Firefly Toxicosis: Beautiful, Easy to Catch, but Deadly to your Reptiles
During the summer months, when the temperatures approach the upper 80’s to 90’s; many people with exotic reptiles enjoy the idea of bringing their pets out for a good bask in the sun or catching them a live tasty insect treat. Basking is a great activity to share with your reptile and catching your own food seems like a cheap alternative, but there is a serious danger that all reptile owners need to be aware of.

While fireflies are abundant and fairly easy to catch they should not be given to your exotic reptile, as they are toxic and ingesting just one firefly can prove fatal to your pet. Fireflies contain a poisonous lucibufagin chemical which is used as a defense mechanism; this chemical is related to a cardio-toxin and affects the heart. Reptiles and some amphibians which are not indigenous to North America do not have the inherent avoidance of fireflies, and will try to eat them.

According to the press release from Cornell News, symptoms of firefly toxicosis will occur within thirty minutes of ingestion and include; darkening of the skin, shaking of the head, gaping (opening the mouth wide), difficulty breathing, and attempting to regurgitate. If left untreated by a qualified exotics veterinarian, firefly toxicosis will cause death within an hour.

To prevent your reptile from eating firefly’s the following precautions should be taken; never leave a reptile outdoors unattended, never feed a firefly to you reptile, and do not keep reptiles in open-top cages where firefly’s can get in.

Firefly toxicosis has been known to affect Bearded Dragons, Chameleons, tree frogs, and even bird species. If your exotic pet ingests a firefly, you should take it to a qualified exotics veterinarian as emergency supportive care must be given as soon as possible.

Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Epicrates cenchria)

• These snakes are indigenous to the lush forests of Brazil and bordering countries
• Although mostly terrestrial, they have been found in trees, and in captivity some will climb if given the opportunity
• They typically have a red to maroon background color with black-bordered “crescents” which are often a bright orange
• Rainbow boas get their common name as a result of the spectacular iridescence they display when viewed in good light
• In addition to the Brazilian form, rainbow boas from Colombia, Argentina, and Guyana are sometimes offered for sale
• Adult size can range from just over 4 feet to monstrous specimens measuring nearly 7 feet
• As with all boas, rainbows are long lived, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live in excess of 25 years. Brazilian rainbow boas have been reported to live nearly half a century in captivity, although this would certainly be an exception rather than the norm
• In the wild this snake feeds on a variety of warm-blooded vertebrates

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African Spur-Thigh or Sulcata Tortoise (Geochelone sulcata)

• The African Spur-Thigh Tortoise, often called the Sulcata Tortoise is native to the Southern Sahara desert region
• They can reach up to 3-4 feet in length and 240 pounds
• Reptile experts claim that these tortoises will live up to 70 years but many cases have been reported of these tortoises living up to 150 years
• This tortoise is uniformally brown to golden yellow color
• They have well-defined spurs on their legs, which is where they get their name from
• Growth rings will appear on each scute (shell section) on the carapace
• A sulcata’s shell is thick, which may help it to retain fluid during dry periods
• In the wild sulcata’s are grazers and need high fiber, low-protein foods
• They make burrows in the ground where they can rest in safe comfort during the day, these burrows will have only one entry/exit (unless there is a cave-in inside the tunnel system)

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Leopard Ratsnake (Zamensis situla)

• The Leopard snake is a European Snake that is particularly prevalent in Greece (including Crete and the islands of Cicadi), western Turkey and Southern Italy (including Sicily)
• They are found in semi rural areas, frequenting farm out buildings, rocky hillsides, dry stone walls, cultivated fields and isolated houses
• They are a ground dwelling snake that is active during the day and at dusk
• This iswidely considered to be the most stunning of all rat snakes, and is readily identifiable by it’s reddish, dark edged markings that can take the form of spots (and less frequently) two parallel stripes
• This is a fairly small snake, slender in appearance and reaching lengths of only about 3 feet (but usually smaller)
• In the wild the adults feed on small mammals, mainly rodents, while juvenile snakes tend to eat small lizards
• They have been known to become house snakes, especially in Greece where they have been called “Spitofido”, meaning ‘House Snake’. This is mainly due to them being considered a ‘good luck charm’ because they kill rodents, hence the Greeks intentionally introduced them into their homes
• They are a temperate species, only producing a clutch of 2-7 eggs. Also only 3 out of every 4 eggs generally hatch
• Unfortunately wild populations are in rapid decline. Vast numbers are dying each year due to habitat destruction. This has led to a ban being enforced, forbidding the collection of wild specimens for the pet trade (Bern convention). They are also closely monitored by Cites

