur and adonis), these can be grown at home to ensure they are pesticide-free and it is recommended that it be in calcium-rich soils to ensure that the plants have a high content of this mineral..
Leopard and sulcata turtles: their diet is similar to that of Mediterranean turtles, but with a higher proportion of pastures (20%) such as achicalada alfalfa and good quality Timothy grass hay (65).

In general, the food should be provided ad libitum per meal. The newly hatched specimens and up to their juvenile stage should eat 2 times per day, chopping the food to obtain particles of the appropriate size. Juveniles and adults can be fed once a day and both juveniles and adults should have access to fresh water for both drinking and bathing. (66).

Canned and dehydrated herbivore diets are commercially available and a small portion may be used in the omnivore diet. (67).

Sources:

Corral Gutiérrez, Karla Marina. (2009). «Development of a manual and interactive disk on nutrition, "Frequent installations and diseases in reptiles used as pets". (Bachelor's Thesis). National Autonomous University of Mexico, Faculty of Higher Studies Cuautitlán, UNAM. Retrieved from https://repositorio.unam.mx/contenidos/3449228

Bibliography:

(48) (Alderton, 2002; Beynon and Cooper, 1999; McArthur et al, 2004).
(49) (Alderton, 2002; Girling and Raiti, 2004; Mader, 2006; Merck Veterinary Manual, 2007; McArthur et al, 2004).
(50) (McArthur et al, 2004; Wissman M. A., 2003).
(51) (McArthur et al, 2004; UNAM Diploma in Medicine and Wildlife Management, 1993).
(52) (McArthur et al, 2004).
(53) (McArthur et al, 2004).
(54) (Girling and Raiti, 2004; McArthur et al, 2004).
(55) (Girling and Raiti, 2004; McArthur et al, 2004).
(56) (Girling and Raiti, 2004; McArthur et al, 2004).
(57) (McArthur et al. 2004).
(58) (Girling and Raiti, 2004; McArthur et al, 2004).
(59) (Mader, 2006; McArthur et al, 2004).
(60) (McArthur et al, 2004; Wissman M. A., 2003; Syria et al., 2002; Walls, 1998).
(61) (McArthur et al, 2004).
(62) (McArthur et al, 2004).
(63) (Mader, 2006).
(64) (Girling and Raiti, 2004).
(65) (Girling and Raiti, 2004).
(66) (IMFAC, Practical Medicine Course in Non-Conventional Companion Species, 2006; McArthur et al, 2004).
(67) (Wissman M. A., 2003).

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Gold dust day gecko
- Phelsuma laticauda

Origin: Madagascar

Gender: Phelsuma

Life expectancy: 4 - 8 years

Length: 10 - 13cm.

The Gold dust day gecko is commonly known as the mascot of GEICO Insurance, and also the main character of the video game series, Gex.

Content

Origin

Native to northern Madagascar and the Comoros, currently it is also found in the neighboring islands, the Seychelles and Hawaii.

Characteristics

With a head-torso length of up to a few 5 cm., the Gold dust day gecko is one of the smallest representatives of its species. The color of the body is a light green, 3 red stripes on the back appear to be applied with a brush. The golden, shiny scales of the neck and front of the back give it its name. The eyes are "painted" turquoise.

Habitat

The Gold dust day gecko is often found near settlements. It inhabits various tree species, larger plants such as deciduous trees, coconut trees and other palm trees, sisal agaves, bananas and houses. It shares its habitat with the dull day gecko (Phelsuma dubia).

This species feeds on insects and other arthropods. They also tastefully eat sweet fruits, pollen and nectar.

Males of this species of Day gecko can behave quite aggressively. They do not accept other males in the vicinity.

The "Gold dust day gecko" in captivity

The Gold dust day gecko has been raised in the care of humans for generations and, of course, you always have to use the pups.

With the right care and accommodation, the Gold dust day gecko is a grateful pet that gives a lot of pleasure to its owners. But, the conditions and needs of these animals mentioned here must be met. Next we want to show you some special characteristics of day geckos in general for their successful care in the terrarium. Here, animal welfare comes first.

