- Cobra King Fact Fileby Jason StewartWe are often asked if we have King Cobras on display and at present, we don’t….the reason for this is simple. They are eat other snakes, and this is a difficult dietary requirement to fulfil. Some keepers force-feed their “Kings” with chicken necks, but we feel this presents an unacceptable risk to our keepers, particularly …
- A brand new year….by Jason StewartIt has been a very long time since I blogged, as we have literally been snowed under – between wonderful school bookings last year, and a crazy festive season, we are just now able to stop and come up for air – and some new developments! We have re-designed and landscaped our grounds and they are …
- Our new “gogo” house – come and be enchanted!by Jason StewartFormerly fondly referred to as “the frog house”, these days “gogo house” seems more appropriate – with a collection of frogs, spiders, geckos and even scorpions to amaze you! With beautiful new cages from Repti-Zoo, we have been able to create beautiful micro eco-systems for these incredible creatures, and we cannot wait until we are …
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- What do snakes eatby Jason StewartOne of the most frequently asked questions is what do snakes eat? A broad general answer would suggest that firstly, snakes eat anything they can overpower. And secondly, snakes will eat anything they can swallow. This is a fair comment, but not entirely correct. The problem lies not in the answer, but rather in the …
- The LD50 Testby Jason StewartWe often talk about the LD50 when discussing venom toxicity. This is a brief explanation of the test, and the reasons why it can’t always be used as an indicator….. The LD50 is a standard laboratory test recognised by the World Health Organisation, and invloves injecting a certain amount of 20g mice with a certain …
- The most venomous snakes on the planetby Jason StewartWe are often asked “what is the deadliest snake in the world” – it is such a difficult question to answer because there are SO many factors to take into account, and so any such characterisation is inherently flawed…..this list, however, should give an indication as to some of the contenders! First and foremost it …
- Things to do in Nelspruit, and other attractions in the Nelspruit/Sabie region!by Jason StewartI have been fortunate to spend the last few days on the Nelspruit/Sabie/Graskop route, dropping off our own brochures and forging relationships with the other attraction operators and accomodation facilities in this beautiful area. It has really opened my eyes – after nearly 13 years of living in the Lowveld, I didn’t realise just how …
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- Fact file – puff adderby Jason StewartPuff Adder (Bitis arietans) Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Viperidae Subfamily: Viperinae Genus: Bitis Species: Puff Adder (Bitis arietans) Snakes-uncovered.com What does the name mean? I have been unable to find the origin, or meaning, of the term “Bitis” except that it used to describe the African vipers that …
- Snake Venom – what it is, and isn’tby Jason StewartSnake venom can be best described as highly modified saliva that is produced by the parotid salivary gland. In snakes these glands are situated on either side of the head below and slightly behind the eyes. It is important to note that snakes are venomous, and not poisonous as they are so often described. So …
- Choosing your new pet snake…which one, which one!by Jason StewartChoosing a snake as a pet may prove more difficult than it seems. Almost everything and anything is available in the pet trade these days, and snakes are no exception.Common sense must prevail and it is important to make the right choice. The following guidelines are primarily aimed at those of you out there who …
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