RAW DOG REPTILES

WEEK 52!! Wrapping it up FINALLY after a long break, this week is the Sphaerodactylus nigropunctatus!!!!!

2011-10-20T23:07:00.003-04:00

Well, thanks to everybody that came over here to look at some of my personal favorite species of reptile and amphibian to make it into captivity :) Of course this list is finite, and the species of incredible cold blooded creatures is nearly endless, I will continue to update this blog with new and exciting species! This week is the Sphaerodactylus nigropunctatus! A relatively small gecko, occasionally referred to as 'microgecko' is found in tropical islands such as the Bahamas, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and some other very small remote islands in the Caribbean sea. I really enjoy this gecko for obvious reasons. Straight up, their patterns are just ridiculous, and the sexual dimorphism exhibited truly ads to their appeal. These geckos are known to be mainly terrestrial residing in the leaf litter on the tropical forest floor. Being crepuscular, they are most active during dusk and at dawn. They feed on very small insects and in captivity will do fine on pinhead crickets and fruit fly's. Without further ad`oue~ I present to you.......The Black Spotted Least Gecko :D Special thanks to Jason Pierce for taking and letting me use this photo for the blog!

WEEK 51! One more left after this one. This week is the elusive Afroedura hawequensis!!!! wtf?!?!

2011-07-14T13:01:00.002-04:00

Indeed, you may be asking yourself, WHAT THE FUCK is an Afroedura hawequensis?! TRUE! I really don't know either, but these beauties were brought to my attention after pleas to geckoholics worldwide in an attempt to wrap up this series with a finale BANG! Residing in South Africa and commonly referred to as the Hawequa Flat gecko or Cape rock gecko, I really could not find more than one crummy picture or any information on these extremely rare geckos online. These pictures and all the information that I know about these geckos came from Jon Boone (www.jonboone.com) and therefore cannot take credit for that! Pictured are two forms, a Southern form which is the majority of the pictures, and the Northern form. Enjoy!

WEEK 50!!!! 2 more to go! This week: Woodworthia brunneus!!!

2011-06-08T11:38:00.005-04:00

Another live bearing reptile on the database of awesomeness, this gecko, like animals in the Naultinus genus are endemic to New Zealand. Commonly known as the Canterbury gecko, these amazing creatures were once categorized as a Hopolodactylus and subsequently re-classified into the Woodworthia genus. These animals pictured were photographed by Jon Boone (http://www.jonboone.com/), and hopefully in the preferrably not so distant future will have some in my care =) It would appear that the females pictured are quite pregnant and it would be nice to see some offspring from the devilish beauties in due time! Well, stay tuned for two more hard hitting herps in the weeks to come!!! Enjoy.....

WEEK 49, Three more left after this one! This week is the Eublepharis hardwickii aka The East Indian Leopard Gecko!!!

2011-06-07T10:19:00.003-04:00

This large Eublepharidae is native to Eastern India, ie. Bangladesh, Chittagong, Russelconda, and even Anamallai, wherever the fuck that is?! lol just kidding. There's not too much written on these geckos, even in the eyelash gecko book that was published. These pictures were taken by Jon Boone (www.jonboone.com) of animals produced at his facility and from their looks they are not only very big, but the black and yellow's are really impressive. From what I have been told, these geckos prefer a moist environment unlike the typical 'leopard gecko' where that term seems to encompass a broad array of species. If you'd like to read a little bit more information and 'like' them on facebook you can click here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eublepharis-hardwickii/102592406462377?sk=info Here are some pics of an animal that just emerged from the egg and others that are younger juveniles. Enjoy!

WEEK 48, 4 more to go.....This week: Phelsuma guimbeaui!

2011-05-22T14:47:00.003-04:00

Ok, so I've decided to add another Phelsuma gecko to the countdown just because I really like the looks of these guys right here. They are simply amazing in coloration, pattern, and they get quite large which I like. They are very fast geckos that were introduced on several Hawaiian island and now a days people are catching the wild populations over there to help increase genetic diversity in local collection genetics as all Phelsuma are CITES listed species and I do not believe that they are being exported from Madagascar any more. But please correct me if I am wrong, it wouldn't be the first time lol. Here are some pictures of my captives, enjoy! :D

WEEK 47!!! Just like my AK, this week is another hard hitter! 5 more left after this one.....Haemodracon riebeckii!!!!

2011-05-11T22:16:00.000-04:00

OK, so check me out right here, this is a genus consisting of 2 species that are endemic to Socotra island; riebeckii being the first and trachyrhynus the second. I really don't know all that much about these geckos aside from that they come from a hot arid desert location, and that they are typically found on or around the dragon's blood tree. From what I have been told, they get pretty large, in excess of 12 inches or so (refraining from joke here lol). There aren't many of these in the reptile hobby currently which interests me, so hopefully I can produce a few offspring down the road. Well here are some pics of my animals. enjoy......

WEEK 46!!!! Breaking 4K on page views, this week brings in a whole new genus and gecko: Rhoptropus boultoni!!!!

2011-05-11T15:34:00.003-04:00

Endemic to the Southern parts of Africa including Namibia, and Angola Boulton's namib day gecko is not your 'ordinary' malagasy day gecko. These animals are commonly found absorbing heat on rock outcrops, and I have noticed that they really like the hot temperatures as they like to congregate under my spotlight which can easily get to 100F. They are arboreal in nature, and are not commonly seen in the hobby, but I could see that changing as they are an interesting captive. Here are a few pics. I apologize for taking longer than usual to update the species on this page, and therefore will have a few species in rapid succession to catch myself up :D Oli

WEEK 45, lemme pull out this .45 ACP and blast at will right here, this week we got the hot to death Paroedura androyensis!