Terrarium measurements

The terrarium for him Gold dust day gecko must be of sufficient height, since it is an animal that lives in trees. As a key to the size of the terrarium we recommend calculating with the head-torso length of the animal. The size of the terrarium is calculated as follows for non-adult animals:

Terrarium floor space: Four times x three times the head-torso length of the animal.

Height of the terrarium: Four times the head-torso length of the animal.

Observe the growth of the animal in the coming months (fast-growing animal/slow-growing animal) For adult animals (of legal age).

As standard measures it is advisable a terrarium of 60 x 40 x 80 cm. (for 1-2 animals).

Terrarium decoration

The Gold dust day gecko is an excellent climber, you are almost never seen on the ground. Various cork branches, cork tubes and bamboo shoots have a decorative look and provide the animal with a space to walk, including the coveted spot for sunbathing under the point of ultraviolet light. As such, place a branch or root at the right distance from the light source so that the right temperature is created in it. They will also willingly accept some vertical climbing opportunities.. It also, the terrarium must be well decorated with plants. Artificial plants are a practical option in this case, as they can be easily cleaned of droppings.

The suitable substrate is the bark bed and earth of the terrarium. Some moss cushions are decorative and regulate humidity. Droppings and food scraps should be removed daily.

Temperature and lighting of the terrarium

The Gold dust day gecko inhabits tropical habitats.

Like the reptiles are warm-blooded animals, you have to simulate their natural habitat in the terrarium: temperature and humidity. This is achieved by various heat/light sources and water misting/spraying. (sprinkler system).

One thermometer/hygrometer allows the caregiver to control these values. Animals have excellent eyesight and visual acuity. Depend on sufficient lighting. So, It good lighting is mandatory of the terrarium. They also need a sunny spot in the terrarium. This is created by the spot lighting, that provides light, heat and UV rays. The highest quality products are good enough here, because only they are equal to the natural light of the sun. The Gold dust day gecko see the colors in the ultraviolet range, so they can't perceive their surroundings normally without adequate light. It also, only an optimal supply of UV-B light provides enough vitamin D3 for young animals to grow optimally and adults to also be in top shape and display their bright colors.. We recommend the JBL L-U-W Light, which is available in different powers and in the version «Desert» o «Jungle«. This type of lighting provides light, heat and UVA/UVB rays.

Terrarium Gecko golden diurnal — TERRARIUM «Gecko Diurno Dorado» Exoterra

As a caregiver, you can get an especially good climate (and easy to control) using a heating mat under part of the floor of your terrarium. Although the Gold dust day gecko does not go down to the ground to warm up, yes it heats the basic temperature of the high terrarium -which by design is similar to a fireplace- from below. These terrariums usually have too low temperatures in the lower half of the terrarium outside of summer., so the fry have a hot back and a cold belly.

The heating mat must be accompanied by a thermostat. In this way, always get the right climate, as the heating mat turns on automatically when needed. A plus point is the more favorable energy consumption in terms of the environment, since terrariums operated in this way not only require lower power for point lamps, but also, usually, fix themselves with less energy. For uniform lighting of your terrarium as decoration of your living space, we recommend the LED lighting across the entire terrarium. Light and heating sources are always turned on and off at a daily rate using a timer, 14h on, 10h off.

Nutrition

The Gold dust day gecko is a fast and agile hunter. The feeding insects (crickets, domestic crickets, grasshopper, etc.) they are always sprinkled with mixtures of vitamins and minerals. This is the only way to avoid irreversible deficiencies, which can often lead to serious illness or even death in young animals and pregnant females, for example.

Feeding animals must always be adapted to the size of the Gold dust day gecko. Feed only insects that will be eaten directly. Otherwise, feeding animals would disperse around the terrarium, they would hide away and get rid of the attached vitamins/minerals – the result is malnutrition and malnutrition despite food supplies.

It also, to the Gold dust day gecko in nature they like to lick overripe fruits and nectar. With "Exoterra Day Gecko Food" small vessels already prepared with adequate food porridge are obtained. Not offered on the ground, but permanently in the so-called "cup holders" at a high height.

