• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

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    Posted 08/15/2025
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    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

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    Addendum: 01/10/2026
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    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Search results

  1. Z

    Keeping Latin American Ratsnakes: the Tiger Ratsnake

    Hi, Frank Indiviglio here. I’m a herpetologist, zoologist, and book author, recently retired from a career of over 20 years with the Bronx Zoo. The first time I saw an adult Tiger Ratsnake (Spilotes pullatus pullatus) streaking through the brush in Costa Rica, I was immediately struck by the...
  2. Z

    The Best Holiday Gifts for Aquarium Owners, Tropical Fish Hobbyists & Fish Geeks

    Hi, Frank Indiviglio here. I’m a zoologist and book author, recently retired from a career of over 20 years with the Bronx Zoo. Today I’ll highlight some fish-keeping items that I’d be pleased to give or receive as holiday gifts. For the most part, I’ve focused on Reverse Osmosis Systems and...
  3. Z

    Tokay Gecko Care, Feeding & Terrarium Design

    Hi, Frank Indiviglio here. I’m a herpetologist, zoologist, and book author, recently retired from a career of over 20 years with the Bronx Zoo. Pugnacious reptiles with “attitudes” have long been favored by herp enthusiasts. In the lizard world, perhaps none fits this description so well as...
  4. Z

    Holiday Gifts for Reptile & Amphibian Keepers

    Hi, Frank Indiviglio here. I’m a herpetologist, zoologist, and book author, recently retired from a career of over 20 years with the Bronx Zoo. Today I’d like to offer some gift suggestions for the herp enthusiasts on your holiday shopping list. I’ve made my choices with younger folks and...
  5. Z

    New Studies on Reptile Intelligence: How Smart is Your Pet?

    Hi, Frank Indiviglio here. I’m a herpetologist, zoologist, and book author, recently retired from a career of over 20 years with the Bronx Zoo. A key indicator of intelligence is said to be behavioral flexibility – the ability to modify actions to fit new situations. Long thought to rely...
  6. Z

    Keeping Brackish Water Fish: the Silver Mono or Malayan Angelfish

    Hi, Frank Indiviglio here. I’m a herpetologist, zoologist, and book author, recently retired from a career of over 20 years with the Bronx Zoo. Large, flashy, uniquely-shaped and active, Silver Monos, Monodactylus argenteus, always draw attention when seen for the first time. But there are...
  7. Z

    The Best Small Turtle Pets for Those with Limited Space

    Hi, Frank Indiviglio here. I’m a herpetologist, zoologist, and book author, recently retired from a career of over 20 years with the Bronx Zoo. The world’s most popular pet turtle, the Red Eared Slider, is a poor choice for those lacking space for a huge aquarium and filter. A number of...
  8. Z

    Keeping Small Boas (Island Races of the Common Boa Constictor)

    Hi All, Despite decades in the pet trade, the Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor) remains one of the most popular of all reptilian pets. Unfortunately, the average Boa grows too large for many households, and cannot be safely handled by young or inexperienced keepers. A number of smaller...
  9. Z

    Surprising New Study on Snake Eyes and Vision

    Hi All, Herp enthusiasts are a lucky bunch, as we never need to wait too long for the next new discovery. I’m especially thrilled by those that are completely unexpected, and which change “what we know” about animals and their lives. The past few years have been especially productive, with...
  10. Z

    Spectacular New Species of Leaf-tailed Gecko Discovered in Australia

    Hi All, Madagascar’s bizarre Leaf-Tailed Geckos (Uroplatus spp.) are on the wish lists of many lizard enthusiasts. Even after decades of keeping reptiles in zoos, I was shocked by the sight of my first specimen. Equally unique are Australia’s fantastic Leaf-Tailed Geckos (genus Saltuarius)...
  11. Z

    How To Breed Dwarf African Clawed Frogs

    Hi All, Dwarf African Clawed Frogs, also known as Dwarf African Frogs (Hymenochirus boettgeri and H. curtipes) are very popular pets, yet few hobbyists attempt to breed them in captivity. Reproduction sometimes occurs spontaneously, but unless one is prepared, the eggs and tadpoles rarely...
  12. Z

    Swollen Eyes in Red-Eared Sliders & other Semi-Aquatic Turtles

    Hi All, Swollen, inflamed eyes are commonly seen in a wide variety of captive turtles. Strangely, the hardy Red Eared Slider seems especially prone to this annoying and potentially life-threatening condition (as we’ll see, popular feeding practices may partially explain this). From childhood...
  13. Z

    US Reptiles, Amphibians Need Hobbyists' Help & Federal Protection

    Hi All, Over 200 species of amphibians have become extinct in the last 30 years, a crisis looms for Asian turtles, and recent studies suggest global declines in snake and lizard populations (please see this article). Conservationists in the USA should feel somewhat optimistic about native...
  14. Z

    Review: Zoo Med Reptile Egg Incubator

    Hi All, Breeding reptiles is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable aspects of our hobby. It is quite important as well, as zoos have neither the time nor space to care for all the species that are, or will soon be, in need of help. Relatively common reptiles also deserve attention, as...
  15. Z

    Kevin Wright, DVM Passes - Reptile/Amphibian Keepers Lose a Good Friend

    Hi All, Somewhere in the middle of my career at the Bronx Zoo, I began writing animal care books and articles that targeted private keepers and hobbyists. Many colleagues warned me that these activities would “ruin my professional reputation’ (as if all good zoo men and women did not start out...
  16. Z

    Turtle and Tortoise Eggs - Knowing When She is Ready to Lay

    Hi All, In the course of my work, I am often contacted by turtle owners whose pets cease feeding and become unusually restless. The behavior appears suddenly, sometimes after many uneventful years – a Common Musk Turtle did so after 22 years in my collection – and seems to have no external...
  17. Z

    Breeding Green Anoles and Relatives; Rearing the Young

    Hi All, With proper care, the Green or Carolina Anole, Anolis carolinensis, is quite willing to breed in captivity. However, being relatively inexpensive, it is often considered a “beginner’s pet” and not worthy of serious attention. This is a serious mistake, as anoles of all species are...
  18. Z

    Feeding Insect-Eating Lizards: the Best Live Foods

    Hi All, From tiny Day Geckos to stout Water Dragons and lumbering Savanna Monitors, many popularly-kept lizards feed primarily upon live foods including insects and other invertebrates. The most important point for insectivorous lizard owners to remember (and one that my regular readers are sick...
  19. Z

    Greek & Golden Greek Tortoise Care

    Hi All, I do not believe that any tortoise species can be classified as “easy-to-keep”, but several are better-suited as pets than others. I’ve covered on of these, the Russian Tortoise (Testudo horsfieldi), in an earlier article (read article here). The Greek Tortoise (T. graeca), while...
  20. Z

    Keeping the Sinaloan Milksnake & Related Species

    Hi All, The various Milksnakes are among the world’s most beautifully-colored reptiles. Most are quite hardy, easy to handle and breed, and can be kept in modestly-sized terrariums. Milksnakes are grouped with Kingsnakes in the genus Lampropeltis, which contains 16 species. Sometimes referred...
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