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

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 so 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 people would use to lace up their arrow tips with to kill humans or their food. 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! Fiji Island Iguana aka Brachylophus fasciat

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 at the Hamm show in Germany where there were several individuals being sold for massive sums of money.  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.  Plus, if one were to somehow get them back, they are very illegal to have in the U.S.  You will have Fish and Game officials at your facility in no time.  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!!! The gaboon viper!!!!

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 as you can see, but all 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 feet in length, 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 were a box of McDonalds 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 This week we are introducing the Strophurus ciliaris ciliaris!!!

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 non diverse here in the U.S., and not so many people are producing them like they 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!?!? This week we add another sweet specimen to the countdown, the Rhacodactylus chahoua!!!!

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 genus, Rhacodactylus. Loving humidity and omnivorous by nature this specie has a voracious appetite not only for insects but also for nectars, fruits, 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.  Enjoy the pics, please email me any future animal requests for the countdown to oliverkuepper2001@yahoo.com.....

WEEK 16 This week I'm displaying a new acquisition the Abronia graminea

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 alligator lizard. To thrive in captivity this beauty needs cooler temperatures, humidity, 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...

WEEK 16This week is the Abronia Graminea for good reason.....

Alright so this week is the alligator lizard hailing from the cloud forests of southern Mexico (Me` he ~co) and northern Guatemala. This blazing beauty is new to me and my collection but has made a strong impact on me already.  This savage feeder needs rather cool temperatures, high humidity, and requires a great amount of UVB light in order to thrive. These animals come from higher elevations and feed on all types of insects, and can be rather quick if they want to be, and they do not have a problem holding their ground and biting if cornered. Characterized by some lovely shiny green scalation which does not overlap, this lizard has a black skin color which houses these scales and this gives it an authentic appearance. Here you go with some pictures, I hope you enjoy them... I think next week is going to be some quality amphibians as the countdown has none to date; check back soon for these ;) One