Social behavior and reproduction

The Gold dust day gecko can be maintained individually, in pairs or in a group constellation of one male with several females. Males are always incompatible with each other.

The females of the speciesPhelsuma» put 1-2 eggs after a few 28 days, until 5 times a year. Some species stick eggs to the substrate. The eggs harden quickly in air and the females of the “egg glue species” stick together. 2 eggs each. They like to do it in small cavities like bamboo canes or cork tubes..

The Gold dust day gecko puts up to 5 pairs of eggs per year, this species uses the indentations of bamboo leaves and tubes or similar cavities. At a constant temperature of 28°C, the colorful dwarfs hatch after a few 40-45 days with a size of something less than 60 mm.

Curiosities

It is commonly known as the mascot of GEICO Insurance, and also the main character of the video game series, Gex.

Thanks to the special adhesive foils on your fingers, the Gold dust day gecko not only moves on the smoothest surfaces, but even clings to the glass upside down without problems. In doing so, develop true superpowers through so-called adhesion: thanks to their feet covered with billions of fine hairs, make use of Van der Waals forces and electrostatic forces.

On the sides of the back of the head they have small "calcium sacs", which serve females to store calcium in preparation for egg formation.

In the wild, They guarantee their survival against predators by shedding their tails and "molting in a startled manner". If a hunter grabs them by the trunk, the skin sheds and the Gold dust day gecko escape. Tail and skin regenerate in case of emergency.

For sale "Gold dust day gecko"

The price of a "Gold dust day gecko" at the exotic animal market, bred in captivity, ranges between 80 – 100 EUR.

Videos "Gold dust day gecko"

Phelsuma Laticauda Watch this video on YouTube.	Gold Dust Day Gecko - Phelsuma Laticauda Watch this video on YouTube.

Alternative names:

1. Broad Tailed Day Gecko (English).
2. Gecko diurne à large queue, Gecko diurne des îles, Gecko poudre-d’or, Gecko vert à trois taches, Phelsume poussière-d’or (French).
3. Goldstaubtaggecko (German).
4. Gecko Poudre d’Or (Portuguese).
5. Gecko diurno del polvo de oro (español).

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Striped mud turtle
- Kinosternon baurii

Origin: United States

Gender: Kinosternon

Life expectancy: 50 years

Length: 10 - 12 cm.

The Striped mud turtle inhabits stagnant and slow-flowing waters of all kinds, including temporary.

striped bog turtle — Kinosternon baurii au Vivarium Elapsoidea (Meyrin, Geneva, Switzerland) – Totodu74, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Content

Origin / Distribution

The Striped mud turtle (Kinosternon baurii) is native to the southeastern United States. The main distribution area is the Florida panhandle, but the species is also present in the coastal lowlands of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia. In general, the species is considered common and not endangered, and is not subject to trade restrictions or species protection laws. But, the local population of the Florida Keys is threatened by the destruction of the biotope and, therefore, has been placed under protection in the United States. Trade has no impact on natural populations.

Characteristics / Appearance

The Striped mud turtle it has an oval shape and a dark brown or black shell. The skin is dark and the underside of the shell is slightly yellowish.. In most places in Florida, animals have stripes on their shells that give them their names. But, there are regions where these turtles continue to have signs of these stripes or do not have any. this is known, for example, by populations of the Everglades.

These reptiles usually have two distinct stripes on their heads on each side.. This goes practically through the eye to the tip of the nose. Females have longer tails that are slightly bent at the end.. It is assumed that this fold serves to better cling to the female when courting and mating..

With a maximum shell length of only 12 cm in females, males are even smaller, about 10 cm., this turtle is really small. These are already record dimensions; females reach sexual maturity when they measure about 7-8 cm long and have 5-6 years.

Habitat

The Striped mud turtle inhabits stagnant and slow-flowing waters of all kinds, including temporary. If such a pond dries up, animals change habitat. Migrations of up to 3,5 km. They also look for the preferred places for laying eggs.. Thus, the Striped mud turtle, is unfortunately a frequent victim in road traffic.

