Publisher's Synopsis
This full colour, 952-page book provides the most comprehensive and detailed account of Australian lizard species on all aspects of captive husbandry relating to all species of Australian lizards - geckos, skinks, dragons and monitors that may be maintained in captivity.The book is littered with the largest collection of reptile images ever presented, with over 2865 images from some of Australia's finest reptile photographers, many unique to this book and many showing species never before illustrated, including undescribed species and unobserved behaviours. These full colour images show all aspects of sexing, housing, breeding as well as the general appearance of the species within each chapter including dozens of morphotypes of visually variable species.The book begins with a 100-page section on General Husbandry that covers Stock Selection, Handling and Hygiene, Transportation, Purchase Etiquette, Security and Safety, Quarantine, Indoor and Outdoor Enclosure Options, Enclosure Size, Compatibility, Ventilation, Substrate Choices, Hide Sites, Enclosure Enrichment, Heating, Lighting, Thermostats, Invertebrate and Vertebrate Food Items, Artificial Diets, Culturing Insect foods, Dietary Supplements and Dealing with Feeding Problems.This is followed with 60 pages on breeding that includes Visual Sexing Techniques, other Sexing Techniques including some revolutionary new methods, Courtship and Mating, Cooling and Separation, Reproductive Strategies, Caring for Gravid Females, Nest Facilities, Egg Management, Artificial Incubation facilities and regimes, Temperature Dependent Sex Determination and Hatchling Care.The final section in the Husbandry chapters is a comprehensive 40 page guide to common Diseases and Disorders of Australian lizards such as Nutritional, Parasitic, Skin, Nail, Eye, Respiratory, Traumatic, Reproductive and Oral Disorders. This is completed with a guide to Administration of Medications and Making the most of your Reptile Veterinarian.Individual chapters present information on 39 Genus/Species Descriptions, Sexing, Subspecies, Distribution, Habitat, Captive Status, Indoor and Outdoor Housing, Compatibility, Feeding, Breeding Methods, Incubation, Colour Variants and Hybrids.The most comprehensive title on this subject yet to be published.