2011-04-27T14:30:00.004-04:00

Another beauty from Madagascar and the 2nd Paroedura on the countdown, these animals just have some awesome character. Preferring the environment on the warmer and dryer side these animals simply are beautiful and eat wonderfully! No force feedings needed here folks, these are not picky eaters Accompanied by beautiful patterns that vary significantly from animal to animal, they have some really cool tail action, especially when they have been fed. They wave their tails around real slowly which I believe is to distract the prey so that they can lunge and dis-orient the insects. Here are a few pics:

WEEK 44!!!! Got my mothafuckin .44 mag out!!! 8 more, let's go! This week=Chondrodactylus angulifer!

2011-04-15T13:48:00.003-04:00

This gecko is another gecko from the Western Africa and it overlaps it's territory with previous countdown species such as the Ptenopus, Colopus, and the Pachydactylus rugosus. This beautiful gecko pictures can vary considerably in color and shading depending on locality, and there is known to be a larger subspecies (Chondrodactylus angulifer namibiensis). The pictured animals are from the locale of Little Karoo, and tend to have darker coloring/blotching than the more typical reddish varieties. They are all very very cool. They are a very bulky framed gecko that can definitely hold it's own and doesn't seem to have any problem beasting crickets or other small invertebrates shamelessly. This gluttonous savage is not shy when it comes to eating which is a characteristic I relish in an animal. Enjoy!

WEEK 43!!! Only 9 weeks more to go, damn....Time is flying by!!! This week I'm repping the Asaccus genus including the gallagheri.....

2011-04-03T00:15:00.004-04:00

There's just no common name for these geckos right here, but seriously they are just crazy looking! Somewhat like a C. elok, but more colorful, and these geckos are from Morocco. I really don't know all that much about these geckos nor do I personally keep any, these pictures were taken and their use has been authorized by Jon Boone (www.jonboone.com <----excellent reference page for an immense number of gecko species!) Perhaps one day these animals will be in my care mmmuuhhaaahaahahaha. lol Here are some pics of an extraordinary genus including the gallagheri, caudivoluvus, and platyrhynchus.

WEEK 42, ONLY ten more after this one!!! This week is the vibrant and stunning Panther Chameleon aka Furcifer Paradalis

2011-03-25T20:59:00.003-04:00

Ok, so here's another fine example of a malagasy lizard that's characteristics are very peculiar to a traditional gecko keeper such as myself. This specie comes from the Northern tropical forests of Madagascar, and their individual color schemes and patterns or lack there of is dependent on the locale that the animal comes from. Locales such as Ambilobe, Sambava, Tamatave, Nosy Be, and Ankify to name a few have their own populations of Panther Chameleons and the colors vary greatly from each of these areas. Females are more plain in color, going from browns to greys and bearing pinks and oranges as well, while the males are the colorful animals. These animals really catch one's eye regardless of what you are or are not into, even if you are a dog person ;) lol Here are some pics.........

WEEK 41, only a few months left of this shit...This week is the helmeted gecko aka Geckonia chazaliae!!!

2011-03-18T00:53:00.003-04:00

So these beauties are really cool little geckos coming from the coastal areas of Morocco and parts of Senegal. The helmeted geckos as they are commonly referred to are very interesting and curious looking animals that have a ridge which almost resembles a triceratops somewhat in my eyes. These guys grow to be about 3.5-4 inches, and that is from the tip of their nose to the tip of the tail, not SVL. They are easily cared for with a sand substrate and a few hides with hot spot temps around 90. Their native coastal environment is known to be quite humid, even though Morocco is typically a dry desert environment. These geckos eagerly devour small insects of many varieties, and they are completely terrestrial in nature and have no toe pads for climbing vertical surfaces. A new addition to Raw doggie family, I find that these geckos have a special appeal to me for some reason? Perhaps it is that they are such good eaters and they are very bulky which is attractive, but they emit a good hora, and their vibes are truly positive and uplifting. lol Here are some pics......

WEEK 40, only 12 more left after this one! This week is the Rhacodactylus chahoua!

2011-03-09T11:58:00.004-05:00

Another New Caledonian gecko that has become very popular as of the last several year, this gecko in captivity either reigns from the Mainland or from the Pine Island. Pictured are animals from the Pine Island since they are in my opinion more impressive color and pattern wise. Their mossy and lichen pattern effectively disguises them in their native forests. These arboreal predators also consume fruit and nectars and grow to be relatively large and as the genus states are closely related to some of the other popular New Caledonian geckos such as the leachianus, crested gecko, sarasinorum, trachy's, and auriculatus. Here are a few pics of some choice animals from the Leapin' Leachies lineages.....

WEEK 39, this week is the savage and diabolic satanic leaf tail gecko, ie. Uroplatus phantasticus

2011-03-02T11:18:00.002-05:00

So again, over here we are representing another leaf tailed gecko hailing from the island of Madagascar in the countdown, not because we are biased towards this genus, but because the undeniable beauty of these animals is quite alluring. Mimicking a leaf, these arboreal geckos come from humid rich forests that bloom with insect life. Why are they know commonly as 'satanic' leaf tails? I don't know, just look at them, their eyes look pretty fierce! I have to give it up to Matt Kosakowski for hooking me up with pictures of his beautiful collection of these as well as the dope enclosure's that they consider their homes. Since nobody really reads this far anyways, I'm just gonna post the picks....enjoy ;)

WEEK .38, gonna pull out my .38 special as this gecko is just killer!!! Uroplatus pietschmanni a.k.a. the corkbark leaftail gecko!!!