Behavior

These little turtles are omnivorous by nature and feed on palm seeds, algae, insects, snails and the like. For its part, They are common prey for alligators and birds of prey such as the snail kite.. The small hatchlings and eggs are eaten by a large number of animals, which the turtles compensate with a very high reproductive rate.

A female can produce up to six (normally: three) broods per year with 1-6 (normally: 2-3) eggs each. The eggs are huge compared to the mother, one wonders how they fit in little mama. Eggs need between 80 and 145 days to mature, and only grow at temperatures between 28 y 30ºC. If the temperature drops to 22.5-24°C, the embryo pauses in its development. The pups measure between 2 and 2,5 cm in length and weigh between 2,1 and 3,9 g..

The "Striped mud turtle" in captivity

Aquaterrarium

The minimum size of the aquaterrarium for the care of a single animal is three times the length of the carapace as the length of the tank, one and a half times the length of the shell as the width of the tank and two times the height of the shell as the water level. For a single animal this means (with a maximum carapace length of 12 cm.) a background surface of 36 x 18 cm with a water level of about 10-12 cm.. But, you will hardly be able to keep a turtle in such a small aquarium. But, a standard aquarium of 60 cm is absolutely sufficient to create a well-structured living environment for the little turtle. The following principles are very important: The Striped mud turtle climb and run instead of swimming. So, the water surface must always be easily accessible and the water level must not exceed 20 cm..

Aquaterrarium decoration

Waterproof roots and round stones are suitable for furnishings. The substrate should consist of a layer of fine sand of about 5 height cm, since animals like to dig. Many specimens only come out of the water to lay their eggs.. But, this varies greatly from one individual to another and, therefore, must be tested: add a piece of floating decorative cork to the tank. If you visit this part of land, a fixed part of earth must be installed, which may consist of a plastic bowl suspended and filled with sand, for example.

Illumination

On the ground part can be installed a weak focus under which a temperature of 30-35°C is reached. The uv need of these turtles is low; a commercially available fluorescent terrarium tube with a UV component is perfectly suitable. A too bright location of the aquaterrarium should be avoided.

Temperature

The water temperature should oscillate between 22 and 26°C from February to November, with 14 daylight hours. A hibernation period of about two months with only a few 8 daylight hours (this is much more decisive for the start of hibernation, that is regulated by hormones, than temperature) at 12-15°C is very favorable for keeping turtles healthy for many years and for reproduction.

Individual maintenance, as a couple or in a group?

In principle, It is best to keep all swamp turtles alone. The males are very incompatible with each other and can drive the females crazy by their constant willingness to mate.. Females also prostitute themselves sometimes with violence against each other. But, this varies greatly from individual to individual. You can be very lucky and buy a pair that will get along very well, but unfortunately you can't trust it. Sometimes, the animals only split up after years of peaceful coexistence. This is said to occur even in humans…

In principle, you should have as many tanks as animals you want to have, so you can elegantly avoid all difficulties from the beginning and you can react quickly if necessary.

for breeding, the female is put with the male, which usually bears fruit very quickly. In this way we have a fertilization rate of almost 100%, while annoying females often do not take care of themselves if they are kept together for a long time.

Unlike many other reptiles, females are not at all demanding when it comes to laying eggs. They gladly accept the sand-filled dirt area described above. At worst, they will simply lay the eggs in the water, but don't let it go to that extreme. By the way, females that stand alone also produce eggs (unfertilized, of course). It's like with chickens, they don't need a rooster to produce eggs for breakfast.

Turtles and fish

Video Kinosternon Baurii Tortue Kinosternon Baurii Watch this video on YouTube.

The most exciting and beautiful thing is to keep the turtles together with the fish.. First of all, the aquarium becomes more attractive - there are more things in it- and, in the second place, fish realize very quickly when something goes wrong in the water. The right species for the biotope are, for example, the Jordanella floridae (Jordanella floridae), the Least killifish (Heterandria formosa), the Blackbanded sunfish (Enneacathus chaetodon) or the Everglades pygmy sunfish (Elassoma evergladei).

