SE England European Herps

[Podarcis]

Hello All,

I'm looking to expand my collection of European Herps. Looking for Wall Lizards (Podarcis spp. in particular, but anything considered. Based in SE England.

Please feel free to PM me if you have anything you fell may be of interest.

Thanks for reading

NO WILD CAUGHT SPECIES FROM HABITAT DIRECTIVES APPENDIX FROM EC COUNTRIES. DON'T ASK, I'M NOT INTERESTED.

[Alex M]

Originally Posted by Podarcis

Hello All,

I'm looking to expand my collection of European Herps. Looking for Wall Lizards (Podarcis spp. in particular, but anything considered. Based in SE England.

Please feel free to PM me if you have anything you fell may be of interest.

Thanks for reading

NO WILD CAUGHT SPECIES FROM HABITAT DIRECTIVES APPENDIX FROM EC COUNTRIES. DON'T ASK, I'M NOT INTERESTED.

Plenty of Podarcis here in Dorset . I've got a varied collection of European herps which i breed in decent numbers each year (particularly amphibians nowadays though) - let me know what you're after - i already have a good idea of what's likely to breed this year, so i maybe able to help or at least put you on to someone that keeps the species you're requesting. As for Podarcis, plenty of people seem to advertise them throughout the summer months - and are happy to make a quick buck from specimens that they've collected themselves here in Dorset

[Podarcis]

Thanks

Hyla arborea, Psammodromus spp. or Podarcis (not fussy with them at the moment).Bombina variegata. Let me know what you have (PM if you wish) and we'll arrange something. Happy to take advice on best species!

[Alex M]

Originally Posted by Podarcis

Thanks

Hyla arborea, Psammodromus spp. or Podarcis (not fussy with them at the moment).Bombina variegata. Let me know what you have (PM if you wish) and we'll arrange something. Happy to take advice on best species!

Podarcis i can get you for free on the condition they'll be kept in a super secure outdoor vivarium (Don't need any more spreading dangerous pathogens into our native lizards, they've been wiping out our agilis down here in Dorset - as has now been finally proven by the ZSL). Psammodromus are a much harder ask, and if i'm honest i don't believe you'll find any WC let alone CB. There are 1 or 2 floating around in private collections but i know of nobody captive breeding them in the UK, but obviously that's not to say there isn't someone out there doing just that. I've seen 2 Psammodromus in as many years, both were hispanicus that were accidentally brought in with luggage from Iberian holidays - always funny to hear a lacertid vocalise, or should i say squeak, when handled!. As for the variegata, i should have at least nominate v.variegata available late spring, and arborea later on in the summer. Hope this helps, Al

[Podarcis]

Thanks

I was actually planning to keep the Podarcis in a large indoor viv, 4' x 4' 18", heavily planted and complete with real limestone dry stone wall and fountain. However, I will readily bow to experience and if you don't think this will work let me know.

is an Exo-terra viv 19" (h) x12"x12" be too small for H. arborea? I have doubts as to suitability, but can you confirm?

Let me know when you can get Podarcis and we'll sort something out.

[Alex M]

Originally Posted by Podarcis

Thanks

I was actually planning to keep the Podarcis in a large indoor viv, 4' x 4' 18", heavily planted and complete with real limestone dry stone wall and fountain. However, I will readily bow to experience and if you don't think this will work let me know.

is an Exo-terra viv 19" (h) x12"x12" be too small for H. arborea? I have doubts as to suitability, but can you confirm?

Let me know when you can get Podarcis and we'll sort something out.

The indoor viv sounds fine, good dimensions for such an active species. I would watch the fountain though for excess humidity, but that all depends on how well ventilated the vivarium is. I am on a conservation task this Sunday where Podarcis will very much be the topic of the day, the following week i will be assisting one of the team to help remove Podarcis from a relatively new site in Dorset which is periliously close to the stronghold of our native agilis in the Purbecks. It is fairly heavily populated with what are believed to the subspecies brueggemanni from NW Italy (even with DNA testing it may never be known exactly what subspecies they are though). Anyway, most, i believe, will be sent to the ZSL, but i'm happy to keep some back for you - you just need to be able to collect them!. As for the arborea, i see people on here keep them in those dimensions you mentioned, and it's each to their own, but as you asked - i personally feel this is criminally small for such an active species (at least from the evening onwards). 2'/24''/60cm should be the minimum height for an arborea enclosure, they will use every inch, and the width of the cage will not allow them to demonstrate their impressive acrobatics. If you already know this i apologise in advance, but you'll need strong UVB for both species. The Podarcis goes without saying, but arborea should have it too. I have seen them kept in vivaria without it, and the dull muddy frog that sits on his twig looking unhappy is exactly that. They love to bask. Ask anyone who keeps this species in a more natural fashion and they will tell you that arborea love nothing more than basking on sun exposed branches and leaves, even during the height of the summer, croaking and quacking throughout the day. That's when you really appreciate the wonderful vivid green colour that gives them their name .

[colinm]

Better warn the neighbours about the croaking or tell them you have ducks.i can sell you some earplugs

[Alex M]

Originally Posted by colinm

Better warn the neighbours about the croaking or tell them you have ducks.i can sell you some earplugs

You're not wrong Colin - Especially in unison with 12 + other European anuran species. It's the one time where all complaints about the volume of my drumming mysteriously stops, and attention is turned to the cold blooded vocalists . Joking apart, my neighbours are pretty good about it, and it's well known that the village has a distinctly Mediterranean vibe about it during the summer months - most locals seem to enjoy it though (or at least that's what they tell me).

[Podarcis]

Thanks Alex, you have confirmed what I suspected. This is too small, enough said. Hmmm, very tempted by the Podarcis. Whereabouts are you in Dorset? How will the others be going to the ZSL as I will be there for the BHS AGM on the 27th?

[Alex M]

Originally Posted by Podarcis

Thanks Alex, you have confirmed what I suspected. This is too small, enough said. Hmmm, very tempted by the Podarcis. Whereabouts are you in Dorset? How will the others be going to the ZSL as I will be there for the BHS AGM on the 27th?

I am near Wareham. I must really renew my BHS membership, but have been saying that for 15 years. As for the ZSL, either i think all or most Podarcis will be going there (as i understand it). I don't think the ZSL would hand out the Podarcis though for various reasons, but as i say, if you're going to keep them in a safe enclosure away from our native species you're more than welcome to have a few of the specimens that i (hopefully!) noose. And of course there is the EPS ruling but i have spoken to DEFRA about this. My experience is they don't seem overly bothered about implementing it, however that's not to say they wouldn't of course. When the legislation came in i decided it best to declare everything i had, fortunately everything was CB apart from some Mauremys caspica but they never chased this up and i no longer own this species anymore (i only keep Emys orbicularis now). Anyway, as i say, if you can get to Dorset you're welcome to some.

Cheers
Al