Just arrived

 Just arrived! - Nutribac

After a year of ground work, we finally have Nutribac available for sale. Nutribac is the only reptile-specific probiotic, or combination of healthy digestive organisms especially for reptiles and amphibians. We have used it with our reptiles for the last few years with excellent results. It helps digestion, recovery after antibiotic therapy, and clinical trials have shown that salmonella shedding reduces or ceases after long-term use. Salmonella is typically present in more than more than half captive reptiles. Although salmonella is a common commensual gut flora in reptiles, certain strains or salmonella can be dangerous to humans, especially children or individuals that are immune compromised. There is no suggestion that salmonella is a required gut flora in reptiles, it is simply something they pick up from prey they eat. Although reptile-specific probiotics have not been in use for a very long time, probiotics are safely used long-term in many other species, from people eating natural yoghurt after antibiotic therapy, to the farming industry using probiotics to help health and growth rates. You may read of the research by going to the US patent and looking up the following number and title: # 5,879,719 Process for control, elimination or inhibition of salmonellae in reptiles and/or amphibians. Learn more on the Nutribac website $18.50 per bottle, which will last a snake about 1 -2 years. http://www.mzrproducts.com/   

Darwin Mulgas (King Browns) Mating

Although the St George mulgas have produced stunning offspring for the last 3 seasons, a clutch of Darwin mulgas has remained elusive. We havent been alone though, and have only heard of one clutch being bred a few years ago in a captive environment. The males just dont seem interested. Unfortunately there are very few left around Darwin now, thanks to the cane toads, so it is important to be able to get them established in captivity. Today, after several seasons trying, we finally had a mating between our two Darwin locality mulgas. It looked rather awkward, with Charlie turned around the wrong way, but they were well hooked up for a couple of hours, so it was a start. Hopefully some eggs will be laid and little Darwin mulgas follow. Charlie is about 2.5 metres and weighs nearly five kilos, and the female is only 1.9 metres, so we have also been concerned that she doesn't become a large meal for Charlie. 

Tassie Devils!

Hi everyone,

as you may know already, John Wiegel is working on an awesome project to help protect the future gene pool of tassie devils. Have a look on the site and lets all get behind this important project. Some more information on Devilark follows.

The Tasmanian devil is suffering a dramatic population decline due to devil facial tumour disease (DFTD).  The first sightings of disfigured victims of this contagious cancer occurred in 1996. The seriousness of the disease later became apparent as devil numbers crashed.

To ensure against extinction of this iconic species and to provide a source of disease-free animals for eventual return to the wild, the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (STTDP) has called for the establishment of a large and genetically diverse captive insurance population of devils, held in large part away from the disease on the Australian mainland.

Devil Ark is an important component of the STTDP insurance population strategy and is an initiative of the Australian Reptile Park in partnership with the Zoos and Aquaria of Australasia (ZAA) and the Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species (FAME). By breeding healthy ‘wild-type’ devils within high standards of animal welfare in a wild-type environment, Devil Ark will provide the most significant component of the mainland insurance population intended for eventual return to the Tasmanian landscape.

Recognised as one of the most ambitious breeding programs for any predator species worldwide, the mission for Devil Ark is to establish and maintain a genetically representative population of 1,000 or more Tasmanian devils in environmentally appropriate, 'Tasmania-like' conditions while the disease runs its devastating course through the wild population. Through the provision of hundreds of large enclosures encompassing natural bushland conditions on the high-elevation Barrington Tops NSW property, the breeding program will be conducted in accordance with overarching STTDP and ZAA directions.

By establishing and maintaining a population of healthy, genetically diverse Tasmanian devils, Devil Ark, along with the other components of the STTDP insurance population, will be able to provide a sustainable source of devils for reintroduction to the Tasmanian landscape when directed to do so.   Read more about Devil Ark by clicking on the above link.

Check out the site on www.devilark.com.au

Chris and Bella

We love it when our reptiles find themselves a wonderful home, and Bella looks really happy with Chris. When Chris bought Bella a few weeks ago, he let her settle into her new enclosure, and listened to Sonia about how to win a goanna's trust. It looks like it paid off, and what a cool picture! When reptiles leave here, Sonia tends to be a bit like an old mother hen until she knows they have settled happily and are doing well. Thank you for letting us post this Chris, its just awesome!

Venomous Snake Catching Course!

Are you interested in becoming a snake catcher? Or perhaps would just love to work with elapids for two fascinating days? Your chance has arrived.... We have been asked to run another venomous snake relocation course. It will be held on the 15th and 16th of May, and numbers are strictly limited to only 6 people per instructor for practical sessions. Please pass the word around, and check out the training section of our webpage for further details. Our special price as we dont have to travel, more snakes or cover accommodation is only $450 per person. Our courses are recognised in South Australia, Queensland and Victoria. Please email now for further details!