Can this be kept as a pet?

[rick01]

they had several Thorny Devils they'd successfully kept for years.

How were they keeping them? Desert Park were definitely having trouble and as I recall were displaying them on a 'keep and release' basis. This was about 4 years back. In any event any that turn up outside Aus. would have to be 'illegals' smuggled out somehow, you can't get a license for them here at all.

Rick

[TWGarland]

Originally Posted by rick01

How were they keeping them? Desert Park were definitely having trouble and as I recall were displaying them on a 'keep and release' basis. This was about 4 years back. In any event any that turn up outside Aus. would have to be 'illegals' smuggled out somehow, you can't get a license for them here at all.

Rick

I went to the desert park too. This was in November of last year. I must admit i didn't see any 'Keep and release' information whilst i was there, maybe things have changed now?

Alice Springs Reptile Centre (ASRC) had loads of them. The way in which they were kept was very different from the Desert Park (DP) though. ASRC kept them in a large outdoor enclosure with plenty of little bushes/hides etc., whilst DS kept them indoors in a comparitively small naturally setup glass vivarium. Maybe that was what made the difference?

In the ASRC they even had little hatchling Thorny Devils that were thriving and Thorny Devils brought in by the public (they're so slow they get hit by cars all the time).

Cheers,

[rick01]

Sounds about right - with a decent size outdoor display I'm guessing that they've also been able to accomodate an ant nest or two which would make a major difference. Think I need to find an excuse to motor on up there, maybe next year - and have a chat with the keepers on how they actually handle the feeding etc.! Aren't the babies cute!!

Rick

[sparkle]

I have forgotten why they NEED a specialist diet.. I know its very imortant if you dont feed them the correct specialist diet you MUST add something very specific to the diet..

this is why so many die in captivity because peole do not cater to their diets properly..

i will try to find the info

[sparkle]

I found this on an austrailian forum written by one of the moderators there, it still doesnt state the exact reason why other insects dont work in captivity.. I know its something to do with nutrients I just cant remember what ones...

I have had the pleasure of caring, breeding, incubating and rearing these guys, joys of working in a Reptile Park in Central Australia I guess!
Keeping thefood up to them was always a task. Summer when its hot the ants are only out dawn and dusk and winter they are only out in the middle of the day! The eat so many ants that the colonies diminish pretty quickly.
The ASDP experimented with feeding wood roaches to hatchlings but they only last 6mths from memory, so substituting their diet is out of the question.
They are stressy lil animals too, not something that you would want to handle all the time due to the stress it would cause them.

They are an amazing species and they have so many quirky things about them, how they eat/drink etc.

But as a general keeper, I dont like your chances! I think you can keep them in SA, but getting a permit for them is not easy. Ppl tend to keep them illegally and they may only last 6-12months, sad really cos basically they starve to death.

They will always be a species that I admire

[captaincaveman]

i think i remember reading a while back that even some australian zoo's rotate their displays recatching new and releasing old because of dietry requirements

[Crownan]

I love it. This thread goes to highlight just how little people really read the threads properly and end up getting their wires crossed!

Thorney Devil and Horned Lizard are not the same thing and should really not be confused!

[TWGarland]

Originally Posted by Crownan

I love it. This thread goes to highlight just how little people really read the threads properly and end up getting their wires crossed!

Thorney Devil and Horned Lizard are not the same thing and should really not be confused!

I thought some people had only suggested the Horned Lizard as an alternative to the Thorny Devil?

Originally Posted by sparkle

I found this on an austrailian forum written by one of the moderators there, it still doesnt state the exact reason why other insects dont work in captivity.. I know its something to do with nutrients I just cant remember what ones...

I have had the pleasure of caring, breeding, incubating and rearing these guys, joys of working in a Reptile Park in Central Australia I guess!
Keeping thefood up to them was always a task. Summer when its hot the ants are only out dawn and dusk and winter they are only out in the middle of the day! The eat so many ants that the colonies diminish pretty quickly.
The ASDP experimented with feeding wood roaches to hatchlings but they only last 6mths from memory, so substituting their diet is out of the question.
They are stressy lil animals too, not something that you would want to handle all the time due to the stress it would cause them.

They are an amazing species and they have so many quirky things about them, how they eat/drink etc.

But as a general keeper, I dont like your chances! I think you can keep them in SA, but getting a permit for them is not easy. Ppl tend to keep them illegally and they may only last 6-12months, sad really cos basically they starve to death.

They will always be a species that I admire

Could you send me the link to this info, that actually sounds like it was written be a guy i worked with whilst i was out there.

Thanks

[Crownan]

Originally Posted by TWGarland

I thought some people had only suggested the Horned Lizard as an alternative to the Thorny Devil?

Thanks

No, people are getting them confused. Statements like "MY mate had a few of these but they died" or "My local shop has a few of these in".

They arent Thorney devils as they just arent available to get hold of, they're horned lizards but there are numerous posts along the lines of the quotes above even though the difference has been pointed out on a few occasions.

Horned lizards arent an 'alternative' as the Thorney Devils just arent available, so Horned Lizards are the only option.

[TWGarland]

Originally Posted by Crownan

No, people are getting them confused. Statements like "MY mate had a few of these but they died" or "My local shop has a few of these in".

They arent Thorney devils as they just arent available to get hold of, they're horned lizards but there are numerous posts along the lines of the quotes above even though the difference has been pointed out on a few occasions.

Horned lizards arent an 'alternative' as the Thorney Devils just arent available, so Horned Lizards are the only option.

I think the majority who've posted in this thread aren't confused and are on topic. I've quite enjoyed this thread. Surely if Thorny Devils aren't available (as i know they are not) then the Horned Lizard is the only similar alternative?