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I am passionate on keeping and breeding Ocellated Lizards for many years. Here, I report on the construction of an outdoor terrarium and my first experiences of keeping lizards outdoors! [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The annual conference of the working group "Literature and History of Herpetology and Terrarium Studies" took place at the Allwetterzoo Münster. Various presentations were held, including one on the Citizen Conservation Program "Keeping Saves Species," the field herpetological research of the North Rhine-Westphalia region since 1789, and the herpetological collection of Johann Gottlob Schneider. A planned presentation on curious descriptions of new turtle taxa was canceled. Investigations into German terrarium-related pocketbooks from the last century and the appreciation of illustrators in zoological works from the 18th and 19th centuries were also presented. The conference was supported by various speakers and participants. [Extracted from the article]

Nature-inspired cafés have become a trend in modern interior design, promoting quality health and well-being for the customers. To encourage people to bring nature into the built environment, terrariums have taken up the interior space to improve the quality of life. Terrariums are one of the preferred indoor gardening options that only require an individual's creativity, with or without professional knowledge. However, the terrariums approach to interior spaces is still uncommon in Malaysia, and how the terrarium approach enhances people’s eating behaviour remains unexplored. With the emerging trend of Mossarium KL, the concept of terrariums is used as part of the interior design as well as positive factors that enhance people’s eating behaviour. This paper aims to study the terrariums approach in built environments and to review the enhancements of the terrarium on people’s eating behaviour. A case study had been done on the Mossarium KL in Petaling Jaya, Selangor that adapted the concept of a terrarium in the interior space. This study's conceptual framework is based on the idea of employing terrariums as an interior landscape for exploring their potential impact on individual eating habits. This study highlights the importance of incorporating nature-based interventions, such as terrarium cafes within interior spaces and providing valuable insights into people’s eating behaviours in the cafes.

Animals use colouration to serve diverse functions including camouflage, thermoregulation, and communication. Recent research has revealed that many anurans exhibit drastic colour changes and growing evidence supports that these changes are sexually selected signals. Male yellow toads, Incilius luetkenii , exhibit dynamic sexual dichromatism, changing from mud-brown to lemon-yellow during their brief breeding events. Toads darken when isolated in captivity, which is hypothesized to be a stress response, although the mechanisms driving this change have yet to be experimentally investigated. We confined breeding toads to small terrariums for four hours and predicted that colour and corticosterone levels would change in isolation. We found that toads darkened during isolation, but that corticosterone levels did not change with colour. Our correlational results suggest that corticosterone is not the main driver of colour change in yellow toads and highlight avenues for future research that may enhance our understanding of colour change in anurans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this case study, we discuss the rehabilitation of a Mexican boa (Boa sp.) who presented with severe dehydration, resulting in severe dysecdysis, which ultimately caused strangulation and necrosis of the tail. These severe medical problems experienced by the Mexican boa were directly attributable to the inadequate conditions in which the snake was kept in captivity after being illegally purchased. In addition, the snake was not fed sufficient amounts of food for six months, which caused a delay in the animal's development. Upon entry into rehabilitation, the snake was provided with a suitable terrarium for its size, and the environmental humidity was kept high through an ultrasonic humidifier to help with sloughing of the retained shed. Furthermore, we established routines of basking and hydration accompanied by the use of aloe vera, vitamin B-1, and vitamin B-3 powders. The snake was also provided with a rodent-based diet and was fed according to its size. This diet helped compensate for the inadequate nutritional intake experienced by the snake during captivity, which led to a delay in growth. The snake's resultant growth after the introduction of the new diet showed the phenomenon of compensatory growth that had not been previously reported in a species of this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes a course on handling venomous snakes in Belgium, offered by herpetologists Bryan Minne and Laura Ruysseveldt. The course is aimed at individuals who want to learn how to safely handle poisonous snakes and includes practical exercises with different snake species. The participants have diverse backgrounds, including professional activities in reptile handling as well as veterinary and scientific projects. The course focuses on the safe handling of venomous snakes in the wild or in terrariums and does not involve the use of tongs. The article describes the theoretical and practical parts of the course and recommends it as safe and professional. [Extracted from the article]

