The Vivarium was reopened a week ago, having been closed for refurbishment since late July. This marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the original Vivarium. I visited this afternoon for the first time in 2 years.
All the exhibits have been spruced up and a couple have been changed completely. The first enclosure, which used to house ackies (Varanus acanthurus) is now a butterfly exhibit. The big rainforest exhibit looks good, it still contains cone-headed lizards, Trinidad monkey frogs and 3 larger species of poison dart frogs. The smaller exhibit beside it now has strawberry poison dart frogs.
The exhibits opposite hold two green tree pythons, a male Fiji banded iguana and green tree monitors. The monitor exhibit has been reduced in size - I don't think the pair of monitors are impressed, because they stayed on top of their tree trunk, almost out of sight, for the whole of my visit. The space made available is now a window into the breeding and rearing area, rather similar to Bristol's amphipod, with vivariums for leaf frogs and three small aquariums holding tadpoles.
The former axolotl tank now holds oriental fire-bellied toads. The other small tanks at that end of the Vivarium still hold yellow poison dart frogs, the old panther chameleon and golden mantellas - I thought that the neon day geckos had gone, until a pair came out of hiding just before I left. Photos to follow.
It's a small collection, but the displays are very nice and it's free to visit and there's other good stuff in the Museum too. The conservation work is first class too, read about it at FROG BLOG MANCHESTER | frogblogmanchester.com
Alan
All the exhibits have been spruced up and a couple have been changed completely. The first enclosure, which used to house ackies (Varanus acanthurus) is now a butterfly exhibit. The big rainforest exhibit looks good, it still contains cone-headed lizards, Trinidad monkey frogs and 3 larger species of poison dart frogs. The smaller exhibit beside it now has strawberry poison dart frogs.
The exhibits opposite hold two green tree pythons, a male Fiji banded iguana and green tree monitors. The monitor exhibit has been reduced in size - I don't think the pair of monitors are impressed, because they stayed on top of their tree trunk, almost out of sight, for the whole of my visit. The space made available is now a window into the breeding and rearing area, rather similar to Bristol's amphipod, with vivariums for leaf frogs and three small aquariums holding tadpoles.
The former axolotl tank now holds oriental fire-bellied toads. The other small tanks at that end of the Vivarium still hold yellow poison dart frogs, the old panther chameleon and golden mantellas - I thought that the neon day geckos had gone, until a pair came out of hiding just before I left. Photos to follow.
It's a small collection, but the displays are very nice and it's free to visit and there's other good stuff in the Museum too. The conservation work is first class too, read about it at FROG BLOG MANCHESTER | frogblogmanchester.com
Alan
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