Hello everyone so sorry for my long absence. I will be getting back into the swing of things PROMISE!!

Lizards Reptiles Tattoos iPhone 5 Switch Case

 They have some pretty cute stuff! ^_^ Go check it out!! 

Also check out my other blog: http://dearbekka.blogspot.com/

Mourning Gecko

Like most geckos these little guys feed on insects and flower nectar. They are said to be found in Japan, lucky lizards get to feed on cherry blossoms. If you ever get the chance to see this lizard is during the night. They sleep all day and party all night! Now these are some lizards I can hang with.

Reproduction is different when it comes to mourning geckos. The female does not need the male around to fertilize the eggs. Talk about being independent. Females engage in pseudocopulation (look for definition at the end), stimulating both to produce viable eggs. Mourning geckos stick their eggs on surfaces to make sure they are protected. Most clutches consist of two eggs. They are laid about two to three weeks apart from one another.

Pseudocopulation:
Describes the behavior similar to copulation that serve a reproductive function for one or both participants, but do not involve actual sexual union between individuals.

Reptile Corner

A friend of mine has brought a question to my attention:
      Well, my son found a frog or toad at the Delaware Canal. I'm not sure which it is. Not long after he came home with another, even bigger frog or toad. Again, I don't know which one it is. We put both in an aquarium and filled one side with water, the other with land. He feeds each of them about 5 bugs each day. Is it okay to keep them as pets? And how can you tell if they are frogs or toads, males or females?

My response to this could help you as well:

     Ok well first thing is first may I have pix? To tell whether or not a toad/frog is male or female is to stick your finger in it's rear end but since your finger could harm the animal I don't recommend doing so. Frogs/toads are excellent pets to start off with when you are a beginner. Frogs are a lot smoother than toads. Also frogs needs to soak their body in water where as a toad can deal with warm climate. If you do indeed have a toad the half and half tank should be transformed into a land tank with a spot for them to dampen themselves. How big are the toads? Are they as big as your palm?

Her answer: One is large the other small.

Don't feed them more than the length of their body in food.

*At the end of my answer I also suggested that my friend checked out this website for more info on how to determine the gender of her new friend: http://www.toadilytoads.com/male_female.html

 (If you were wondering her new friend is a toad.)

Blinding Beauty

Blind Snake

Blind Snakes are mostly found in Africa and Asia.

Moist leaves, logs, humus in wet forests, dry jungles, and even city gardens are a few places where blind snakes can be found laying about. They mostly like urban and agricultural areas underground in ant and termite nests. Larvae, eggs, and pupae of ants and termites are their favorite meals.

These snakes are often mistaken for earthworms. Simply because the head and tail look the same like an earthworm except the tip of the tail ends with a tiny pointed spur, and they do not have a narrowing neck. The eyes of a blind snake are covered with translucent scales (clear scales). You would probably have a hard time finding their eyes since they look like tiny little dots under the head scales. The translucent scales render these guys almost entirely blind. This causes them to have a difficult time forming images, but they are still capable of registering light intensity.

The adults are thin and small averaging between 2 to 6 inches long. That is a little longer than a regular sized pen! In my opinion they sort of remind me of baby leeches...(ugh thank goodness these little guys aren't anything like those slimy blood sucking creators). Coloration of adult blind snake varies from shiny silver-grey to charcoal-grey or purple. Juvenile blind snakes are colored just like the adults.

Most blind snakes lay eggs, but in a few species, the eggs may hatch inside the mother so that she gives birth to live baby snakes. The flowerpot snake may be parthenogenetic (PAR-thih-no-jeh-NEH-tik), which means that the females do not need males to fertilize their eggs in order to have babies. It is the only parthenogenetic snake, and one of the few parthenogenetic vertebrates in the entire animal kingdom. 

Vertebrates (VER-teh-brehts) are animals with backbones. Among blind snakes overall, small or especially thin species have fewer eggs — sometimes just one, raisin-sized egg. Larger species may have more than fifty eggs that are the size of large grapes. Eggs probably hatch in one to two months, but some hatch in just a week. Many of the blind snakes mate during only one season a year, usually in late spring, but others appear to mate all year long.

*Reproduction Facts Courtesy of*Blind Snakes: Typhlopidae - Behavior And Reproduction

*Photo Courtesy of:* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Malby

Leopard Gecko Hatching - YouTube

Watch a beautiful Miracle happen.

Leopard Gecko Hatching - YouTube

AHH!! I Thought That was a Twig!

*South African Vine Snake*

The South African Vine snake is found in Mozambique, Eastern Zimbabwe through the Eastern part of South Africa.

Vine snakes have a unique pupils they're slitted sideways making them look like a key hole.

They have pointed heads, with a dull grey, or grey brown colorization also, including amoebic-like spots. Following up with a red-black tongue.

Females can lay up to 4-13 eggs and are extremely aggressive when guarding their eggs. (What mother wouldn't be?) When the babies are full grown they can reach 1 meter long!

