Escape from the ABCs
- Thread starter Maguari
- Start date
I've kept Wellington Tree Wetas (Hemideina crassidens) before - they turned up in the pet trade for a while. Not hard to keep but I never got close to breeding them. Pictures attached.
Bristol have had Poor Knights Island Giant Wetas (Deinacrida fallai) on show in the past, but I don't know if they currently keep them.
Bristol have had Poor Knights Island Giant Wetas (Deinacrida fallai) on show in the past, but I don't know if they currently keep them.
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I know there have been giant weta in zoos overseas in the past but I don't know about nowadays (there are several species so I don't know which ones apart for what Maguari said above). They breed easily, the only problem being that the young are cannibalistic so need to be housed individually.
Giant weta are great because their size is just so impressive, but tree weta (again, several species) are more interesting I think. They live in harems, they have striking sexual dimorphism, and they are easy to keep and breed.
One of the most impressive weta species however is the tusked weta....
(note the following photos of giant and tusked weta are from the internet, not my own)
Giant weta are great because their size is just so impressive, but tree weta (again, several species) are more interesting I think. They live in harems, they have striking sexual dimorphism, and they are easy to keep and breed.
One of the most impressive weta species however is the tusked weta....
(note the following photos of giant and tusked weta are from the internet, not my own)
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This one caught my eye, red Indian fish at the Sydney aquarium, a strange looking fish from Australian waters
Sydney Aquarium's Photos - Wall Photos | Facebook
Sydney Aquarium's Photos - Wall Photos | Facebook
those guys are great fish, and I like how Australia hasn't bowed to the PC Brigade and renamed their fish species! I'll be at Sydney Aquarium later this month, so am looking forward to seeing these now 
those guys are great fish, and I like how Australia hasn't bowed to the PC Brigade and renamed their fish species! I'll be at Sydney Aquarium later this month, so am looking forward to seeing these now
Have you worked out your itinery yet?
Hix
I have. I shall post it on the other thread now that you mention it.
a short Sydney trip netted me a number of new species, although a lot of the coolest animals were in the nocturnal houses so no photos that could be posted. The main aim of the trip was to see the long-beaked echidna, which looks like a ponderously-mobile beanbag with a beak. My photo is appalling (see attached thumbnail), so here is a link to one by Hix: http://www.zoochat.com/34/zaglossus-mist-189053/
A few other interesting critters, from Taronga Zoo:
http://www.zoochat.com/34/new-caledonian-giant-gecko-rhacodactylus-leachianus-189591/
http://www.zoochat.com/34/leopard-seal-hydrurga-leptonyx-189601/ (much better ones by Hix etc in the Taronga gallery)
http://www.zoochat.com/34/tawny-crevice-dragon-ctenophorus-decresii-189592/
From Sydney Aquarium:
http://www.zoochat.com/52/murray-river-crayfish-euastacus-armatus-191332/
http://www.zoochat.com/52/arafura-filesnake-acrochordus-arafurae-191326/
http://www.zoochat.com/52/red-indian-fish-pataecus-fronto-191324/ (bad photo)
http://www.zoochat.com/52/sydney-octopus-octopus-tetricus-191322/ (included just because its alternative name is gloomy octopus!)
http://www.zoochat.com/52/upside-down-jellyfish-cassiopeia-andromeda-191227/
http://www.zoochat.com/52/dugong-191206/ (there are much much better ones by Hix in the gallery!)
