This page is really for my benefit so that I can see what I have got and that I do not forget to feed anyone! No seriously this page is for all those people that make the mistake of asking me what pets I have at home. I am afraid it is quite a list and is really a reflection of my biophilia gone mad.
I have always loved surrounding myself with creatures and derive an awful lot of pleasure in watching, studying, breeding and generally looking after everything, from the seemingly insignificant (like tiny 3mm long pseudo-scorpions in a Petri dish on my office desk) to slightly more popular creatures such as parrots, that take up a large percentage of my office.
Obviously I cannot be anti-exotic pet (that would make me a hypocrite of the highest order) but what I must state to those wishing to use this list to convince their mothers to have a snake or a turtle is this; just because I've got them doesn't make them good pets - in fact that is often precisely the reason I do have them, because somebody cannot cope with their sometimes aggressive nature, high demands or simply their size and has given them to me as a good home.
If you are (and your family) convinced that an exotic pet is for you - make sure you do your home work thoroughly - nowadays there is no excuse with the INTERNET, information or specialist books on the culture of pretty much any creature can be available almost on demand.
My snakes and spiders have out grown the house now and I have had to rent a barn especially for them. The menagerie comprises a mixture of animals that have been rescued, re-homed for various reasons or those that I simply have a passion for.
Dwarf African Clawed Frogs
These primitive tongueless frogs are entirely aquatic. I had seen them for sale as companions for tropical fish and had been intrigued with them. At first their long term survival was very much hit and miss but once you get a strong batch (most that turn up in the pet trade are usually very weak and under weight) that are disease free, they thrive. They make excellent pets and if you dedicate a tank to them, you may well get breeding activity and if you can separate them from their tiny floating eggs. You can have fun rearing the most awkward minuscule tadpoles in the world!! I've done it but it requires an immediate diet of tiny microscopic animals collectively termed infusoria. These two here are in Amplexus (a kind of frog love hug!)
Common Snapping Turtle
This is a particularly pugnacious freshwater turtle from North America - I love them but they are not really a pet for the faint of heart. Very aggressive and well named. Not a handleable species and any form of complacency could end with a misplaced finger could becoming a little shorter. They are very messy feeders too, and any prey is torn to bits and usually requires a full tank and filter clean afterwards.
Dumerils Boa
This is me and one of my Madagascan Beauties a Dumerils Boa . I have a pair of these lovely placid, but very large snakes. I have however despite annual attempts to breed them had no luck what so ever. If you are reading this and have any tips on how to get these animals in the mood I would be only too grateful to hear from you. I've tried everything; A herpy friend of mine even had the audacity to suggest they were over weight, to fat to get it on! It would be great to breed them as this is a very fine snake in captivity and although it is a protected species and requires special paper work to keep they are becoming very scarce in the wild (not due to collecting, but mainly due to habitat destruction) and I feel breeding these would only help to keep the pressure off wild populations while at the same time allowing others to have experience of these stunning snakes.
Dwarf Reticulated Python
This is a much more sensible snake than the mainland form which as a species has the record for the longest species of snake in the world (allegedly they have reached around 10 Metres in length) These smaller island forms max out at around about 3.5 metres so do really I guess the prefix 'Dwarf' is a little misleading but its all relative. My little girl is getting bigger fast and is much more lively than any other reticulated python I've had experience of - I'm hoping she calms down a little as she will make a great little big snake to take to educational talks- time will tell.
West African Sand Boa
I have a small group of these animals, they are rarely seen in captivity in this country and so far I haven't made contact with anybody who has successfully bred them, I'm hoping too. These are some of my more recent additions to the collection they are small, gentle, funky, docile snakes that can be kept well and easily in very little space.
This page is very much a work in progress please check back, I will hopefully be adding many more photo's, info, Links and care-sheets for some of these animals in the future. But for now if you have any questions or need any help please visit my forum and ask away. Below for anyone who cares is a inventory of my menagerie as it stands.
Axolotls
Ambystoma mexicanum
Dwarf African Clawed frogs
Hymenochirus boettgeri
African Clawed frogs
Xenopus leavis
Senegal Birchir
Polypterus senegalensis
Saddled Birchir
Polypterus endlicheri
Pleco Catfish
various species of Loricariidae catfish
Three-spot Cichlid
Cichlasoma trimaculatum
Discus
Symphysodon discus
Bristle-nosed Catfish
Ancistrus sp
Dwarf Sucker Mouth Catfish
Otocinclus
Rubbermouth Catfish
Chaetostoma cf. thomsoni
Timneh African Grey Parrot
Psittacus erithacus timnehBig headed Turtle
Platysternon megacephalum
Mississippi Map Turtle
Graptemys kohnii
Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina
Reticulated Python
Python reticulatus
Reticulated Python (calico)
Python reticulatus
Dwarf Reticulated Python
Python reticulatus
Common Boa
Boa constrictor constrictor
Argentinian Boa
Boa constictor occidentalis
Jungle Carpet Python
Morelia Spilota Cheynei
Dumeril's Boa
Acrantophis dumerili
Black Pine Snake
Pituophis melanoleucus lodini
Bredl's Python
Morelia bredli
West African Sand Boa
Eryx muelleri
Indian Sand Boa
Eryx johni
Rough-scaled Sand Boa
Eryx conicus
Chilean rose tarantula
Phrixotrichus spatulata
Curly Hair Tarantula
Brachypelma albopilosum
Mexican Red-Knee
Brachypelma smithi
Red-legged
Brachypelma emilia
Brazilian Salmon Pink
Lasiodora parahybana
Brazilian Giant White-knee
Acanthoscurria geniculata
Mexican flame-knee
Brachypelma auratum
Mexican fire-leg
Brachypelma boehmei
Brazilian Red and White
Lasiodora cristata