The article describes the keeping and breeding of the ladder snake Zamenis scalaris. The ladder snake is a fascinating species that is easy to keep and breed. The species has a total length of 130-140 cm and has a robust body structure. The ladder snake inhabits the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal, and parts of southern France. It is adaptable and can be found in various habitats such as cork oak forests and overgrown gardens. The ladder snake is relatively easy to keep in a terrarium, but often displays aggressive behavior. It is recommended to set up the terrarium with fine coconut humus and hiding places. The snakes feel comfortable at temperatures of 22-30 °C and require a cold and long hibernation period to stimulate mating readiness. Breeding ladder snakes is not very difficult, and the female lays 5-10 eggs in a wet box after about 30-40 days. The incubation period is longer than when using an incubator, but the hatching rate is almost 100%. The young snakes are kept individually in plastic boxes and usually start feeding on their own after the first shedding. Ladder snakes are fascinating snakes, but due to their behavior, they are not necessarily recommended for beginners in snake keeping. [Extracted from the article]

Although the potential of vermiremediation for restoring metal-contaminated soils is promising, the effects of earthworms on the availability of soil metals are still debatable. Most previous studies considered the soil as a "whole black box." Mobilization or immobilization of metals are affected by earthworm activities within drilosphere hotspots under different soil conditions, which has not been specifically studied. Therefore, an improved 2D terrarium was designed to study the impact of earthworm activities on cadmium (Cd) fate in the drilosphere hotspots (burrow wall soils, burrow casts, and surface casts) of different artificially spiked Cd treatments (CK: 0 mg kg-1; LM: 1 mg kg-1; and HM: 5 mg kg-1) with different organic amendments (2% and 10%). The results revealed that Cd increased earthworm activities with the highest cast production in HM and the highest burrow length in LM. Earthworms exhibited a stronger tendency to reduce total Cd concentration by 4.48–13.58% in casts of LM soils, while 3.37–5.22% in burrow walls under HM treatments. Overall, earthworms could increase the availability of Cd in casts under all conditions (55.46–121.01%). The organic amendments decreased the total Cd concentration and increased the availability of Cd in the disturbed soil. A higher amount of organic amendment significantly decreased total Cd concentration of the drilosphere by 1.16–5.83% in LM and HM treatments, while increasing DTPA-Cd concentrations in all components by 23.13–55.20 %, 14.63–35.11%, and 3.30–11.41% in CK, LM, and HM treatments, respectively, except for earthworm non-disturbed soil and no-earthworm soil in HM treatments. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that the moisture, pH, and total carbon contents in soil are the main factors affecting Cd bioavailability. In this study, we decoded the "black box" of soil by making it relatively simple to better understand the effects and mechanisms of earthworm activities on soil metal availability and consequently provided comprehensive insights for using earthworms in soil vermiremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful keeping and breeding of the Zagros Mountains Lacerta (Iranolacerta zagrosica) is reported. It is a strong rock lizard with a total length of approx. 18 cm, which is characterized by a flattened body and long limbs. The animals are kept in terrariums measuring 35 x 50 x 60 cm (length x width x height), the rear wall of which was designed as a rock wall. Steppe crickets serve as the main food, zophobas, mealworms and wax maggots are also given, which are supplemented with vitamins and minerals before feeding. In addition, the drinking water is always enriched with vitamin D3 and different multivitamin preparations. In this way, the lizards can be kept successfully without UV lighting. Due to its origin, Iranolacerta zagrosica is hibernated in the refrigerator for four months, from November to February. The females lay two clutches per year with up to 5 eggs, but mostly 3 to 4 eggs. At an incubation temperature of 26 °C, the young hatch after about two months. The rearing of the young animals does not cause any problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pós: Revista do Programa de POS-Graduacao Em Artes - EBA/UFMG is the property of Pos - Programa de Pos-graduacao em Artes (PPG-Artes) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article describes the behavior and breeding of the horseshoe snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis). The horseshoe snake is widespread in Europe, especially on the Iberian Peninsula, and prefers sunny places with sufficient cover. In the terrarium, they are lively and tend to be aggressive. Keeping them requires a spacious terrarium and patience in handling the animals. The horseshoe snake is an aggressive and food-competitive snake that mainly eats small mammals, birds, eggs, and lizards. Breeding horseshoe snakes in a terrarium is not very difficult as long as healthy and well-fed animals are used. The author reports that he keeps his breeding pairs together in a terrarium all year round and has not observed any problems with aggression between the animals. After hibernation, the animals regularly appear under the heat lamp. The male then shows increased restlessness and the female gains weight, indicating pregnancy. The female then seeks out the wet box to lay her eggs. The young horseshoe snakes are housed individually in plastic boxes and fed with nestling mice. The animals grow quickly and can become sexually mature after three years. Keeping and breeding horseshoe snakes requires experience in handling fast and sometimes aggressive snakes. The species is protected in Germany, and kept and bred animals must be registered with the relevant authority. [Extracted from the article]