If you are lucky enough to have the Sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna), You will see how these creatures, otherwise delicate, become authentic beauties. For reasons that are still unknown, the Sailfin molly they develop exceptionally well when kept next to turtles. Of course, the selection of fish species is not limited to those mentioned. Only the slow fish that live on the bottom, as the Whiptail catfish (Rineloricaria fallax, etc.), should not live with turtles. As a rule, fish are safe from small shell carriers; at most, weak or sick specimens become their victims, but that doesn't matter.

Food

The Striped mud turtle is more carnivorous than omnivorous. It is advisable to grow duckweed, especially the large species Spirodela polyrhiza, in the tank. Like this, they are simply available as food when turtles feel like vegetarian food. Otherwise, feeding is very easy, because Kinosternon baurii is not demanding. But, food should always be absolutely fresh and of high quality. It doesn't matter if it's industrially produced food for swamp and water turtles or frozen food..

Vitamins and valuable unsaturated fatty acids are destroyed more quickly than many people realize. Here we continue to sin a lot. Always buy food in small containers. Dry food should be consumed at the latest 6 weeks after opening the can, and frozen food after about half a year. Dry food should never be stored in a bright place, warm and humid. They should always be stored in an airtight container, in a dark and cool place.

If properly cared for, these friendly dwarfs hardly cause problems and give years of pleasure to their caregiver.

Buy one "Striped mud turtle"

The price of a "Striped mud turtle" ranges between 130 – 160 EUR.

Videos "Striped mud turtle"

kinosternon baurii baby in mini aquaterrarium Watch this video on YouTube.	Primo Ingresso in Acquario Kinosternon Baurii Watch this video on YouTube.

Alternative names:

1. Striped mud turtle (English).
2. Tortue de boue rayée (French).
3. Dreistreifen-Klappschildkröte (German).
4. Tartaruga de lama listrada (Portuguese).
5. "Tortuga de pantano rayada" (español).

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Jackson's chameleon
- Trioceros jacksonii

Origin: Kenya, Tanzania, United States

Gender: Trioceros

Life expectancy: Until 10 years

Length: Head-torso: until 16 cm.

The Jackson's chameleon is diurnal and shows a foraging behavior with few movements per minute and a very slow locomotion rate.

Content

Origin / Distribution

The Jackson's chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii) is native to Kenya and Tanzania.

It has been introduced in the US. USA, in California, Hawaii and Florida.

Subspecies of Trioceros Jacksonii

Currently there 3 subspecies of "Jackson's chameleon" described:

Machakos Hills Jackson’s Chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii jacksonii)
The Machakos Hills Jackson’s Chameleon is originally from Kenya, and it is the rarest type of chameleon. It measures an average of 20-25 cm long. Males have 3 horns, and the females have 1 or 3 little horns, which can sometimes make sex determination difficult. Females are lighter green in color than males., although sometimes they are red. Males are dark green., sometimes with aquamarine blue head and bright yellow patch on flanks. Individuals with this coloration may soon be described as a separate subspecies.
Mount Meru / Dwarf Jackson’s Chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii merumontanus)
The Dwarf Jackson’s Chameleon comes from Tanzania and is very difficult to find in captivity. Wild-caught specimens are no longer available, as all export of wildlife from Tanzania is prohibited. it is extremely rare, although there are some breeders of the Mount Meru in Europe.

These chameleons are the smallest of the species, with 17-20 cm length. Males have 3 long narrow horns, while the females only have a diminished horn on the nose. Both sexes have a dark green or blue-green body with much yellow on the face and at the base of the horns.. The eyelids are bluish-green.
Yellow-Crested Jackson’s Chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii xantholophus)
The Yellow-Crested Jackson’s Chameleon is originally from Kenya, specifically from a limited range in the foothills of Mount Kenya and Nyambeni. It is the most common type of Jackson's chameleon. As the largest member of the species, individuals can grow to 36 cm long, and males are known to far outnumber 40 cm.. Males have 3 horns and females do not have horns.

Invasive populations of the Trioceros jacksonii xantholophus are present in the Hawaiian Islands because a well-meaning pet store owner released some in O'ahu in 1972 in an attempt to restore the health of a wild-caught cargo from Africa. They have since spread to Maui., Hawaii and Kauai.

