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

Why pythons are deadly hunters • Featuring stories that include a very strange discovery from high up in the Alps, factors that have shaped the anatomy of frogs, the finding of a trio of highly unusual hawk moths, how freshwater turtles have responded to one of the biggest ecological oil disasters in U.S. history and more, beginning with a new discovery about what makes Burmese pythons such fearsome predators. Compiled by G. Valentine.

SURVIVING AN ECOLOGICAL DISASTER

Different pressures shape a frog's front limbs

New insights into the ancestry and vision of snakes

Unusual new hawk moths found

A STRANGE FIND FROM HIGH IN THE ALPS

The return of the crocodile rescuer • Matt Wright is back with a brand new television series, called “Wild Croc Territory” which is available to watch worldwide on Netflix, and, as he explains to David Alderton in this exclusive interview, it's a more authentic view of his life than ever.

Out of Africa Survival under adverse conditions • Paul Donovan looks at the remarkable ways in which reptiles and amphibians are adapted to live under extreme environmental conditions.

Under attack! Bacteria and viruses that cause skin infection in frogs • Settling in newly-acquired frogs can be a slightly worrying time, because their rather sensitive skins allow infections to develop here on their bodies quite easily, following a move. They can also develop skin diseases if kept in unsuitable surroundings. Hannah-Marie Salisbury MSc, BSc (Hons) An Sci explains more.

Changing seasons and their impact

AMPHIBIAN FOCUS • Chinese stripe-necked turtle (Ocadia sinensis)

Family living Introducing the gidgee skink • One of the characteristics of virtually all lizards is that they are solitary by nature, and do not live in groups. But there are a few exceptions, as Tom Middlebrook of Middlebrook Reptiles explains.

New tortoise food launched for Mediterranean species

Passionate about Pituophis snakes! • Craig Robinson, explains why he believes this group of snakes should be more widely-appreciated.

THE COLOURFUL RINGNECK SNAKE Small but mighty! • When it comes to my favourite species today, it is surprising just how many are those that I first kept when I was a child, writes Christian Castille. The subject of this article - the ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus) - is no exception. Back in the days when I started out keeping reptiles, corn snake morphs did not predominate in the hobby as they do today. Instead, it was these small, colourful and inexpensive snakes that were amongst those most frequently available.

Prickly Subjects • The care and breeding of a number of the more popular stick insects in culture – notably the spectacular Malayan jungle nymph (Heteropteryx dilatata) and the small but spiny genera Dares and Epidares are the subject of this article. Ed Baker reports.

Designing your own planted vivarium habitats • After having set up a new vivarium, Dr Jason Randall, MSc talks here about establishing a bioactive substrate and planting matters.

Small-scale farming! • Representing a highly-evolved and complex society, ants are fascinating creatures. And, as Colin Dunlop explains, it is even possible to keep a colony successfully at home and observe them at close...