The article is about the Blandings night tree snake (Toxicodryas blandingii), a tree-dwelling snake found in tropical Africa. Four species are identified in the genus Toxicodryas. The Blandings night tree snake prefers moist forests, is nocturnal, and can grow up to 250 cm long. In terrariums, they are usually calm and docile, but caution is advised as they have venomous teeth. Keeping them requires a spacious terrarium with plenty of climbing branches and plants for visual barriers. The snake can reproduce year-round, with a clutch of 5 to 7 eggs per year. The article also describes the rearing of Blandings night tree snakes, in which the female has attached two eggs to the outside of the hatching box. The first baby hatched after 115 days. The juveniles are raised individually in glass terrariums and fed with live mice. It is noted that the venom of Toxicodryas blandingii contains a neurotoxin that appears to be stronger than that of Boiga species. The text also includes a list of captive-bred snakes of various species in 2022, including venomous species such as Vipera ammodytes meridionalis and Trimeresurus insularis. [Extracted from the article]

The present issue of the Secretary is the second one this year and contains, among other things, the written versions of lectures that were given at the meetings of the Working Group Literature and History of Herpetology and Terrarium Studies in the German Society for Herpetology and Terrarium Studies. Other contributions are also published. The issue includes the presentation by Dr. Hans J. Jacobs on Heinrich Christian Macklot and the Natuurkundige Commissie in Dutch East Indies. A special contribution comes from Dr. h. c. René Honegger with the title "From Dragon to Crocodile". The LGHT meeting at the Frankfurt Zoo was a successful and well-attended double event. There were interesting lectures and a social gathering. The next LGHT conference will take place at the Allwetterzoo Münster. [Extracted from the article]

