Practical Reptile Keeping

Practical Reptile Keeping is the only monthly herp care magazine published in English. Launched in 2009, it attracts an international readership and is packed with advice on how to look after and breed snakes, lizards, tortoises, turtles, amphibians and bugs. As well as stunning photography, each issue features technical help, product information and health care advice to keep your animals in tip-top condition, plus breeding details and the latest news relating to this group of creatures from around the world.

Welcome

Snake in a ski mask • Featuring stories that include insights into a snake that actively mimics vipers, the discovery of an incredible blue ant, a growing appreciation that sea turtles caught in fishing nets can suffer the bends, just like divers, plus an insight into how they can be assessed and helped before being released, as well as news about a previously unknown snake from China. There is also new hope in terms of defeating the global chytrid fungal pandemic that is wiping out amphibian populations and indeed entire species, plus more, including the oldest sea reptile fossil ever unearthed in the southern hemisphere, while starting here with a striking new species of snake that has just been found.

Rare blue-coloured ant discovered in India's remote Siang Valley

An amazing viper-mimicking snake from Asia

Catch and release can give sea turtles the bends

New Chinese pit viper discovered

Designing a better nest to help endangered turtles

Discovery could end global amphibian pandemic

Sea reptile fossil is oldest yet found in the Southern Hemisphere

Ten of the world's WEIRDEST LIZARDS! • Timothy Zedi has put together this list of the ten types of lizard that fascinate him. They tend not to be commonly kept, but all of them will make exciting additions to the collections of experienced hobbyists.

Maintaining a night time lifestyle • Professional herpetologist and African resident Paul Donovan considers why some species operate under cover of darkness, and how this situation probably developed.

Living in a desert

REPTILE FOCUS • Amazon toad-headed turtle (Batrachemys (Mesoclemmys) raniceps)

INSIGHTS INTO THE CARE AND BREEDING OF Bolivian boas • The relatively unknown and yet distinctive Bolivian subspecies of the boa constrictor is a particular favourite of snake breeder Robbin S. Robinson, and here he discusses the unique features of these particular snakes.

Starting with poison dart frogs • An experienced U.S. breeder provides advice and tips.

Review your set-up with a critical eye and check:

Coping with an egg-laying crisis • Tortoises may lay unexpectedly outdoors during the summer, and you may suddenly find yourself with eggs and no incubator. David Alderton sets out the signs to watch out for, and suggests what to do next.

Rearing baby tortoises

Life in a tube The anatomy of the serpent • Although their bodies are effectively stuck in a tube, snakes have developed into highly effective predators, being able to slither, climb and swim without limbs. Specialist veterinary surgeon and snake-breeder Dr Tariq Abou-Zahr BVSc, CertAVP(ZooMed), DipECZM(Avian), MRCVS reveals more.

Tarantulas of the New World • Tarantulas excite a range of emotions, but strip away the media hype surrounding them, and this is definitely a case where the truth is more fascinating than fiction. Our American expert picks out those that are most suitable for would-be owners keen to venture into keeping these fascinating arachnids, and also highlights the incredible diversity that exists within this group, in terms of their biology.

Practical Reptile Keeping