2011-02-23T12:00:00.003-05:00

This is a gecko that gets a lot of hype from the gecko community and for those that can appreciate an incredible specie for what it is...Another Uroplatus and therefore reigning from Madagascar, these animals just blow me away with their fat toe pads and almost perfect camoflauge appearance when on wood or cork. These beauties are still up on my list of species to get. These pictures were taken by Charles Mullen of his beautiful specimen, and many thanks go to him for the photo's! Enjoy these guys and if you would like to sell me a CB pair, please let me know :) OLi

WEEK 37, this week we're reppin' the Chinese cave gecko aka Goniurosaurus orientalis

2011-02-16T11:26:00.002-05:00

HeYO! What's up what's good ladies and gentlemen, gentlemen and ladies?! So I figured I'd spice up this week with some more colorful schematics in regards to the luxurious Tokashiki or Tonaki Ground Gecko (also falsely referred to as the 'chinese leopard gecko') as this gecko is just one that jumps right out at you in regards to pattern and vivid coloration. This species is known to inhabit only 4 small islands off the coast of Japan, and they are just one of several species in this genus. Enjoying a damp, cool climate these geckos can be easily housed and kept without the need for additional heat sources as they loathe the heat and prefer a room temperature like climate. These are another type of gecko with eye-lids so they don't have to sleep with their eyes open ;) Much respect and thanks to Bruce Daniels for the pictures of his amazing animals, hopefully i will be adding them to my collection soon! cough cough lol :D

GECKOTIME: Brumation article

2011-02-16T10:27:00.002-05:00

My few pennies on brumation here: http://www.geckotime.com/gecko-brumation/

And a previous word on my experience so far with the naultinus grayii here: http://www.geckotime.com/naultinus-grayii-the-northland-green-gecko/

Above is another writing in a British reptile keeping magazine from your's truly! Seems like they were hurtin' for someone to write them an article hahahaha ;)

WEEK 36!!! Same shit, different toilet!! This week is getting dedicated to the almighty Ball Python!!

2011-02-11T11:55:00.003-05:00

Some question my decision for this week as to why I chose the ohh so prevalent ball python? Well, first off, this python has so many color morphs and pattern variations that the opportunities are limitless in regards to color schemes and genetic combinations, and secondly, a HUGE part of the reptile industry is in the trade of this one species and the python regius is a multi-million dollar 'pet trade' now-a-days. And of course some of the morphs are hands down just straight up incredible looking, even if you aren't a 'morph person'. Personally, I am tired of going to a reptile show and walking around to see that 50% of all vendors are ball python breeders, but hey there must be a massive demand for these guys or those vendors would not continuously be at the shows. Well, here are just a few examples of some basic morphs......

WEEK 35, This week is the Cyrtodactylus elok!!!

2011-02-02T13:47:00.002-05:00

OK, so here we go again with the species of the week, and this week after much inquiry and speculation I have nominated the Malaysian Bent-toe gecko as an appropriate candidate to add to the list. This gecko is quite rare in the wild, and also in captivity. The animals in captivity are mostly imports, yet there are a few individuals that have had success in producing some F2 animals and this is really what we need to push for. These geckos are just incredible looking! Their tail is so dope and their eyes and pattern are just amazing! A truly voracious predator that likes to chill either in the decaying leaf matter or up on some wood it is very interesting how they can cling to the glass of their tanks despite having claws rather than toe pads. A lot more research needs to be done with this species and therefore I am trying to raise awareness of these amazing beings here on this blog. Enjoy.....

WEEK 34!!!! What the deal daddy? Oh, it's the 2nd amphibian of the series, WH@T?! Neurergus kaiseri!!!!

2011-01-24T12:54:00.003-05:00

These newts grow to about 5 inches, sometimes slightly larger. Their incredible pattern and coloration make them one of the most sought after newts on this earth. They originate in a small section of Iran that is said to be about 10 square Kilometers, and illegal pet trade markets have turned them to an endangered specie which is listed as a CITES I animal making their international transportation extremely tricky and very regulated. Animals can be set up either in an aquatic fashion or in a terrestrial like enclosure with hides. My animals enjoy eating black worms and bloodworms, and when they get a bit larger I will offer them little earthworms and it would be nice to even get them eating pellets too. enjoy!!

WEEK 33!!! 19 left after this one! This week I'm presenting ya'll with a primitive specie of gecko the Aeluroscalabotes felinus a.k.a. the cat gecko

2011-01-18T23:46:00.000-05:00

Well, these are some interesting creatures right here, that's for sure. These animals come from several different areas including but possibly not limited to Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, Thailand, and I believe Cambodia as well. This being the case there are several phenotypical variances between the animals from certain locales and there is also some talk about this specie being separated into several rather than just the one, but I am no expert on scientific nomenclature so let's just move on with all that here-say as it is neither here nor there. Right here, right now, we are concentrating on some broad, and general info on the specie, and more importantly, yes indeed, you guessed it, some pictures ;) Well, from the little I know of these geckos, there are a few cool variations in the size of the animal as well as eye color, and the two that command respect and special recognition are the rare Johor silver eyed and an animal which is a bit larger than the average cat geckos, the Borneo green eyed variety. All of these animals are very unique, not only in their appearance (prehensile, curled tails, the way they sleep like a kitty cat, and their retractable claws) but in their slow movements and behavior in general. They are for me a cool little project that I am always looking to learn more on and for that reason they are here on the countdown....enjoy the pics peeps!!!

WEEK 32 already? wtf?! Lordhavemercy!!! This week is another African gecko....Colopus kochi !