Eighteen 5 months old veiled chameleon females (Chamaeleo calyptratus) were used in the study. Seven females received subcutaneous implants with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH) deslorelin acetate whereas eleven females were used as control animals without any implants. Females were kept in five terraria, in groups of four females (in 3 terraria) and groups of three females (in 2 terraria), respectively. A minimum of one female with GnRH implants was present in each terrarium. They were kept under standard husbandry conditions. Females of both groups (females with GnRH and controls, respectively) were monitored for three years. No dif)ferences between females with GnRH implants and females without GnRH implants were observed with respect to the presence of large ovarian follicles, number of eggs/female, or number of clutches/female. GnRH implants did not prevent spontaneous reproductive activity in any of the 7 females with implants. Ovariectomy was per)formed in 8 females (4 females with GnRH implants and 4 control females). Ten females (3 females with GnRH implants and 7 control females) had to be euthanised. In 17 of 18 female veiled chameleons of this study histologic examination revealed heterophilic granulomatous oophoritis. The use of GnRH agonist implants did not prove to be an appropriate method for the control of reproductive function in captive female veiled chameleons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Lucrari Stiintifice, Universitatea de Stiinte Agricole Si Medicina Veterinara Ion Ionescu de la Brad Iasi, Seria Horticultura is the property of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (Editura Ion Ionescu de la Brad) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Lucrari Stiintifice, Universitatea de Stiinte Agricole Si Medicina Veterinara Ion Ionescu de la Brad Iasi, Seria Horticultura is the property of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (Editura Ion Ionescu de la Brad) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Simple Summary: We explored the relationships of seven-years-old children with a Giant African land snail (Achatina fulica). The focus was on the potential effects of employing animals at school. One large snail named Bruno was kept inside a terrarium in a primary school. After seven months, the children's relationship scores with Bruno were assessed and compared with the scores of same-aged children's relationships with their vertebrate pets. The relationship scores with the snail were intermediate to high, comparable to the attachment of children to their dogs, cats, and rabbits. The results suggest that non-vertebrate species may have great potential for animal-assisted interventions in educational and therapeutic contexts. Employing living animals in educational settings is popular and may assist learning. Human-animal relationships are considered fundamental for the effects of animal-assisted interventions (AAI) on successful learning. Key studies on AAI emphasize dogs, or other large-brained vertebrates, while AAI with non-vertebrate species is a yet rather unexplored field. However, bringing non-vertebrate species to school has ethical and practical advantages. In an exploratory study, we tested whether seven-years-old children would form caregiving relationships with a Giant African land snail (Achatina fulica). Prior to the survey, the snail had been kept inside a terrarium in the classroom for seven months. We employed a questionnaire for measuring children's pet attachment to assess the children's relationships with the snail. The observed relationship scores with the snail were intermediate to high and did not differ from same-aged children's attachment scores with their dogs, cats, and rabbits. No differences due to gender were observed. Children potentially developed caregiving attitudes and empathy towards the snail, and thus, the presented results indicate potential benefits from employing a non-vertebrate species in educational settings, as well as for animal-assisted therapy. The specific features of A. fulica are discussed in the frame of human-animal interactions, learning, and anthropomorphism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the keeping and breeding of the rare turtle species Cuora mouhotii. In 2009, the author acquired two females and one male of this species and kept them in terrariums with coconut humus, beech leaves, and moss. The animals were fed with various foods, and after some time, the females started laying eggs. The author observed the reproductive cycle and reports on various methods of rearing the offspring. In conclusion, he appeals for the protection and conservation of this species. [Extracted from the article]

Simple Summary: Environmental enrichment is a method that improves animal welfare in captive conditions. There are many forms of enrichment, including olfactory, auditory, and structural enrichment, and their usefulness can be determined by measuring behavioral indicators. It is important to consider the behavioral needs of the animals for which the enrichment is intended when designing environmental enrichment. Therefore, the aim of this work was to test the utility of four types of environmental enrichment for leopard geckos kept in a terrarium or in a rack system. The aim of this study was to test the usefulness of environmental enrichment for Eublepharis macularius depending on the maintenance method (terrarium vs. rack system). The hypothesis was that reptiles kept in an extremely low-stimulus environment (rack system) would be more prone to interact with environmental enrichment items than those kept in a biotope terrarium. During the study, 21 female geckos were kept in two types of captive enclosures: 9 in terrariums, and 12 in rack system boxes in groups of 3 animals per enclosure. During the enrichment sessions, geckos were observed for 45 min while enrichment items (dry and wet hides, a new feeding method, a new object) were present in the enclosure. All geckos showed interest in enrichment items that enabled hiding and climbing. Animals kept in the rack system showed significantly lower latency in approaching enrichment items and a higher frequency of enrichment interactions than lizards in biotope terrariums. However, no significant differences were found in the total time spent interacting with enrichment items between geckos in the two settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The third issue of "Eidechse" in 2024 begins with a picture of the Peloponnese wall lizard, which is endemic to the western and central Peloponnese. This colorful species displays pronounced mating behavior in the spring. The picture is intended to evoke a desire for spring, when one can observe lizards in nature or in terrariums again. Readers are encouraged to submit interesting photos for future issues of the magazine. [Extracted from the article]

