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

New snakes discovered • Featuring stories that include the remarkable rediscovery of the rarest snake in the United States, why the loss of amphibians has harmed human health in Central America, the finding of a relative of the tuatara, new insights into the ongoing aerial battle between bats and moths, and more, starting with the discovery of three new species of snake in Ecuador.

RAREST U.S. SNAKE REDISCOVERED

MALARIA THRIVES AGAIN IN AMPHIBIANS' ABSENCE

AN AERIAL BATTLE EVENED UP

A terrible toll on turtles

New relative of the tuatara found

Starting with amphibians • An increasing range of amphibians are now being kept and bred today. With proper care, these animals will thrive in collections and can live surprisingly long lives: some species have a life expectancy of well over 20 years. James Brereton MSc explains some of the main points that you need to consider when keeping these fascinating animals.

Out of Africa Striking out • Paul Donovan considers the unique hunting methods displaying by chameleons and various amphibians, which rely on a projectile tongue for this purpose.

THE IDEAL SMALL TERRESTRIAL GECKO! • Do you only have a small amount of space available for a vivarium? Are you looking for something other than a leopard gecko? Here's an interesting suggestion from Andy Knott.

Hibernation for a Hermann's tortoise

REPTILE FOCUS • Dragon snake (Xenodermus javanicus)

Creating a real buzz! Introducing the bumblebee walking toad • Snakes generally tend to occupy my thought patterns when I am in a reptile store, but on this occasion, my attention fell on a very active and attractive jet black and glossy gold toad with bright red feet, writes Arcadia Reptile's Product Manager, John Courteney-Smith MRSB, FLS.

The Forgotten Factor: humidity in the vivarium • People often talk about the importance of correct lighting and heating for the health of reptiles, but one area of the vivarium environment that is still frequently overlooked in this regard is humidity. Yet as Paul Donovan explains, this is a crucial consideration for all species.

Two lizards to consider • If you're looking for something slightly different to add to your collection, here are a couple of possibilities.

GETTING TO GRIPS WITH garters • For many years, garter snakes have been dismissed rather as beginner's choices, especially given the increasing number of other species now featuring in the hobby. However, garter snakes offer something for everyone, whether you are a novice or a more experienced keeper.

Hybridisation: an exciting prospect or a moral dilemma? • The concept of species hybridisation is one of the most controversial and hotly-debated topics in herpetoculture today. It seems to divide opinion straight down the middle. But is there more to it than the traditional "it's not natural" argument? Geneticist Dr Andy Tedder argues that there is, and explains more about the background to this debate.

Starting out with Stick Insects • Ranking as experts in animal camouflage, stick insects or 'walking sticks'are pets which will not disturb anyone, but that doesn't mean they're boring…

Sparks of inspiration: understanding the nervous system of reptiles • While the comparative anatomy of the brain,...