Welcome to this month’s Practical Reptile Keeping.
 One of the most interesting parts of editing any specialist magazine such as Practical Reptile Keeping is the opportunity to meet and talk with people who are passionate about what they do. This was brought home to me again just recently, when I had the pleasure of catching up with Chris Newman, whom I first met many years ago.
His name may not be familiar to everyone, because Chris, by his own admission, prefers to stay out of the spotlight. But make no mistake: it is largely thanks to Chris's foresight and commitment that the reptile hobby exists as it does today. He saw the need, at an early stage, to ensure that those involved in catering for hobbyists were represented in discussions at governmental level, enabling their views to be heard and understood.
At no small personal cost, Chris was instrumental in setting up REPTA - the Reptile & Exotic Pet Trade Association. In countless meetings since then, Chris has steadfastly advanced the case of reptile-keeping. If you are a shop or involved in supplying hobbyists, then why not consider supporting REPTA? Further challenges, particularly in Europe, lie ahead, and strength in numbers is important. You can email Chris for more details on info@repta.org.
Finally, my sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to the magazine over the past year, and all good wishes for a speedy recovery to Wendy, from Just Me & My Tortoise, who has been unwell recently.
David Alderton,
Editor.
 David is an acknowledged expert with more than 40 years of experience in this area. He has written and broadcast extensively about the care and biology of these creatures, and also speaks regularly to various herpetological groups..
Guide to pet insurance for reptiles
Though pet insurance for reptiles is widely available it is not included in standard policies. So what should you look for from pet insurance for a reptile and where can you find the cover you need? Read more… |
Snakes Without Scales
In the depths of Leicestershire, there is very well-respected reptile shop called Scales & Tails, which is run by David Cooke. Dave usually has some really interesting species available, and just recently, Scales and Tails became possibly the first UK establishment to welcome the scaleless Texas rat snake into its inventory. These snakes essentially lack scales over their entire bodies, with their skin having an amazingly smooth appearance, although usually, there are a few odd scales remaining, which give them a kind of “bejewelled” appearance.
The mutation is a simple autosomal recessive, and the heterozygous animals are therefore entirely normal in appearance. Dave is very keen to point out that although these snakes do not have the scales of a typical colubrid, they are no different, in terms of shedding, eating, drinking and their overall level of activity. “There is nothing other than their appearance that distinguishes them from a normal colubrid,” he adds.
I have noticed that there were some very mixed opinions about these snakes online, and I suppose they are not for everyone. Many people seem to take the view that snakes evolved scales for a reason, and it is rather unethical and unnecessary to breed animals that lack them. In my opinion though, these animals appear to be totally problem-free and as long as it stays that way, I don’t think there is a worry. They cost £1200 each. It is also worth mentioning that scaleless corn snakes are also becoming increasingly popular in the US and Europe at present, and it will only be a matter of time before a large number of people are working with them in the UK. |
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