The article describes the behavior and breeding of the island climbing snake Elaphe climacophora. The species was popular in terrariums for a long time but lost popularity with the emergence of Asian climbing snakes. The island climbing snake is a monotypic species of the genus Elaphe and has specific characteristics such as keeled dorsals and ventral keels. It inhabits the Japanese archipelago and is adaptable to different habitats. The species is diurnal and feeds on birds, mice, and rats. The island climbing snake hibernates for about 2-5 months and lays its eggs in decaying wood or compost heaps. In terrariums, they are relatively peaceful but can suddenly bite. There are different color and pattern variations of the species. The author of the article keeps two females and one male of this endangered species and regularly breeds them. The animals are kept in terrariums and fed thawed rats. During hibernation, they are kept in plastic boxes with moist moss. The mating season begins in March, and the male attempts to fertilize the female. After mating, the male's hemipenis swells and there is a thickening of the female's cloacal region. During this time, the animals should not be disturbed. After about 40 days, the female lays the eggs and defends them against disturbances. The eggs are incubated in a moist and warm wet box, and the hatchlings emerge after approximately 80 days. The island climbing snake is a recommended and beautiful snake that adapts well to terrarium keeping. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Keeping and Breeding the Spotted Head Snake Gonyosoma oxycephalum [BOIE, 1827]" describes the author Karsten Hoer's experiences with keeping and breeding the spotted head snake. The spotted head snake is a large snake with a length of 1.60 m to 1.90 m and a head that is distinct from the neck, with a pointed snout. It is found in Southeast Asia and inhabits densely forested areas, where it is often found near riverbanks or bodies of water. For keeping the snake, a spacious terrarium with climbing branches and caves is recommended, while breeding takes place in an incubator at a temperature of 27-29 °C. The spotted head snake is a fascinating snake that can be successfully kept and bred. [Extracted from the article]