2011-01-10T13:07:00.001-05:00

OK, so you question what is this whole African gecko thing that's going on over here at the Raw Dog Ranch you say? Well, simply answered it comes down to the fact that I have had my eye on these animals for a while and have decided to branch out from the traditional Aussie species which is really getting me amped up!!! I call these guys the snoop-dogs (or snoop doggy dogs for all you old school cats out there ;) of the gecko world! You may think, hmmmm, why would the O-dog call these that? The fact here is as follows: One, this gecko is a tall and lanky like snoop and two, they are African-American lol. j/k And three, they seem to walk with a swagger which shows attitude, and they are from the desolate, abandoned ghetto gravel fields of the namib where they are adequately evolved to live in such a harsh terrain. The ghostly appearance of these geckos is absolutely frightening, and since their eggs take anywhere from 1.5 - 2 years to incubate makes them the longest incubating egg specie of any reptile!!! Well, enough of the bs....let's go.......

WEEK 31 SON!!! This week is another Namibian Gecko God, the Ptenopus carpi!!!

2011-01-04T22:22:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR fellow herpers!!!! And Wow, this gecko is simply amazing!!! I just cannot believe how cool of a gecko these are, this is another specie from the Skeleton Coast of Namibia. They come from the desolate, barren landscape also where our last weeks gecko came from. These guys are fairly small and are known for their loud chirps that they shout at night. And without further adieu` . This specimen is a red eyed version of the ptenopus carpi. Enjoy!!!

WEEK 30 Crackaz!!! This week is an Aussie leaf tail gecko aka Saltarius wyberba!!!!!

2010-12-27T22:09:00.001-05:00

So another day another dollar, another week another species on the Raw Dog Weekly!!! So here is a incredible example of a leaf tail gecko coming from the granite outcrops of Australia. This beauty has a flat physique with a carrot shaped tail, and is a mottled grey color that is excellent camouflage in it's native environment. This gecko prefers to be kept humid and is a hardy captive that will lay about 2-4 clutches per season in captivity. The S. wyberba is a large geckos that will devour most any insects and is no picky eater. Here's a few snap shots for ya'll.......enjoy and have a safe, healthy, productive, happy, and successful new years people!!!! Oli

WEEK 29 Suckaz!!! Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukkah, Happy Kwanza!!!! This week is the week of the Namibian web-footed gecko ie.Pachydactylus vanzyli

2010-12-21T11:30:00.000-05:00

OK, so now I'm hypin' up the countdown with a specie from Africa, the second Pachy of the countdown in fact! This gecko is an inhabitant of the Skeleton Coast of Africa where it lives it's life in a desolate and harsh environment far from any civilization of man. This gecko must endure the extremes; from very hot to very cold in a matter of hours! It closely resembles the Pachydactylus rangei, but lacks the webbing on it's front legs and is much more uncommon in the game. These geckos were once called Palmato geckos, now being re-classified in the genus Pachydactylus, enjoy the pics and have a safe holiday people!!! Squallah!

WEEK 28!!!! What it is, huuhhhh? The Uroplatus henkeli leaftail gecko!

2010-12-13T11:30:00.000-05:00

Another beauty coming straight outta Madagascar this massive gecko specie likes to rest on bark with it head down awaiting it's next meal. Almost totally camo'ed out it bears frills to conceal its' shadown where it's posterior meets it's anterior and almost appears bearded. These guys are just another impressive example of beauty, their eyes are intense, looking like complex artwork inside of a glass bead. Savage feeders, these animals are known to dive bomb prey with the intensity of a ferrel rabied rottweiler! Preferring cool and high humid environments these animals can vary greatly from animal to animal...Here they are:

WEEK 27 @ THE RAW DOG WEEKLY we's is bringin' you one of the slept on creepers The Galiswasp Skink a.k.a Diploglossus lessonae!!!

2010-12-06T11:24:00.000-05:00

Yea, uh huh, yea...that's right all you sicko reptile freaks (lol jk) now I'm bringing to you a skink that I can really get down with. Unlike last weeks beasts, this skink is much more low key in that it rolls in the leaf litter in jungles and scrub forests of Brazil. It's young, which happen to be birthed, come out with black and white striping which has been said to be the doppelganger to a viscious and poisonous centipede and therfore dissuading potential predation to an extent. They grow into a really pretty smooth looking skink with a nice orange patch on their side, and they are straight carnivores. I have pictured some juveniles to adults, so you can see the baby, a transitional animal, and an adult for reference to how they change throughout their lives. These skinks can live to be around 10 years of age blah blah blah.... Here you are folks, only on the weekly countdown of the coolest reptiles and amphibians in captivity will you find this kind of greatness!!! Until next week!!!!

WEEK 26!!! The shingleback skink aka Tiliqua rugosa!!!

2010-11-29T09:59:00.000-05:00

OK, so this week is the week of the skink, even though their will be at least one other (hint!) This is one of the most sought after animals in the reptile community and demands quite a hefty price, commonly referred to as the bobtail skink or sleepy lizard this animal is slow and feasts on mostly snails and vegetation. This lizard can grow to lengths of 25 inches and it can also birth from 1 to 4 live young per season. Another interesting fact about this animal is that they are monogamous and that the juveniles remain with their parents for several months after birth which is very uncommon of any cold blooded specie! Here are a few pics for your fix.....