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Mandarin Ratsnake (Euprepiophis [Elaphe] mandarina)

• The Mandarin Ratsnake is found in southern and central China, with a few specimens known from countries adjacent to this area. There they inhabit open forests and rocky scrubland
•  Originally thought to be a montane species, they are now also known to inhabit lower elevations in many parts of their range, often being found in agricultural areas
• Approximately six to eight inches long at birth, they average four feet in length as adults. Occasional specimens may attain five feet in length, and there are a few records of six-foot specimens
• Adult and sub-adult specimens are frequently imported in large numbers for the pet trade. These specimens are heavily loaded with parasites, badly stressed and very nervous and the keeper who successfully acclimates one and gets it to feed is rare indeed
• Mandarin Rat Snakes are a very shy and secretive species which spend most of their time in burrows searching for their favorite prey of young rodents
• When disturbed, the Mandarin Ratsnake becomes very aggressive and may spit or bite the attacker, or even musk them
• The color pattern varies from brown with yellow spots or beige with black patches
• They are active in the early morning and late afternoon hours
• These snakes hibernate for 2-4 months
• They breed in the spring and typically have 3-12 eggs

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Indian Trinket Snake (commonly accepted: Coelognathus helena helena) (previous: Elaphe helena helena)

• The Trinket snake inhabits most of India where it is commonly found in coastal regions
• It can be found between sea level and at altitudes up to around 900m, where it has a preference for scrub areas at the edge of rain forests, rice fields, plantations and the edges of meadows, especially in the vicinity of water like irrigation ditches or small pools
• They have also been found sheltering in termite mounds, rock piles and crevices, and in the cooler months observed resting in bushes and small trees with heavy foliage
• This snake gets it’s scientific names from the Daughter of Zeus in Greek Mythology, Helena. Who was famed for being the most beautiful woman in Greek mythology
• There are two subspecies of the Indian Trinket snake, the nominate form (Coelognathus helena helena) and the Collared or Montane Trinket Snake (C. h. monticollaris)
• First described in 1803 by DAUDIN, this species has formerly been known by a variety of names, but was first known by the more well known name of Elaphe helena (Minton) in 1943
• In the wild their diet consists of small lizards, frogs, insects, and small mammals as well as birds and their young
• They can be both diurnal and crepuscular/nocturnal in summer months
• Trinket snakes are sexually dimorphic with females generally attaining lengths of between four and five foot, although bigger specimens up to 5 and a half foot have been recorded. Males are small in comparison and generally only reach three foot
• Trinket snakes are fairly prolific and will lay eggs all year round, with approx 3-12 eggs in each clutch and an average of 4 clutches per year
• Trinket Snakes have quite an intimidating display where they ‘S’ up, inflating their throat and a gape exposing the black lining to their mouth

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I will be going to the Bronx Zoo and the New York Aquarium from Thursday to Saturday this week. I wont have a whole lot of time to post but I will try to put up the pictures that I will take at the Reptile World enclosure at the Bronx Zoo. Please feel free to suggest a species or herpetology subject in my ask box, and I will put it up as soon as I have a chance.

Thanks everyone!

-Kayla (fortheloveofherpetology)

Emerald Swift (Sceloporus malachiticus)

• These beautiful lizards are indigenous to the high altitude cloud forests of extreme southern Mexico and much of Central America
• Emerald swifts get their common name as a result of the magnificent bright green and blue coloration exhibited by mature males. Female swifts are not as ornately colored, but still an attractive lizard nonetheless
• Nearly all emerald swifts available in this country are of a wild caught origin
• They have approximately a five year life span
• These lizards are quite territorial
• Emerald Swifts are excellent climbers which agilely scale trees and rocks in their native habitat
• Unlike many lizards, Emerald Swifts are live-bearers, which means they give birth to live offspring rather than laying eggs
• Emerald swifts are insectivores
• Emerald swifts are quick and agile creatures that will rarely tolerate handling. They are not aggressive, and rarely if ever attempt to bite. However, they will wiggle and squirm if restrained, which may result in stress over time
• The Emerald Swift is a beautiful, but delicate lizard that is very difficult to keep. It has an extremely high mortality rate in captivity, often dying within one year

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