I really like the enclosures - not just the incredible biome replicae but the design of the containers themselves. I like the interior paneling of the base, easy to replace if needed per scarring or for a biological hygiene purpose. No curing etc.
Hey if you ever want to show some behind the scenes stuff that would be so cool too
"reptile zoo Nockalm", an exhibiton in austria UPDATE 2017
Moderator: Scott Waters
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Re: "reptile zoo Nockalm", an exhibiton in austria UPDATE 20
Hi,
thank you again for your kind words, it's so nice when people appreciate the efford he puts into the presentation of the snakes
A few enclosures for quarantine or specimens that don't fit into the exhibition (very old individuals for example).
Although I have to say that the setups look as good as in the exhibition, just some of the youngsters (colubrids and cobras) are kept not naturalistic, to make it easy to check them...
arboreal pit viper babies on the other hand have branches to climb/hang on and moss on the ground to keep the humidity high (so no wet box needed )
But I remember that some of you really liked the european vipers, so here are some new pictures of some extra nice individuals for you...
one female of the south italian viper breeding group...
Vipera aspis hugyi by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
another asp viper, a cb youngster from a French locality
Vipera aspis aspis by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
lake skutari locality is probably one of the most wanted ammodytes variation, quite understandable...
Vipera ammodytes ammodytes by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
but IMHO nothing can beat this amazing specimens from a carinthian locality
here is one of last years offspring, we call him "der Dicke" which means "chubby" cause he was the best feeding and most greedy of the whole clutch
Vipera ammodytes by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
and the last one for today, a close up of a non european viper...
the saw-scales of Echis carinatus sochureki
saw-scales by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
cheers
thank you again for your kind words, it's so nice when people appreciate the efford he puts into the presentation of the snakes
Actually there isn't much behind the scenes and I don't have many pictures beside the batanes pitviper enclosure I've already shared here...Hey if you ever want to show some behind the scenes stuff that would be so cool too
A few enclosures for quarantine or specimens that don't fit into the exhibition (very old individuals for example).
Although I have to say that the setups look as good as in the exhibition, just some of the youngsters (colubrids and cobras) are kept not naturalistic, to make it easy to check them...
arboreal pit viper babies on the other hand have branches to climb/hang on and moss on the ground to keep the humidity high (so no wet box needed )
But I remember that some of you really liked the european vipers, so here are some new pictures of some extra nice individuals for you...
one female of the south italian viper breeding group...
Vipera aspis hugyi by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
another asp viper, a cb youngster from a French locality
Vipera aspis aspis by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
lake skutari locality is probably one of the most wanted ammodytes variation, quite understandable...
Vipera ammodytes ammodytes by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
but IMHO nothing can beat this amazing specimens from a carinthian locality
here is one of last years offspring, we call him "der Dicke" which means "chubby" cause he was the best feeding and most greedy of the whole clutch
Vipera ammodytes by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
and the last one for today, a close up of a non european viper...
the saw-scales of Echis carinatus sochureki
saw-scales by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
cheers
Re: "reptile zoo Nockalm", an exhibiton in austria UPDATE 20
Exquisite animals, and I am also enjoying the colubrids presented on this thread, and their environments.
I am reminded of an often repeated comment about naturalistic provision I have read that goes something to the effect of : "If you are that worried about what your animals need you might as well [not keep, only enjoy them in the wild etc]"
But it's not about worry but interest. The beautiful aspect is inadvertent. I see a normalizing grid of variatal input, cues, gradients, and the opportunities to use a fully innervated, well musculatured body.
I sometimes wonder if a projection of unconscious narcissism could be part of the reflexive critique, as the "Beauty of Nature" being ascribed to human enjoyment, and that to apply natural features is conceding anthropomorphically to the idea that reptiles "enjoy" it similiarly. But that isnt the point of the strategy, and such off target anthropomorphic critique isnt applied to other naturalistic environmental design in say, serious aquatic culture where such microcosms are encouraged by specialists that keep locality river species or marine forms, etc.
I am reminded of an often repeated comment about naturalistic provision I have read that goes something to the effect of : "If you are that worried about what your animals need you might as well [not keep, only enjoy them in the wild etc]"
But it's not about worry but interest. The beautiful aspect is inadvertent. I see a normalizing grid of variatal input, cues, gradients, and the opportunities to use a fully innervated, well musculatured body.