The reason they are called vine snakes is because, to keep from being detected they will actually sway back and forth. Making an illusion. 

They can actually be mistaking for a twig blowing in the wind but, when in danger stay real still.

South African Vine snakes diets consists of: lizards, frogs, small birds, and even other snakes.

Vine snakes are pretty timid snakes, they'll only attack if provoked.

They have potentially lethal haemotoxic venom.

There isn't any cure for this particular bite in Africa.

Even though it is seldom encountered and deaths are extremely rare...I recommend this guy staying in the wild. 

*Remember don't own a reptile or any kind of pet without finding out if;A: It's legal to own.B: You have done a lot of research and absolutely know how to care for the animal.and C: If it is non-venomous or venomous. 

Be Safe!

Eyes in the Trees

*Big Eyed Tree Frog*

These beautiful frogs are known as big-eyed tree frogs.

Tree dwellers like these spend their whole life time in trees where it is safe.

These guys originate from Africa.

Tree frogs are small green frogs, who become more of a brown color as they mature.

The only time they will ever descend from the trees is to mate or lay their eggs.

Both male and females grow to only be 2 to 2 1/2 inches in length, females being slightly larger.

Males throats are a bit looser and can be a bluish shade of color.

The way males attract females is they will make a chirping or croaking sound.

Tree frogs are insectivorous, meaning they eat insects such as: small crickets, fruit flies, meal worms, wax worms, and any other small insect that is easy to ingest.

Big-eyed tree frogs have been recorded to living up to as long as 13 years.

*Photo Courtesy of:* http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benutzer:Werner,_Deutschland

A Serpent of a Different Color

*Indigo Snake*

Indigo snakes come from Florida, coastal plain of Southern Georgia, South Alabama, and Southeast Mississippi. 


These snakes are known to be the largest native snake species in the U.S. 
The largest one was measured to be 9 feet long.


Indigo's are known to frequent in multiple habitats such as: flat wood land areas, high pines, dry prairie, fresh water marshes, and human-altered habitats.


Indigo snakes are non-venomous, and are immune to venomous snakes like the rattlesnake.
The indigo snake gets it's name obviously from it's colorization.


They come in a blue-black color.
Some also come in a reddish-orange to tan color on the throat, cheek, and chin.


What these snakes feed on: turtles, toads, small birds, eggs, fish, frogs, toads, lizards, other snakes, and small mammals.


Female indigo's can lay about 4-12 eggs.
Here's something I didn't know, they are able to store sperm and delay fertilization. Indigo snakes are certainly an interesting reptile. Don't you think?
*Photo Courtesy of:* http://www.stewart.army.mil/dpw/fish/indigoaorlongDIRK2.jpg

Romeo

A Dear Friend that will be Missed


My little Buddy passed away yesterday morning around 3 am..the same day my father passed last year.
Keep dad company Romeo!


You will be missed my friend..

Rest In Peace Little Guy

The Art of Reptiles

Can you draw?


Our gallery doesn't just have to consist of photos of your reptiles. How about digging deep into your artistic side and send us some reptilian art!


You don't think you can draw well? I beg to differ.
Not everyone is Pablo Picasso.


I will even draw one myself! So, I look forward to seeing YOUR art.
Email me your picture-photo Sammysbaby725@gmail.com

To see my doodle go to our gallery ^.^ Hope you like it!

Don't Go Near That Clutch!

-*-Snakehead Fish-*-

Snakehead's originate from South and Southeast Asia.
They have a long dorsal fin, large mouth, and shiny teeth.


Most can grow to be 2-3 feet, "dwarf Snakeheads" grow to 10 inches.
This particular snakehead grows to be 1 meter long, that's a whole lot of fish.


Adults are dark brown, and has faint black bands across it's entire body.
Babies are reddish-orange. 


When still in egg form both parents guard them until they hatch.
Both parents make a nest out of vegetation during breeding time.


The female can lay up to 2,500 eggs and it takes 24 hours for them to hatch.
When anything comes to close to the clutch of eggs the parents will attack.


Snakehead fish eat frogs, water bugs, and smaller fish.


These guys are also oxygen breathing fish. 
They can last up to four days out of the water! 


Snakehead's use something called a subrabranchial organ, or a labyrinth organ.
This enables them to breath oxygen.


*Tidbit* During the dry season snakehead fish burrow themselves in mud.
*Photo Courtesy of:*
Wie146
*Thank you reader for your comment!! Anyone feel free to email me if you have an animal you wanna know about or if you have a strange fact you wanna share: Sammysbaby725@gmail.com*

A Fish Who Walks Among Us

Mudskippers, Why and How do They Breath on Land?

When underwater these little guys breathe through gills like other fish. Even though,they can use their gills in water, mudskippers can't stay underwater all the time. 

Other fish suffocate when taken out of water because, their gills stick together and are unable to take in oxygen. Mudskippers can retain water in enlarged gill chambers which lock shut on land. 

