Shingleback at Reptile Gardens, South Dakota

[Bowdoin55]

My first hands on experience with T. rugosa came last month on a visit with my friend Terry Phillip, curator of Reptile Gardens in Rapid City, SD. My wife and I had a wonderful time, thanks in large part to Terry's hospitality and this old, hunchbacked aspera's friendliness.







I am jealous that some of you folks are lucky enough to share your homes with such amazing lizards.

That's just a taste of the fun we had at RG. Here's link to my iHerp blog with many more pictures of some pretty unusual and impressive reptiles, in case anyone is interested:

http://iherp.com/Public/Blog/Detail.aspx?uid=158683

Thanks for looking,

David

[donkeybuff]

That's a hefty skink! They have some really cool animals there. You're so lucky to have been able to hold a Fiji iguana!

[Richard.C]

nice solid stumpy

[Bluish]

Some awesome animals in that blog!
Definitely a birthday to remember.

[Richard.C]

quite a few aussie species,is terry the chap whoms recently bred the perenties

[Bowdoin55]

Yup, that's him, Richard.

[Richard.C]

nice effort considering there scarcity

[Bowdoin55]

Yeah, there aren't many giganteus in US zoos, unfortunately. It's definitely an accomplishment--and one that he is eager to repeat, I know.

How are the breeding efforts in Australia, Richard? I would guess that perenties are not often available to private collectors, but there must be some solid breeding programs in the zoological community.

One of my absolute favorite animals!

[Seadation]

Wish there were more of those available looks like an awesome pet

[Jessica]

Shinglebacks are one of my favorite reptiles. I adore my Northern but would love to keep one of these too!

[RoryBreaker]

Yeah, there aren't many giganteus in US zoos, unfortunately. It's definitely an accomplishment--and one that he is eager to repeat, I know.

How are the breeding efforts in Australia, Richard? I would guess that perenties are not often available to private collectors, but there must be some solid breeding programs in the zoological community.

One of my absolute favorite animals!

Enough Perenties are bred in captivity in Aus to meet the demands of reptile keepers . I have even know breeders that have trouble finding new homes for their offspring. But bear in mind the demand for Perenties from Aussie keepers is relatively low in actual numbers as big monitors with large cage and temperature requirements is not attractive to everybody.

[Richard.C]

spot on rory,there not able to be kept here in victoria,though apparently 15 species are being added according to my licence renewl,perenties seem to get knocked back though,yet u can keep fresh and salt water crocs,go figure,lol

[lucasrusinak]

WOW! thats a stunning animal right there. if only they were more available in the states, i would have one right now!