Tropiquaria Tropiquaria News
- Thread starter Leopardus
- Start date
Feel like there are a lot of changes going on at the moment around the park & wondered if anyone has visited lately. I saw on Facebook today that the lemur enclosure next to the gibbons is under construction and the image on the new one looked like the outline of a cat. Also saw a exmoor zoo keeper commented they knew what was coming soon. Does anyone know of any cats leaving exmoor that it could possibly be? Feel like it would be a great move for the zoo if they do gain a new cat specie since the sad passing of Oz the serval earlier this year.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
I am planning on visiting later this week for the first time in close to a decade in order to see the Northern Flying Squirrels. Has anyone visited lately enough to confirm that they are still on display, and does anyone have any advice for the best chances of seeing them?
I visited a fortnight ago today - they are still on-display, but your chances of seeing them pretty much come down to blind luck (and a boatload of it) as even by the standards of nocturnal rodents they are nervous and unshowy.
I'm given to understand that checking their exhibit as soon as the place opens and immediately before it closes does increase your chances, but not by much.
Laboratory 7
Well-Known Member
I believe that recently the squirrels have become very poor at showing,and that they could be having a refurb of the enclosure to try and improve the amount of time they show themselves, I believe that they currently have 3 left.
Prochilodus246
Well-Known Member
I wish you luck, as @TeaLovingDave has pointed out the best way of seeing them is by sheer luck. May I ask if you could provide a list of the aquarium inhabitants as it seems while I was looking on photos people have taken on Google there are a number of new species in the aquarium such as Channa pulchra, the Peacock snakehead.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Thanks to all for your responses. I will make my way directly to the Nocturnal House (which is new since my last visit, so a priority even without the squirrels) upon entry and return several times throughout the day - hopefully I will see them at some point, but I won't raise my hopes too much!
I will happily provide a species list, although bare in mind that my ID skills aren't all that great, so I will mostly have to rely on signage but will try to take photos of unsigned species for identification. Google image search may prove useful here! Will be posting a species list on this thread (unless moderators believe it will merit its own) shortly after my visit.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Visited today for the first time in over eight years and was delighted by it. On my first visit, I vaguely recall several disappointing enclosures and a heavy emphasis on children’s play areas, but was delighted to find that the former was no longer an issue and, while the latter is still prevalent, it is very much forgivable considering how much competition there is in terms of zoos in the West Country.
I began with the Reptile Hall and was amazed by it. No major rarities, although the Yellow-spotted Monitors and Frilled Lizards, the latter particularly impressive, still provided lifeticks, but the quality of the terrariums was mostly decently high, and the sheer number of species was far greater than I had anticipated. The only enclosure which seemed a little small was that for the Spectacled Caiman. The free-flying birds only added to the aesthetics of the house, and in particular the White-crested Turacos were very impressive birds in flight. Brilliant to see a walkthrough with such flight space and the sheer number of Crested Wood Partridges was remarkable. Weirdly, many more birds were kept in an aviary behind the Green Iguanas with poor viewing and no signage - regrettably, I suspect this is where the African Silverbill, a potential lifetick, were kept.
Downstairs was the Aquarium, the only area of the zoo where exhibit quality seemed a little subpar, with some tanks that were far too small for the inhabitants they contained. I regrettably did not get a species list (apologies, Prochilodus), although I was somewhat on the look out for any rarities. There were no Peacock Snakeheads, but there were Dwarf Snakeheads (Channa limbata), which are also a major rarity and not listed on ZTL, something which I will amend when I return to London (and I will also upload images of them to the gallery). They are very impressive fish indeed. It was also nice to see African Knifefish, Axelrod’s Rasbora and Upside-down Catfish, with the latter being particularly fascinating.
Back upstairs was the main reason for my visit - the Nocturnal House with Europe’s only Northern Flying Squirrels (and indeed the only flying squirrels of any species in the UK, unless there are some in private hands). It took several visits to the House to actually see the squirrels, but it certainly payed off - initially, one individual peered out of its nesting box, at around 14:30, before jumping out and climbing onto the hammock in the centre of its enclosure to feed. After five minutes or so admiring and photographing it, another individual leapt out and the two began chasing each other, demonstrating the folds beneath their wings which enable their namesake gliding rather well. After a further five minutes admiring them, I departed Tropiquaria feeling immensely satisfied and relieved after fears that I would not see them. The entire Nocturnal House was wonderful with every species not only visible but (barring the Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec who I assume are still in torpor) extremely active. This included my first Kinkajou and Cape Genet, both long-overdue lifeticks - I had no idea how agile and mobile the former, which always seems to be sleeping and invisible in zoos, truly was!
Outdoors, the collection was (barring a few pleasant species such as Jardine’s Parrot, and North American Red Squirrel as opposed to more commonly kept subspecies) about as basic as it gets, and exactly what you would expect from a small zoo such as this. However, it was brilliant all the same to get such good views of certain species, such as North American Raccoons and Red-fronted Lemurs, that I always seem to have bad luck with in zoos. I also loved seeing albino Raccoon Dogs, who were simply adorable, and some very brave free-ranging peafowl, who would allow visitors to approach them often.
Overall, a very pleasant collection and one that I am very glad to have visited. For the flying squirrels alone, I would recommend a visit to anyone in the area.
I began with the Reptile Hall and was amazed by it. No major rarities, although the Yellow-spotted Monitors and Frilled Lizards, the latter particularly impressive, still provided lifeticks, but the quality of the terrariums was mostly decently high, and the sheer number of species was far greater than I had anticipated. The only enclosure which seemed a little small was that for the Spectacled Caiman. The free-flying birds only added to the aesthetics of the house, and in particular the White-crested Turacos were very impressive birds in flight. Brilliant to see a walkthrough with such flight space and the sheer number of Crested Wood Partridges was remarkable. Weirdly, many more birds were kept in an aviary behind the Green Iguanas with poor viewing and no signage - regrettably, I suspect this is where the African Silverbill, a potential lifetick, were kept.