Kind of like reverse scuba gear, their gills remain moist on land. 

They rotate their eyes to wash or rinse out the water. Which is located in the gill chambers.

When doing this they move the water around, and keep the gills fluffed up and oxygenated. 

*Photo Courtesy of:*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Periophthalmus_gracilis.jpg

A Turtle Really?

Did you know...


The fastest reptile in the world is a turtle!? 

Even though, turtles are slow onland in water, they are fast.
It's said that the Pacific leather-back sea turtle can swim at speeds up to 22 miles per hour!


The fastest reptile on land is the spiny-tailed iguana from Costa Rica.
They can travel at speeds of up to 21 miles per hour.


*Photo Courtesy of:* GIMP photo library

Be a Part of Our Gallery

Looking forward to seeing your reptilian or exotic pet(s)!!


Just simply email us the photos with some basic information about them.

• Name of your pet
• How large/small it is
• How old your pet is
• The amount of time you have had this pet

To contact us send an email to: Sammysbaby725@gmail.com

A Question Some People Get Wrong

Dinosaurs were they Reptiles?

 No, they were dinosaurs. Actually, dinosaurs eventually evolved into birds. Many dinosaurs, if not all, were thought to be warm-blooded. Reptiles are NOT warm-blooded they are cold-blooded.

*Photos Courtesy of:*

• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Field_dinos_2.jpg
• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Berlin_Diplodocus.jpg
• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stegosaurus_Senckenberg.jpg
• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Parasaurolophus_cyrtocristatus.jpg
• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Protoceratops-skeleton.jpg
• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FMNH_Deinonychus.JPG

Blood Sucking Lizard

-*-Oriental Garden Lizard-*-

Oriental garden lizards are found in Asia, and are capable of rapidly changing colors.

Some of the colors you may see them come in are: brown, a grayish-olive, or even yellow.

These bright changeable colors are strange within male lizards.

During mating season its head, neck, and shoulders turn bright orange to red.

This gives them another common name: Bloodsucker Lizard. 

Of course they don't suck blood at all.

Oriental garden lizards eat small vertebrates such as; rodents and other lizards.

Their teeth aren't used for tearing apart, they are used for gripping.


Prey are swallowed whole.
Young oriental garden lizards can choke on a prey if it's to big to swallow.


The oriental garden lizards are related to the iguana.


Females can lay up to 10-20 eggs. They bury them in moist soil.

In about 6-7 weeks they would hatch.


They can grow to be 15-16 inches.

*Photo Courtesy of:* Jonathan Garcia- http://www.flickr.com/photos/opzjon/with/6330770423/

A Sluggish but Dangerous Creature

**:Gaboon Viper:**

The Gaboon viper lives in rain forests in parts of central, east, and west Africa.

You won't see them for they have the best camouflage. 

They lay on the bottom of the rain forest's floor in piles of leaves or out in the open.

The colors that they come in are usually a combo of brown, light brown, pink, and purple. Female gaboons can lay 50 to 60 live babies at a time. 

Gaboon vipers have a life span of 8 years in captivity.

Males and females have broad heads and also have horns.

Females are larger than males (that is common for snakes).

They range from 4-5 feet. Since they are short and fat they are very sluggish snakes. Even though they are sluggish their bite should not be misconstrued.

Their fangs are 2 inches long! When these guys feel threatened they rear their fangs, and hiss multiple times just before striking. 

Gaboon vipers eat small mammals and birds.

A bite to a small pray would instantly kill them. 

When they bite a larger pray they let them free and then later on track them down by scent. These vipers are venomous one bite could be fatal.

 Haemotoxic venom is extremely painful. Like all snake bites once bitten the venom attaches itself to platelets and vessels. 


Symptoms that will occur if you were bitten by one of these guys are:

• Intense pain.
• Inflammation.
• Oozing of haemolytic blood.
• Bleeding from the mucous membrane in the mouth, anus, and nose.
• Hemorrhages under the skin.
• Skin would be cold to the touch.
• Rapid pulse.
• Dilated pupils.
• Then finally you will slowly lose consciousness. 

**This typical snake should not be a house pet**

*Photo Courtesy of:*

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30775272@N05/

Gecko Chips

Gross...well yeah but, it's nature.


Most reptiles shed their old skin several times each year, and leave them behind. 
So here is my question, have you ever seen shedding from a Gecko?

If you haven't here is why:


Geckos actually eat their skin before it ever falls off.
This way they can retain the nutrients. Cool huh?

Zombie Snake

What is That Smell?!


The Hognose Snake has an upturned nose. Hognose snakes roll over on their back, open up their mouths, and let their tounges fall out and pretend to act dead. 


They also, let out an awful stench to really make their predators think they have been sitting there awhile.


The hognose snake, when threatened, raises its head off the ground, hisses, and rears it's back just like a cobra. This is only for show.

*Photo Courtesy of:* http://www.nps.gov/wica/Hognose_Snake-Western.htm