Characteristics / Appearance

Most measure approximately between 15 and 35 cm length. They usually have several shades of green, but they can become as dark as black when they are very distressed.. Are sexually dimorphic. Males have three long, pointed horns protruding from the head. These horns are absent or underdeveloped in females. The back of the head has a small crest. There are small spines along the vertebral line. Like other chameleons, the Jackson's chameleon has zygodactyl feet (divided so that two fingers point inward and three point outward) that are specialized for life in trees, and a prehensile tail that is also used for grasping.

But, the most recognizable feature of all chameleons are their eyes. The pupil is the only visible part from its skin covering. Each eye rotates 180 degrees and is independent of the other. Chameleons have unusually strong control over the curvature of their lenses, and can enlarge an image.

They are considered a long-lived chameleon (until 10 years).

Habitat

The Jackson's chameleon prefers to live in thickets and mountain forests. They need to hide and prefer to live in trees. They rarely venture on the ground, except for laying eggs or mating.

Behavior

Males are territorial and fight with their horns, which they can also use to attract females. When two males meet, they stand on their side, flatten their bodies, curl their tails and push their heads forward. They inflate with air to appear larger and become brightly colored. Next, open their mouths to show the varied colors of their interior, while swaying and wiggling with the occasional soft hiss. The submissive male will normally try to hide, freeze on the spot or try to escape the area. Fade into muted colors. When males fight, they hit each other with their horns and try to push themselves from the branches. These fights can cause physical harm to chameleons.

They use stillness and dull natural coloration to protect themselves from bird predation, Snakes, shrews and lizards.

Reproduction

The Jackson's chameleon has a mating ritual that mimics its threat ritual. The male initiates the display of threat to the female, including color changes, inflating of the throat and elevation of the front legs towards the opponent. The female then has two options. May make threatening gestures, in which case you do not want to mate. If you want to mate, make weak threatening gestures or make no gestures at all, in which case the male recognizes his will. Then the male surrounds the female, grabs your neck with your mouth, is placed on your back and inserts the hemipene into the cloacal orifice. This whole process usually takes a few 13 minutes. The female will continue to mate during 11 days, but not with the same male twice in a day. Gestation lasts approximately 190 days. The young are usually born in the morning. The female opens the cloaca and the young are born one at a time on a branch.. They are still surrounded by a gelatinous egg sac and remain asleep until the egg touches the substrate.. The young then wake up and stretch and break the egg sac.. At birth, the offspring measure some 5,5 cm long and weigh some 0,6 Gm. After 20 days females copulate again. The young will reach sexual maturity at the age of 9 or 10 months.

Food

The diet of this chameleon consists mainly of insects and spiders. Using your eyes independently, sit completely still and watch if an element of prey crosses your path. When you locate it, both eyes converge and it swings a bit to improve its vision and confirm the distance at which the prey is located.. The prey is captured by projecting the tongue, which has a fleshy tip covered in sticky saliva. The prey is brought back to the mouth, chewed and swallowed. Language, one and a half times the length of the lizard, can reach its full length in a sixteenth of a second.

They get water by licking the drops from the leaves.

In the morning, sunbathe, bending one side towards the light and flattening the body and stretching the neck to increase its surface. Once heated, are able to hunt.

Threats to the species

State of conservation ⓘ
Minor Concern ⓘ (UICN)ⓘ

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) classifies all chameleons as threatened. Two reasons for its decline are habitat destruction and the exotic pet trade.. Demand for chameleons encourages pet suppliers to pull them out of the wild and ship them over long distances; the survival rate may be approximately 1 of each 10, and those who survive arrive malnourished and stressed. Proper care methods for these lizards are not well understood, so they can be mistreated without knowing it. Captive breeding has not been very successful, with the exception of the San Diego Zoo and some private breeders.