Downstairs was the Aquarium, the only area of the zoo where exhibit quality seemed a little subpar, with some tanks that were far too small for the inhabitants they contained. I regrettably did not get a species list (apologies, Prochilodus), although I was somewhat on the look out for any rarities. There were no Peacock Snakeheads, but there were Dwarf Snakeheads (Channa limbata), which are also a major rarity and not listed on ZTL, something which I will amend when I return to London (and I will also upload images of them to the gallery). They are very impressive fish indeed. It was also nice to see African Knifefish, Axelrod’s Rasbora and Upside-down Catfish, with the latter being particularly fascinating.
Back upstairs was the main reason for my visit - the Nocturnal House with Europe’s only Northern Flying Squirrels (and indeed the only flying squirrels of any species in the UK, unless there are some in private hands). It took several visits to the House to actually see the squirrels, but it certainly payed off - initially, one individual peered out of its nesting box, at around 14:30, before jumping out and climbing onto the hammock in the centre of its enclosure to feed. After five minutes or so admiring and photographing it, another individual leapt out and the two began chasing each other, demonstrating the folds beneath their wings which enable their namesake gliding rather well. After a further five minutes admiring them, I departed Tropiquaria feeling immensely satisfied and relieved after fears that I would not see them. The entire Nocturnal House was wonderful with every species not only visible but (barring the Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec who I assume are still in torpor) extremely active. This included my first Kinkajou and Cape Genet, both long-overdue lifeticks - I had no idea how agile and mobile the former, which always seems to be sleeping and invisible in zoos, truly was!
Outdoors, the collection was (barring a few pleasant species such as Jardine’s Parrot, and North American Red Squirrel as opposed to more commonly kept subspecies) about as basic as it gets, and exactly what you would expect from a small zoo such as this. However, it was brilliant all the same to get such good views of certain species, such as North American Raccoons and Red-fronted Lemurs, that I always seem to have bad luck with in zoos. I also loved seeing albino Raccoon Dogs, who were simply adorable, and some very brave free-ranging peafowl, who would allow visitors to approach them often.
Overall, a very pleasant collection and one that I am very glad to have visited. For the flying squirrels alone, I would recommend a visit to anyone in the area.
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Laboratory 7
Well-Known Member
The aquarium is home to the largest collection of goodieds outside of Mexico,yes some of the tanks are small and getting old, but they where possible house size appropriate species in them. The aquarium has one of the finest aquarists in the country, looking after it and it's always a pleasure to speak with him.
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Kalaw
Well-Known Member
As mentioned in my post, I was specifically referring to the quality and size of the onshow tanks, which you admit are small and getting old. Tropiquaria is, of course, doing excellent work with goodieds and deserves immense praise for that - at no point was I disputing that the excellent staff at Tropiquaria understand the needs of the fish they care for far better than I do. I was merely saying that, at times, certain fish seemed far too big for their relatively small tanks, and I stand by that statement.
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Laboratory 7
Well-Known Member
Then we agree to disagree, because I think that overall it's fine and far better than other aquariums of a similar age in the UK and I'm seen a good number of them.
Prochilodus246
Well-Known Member
Nice review @Kalaw I was also confused on my visit about the passerine species kept in the far corner in a high aviary. Surley they should be free flight in the hall as they were a number of years back. Don't worry about the species list, as I can't imagine par the snakeheads it has differed much in under 2 years. I'm very glad you got the squirrels as they are very pleasant to watch. I look forward to the photos.
Just to note, North American red squirrels are a full species.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Although I sadly could not get a complete Aquarium species list, I did photograph some signs, particularly those for species which I suspected were somewhat rarities, so as to update ZTL for any inaccuracies. The following are all the species that were signed but not listed on ZTL prior, and as such are presumably (barring the characodon, glassfish and cichlids which were already listed as former holdings) brand new additions:
- Red Laser Rainbowfish
- Fairy Cichlid
- Eyespot Rasbora
- Bold Characodon
- Red-fin Dwarf Plec
- Dwarf Snakehead
- Humphead Glassfish
- Snakeskin Barb
- Spotted Climbing Perch
- Online Pencilfish
Some major rarities, especially the plec (which I thankfully could see, resting between the log and the far right wall of its tank). There were also new additions in the Reptile Hall, namely Carpet Python, Green Tree Python and free-flying Ribbon Finch, although sadly I could not locate the latter.
- Red Laser Rainbowfish
- Fairy Cichlid
- Eyespot Rasbora
- Bold Characodon
- Red-fin Dwarf Plec
- Dwarf Snakehead
- Humphead Glassfish
- Snakeskin Barb
- Spotted Climbing Perch
- Online Pencilfish
Some major rarities, especially the plec (which I thankfully could see, resting between the log and the far right wall of its tank). There were also new additions in the Reptile Hall, namely Carpet Python, Green Tree Python and free-flying Ribbon Finch, although sadly I could not locate the latter.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Interesting review thanks for sharing! Makes the squirrels very tempting!
Springbok
Well-Known Member
Update from the zoo's Facebook:
A pair of Prevost squirrel have arrived and inhabit the former marmoset exhibit opposite the tropical hall
~ @Springbok
A pair of Prevost squirrel have arrived and inhabit the former marmoset exhibit opposite the tropical hall
~ @Springbok