WEEK 25 shunnie, doing this like bosses, this week we gots the feared Gila MONSTAH!!! BOOOO!!! AHAHAHA, scared ya didn't I? lol

2010-11-23T11:47:00.000-05:00

As we creep up to the half way point of this series, The Cold Blood Weekly we come across one of the only venemous lizards in the world, the Gila Monster aka. Heloderma suspectum cinctum. A very close relative to the only other venemous lizard the Mexican beaded lizard, the Gila displays an armored exterior with bone fragments surrounded by scales to protect it's person (or lizard should I say). Dining mostly on eggs and rodents this beast burrows tunnels and is known to eat it's fill during only 3 months of the year! It enjoys moist and cool environments and can be tamed quite nicely with a little handling...Enjoy

WEEK 24, Yes sir!!!!! This week is the first turtle of the countdown, the Geoemyda spengleri!!!!

2010-11-10T10:24:00.000-05:00

Commonly known as the Vietnamese Leaf Turtle this specie loves cool and humid environments and can not tolerate heat all that well. They will eat a wide variety of prey items such as crickets, snails, earthworms, pinkies, etc and the list goes on to include vegetables and fruits. I have noticed that G. spengleri are aggressive and savage feeders when fed crickets. They actively stalk and attack prey items which is really cool to watch. As you can see from the pics, they have long necks, a hooked snout, and big bulgy eyes which make them have a really funny appearance. They enjoy soaking in a water bowel, but they are mainly found chilling out on a mixture of peat, sand, and leaf litter which is constantly moist. They can lay only 1 or 2 eggs per season and only reach a maximum of 4.5 inches in length making them a really nice compact specie which are really entertaining to observe. Well here they are......

WEEK 23!!!! OHHHH SNAP, That's right, this week we got one of the hottest geckos on the planet!!!! Paroedura masobe!!!! You knew they were coming!!

2010-10-29T23:26:00.000-04:00

So you ask, why another gecko on the countdown??? Good question really, but for that we got a simple answer, because we're biased and partial to geckos over here obviously lol. The first time I saw a photo of this gecko I almost shit myself, but I was truly in love when I saw this specie first hand for the first time! I hear all the time that pictures don't do an animal justice, but this is truly the case with the paroedura masobe, they're no joke people! This is just another fine example of the beauty that comes from madagascar....Here they are without further adi`ew ;)

WEEK 22, what the deal daddy?!?!?! Huhhh??? The legendary Green Tree Python...Check these bitchin' snakes out right here!!!!!

2010-10-15T10:21:00.000-04:00

These magnificent creatures are just a splendid example of how truly cool a snake can be. Being the first snake of the countdown I wanted to make this a massive ordeal, so here are some pictures of the nicest GTP's that I have ever seen. Special thanks to David Bellis for taking these pictures and allowing me to use them on this site as they are his animals! I got my eye on the little juvie Canary GTP, so hopefully she will be coming to the rawest collection of cold blooded martyr's in the near future to be added to what is becoming one of the most beautiful assortment of reptiles and amphibian congregations to date, yea that's right! My apartment!!! lol ;) Hey I'm workin' on it!!! Too di lew, til next week!!!!

WEEK 21 NYUCKAZ, BBBRRRAAATTTTTTTTT!!!! This week I'm listing a general group of amphibians, the poison dart or arrow frogs!!!

2010-09-30T11:41:00.000-04:00

OK, so technically I just can't keep this post to just one specie of PDF in captivity as there are soooo many cool species all varying in color size and personality. I have a love for these small frogs and just can't seem to get enough of them and their looks! They are just soo cool to watch eat and hop around. Coming from numerous areas of S. America these frogs were originally known by their poisonous skin excretions that tribal peeps would use to lace up their arrow tips with to kill others with. Not a frog to be licked people! Fortunately though these frogs do not have poisonous characteristics in captivity as they do not feed on insects that consume toxic plants as they would in the wild. Pictured are some of the individuals that I have at my residences as of today (and the terribilis were pictured at a friends facility ;)....enjoy.

WEEK 20! Countin' em down with the freshest cold blooded killers in the game! This week the hot to death Fiji Island Iguana aka Brachylophus fasciat

2010-09-27T10:15:00.000-04:00

This stunning iguana is just amazing looking! This animal, being arboreal by nature is highly endangered and isn't exactly common in collections. This picture was taken in Germany where there were several individuals being sold for massive sums of money, but due to the fact that they require Cites paperwork makes them very difficult to traffic back to the US for myself or others interested in this magnificent animal. This iguana is endemic to the islands of Fiji and Tonga and is a very isolated specie of the iguana family only growing to about 2 feet in length. Diurnal by nature males are striped like the individual pictured and females are a solid color and both can change their skin colors to match their surroundings with the quickness. Here's a pic:

WEEK 19!!! This Week we coming at ya with some HOT shit to spice things up a bit!

2010-09-21T23:55:00.000-04:00

OK, so it's been a little while and I apologize for the delay in some visual pleasures, and I apologize as well for those facebook fiends that have already seen some of these pictures, but I can only produce a certain amount of photo's!!! I'm not a photographer(obviously, look at some of the blurry pics up on here! lol ;), but all bullshit aside I enjoy snapping a pic or two of some beautiful animals that I encounter here and there. This week I'm putting up a picture of one of the deadliest snakes on this earth. This lucrid has been known to have the biggest fangs proportionately to any other venemous snake, and can get as thick as my thigh! They can grow in excess of five feed and their color, pattern, and sheer head size is pretty impressive to say the least. Not to mention that they have horns as well! This personal snake has NEVER refused a meal yet. I have fed her rat after rat after rat on many occasions and she will just eat one after the other just like they are some chicken nuggets. I think at one feeding I fed her 6 adult soft furred rats over the course of an hour and she had no problem devouring them all. Well, enough said, here she is the West African Gaboon Viper!!!