The general practitioner and terrarium keeper Dr. Fritz Steinheil from Munich intended to supplement Schreiber’s (1912) “Herpetologia europaea” with valuable photographs (heliogravures) of snakes, which he succeeded in doing with issues 1 to 6 (1913 and 1914) up to the outbreak of the First World War. Only after Steinheil’s death in 1926 did the Munich herpetologist Lorenz Müller-Mainz complete Steinheil`s photographic work as the “editor” and provided issues 7 to 9 (1927 - 1931) with his own texts. The entire panel work (copperplate engravings based on photos) is characterized as a noble printing process, which is distinguished by its outstanding quality compared to the processes of letterpress and offset printing that were common at the time. In total, the work comprises 45 heliogravure plates on cardboard (30 x 22.8 cm) in addition to some other types of printing in the text. His taxa are 18 modern-day European species and subspecies of snakes, namely Natrix a. astreptophora, Natrix natrix vulgaris, Natrix natrix moreotica, Elaphe quatuorlineata, Elaphe sauromates, Hierophis v. viridiflavus, Hierophis viridiflavus carbonarius, Platyceps najadum dahli, Zamenis lineatus, Zamenis longissimus, Zamenis situla, Vipera a. ammodytes, Vipera a. aspis, Vipera aspis francisciredi, Vipera b. berus, Vipera transcaucasiana, Vipera ursinii macrops, Vipera ursinii rakosiensis. However, today’s system and nomenclature has changed significantly compared to the situation at the beginning of the 20th century. The present work tries to take this fact into account by looking back at the herpetological history and looking at the current situation of some species. The conditions surrounding the genus Hierophis and the grass snake complex, which Steinheil often photographs, are of particular importance; that means specifically the recently revalidated Natrix natrix vulgaris and its distribution and special genetic makeup from the area around Steinheil’s hometown of Munich. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exhibition discusses issues related to Initiation to Natural Sciences in Early Childhood Education, affirming the child's right to appropriate the knowledge produced by humanity. The goal of this work is to identify signs of children's engagement with investigative actions and, with this perspective, an Investigative Teaching Sequence was elaborated and applied to children of Early Childhood Education. Qualitative research guided the production of data relating to children's records, which were analysed based on evidence associated with the scientific investigation. The results showed that the actions developed in the Kindergarten contributed to the child's understanding of the terrarium construction process, the use of materials and the observation of phenomena as evidence for the investigation process. These actions are fundamental for the theoretical-scientific instrumentalization of the teacher, intentionally guiding their pedagogical practice, as well as offering real opportunities for the integral development of the child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil health underpins ecosystem services like food security and therefore underpins human health. Poor soil health is a global problem which is hindering attempts to deliver the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. We focus on goals 3 (human health), 13 (climate change) which are intimately linked to goal 15 (soil health). Soil health is arguably most fragile in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where aged soils are characterised by poor nutrient and water holding capacity, and are largely deficient in micronutrients such as Zinc. Poor soil health coupled with the largely cereal-based diets can mean that micronutrient malnutrition is high in the region. In sub-Saharan Africa, where much of the population is too poor to purchase mineral supplements, poor soil health (SDG15) can therefore negatively impact on human health (SDG3). We surveyed 3661 school children aged 13–15 in three African countries, Ghana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, for their ‘Attitudes, Behaviours and Competencies’ of soil, which we termed ‘ABC’. The ‘ABC’ survey results showed significant soil illiteracy. The survey showed that although students were generally equipped with a good attitude to (overall 52% positive) and behaviour towards soil (overall 60% engagement), they had little competency as to how to improve soil health (overall 23% knowledge). For example, less than 35% of respondents across all countries know that soil is living. Less than 13% of students are aware of the important role of soil in climate change mitigation. We believe that these two knowledge gaps must be addressed for Generation Z to understand the important linkages between climate change, soil and human health. We propose a hands-on ‘ethics of care’ approach to engage society with soil, piggybacking on existing climate change educational resources by building terrariums with living soil can empower children to learn about soil, plant, human and planetary health. The future of food security depends on Generation Z having soil literacy. Our survey clearly shows that students who think farming is a good way to make money have significantly higher levels of overall soil literacy. We propose that the future of human health depends on soil literacy.

The second issue of the year 2024 of "Sekretär" contains a comprehensive report on this year's annual meeting of the Literature and History Working Group of Herpetology and Terrarium Studies (LGHT), which took place in April 2024 at the Allwetterzoo Münster. There were no content gaps or failures as colleagues took over presentations at short notice. The issue already includes some of the transcripts of these contributions. Further contributions will follow in later issues. [Extracted from the article]

"Geckos in the World of Terrariums" is a book by Nikolai G. Krymov that provides detailed information on 486 gecko species from 83 genera, focusing on their distribution, captivity requirements, and status in zooculture. The book is well-illustrated with 973 photographs, aiding in species identification. While the book offers valuable insights, there are some technical criticisms regarding references, etymology, bibliography format, and data analysis. The book also touches on controversial topics such as funding priorities for conservation efforts. [Extracted from the article]

The breeding statistics for 2021 of the DGHT-AG Lacertids show the successes in breeding lizards in terrariums. Although many members of the AG Lacertids keep and breed lizards, only a few participate in the internal breeding statistics. However, breeding successes are important to maintain lizard populations in terrariums and to demonstrate our expertise as contacts for terrarium keepers, scientists, and authorities. In total, at least 178 lizards were kept and 321 offspring were produced in 2021, with the common wall lizard, the Kurdish lizard, and the eastern emerald lizard having the most successful breeding. [Extracted from the article]

This is a short communication of a discovery of the invasive Mediterranean snail species Theba pisana among food products in a market in Bulgaria imported from Spain. A single live juvenile specimen was found among lettuce leaves. Later it was alive kept in a terrarium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]