Odatria_14_NOV13 - Victorian Herpetological Society

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Michael and Mike (Swan) were in radio contact in casethey needed to rescue the skink. The aim of this exhibitwas to showcase Australia’s largest snake and skink.• The terrestrial/arboreal exhibit - housing two Majorskinks, 2 x male Frill necked lizards and one female (thefemale is the dominant one) and a Spotted tree monitor.The Frilly’s are due to be separated later. So far therehas only been one incident with the Tree monitor missinga small section of its tail (the Major skink is suspected -perhaps competition over a log) and a small leg bite ona Frilly (suspected feeding accident with the Spotted treemonitor)• The Crocodile/ Eastern long-neck turtle exhibit -houses 3 x juvie Freshwater crocodiles, 1 x pair Merten’swater monitors, 1 x female Eastern water dragon and 2 xmale Eastern water dragons (may need to separate). TheCrocodiles wait for fish but the turtles and Merten’s arequick to ‘snap them up’. Water dragons are dominant and‘steal’ food from the Merten’s. There have been no injuriesreported.and sliding door nest boxes to allow ‘safe’ cleaning etc.of enclosures, panic buttons at both ends of the corridor(behind the scenes Reptile House) two-way radio control,the use of epi-pens, first aid kits and appropriate labellingof venomous species and staff training.Even animals generally considered ‘relatively harmless’(for Ven’s), should be treated with caution as even the‘Little whip-snake has the potential to inflict a fatal bite’,and first aid should always be sought.Healesville hopes to display their Broad-headed snakesin an upcoming exhibit as they are ‘Australia’s mostendangered snake’. This is one of the few venomoussnakes bred by Zoo’s Victoria at Healesville and MelbourneZoo.MIKE’S LOWLIGHTS INCLUDED:• Keeping two male Gippsland water dragons in thePlatypus exhibit (one male nearly killed the other)• The Cunningham skink and Water python exhibit.The pythons ate all prey - including their eggs. (One of theCunningham’s was sadly eaten after a few months).• The (early) Coastal Taipan and Green tree snakeexhibit. The snakes were fed together and the Tree snakeate a mouse - it is presumed that the Taipan could smellthe mouse inside the Tree snake and bit it (sadly the Treesnake died). Illustrating the point that ‘two snakes shouldnever be fed together - even if they are the same species’.However, this exhibit works if one snake is fed in a bin andthe other in the exhibit.Humane handling of animals was also discussed includingthe disuse of head-pining to restrain venomous species.Plastic tubes of appropriate size are utilised in preferenceto this technique as it is less stressful to the snake (andalso safer for the keeper).Michael also spoke about using bins to restrain venomousspecies instead of using snake bags to minimise the riskof a strike to the keeper (and to separate snakes duringfeeding times).First aid (snake-bite) and use and availability of anti-venomin hospitals were also discussed at length by Michael (asmentioned previously by Dr. Ken Winkle - Australian VenomResearch Unit, University of Melbourne on 8/05/13).The next VHS meeting (which will be our AGM) is scheduledfor Wednesday 4th december 2013. Keep your eye on ourwebsite at www.vhs.com.au for further information.Part 2 of Michael’s presentation covered Venomous snakemanagement and husbandry. By law there is to be ‘nounprotected contact with Elapid’s’. Michael also spokeabout some keepers/demonstrators who wear ‘snake-biteas a badge of honour’, which ultimately jeopardises ourpassion to keep and study these animals. Michael urgeskeepers etc. to ‘adopt a sensible approach’ to ensure thatwe are still allowed to keep venomous snakes in future.Issues with keeping Ven’s (at Healesville) with ‘Work safe’were also discussed in relation to snake bites. CCTVcameras have been introduced into enclosures (off exhibit)10
CAPTIVE (INDOOR) HUSBANDRY AND BEHAVIOURAL OBSERVATIONS OF THECUNNINGHAM’S SKINK (EGERNIA CUNNINGHAMI)Text and photos by Elaine BrockINTRODUCTIONThe Cunningham’s skink is possibly the most under-ratedlizard of all Australian skinks.Their spiny appearance, curious nature, quirky personalities,social dynamics and basic husbandry requirements makethem an ideal and interesting species to keep for bothamateur and seasoned herpetologists alike. Althoughknown more widely for their somewhat ‘feisty’ nature,Cunningham skinks can make ideal pets and becomegood handlers when familiar with their keepers and whengiven the opportunity for frequent interactions.Discussed below are details of my indoor set ups andobservations of the Cunningham skink.I first became interested in Cunningham skinks when myBird-eating spider had a mishap and have never lookedback since....‘Thermal gradient’ diagram reproduced from Greenwood, 2008N/B. Stars represent temperature readings taken atdifferent points in enclosure.Plastic plants (most intended for use in fish tanks) are alsoused to provide further retreat sites and for aesthetics.Substrate consists of recycled cat litter (which is safefor lizards if accidentally ingested). Standing water isprovided at all times (at the cooler end of the enclosure). A‘Microtemp’ (laser hand-held temperature probe) is used tomanually check the temperature throughout the enclosurefor greater accuracy and to avoid the use of probe-stylethermometers, and wires, throughout the enclosure.Male sub-adult, NSW - New England ‘striped’ formENCLOSURE DESIGN (INDOOR)Cunningham skink pairs or (compatible) trio’s are housedin commercially available 4 foot (120cm L x 60 cm D x60 cm H) melamine (lizard) enclosure banks. Heating isprovided by a ceramic emitter controlled by a thermostat.UV lighting is provided by a baton fitting containing a 2foot ‘Silvania Reptistar’ 0.05, tube. Hides are positionedapproximately 15-20 cm below UV lighting (at the coolerend of the enclosure). Rocks (secured) provide a baskingarea directly under the heat emitter, as well as an abrasivesurface for the removal of shed skin, a means to preventovergrown claws and to stimulate natural behaviours.Additional basking/climbing sites such as resin treesand ornaments are added throughout enclosures. Anappropriate thermal gradient (as shown below), can beachieved using this set up.11Four foot melamine banks - initial synthetic turf substrate set up
Page 2 and 3: Odatria2012 VHS Committee:President
Page 4 and 5: HUSBANDRY CONFERENCEMay 11 th and 1
Page 6 and 7: Top Ten Little Known Venomous Snake
Page 8 and 9: In New Guinea, however, many people
Page 12 and 13: HUSBANDRYCunningham’s skinks are
Page 14 and 15: winter period. At this time Cunning
Page 16 and 17: BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTICS ANDCOMPA
Page 18 and 19: TAMING THE SAVAGE RAINBOW BEASTGrah
Page 20 and 21: INDONESIA REMAINS EPICENTER FOR ILL
Page 22 and 23: HERP HAPPENINGSFlexible Snake Armor
Page 24 and 25: snake in Kurri Kurri, near Maitland
Page 26 and 27: HUMAN FETAL HEARTSThe studies show
Page 28 and 29: The state government has said it is
Page 30 and 31: on the location of the species they
Page 32 and 33: The 15 adult males, 15 adult female
Page 34 and 35: is used to handling all different t
Page 36 and 37: and said that the team were surpris
Page 38 and 39: It struck me that we had something
Page 40 and 41: The team has radio-tracked more tha
Page 42 and 43: the pectoral girdle to the region o
Page 44 and 45: “To do this we focused our effort
Page 46 and 47: we’ve got the rare form there and

Odatria_14_NOV13 - Victorian Herpetological Society

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