The "Jackson's chameleon" in captivity

The terrarium

Size: The bigger, best, minimal 60 x 45 x 90cm.
Type of cage: Full or hybrid mesh (combination of mesh and glass or panel)
Lights: UVB source (inside or outside), natural light source (window or LED) (inside or outside), Heat source (exterior)
Hydration: Nebulizer at night, manual misting in the morning and afternoon
Ventilation: full mesh, Small fans when using a hybrid cage and/or the air is stagnant
Interior: live plants (not fake), natural branches (no fake vines, non-strings, non-bleached wood), non-substrate.

Care

UVB light source: T5 HO 12 hours a day, 5-12% according to the height of the cage
Visible light: Full spectrum or natural light, 12 hours a day
Resting point: 26-28°C, 1 time maximum 2 times a day
Temperature during the day: 21-23°C.
Temperature at night: Max. 15-17°C, Ideal temperature below 15°C.
Humidity during the day: 50-70%.
Humidity at night: 100%, fog
Hydration: Nebulizer at night, Manual nebulization, Dropper
Type of feeding: Crickets, Soldier flies, Cockroaches, No vegetables, Fruit-free
Volume of food: Youth without limit, Adults maximum 1 daily cricket
Supplement – Every meal: Simple calcium, Bee pollen
Supplementation – Once every two weeks: Calcium with D3

Buy one "Jackson's chameleon"

The price of a "Jackson's chameleon" at the exotic animal market, ranges between 150 – 250 EUR.

Videos "Jackson's chameleon"

TRIOCEROS JACKSONII XANTHOLOPHUS - Jackson's Chameleon Watch this video on YouTube.	A Chameleon Comes Over to Visit \| Trioceros jacksonii \| Color Video Watch this video on YouTube.

Alternative names:

1. Jackson's chameleon, Jackson’s horned chameleon, Three-horned chameleon, Kikuyu three-horned chameleon (English).
2. Caméléon de Jackson, Chamaeleon jacksonii (French).
3. Dreihornchamäleon (German).
4. Camaleão-de-jackson, Chamaeleo jacksonii, Camaleão-de-três-chifres (Portuguese).
5. "Camaleón de Jackson", Trioceros de Jackson (español).

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Content

Origin / Distribution

Characteristics / Appearance

Habitat

Behavior

Threats to the species

State of conservation ⓘ

The "Von Höhnel's chameleon" in captivity

The terrarium

Food

Reproduction

For sale "Von Höhnel's chameleon"

Videos "Von Höhnel's chameleon"

Alternative names:

Content

Origin / Distribution

Characteristics / Appearance

Habitat

Behavior

Reproduction

Food

Threats to the species

State of conservation ⓘ

The "Black iguana" in captivity

The terrarium

Food

Temperature

Decor

Illumination

Hibernation

Reproduction

Buy one "Black iguana"

Videos "Black iguana"

Alternative names:

Content

Origin / Distribution

Characteristics / Appearance

Habitat

Behavior

Threats to the species

The "Striped house snake" in captivity

The terrarium

Reproduction

Buy one "Striped house snake"

Videos "Striped house snake"

Alternative names:

Content

Distribution and habitat

Description

Sexual dimorphism

The "Oriental garden lizard" in captivity

Terrarium

Diet

Breeding

For sale "Oriental garden lizard"

Alternative names:

Content

TABLE 1

Classification of Some Turtles Terrestrial according to their Diet

Turtle feeding (chelonians)

Turtle feeding (chelonians) omnivorous

Classification of Some Aquatic Turtles according to your Diet

Recommended Components for the Diet of Omnivorous Terrestrial Turtles

Recommended Components for the Omnivorous Water Turtles Diet

Feeding of herbivorous turtles

Foods to Avoid herbivorous reptiles

A diet recommendation for herbivorous tortoises is:

Bibliography:

Content

Origin

Characteristics

Habitat

The "Gold dust day gecko" in captivity

Terrarium measurements

Terrarium decoration

Temperature and lighting of the terrarium

Nutrition

Curiosities

Videos "Gold dust day gecko"

Alternative names:

Classification of Some Turtles
Terrestrial according to their Diet

Classification of Some Aquatic Turtles
according to your Diet

Recommended Components for the
Diet of Omnivorous Terrestrial Turtles

Recommended Components for the
Omnivorous Water Turtles Diet

Foods to Avoid
herbivorous reptiles