Sep302020 by KevinNo Comments
Mossy Frogs

Mossy Frogs

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Mossy frogs are a beautiful species of frog that resemble a clump of moss due to their colouration and lumpy bumpy skin. They occur in the cooler regions of Vietnam and some areas of China occurring in forests, caves and cliff areas, always around water. They are a small to medium sized frog, females are the larger sex growing to around 8-9cm. Many species of frogs are supremely suitable to natural planted terraria or even a paludarium (a natural terrarium with a large water area, often with fish). The balance of nature is relatively easy to achieve with these kinds of housing. The live plants and custodian critters (woodlice etc) sharing the terrarium do a lot of the work for you. Of course a paludarium would also allow you to…
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Sep302020 by KevinNo Comments

Moroccan Uromastyx – Uromastix acanthinura nigriventris

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Uromastyx acanthinurus, as a species occurs throughout North Africa, more or less around the Sahara Desert. This sub-species is allocated to occurring in Morocco, but there is much confusion around this species and its several sub-species (and with many of the other Uromastyx species for that matter). It grows to around 45cm long, females perhaps slightly bigger – males are often said to be brighter coloured and have a broader head. They occur in desert areas, favouring softer earth that will clump so they can burrow – but do occur in rocky areas, cliff faces and other areas where they can jam themselves in crevices rather than making burrows. They are primarily herbivorous eating a wide range of desert plants, leaves, succulents etc – but they will eat ants and…
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Sep302020 by KevinNo Comments

Reptile Systems New Dawn LED lights

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We have been interested in natural panted eco terraria for many years. I can remember is a child attempting to grow plants alongside my reptiles and amphibians in their vivaria. This was some  four decades ago, and needless to say things were not as developed as they are nowadays – it’s easy to be successful nowadays. There is such a great deal of great products, help and advice that should ensure a good success rate for most people. In constructed a multi-vivarium natural terraia department at Coast to Coast Exotics some years ago, and we have actively followed the development of the products that make a big difference to the hobby. One such development is the LED lighting from Reptile Systems.   The first product we tried, some time ago,…
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Aug312020 by KevinNo Comments
Collared lizards

Collared lizards

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Collared lizards are simply one of the prettiest naturally occurring lizards – adult males are gob-smackingly beautiful. The occur in desert and arid regions through Mexico and several southern states of the USA. Not only known for their bright colours, they are a lizard which is known for running on their back legs. Being an arid and desert species they require a vivarium set up likewise. We would recommend a substrate on the floor of the vivarium of ProRep Bio Life Desert which will allow for natural behaviour. Place a choice of hides throughout the vivarium, in the cool and warm areas to give a choice. We always provide some hides that have a level of moisture underneath so the lizards can choose which they prefer, especially when shedding their…
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Aug312020 by KevinNo Comments
Blue Tongue Skinks

Blue Tongue Skinks

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Blue Tongue skinks are one of the more popular skink species due to their larger size and characterful nature. They still have the characteristic skink short legs, which does deter some keepers (too snake-like in appearance), but they are much chunkier, with a very pronounced head – much more appealing looking to many keepers. As the name suggests they have a blue tongue which is thought to be a deterrent to predators. There are several species, subspecies and variants that naturally occur throughout Australia and New Guinea and various Indonesian islands. They are a relatively easy species of lizard to keep, but they do require reasonably large vivaria as adults. They do not spend a great deal of time climbing, so the vivarium needs to be long rather than tall,…
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Aug12020 by KevinNo Comments
Madagascan Giant Day gecko – Phelsuma grandis

Madagascan Giant Day gecko – Phelsuma grandis

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A large species of Day gecko, dwarfing most of it’s relatives at up to around 25-30cm in total length. They are a most impressive looking gecko species, bright intense green, many having red bars or spots. Its easy to see why this species is so popular, they are truly beautiful. They come from Madagascar, but have found themselves establishing colonies away from their native lands in such places as Florida. As the name suggests they are a daytime active species (diurnal) in contrast to many of the gecko species being nocturnal. They eat a mixture of insects, and also sweet nectar. This is easy to replicate in captivity with the huge variety of suitably sized livefood – crickets, locusts, waxworms etc. To satisfy their ‘sweet tooth’ there are many mixes…
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Aug12020 by KevinNo Comments
Yellow Bellied toads – Bombina variegata

Yellow Bellied toads – Bombina variegata

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In the wild the Yellow Bellied toad is a widespread semi-aquatic toad distributed through central Western Europe through to the East and into parts of Asia. Unlike many toads this species never strays far from water and is most commonly found floating on the top of the water in shallow pools, ditches and slow moving streams. They are often found in and around human habitation in temporary bodies of water such as ruts made by tractors and the like. Apart from the bright belly colouration its very notable for its call – a series of calls are made, many liken the sound to a laugh or a cackle. Probably one of the easiest species of amphibian to cater for – decent size shallow water area and a smaller portion of…
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Aug12020 by KevinNo Comments

Horsfields Tortoise – Agrionemys horsfieldii

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Horsfield tortoises (note correct spelling, not Horsefields) have a multitude of common names, one being the Russian tortoise. They do occur in Russia, but more correctly they are further widespread - Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, extending into western China and into South Eastern Russia. The occur in mainly dry terrain, but often in areas that will still allow lush vegetation to thrive. Being a widespread tortoise they are a hardy tortoise that can experience high and low extremes of temperature within the range. However it must be remembered that they will dig burrows to escape those extremes, both aestivating and brumating, and in some parts of their range they do both. A very hardy tortoise species indeed. In reality these natural extremes have evolved this species to be a little…
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Aug12020 by KevinNo Comments

Komodo Turtle / Terrapin Diets

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Turtles, or more commonly referred to as terrapins in the UK, are a common pet. We at Coast to Coast Exotics have never fully “got behind” selling terrapins as we firmly believe there are better pet reptile species to keep. They can be a more complex animal to keep than many people think, and this is reflected in the amount of terrapins in rescue centres – by far the commonest reptile to find themselves homeless. However in the right hands, with people that can cope with their needs they are an interesting and fulfilling animal to keep. Komodo have come up with this rather well thought out range of foods for terrapins that seems to work very well. They are specific to terrapin species needs. Some eat sunken matter, others…
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Aug12020 by KevinNo Comments

Bone Headed toads – Ingerophrynus galeatus

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The Bone Headed toad has several common names including Helmeted toad and Mountain toad. Its easy to see why there is a reference to bony heads, especially with the females – where it is very noticeable. They occur (at least) through Cambodia, Southern China, Vietnam and Laos, at 100-1300m, so the Mountain toad name isn’t as obvious as the reference to bony heads. They are referenced to live close to water, and it would appear they breed in variety of streams and pools. They have been bred in captivity, some years ago, even though they are seldom offered for sale. To keep this species is relatively standard toad husbandry. They don’t want to be kept too wet, toads from this genera prefer to have access to water, but be kept…
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