WEEK 18 HOLLA ATCHA BOY!!!!! This week we got the Strophrurus ciliaris ciliaris!!!

2010-09-07T13:01:00.000-04:00

Hello again, this week I'm taking off to the Hamm Germany reptile show and figured I would throw up a specie which is quite common in Europe, but not so common here in the US. Unfortunately genetics on the spiny tailed gecko have become shot out here in the states and not so many people are producing them like there once were. At one time this was one of the most common of the strophurus in the states, but now it is hard to get your hands on some quality individuals that will produce viable offspring. I'm off to Germany to get my hands on some new genes to contribute to the local US gene pool and to take some pictures of some other sweet animals so I can throw them up here on the countdown!!! Hopefully I will be able to post again next week from the EU, but only time will tell!!! Til next time, teu di lou....

WEEK 17!?!? HUUUHHHH???? What what!!! This week we add another sweet specimen to the countdown, the Rhacodactylus chahoua!!!!

2010-09-01T01:21:00.000-04:00

This animal can display some serious varieties of colors, patterns, and blotches it's camouflage is indeed spectacular! Coming from several locations in New Caledonia this animal is by far my absolute favorite of the rhacodactylus of the genus. Loving humidity and omnivorous by nature this specie has a voracious appetite not only for insects but also for nectars or MRP's. Some examples of these animals are just amazing, while there are many others out there that exhibit somewhat bland and ordinary pattern and color. Ahhh whatever, nobody's probably reading this anyways so I'm just gonna go straight to the pictures, and quit with the narrative, what's the use?! lol Enjoy the pics, please email me any future animal requests for the countdown to oliverkuepper2001@yahoo.com.....peace!!!!

WEEK 16 Playboy!!!! This week I'm displaying a new acquisition the abronia graminea!

2010-08-25T10:38:00.000-04:00

OK, so another week of the countdown and I needed to display this animal as it is a new captive for me and I am just utterly impressed with these lizards. Hailing out of cloud forests at high elevations in Southern Mexico (Me` he~ co) and Northern Guatemala this animal is known as the crocodile lizard. To thrive in captivity this beauty needs cooler temperatures, humid and ample air flow, and rather high UVB requirements. Characterized by shiny green scalation that does not overlap on top of black skin the unique look of this animal is unlike anything else I have witnessed to date. Next week will be the first amphibian of our countdown, so stay tuned playa! One

WEEK 15!!! 37 more reptiles and amphibians to countdown, this week is the diplodactylus galeatus!!!

2010-08-17T14:09:00.000-04:00

This gecko is a smaller, robust terrestrial gecko known for its' amazing pattern and look. commonly known as the 'mesa gecko' this specie just wow'd the shit out of me the first time I saw them! They truly are an impressive captive. They hail straight outta the deserts of Australia; this gecko has a fierce appetite and lays eggs slightly larger than a tic-tac. A relatively simple and easy captive they can be kept in pairs or trio's or even larger groups without any problems as long as there is only one male present. The patterns on the diplodactylus galeatus can vary greatly between individuals so no two are exactly alike; no different than a snowflake.

WEEK 14-AND YOU KNOW THIS?! MANG.......Oedura Coggeri!!!

2010-08-10T10:29:00.000-04:00

Wow suprisingly I am still being vigilant about updating this blog on a weekly basis and it is cool that some people actually check it out! Well, this week is the oedura coggeri, known as the Australian velvet gecko for it's extremely small scales and very soft skin this gecko is arboreal in nature and can vary a good amount in its' pattern. Generally this Oedura is a smaller example of the genus, but in my eyes it is the most beautiful as well. As of recently the Oedura species have almost fallen off as a captive specie as interest has considerably reduced among enthusiasts which I think is kinda sad. Oedura are an extremely hardy captive that is perfect for any newcomer to the reptile/gecko hobby. They breed easily and all they require is a humid environment, food, corkbark, and some insects and they are happy as hell. Be forewarned though, they can be masters in the art of escape! But they almost always don't stray far at all from their enclosures....Here they are peeps:

Lucky week No. 13 on the illest reptile blog with under 2,000 visitors BLOOWWW!!! This week we livin' it up with the nephrurus/underwoodisaurus milli

2010-08-02T22:05:00.000-04:00

One of the sweetest most personable geckos in my collection is this lovely captive the Australian Barking Gecko. These cuties are known to inhabit the entire Australian continent with two specific locale populations, the eastern and southern forms. Ranging in color from brown to a light almost flourescent yellow(hypo) these geckos look like a combination of a knob-tail gecko and a leaf tail with their head looking like a nephrurus and their tail almost like a plump leaf! They are easily cared for and like cooler temperatures than typical nephrurus, but in their classification they have altered from 'nephrurus' to a completely separate genus 'underwoodisaurus'. Now I believe they are classified as nephrurus again. Well here are the pics, I know you didn't come here for my b.s. commentating so I'll shut the f#*k up!

WEEK 12, What the blood clot? Ha HA!!! Pachydactylus rugosus maybe one of the most slept on beauties in this game!!!

2010-07-26T23:53:00.000-04:00

Another week, another beautiful specimen, and this beauty no doubt falls into that category right huurrrrrr! The pachydactylus rugosus, originating from the deserts of South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana takes us into yet another genus and yet another continent all together. Nocturnal, and some say they are terrestrial by nature, but I have seen them scaling smooth surfaces and spending serious amounts of time elevated off of the ground which makes them somewhat different from either classic terrestrial or arboreal species in my eyes. P. rugosus aka the rough scaled gecko feeds on 'the usual suspects' ie. spiders, and other small invertebrate insects and has tiny spikes that come from it's scales giving it a very curious appearance. At a glance this gecko is just simply stunning, and upon further inspection of it's habits and behaviors this gecko just seems to be straight up an incredible and impressive animal in all perspectives. Enjoy.........