From Wildlife World:
http://www.zoochat.com/81/central-netted-dragon-ctenophorus-nuchalis-191356/
http://www.zoochat.com/81/northern-death-adder-acanthophis-praelongus-191349/
http://www.zoochat.com/81/rufous-net-casting-spider-deinopus-subrufa-191339/
thumbnails: long-beaked echidna, and a spiny lumpsucker (Eumicrotremus orbis) from Seattle Aquarium sent to me by a friend:
A few other interesting critters, from Taronga Zoo:
http://www.zoochat.com/34/new-caledonian-giant-gecko-rhacodactylus-leachianus-189591/
http://www.zoochat.com/34/leopard-seal-hydrurga-leptonyx-189601/ (much better ones by Hix etc in the Taronga gallery)
http://www.zoochat.com/34/tawny-crevice-dragon-ctenophorus-decresii-189592/
From Sydney Aquarium:
http://www.zoochat.com/52/murray-river-crayfish-euastacus-armatus-191332/
http://www.zoochat.com/52/arafura-filesnake-acrochordus-arafurae-191326/
http://www.zoochat.com/52/red-indian-fish-pataecus-fronto-191324/ (bad photo)
http://www.zoochat.com/52/sydney-octopus-octopus-tetricus-191322/ (included just because its alternative name is gloomy octopus!)
http://www.zoochat.com/52/upside-down-jellyfish-cassiopeia-andromeda-191227/
http://www.zoochat.com/52/dugong-191206/ (there are much much better ones by Hix in the gallery!)
From Wildlife World:
http://www.zoochat.com/81/central-netted-dragon-ctenophorus-nuchalis-191356/
http://www.zoochat.com/81/northern-death-adder-acanthophis-praelongus-191349/
http://www.zoochat.com/81/rufous-net-casting-spider-deinopus-subrufa-191339/
thumbnails: long-beaked echidna, and a spiny lumpsucker (Eumicrotremus orbis) from Seattle Aquarium sent to me by a friend:
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Lemmus do very well in captivity; they are kept and bred in laboratory situations very easily for example.
Meaghan Edwards
Well-Known Member
Some critters I never fail to find fascinating at the Toronto Zoo? Their MacLeay's spectres, Moon jellies (which are very popular), and blue crayfish.
Lemmings would be neat as an exhibit animal, as would Arctic hares (which were originally planned to be in the Toronto Zoo's new tundra exhbit). Quebec City zoo (now closed) once had them.
Lemmings would be neat as an exhibit animal, as would Arctic hares (which were originally planned to be in the Toronto Zoo's new tundra exhbit). Quebec City zoo (now closed) once had them.
Here's an odd one I was reminded of during a guinea fowl discussion at the Chester meetup on Saturday: Reichenow's Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris reichenowi), a subspecies of Helmeted Guinea Fowl, familiar in its domesticated form. The wild reichenowi form has a markedly more colourful head and a much taller 'helmet', giving them the look of a mini cassowary. Arnhem had at least 6 birds, kept in pairs in separate aviaries. They were incredibly active. I really hope these can grow in numbers in captivity as it'd be nice to replace some of odd mutation Helmeted Guinea Fowl in zoos with 'proper' ones, particularly those in mixed savannah exhibits.
http://www.zoochat.com/162/reichenows-guinea-fowl-burgers-zoo-arnhem-175576/
http://www.zoochat.com/162/signage-example-burgers-zoo-arnhem-29-a-175577/
Photo isn't the greatest as they were in a mesh aviary and patrolling the front; there's a nice painting of one on this sign!
http://www.zoochat.com/162/reichenows-guinea-fowl-burgers-zoo-arnhem-175576/
http://www.zoochat.com/162/signage-example-burgers-zoo-arnhem-29-a-175577/
Photo isn't the greatest as they were in a mesh aviary and patrolling the front; there's a nice painting of one on this sign!
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Glad to have been of some use on the Bird Walk and Talk!!
I believe Arnhem already bred them quite well since their arrival in 2007.
ISIS lists 11 birds, which is probably at least close to the mark. Cool birds indeed
I believe Arnhem already bred them quite well since their arrival in 2007.
ISIS lists 11 birds, which is probably at least close to the mark. Cool birds indeed
Good news -thanks jwer.
I can't see any particular reason for them not to breed well - hopefully we'll see them spread a bit eventually.
I don't know how common they are (I've heard that they are not very easy to get hold of in the UK), but I may be getting a trio of fire-bellied newts (not sure whether Chinese or Japanese) soon in the hope of breeding them. It all depends on whether the shop wants to sell them straight away, or use them for breeding (they only came in today).