I sometimes wonder if a projection of unconscious narcissism could be part of the reflexive critique, as the "Beauty of Nature" being ascribed to human enjoyment, and that to apply natural features is conceding anthropomorphically to the idea that reptiles "enjoy" it similiarly. But that isnt the point of the strategy, and such off target anthropomorphic critique isnt applied to other naturalistic environmental design in say, serious aquatic culture where such microcosms are encouraged by specialists that keep locality river species or marine forms, etc.
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Re: "reptile zoo Nockalm", an exhibiton in austria UPDATE 20
I don't want to judge these people but often it's just an "excuse" for simple, sometimes bad husbandry, especialy from the buisnessmen in this hobby (same in aquarists i guess). As I mentioned in another topic I'm not a great supporter of racks, especially as longtime enclosure and the fact that some of these snake-"producers" (I really hate that word for captive breeding) defend their way of keeping with statemants like this, makes a lot of people believe this sh**....Kelly Mc wrote:I am reminded of an often repeated comment about naturalistic provision I have read that goes something to the effect of : "If you are that worried about what your animals need you might as well [not keep, only enjoy them in the wild etc]"
But it's not about worry but interest. The beautiful aspect is inadvertent. I see a normalizing grid of variatal input, cues, gradients, and the opportunities to use a fully innervated, well musculatured body.
I just can repeat what I want to show with this topic that it is not just a benefit to the human eye and for educational reasons (might be just for the keeper himself), but also gives you laid-back inhabitants, which is good especially when it comes to the venomous snakes....
I also shared this in another topic, but to show how easy you can build up a nice setup I want to post it here too
setup for Vipera ammodytes by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
and it's inhabitant about one hour after moving in...
Vipera ammodytes ammodytes by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
but as you like the colubrids so much, I'll share a little bit more of them
Zamenis longissimus by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
Zaminis situla by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
and one more elapid picture, also quite interesting the single female was very shy in the enclosure (just showed up when there were living fish in her pool), but after the male moved in both of them showed up almost every day, basking and diving...
Naja annulata by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
cheers
Re: "reptile zoo Nockalm", an exhibiton in austria UPDATE 20
Thank you for some more colubrids. Very nice.
Markus I get the photo of the little viper and the notation you included about how fast snakes settle into the surroundings. They can be very mechanical that way. Acclimation is a whole different keeping game. Hard to explain it to those who havent kept that way and done it right.
Markus I get the photo of the little viper and the notation you included about how fast snakes settle into the surroundings. They can be very mechanical that way. Acclimation is a whole different keeping game. Hard to explain it to those who havent kept that way and done it right.
Re: "reptile zoo Nockalm", an exhibiton in austria UPDATE 20
Interesting about the dam annulata coming out more. It kind of reminds me of bird follow-you behavior.
Ive been going through all of the photos and your text again tonight and its just so rich. Any more observations you would share would be deeply appreciated, and we truly fortunate to enjoy, ponder and be inspired by.
Ive been going through all of the photos and your text again tonight and its just so rich. Any more observations you would share would be deeply appreciated, and we truly fortunate to enjoy, ponder and be inspired by.
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Re: "reptile zoo Nockalm", an exhibiton in austria UPDATE 20
Thank you (again)
another advantage of a natural setup is you can observe things you won't see otherwise, as an example I want to show you some more pictures of the banded water cobras.
If you give them more than a little water dish they'll surely appreciate it. Both adults feed on (dead) mice and smaller rats, what is a good thing as they are really tricky to feed as youngsters.
But if you put some fish in their pool they become really greedy, snapping around to catch the living fishes, but also seem to like dead fish more than mice and rats...
check out some of the images I took while feeding them
Naja annulata by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
this fish was already dead, as most water snakes they won't let a fish go after the bite...
Naja annulata feeding by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
Naja annulata feeding by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
Naja annulata feeding by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
and again something different for the last picture, one of my favorit rattlers
Crotalus polystictus by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
enjoy
another advantage of a natural setup is you can observe things you won't see otherwise, as an example I want to show you some more pictures of the banded water cobras.
If you give them more than a little water dish they'll surely appreciate it. Both adults feed on (dead) mice and smaller rats, what is a good thing as they are really tricky to feed as youngsters.
But if you put some fish in their pool they become really greedy, snapping around to catch the living fishes, but also seem to like dead fish more than mice and rats...
check out some of the images I took while feeding them
Naja annulata by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
this fish was already dead, as most water snakes they won't let a fish go after the bite...