WEEK 11, one more for the countdown!!!!Booyakasha! The Nephrurus levis levis!!!

2010-07-20T08:31:00.000-04:00

So here we go, number 11 on the countdown is the smooth knobtail gecko (Nephrurus levis levis). This gecko is fairly widespread on the Australian continent, another knob tailed gecko on the list, but this variety is of the smooth skinned type. Typically living in small burrows this carnivore feeds on invertebrates of all types, anything that can fit into their mouths and be physically dominated. A very pretty, big eyed individual, prefers to reside under spinifex grasses or in unused insect burrows. Nocturnal by nature this animal can vary greatly in it's appearance and has two other subspecies: the nephrurus levis occidentalis, and the nephrurus levis pilbarensis, with the latter having a albino population in captivity which is just ridiculous. Without further adea`u here they are.....

WEEK 10 homie! Another beauty from madagascar bringing you the largest specie known is the Parson's chameleon aka Chamaeleo madecasseus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-07-12T22:35:00.000-04:00

This beauty if the largest and most massive of all chameleon species and when males beef they mimic Jean Claude van Dam by duking it out with repeated head butts to their rivals. This chameleon breeds once every 2nd year and is capable of laying up to 25 eggs that can take up to 20 months of incubation before they hatch!!! Yea, that being said, these chameleons are known to be extremely difficult to reproduce in captivity. Like other chameleons they change colors for camouflage themselves and to make themselves look badass to males from other hoods and are very possessive of 'their women' sometimes throwing down to the death during the breeding season! Usually solitary except for the breeding season the parson's chameleon eats large invertebrates as well as small vertebrates and is diurnal.

WEeK 9?! We now have The Eurodactylodes Viellardi, definitely one of the coolest mothafuckers to hit the scene in a while!

2010-07-05T23:22:00.000-04:00

The Eurodactylodes Viellardi is one of the most unique gecko specie that I can think of because of its' prehistoric appearance and slow movement. This gecko does not get as large as its close cousin the Eurodactylodes Agricolae which is just as interesting of a captive as this weeks animal. The one small difference between the two cousins is that in the viellardi the mouth slit travels all the way to the ear canal where as in the agricolae this slit does not venture as far as the ear. Minor difference technically, but the agricolae is more robust, gets substantially larger, and generally has less pattern than the viellardi which can display some very impressive reticulated patterns which almost look like 'cracks' on the gecko. Eury's originate from New Caledonia and are opportunistic eaters feeding on both insects and fruit similar to other gecko species from New Caledonia such as the rhacodactylus species. Now the question comes up. When is that incredible third specie of Eurodactylodes going to hit the scene??? If you can name that specie you win a brand new Toy yoda!!!

WEEK 8 ALREADY!!! Time is flying by as the 52 illest herps are being counted down!!! This week is the highly desirable Naultinus grayii!

2010-06-28T22:21:00.000-04:00

The Northland Green Gecko a.k.a Naultinus grayii comes from the northern tip of New Zealand's North island. A very elusive specie not only due to its excellent camouflage and secretive nature, this specie is another live bearing gecko known to produce 1 or 2 babies in the summertime, 2 being the norm. Being known to live for numerous decades they are productive for a very long time, but will never saturate the hobby due to the yearly limited offspring potential. These beautiful creatures eat not only insects but fruit mixes as well and live almost exclusively in manuka trees (tea tree) in their native New Zealand. A cold climate gecko that cannot tolerate heat well and is more comfortable in colder rather than warmer temps and is known to still eat occasionally when temperatures are in the 40's! New Zealand's geckos are known to be some of the most fascinating and unique of all reptiles and some wild populations are diminishing due to poaching and the introduction of invasive rats which are known to prey on these geckos.

Week 7! The golden tailed gecko-Strophurus taenicauda! One new herp a week for 1 year!!!

2010-06-22T23:13:00.000-04:00

The strophurus taenicauda is in the strophurus genes which technically stands for 'spiny tailed gecko'. Despite not having any spines on its tail, this gecko is mosaically patterned with a beautiful yellow or orange section on the tail which can run all the way up its back in certain individuals. A very impressive gecko to say the least, it has red eyes which are incredible if seen in full detail. As of recently there has been a genetic 'morph' of this species which has greenish or light color eyes opposed to its standard red eyed counterpart. This animal loves the heat and will devour any small type of feeder insect and relishes the experience of eating hatchling geckos. A very very cool and relatively rare specie in captivity, this gecko is hot to death!!!

WEEK 6! Starting out the week with the beloved Nephrurus Amyae (Centralian Knob tail gecko)!!!