Naja annulata feeding by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
Naja annulata feeding by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
Naja annulata feeding by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
and again something different for the last picture, one of my favorit rattlers
Crotalus polystictus by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
enjoy
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Re: "reptile zoo Nockalm", an exhibiton in austria UPDATE 20
Kelly Mc wrote: Hey if you ever want to show some behind the scenes stuff that would be so cool too
I've been there over the last weekend I took the chance to take some pictures of some enclosures behind the scenes.
As I mentioned there are mostly some holdbacks or species that need special temperatures or a more relaxed environment than in the public exhibition downstairs...
Naja nigricollis by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
Naja nigricincta by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
Naja melanoleuca by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
Naja philippinensis by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
So you can see these enclosures also look quite natural, although they are behind the scenes, but for the same reasons. Beside the fact he doesn't like reading newspapers when looking into his enclosures, the animals also enjoy digging, switching between various hiding spots in different areas of their tank or climbing around on some roots/branches...
another new enclosure for the philippine pitvipers
Parias flavomaculatus by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
and one more picture of this stunning species
Parias flavomaculatus by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
I'll share some more of these awesome snakes, and a few more enclosures the next days
regards
Markus
Re: "reptile zoo Nockalm", an exhibiton in austria UPDATE 20
Ready and frothing for it! Love those Parias...also any more Viridovipera or Protobothrops....images or narrative, whatever.I'll share some more of these awesome snakes, and a few more enclosures the next days
Thanks Markus!
Re: "reptile zoo Nockalm", an exhibiton in austria UPDATE 20
Right?!
Really like the use of the fountain grass - really nice for that snake.
And the stands in arboreal spaces. I am convinced of its merit in all ways.
Really like the use of the fountain grass - really nice for that snake.
And the stands in arboreal spaces. I am convinced of its merit in all ways.
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Re: "reptile zoo Nockalm", an exhibiton in austria UPDATE 20
Kelly Mc wrote: Really like the use of the fountain grass - really nice for that snake.
These work well for many kinds of snakes and setups, a great, moist (hinding) place for sub-/tropical snakes and the dry ones look perfekt for savannah setups for example.
Some sorts (with the finer stems) even stay green when dried, as the one on the Vipera aspis hugyii picture....
As I promised here are some more pictures of the breathtakingly beautiful Parias flavomaculatus....
another scale-shot, of the male this time
not as bright as the female, but more red....
Parias flavomaculatus scales by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
and the wonderful pair together
Parias flavomaculatus by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
one more Parias picture
Parias mcgregori by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
let us stay with the arboreal pitvipers, here is a probably undescribed Trimeresurus from Indonesia...
Trimeresurus cf. albolabris by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
Trimeresurus cf. albolabris by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
and a last one for today, hard to get a nice picture of these, but I like reallly like this one
Protobothrops jerdonii bourreti by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
enjoy
Re: "reptile zoo Nockalm", an exhibiton in austria UPDATE 20
thanks Markus, nice eye candy!
any insights or info on husbandry (e.g., brumation? wet/dry cycling?) would be welcomed - no pressure though
cheers
it's interesting how commonly the M/F base-color pattern crops up in the mostly-green Asian arboreal vipers, of grassy-green females and more emerald-green males - you see it in several of the Viridovipera, and of course in "TrimTrigs", and - I was unaware of this until now - at least in one Pariasand the wonderful pair together
any insights or info on husbandry (e.g., brumation? wet/dry cycling?) would be welcomed - no pressure though
cheers
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Re: "reptile zoo Nockalm", an exhibiton in austria UPDATE 20
Jimi wrote: it's interesting how commonly the M/F base-color pattern crops up in the mostly-green Asian arboreal vipers
Not only in arboreal vipers, we also have that here with lots of european vipers, ammodytes, berus etc.
During my last visit at the zoo I got the chance to take pictures of another great example from the Crotalus genus....
(but I can't remember which one is male and female)
Crotalus lepidus morulus by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
wonderful little snakes
Crotalus lepidus morulus by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
Crotalus lepidus morulus by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
also beautiful, but these look all the same
Crotalus lepidus klauberi by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
and some more pictures of the new pitvipers
Trimeresurus cf. albolabris by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
Trimeresurus cf. albolabris by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
scale shot
Trimeresurus cf. albolabris scales by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
and their amazing enclousre
Trimeresurus enclosure by Markus Oulehla, auf Flickr
cheers,
Markus