2010-06-14T10:39:00.000-04:00

Ok, it was obvious that these beauties were going to make it in the countdown, the question was just when? One of my personal favorites, these geckos hail from a relatively small section of desert in the central Australian outback. They are the most massive of all the Australian geckos and therefore they produce very large eggs. They can range from light yellow to deep orange to brownish in color. A very robust specie of gecko with rosette spines located all over their bodies especially on their limbs. For their size they have large heads to enclose their strong jaw muscles which enable them to devour anything that will fit into their mouths such as insects of all types, small reptiles, small rodents, and even scorpions! They are aggressive feeders whose small tails come to a perfect spherical knob at the tip making this genus very unique. There is still little known as to why they have this type of tail and how evolution played it's part in regards to it. A gecko that on a good season will produce 4 clutches of eggs this animal is somewhat pricey, always sought after, and yes! it is readily available here at raw dog reptilians! Check back next week for another crazy specie! sincerely, blogmaster O

WEEK 5, Straight outta Compton, New Caledonia comes the giant gecko (Rhacodactylus leachianus)

2010-06-07T11:04:00.000-04:00

This gecko is a favorite amongst Rhacodactylus lovers and pretty much gecko lovers world-wide. This specie was recently studied and brought over from the mainland and several other surrounding New Caledonian islands. All different types of 'locals' (location specific phenotypes) of this gecko exist and each has its own distinguishing features whether being their size including weight and girth, color, snout size and formation or blotching and pattern. These beefy geckos can reach in excess of 1 pound (!) and feed mainly on figs and other fruits in the wild, but being opportunistic they will eat most adequately sized insects or juvenile rodents without hesitation. These geckos reside under bark or in tree hollows in the wild, and 'locals' include but are not limited to Nu Ana, Nu Ami, Brosse, Kanawha, as well as mainland varieties (which are the largest)ie. mount kogus, poindemie etc. etc, and other area's which have been charted and others which have not. This gecko is one of the largest geckos in existence and its sheer mass is sure to impress. Contact me if any of these beauties would like to be purchased.....

WEEK 4! Coming to you live from China is the Shinisaurus crocodilurus aka the Chinese Crocodile Lizard!!!

2010-06-01T10:04:00.000-04:00

This rare lizard comes from the Dayao Shan mountain range of east-central Guangxi Province and the Kwangsei province of China. This is the only animal in its family, and is rumored to contain as little as 2,000 specimens in the wild. This is a live-bearing lizard is classified under CITES II and is known to bear from 2 young to as many as 20+ in very rare circumstances. Here are a few pictures of these magnificent creatures, just look at the coloration!

Week 3, reigning from Madagascar is the Giant Day Gecko (phelsuma madagascariensis grandis). Only here some of the rawest of the raw.....

2010-05-24T10:38:00.000-04:00

The giant day gecko, a diurnal gecko which has been sighted in areas of the US and other tropical areas is arboreal and has been introduced into these non-native lands by the homo sapien specie.

Week 2 baby!!! Let me know what you are thinking about these beauties!!!

2010-05-17T13:12:00.000-04:00

The Infamous Greater Rhacodactylus Trachyrhynchus trachyrhynchus a.k.a the greater rough snouted gecko!!! This is one of the rarest geckos in captivity, it is native to New Caledonia and is unique in that it is one of a few gecko species to bear live young! This pair here are some annihallist individuals that have been known to hold there ground and eat their own offspring! Special thanks to Steve Cemelli (leapin' leachies) for the pics of these animals they are truly special geckos. It has been rumored that these savage heathens give off one of the hardest, fiercest bites in the animal kingdom! No just playin' but they are badasses in the world of geckos, so watch out if you are ever walking in the jungles of New Caledonia and come across these primitive beasts. This gecko is slightly different from it's close relative the lesser rough snouted gecko the Rhacodacylus Trachyrhynchus trachycephalus which is also an awesome gecko and will most likely be part of the furture countdown!!! So stay tuned fellow reptilians! Join the blog and leave some feedback and please check out our sponsors....til next week........

52 weeks straight -The sickest reptilians or amphibians of this planet one a week for 54 weeks, CHECK BACK for weekly updates!!!

2010-05-11T09:35:00.000-04:00

WEEK 1 - Kickin' it off with the highly sought after Cayman lizard Dracaena paraguayensis. These amazing creatures are native to South America, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Columbia. Contact me if you have any interest in purchasing one of these snail lovers.

Some promised pictures! updated weekly as promised! Leave your boy some feedback!!!

2010-05-10T13:58:00.001-04:00

Panther Chameleon

Leipodactylus lugubris a.k.a. mourning gecko

Ball python adult and hatchling pictures

2010-05-07T10:17:00.000-04:00

Old pics for some, new for others....

2010-05-07T10:13:00.001-04:00

Old pics to keep things fresh....

2010-05-07T09:59:00.000-04:00

ChEcK BAcK sOoN, Pics updated weekly! New Species, interviews, other people's collection pics, etc. Coming soon: rhacs, trachys, phelsuma and more!

2010-04-23T22:23:00.000-04:00

DART FROG AND MOURNING GECKO TERRARIUM+SOME N. Laevissimus pictures!

2010-04-20T23:32:00.000-04:00

COMING SOON!!!

2010-04-19T22:32:00.000-04:00

Hypo Nephrurus Milli pics, Panther Chameleon shots, lygodactylus lugubris, and poison dart frog (dendrobates) mug shots coming soon!

NEW SHIT!!! NEW SHIT!!!

2010-04-19T22:12:00.000-04:00

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NEW RARE & RAW GECKOS!

2010-04-19T21:45:00.000-04:00

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COLLECTION PHOTOS 2

2009-03-18T19:34:00.000-04:00

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COLLECTION PHOTOS

2009-01-27T17:04:00.000-05:00

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PIEBALD BALL PYTHON

2009-01-27T16:53:00.000-05:00

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CONTACT INFORMATION

2008-12-02T17:56:00.000-05:00

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Oliver Kuepper
201-615-2741
Oliverkuepper2001@yahoo.com

www.geckosunlimited.com USER ID: Oli
Fauna Classified USER ID: Oli7a5
AOL Instant Messenger: Oli7a5
Myspace: www.myspace.com/oliverstwistedcreations