Komodo Dragons hatch from hidden eggs at Virginia Aquarium

[infernalis]

Two Komodo Dragons hatch from hidden eggs at Virginia Aquarium | 13NEWSNOW.com

[ThirteenRavens]

Oh neat!!! Komodos are one of my favorite reptiles!

[Albert Clark]

That is so cool! What a legacy for Jude. Tearjerker to a degree.

[murrindindi]

Very nice story regarding the hatchlings (but not the mother dragon) anyone have details of why she died?

[infernalis]

Originally Posted by murrindindi

Very nice story regarding the hatchlings (but not the mother dragon) anyone have details of why she died?

I believe reproductive failure, apparently she retained a few eggs, also why they never looked for a dug nest. It was likely assumed she had not passed any eggs.

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by infernalis

I believe reproductive failure, apparently she retained a few eggs, also why they never looked for a dug nest. It was likely assumed she had not passed any eggs.

Even with the advancement in captive husbandry over the last few years they are still dying from reproductive failure with some regularity, do you know how old the female was at death?
There was a study published on the UVB requirements for a variety of lizard families not too long ago, the piece also contained details of basking temps, etc. A number of the organisations (mostly zoos here in the U.K) are still offering surface temps of around 110f. I contacted several of these to ask if above figures were accurate, but haven`t received a single reply (I take it they choose not to discuss the issue).

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by murrindindi

Even with the advancement in captive husbandry over the last few years they are still dying from reproductive failure with some regularity, do you know how old the female was at death?
There was a study published on the UVB requirements for a variety of lizard families not too long ago, the piece also contained details of basking temps, etc. A number of the organisations (mostly zoos here in the U.K) are still offering surface temps of around 110f. I contacted several of these to ask if above figures were accurate, but haven`t received a single reply (I take it they choose not to discuss the issue).

Why would they? They consider themselves never to be wrong to the public and it's nothing they are doing wrong. (Clearly they are)

[infernalis]

Originally Posted by murrindindi

Even with the advancement in captive husbandry over the last few years they are still dying from reproductive failure with some regularity, do you know how old the female was at death?
There was a study published on the UVB requirements for a variety of lizard families not too long ago, the piece also contained details of basking temps, etc. A number of the organisations (mostly zoos here in the U.K) are still offering surface temps of around 110f. I contacted several of these to ask if above figures were accurate, but haven`t received a single reply (I take it they choose not to discuss the issue).

The zoo sector does not care what we have to say... even the biologists are routinely ignored by zoos. (Think back a few years, we had a retired zoo keeper on here that wanted to argue and fight with every biologist still breathing that high basking temps were not needed.)

[Albert Clark]

Originally Posted by murrindindi

Even with the advancement in captive husbandry over the last few years they are still dying from reproductive failure with some regularity, do you know how old the female was at death?
There was a study published on the UVB requirements for a variety of lizard families not too long ago, the piece also contained details of basking temps, etc. A number of the organisations (mostly zoos here in the U.K) are still offering surface temps of around 110f. I contacted several of these to ask if above figures were accurate, but haven`t received a single reply (I take it they choose not to discuss the issue).

Did you consider showing up to the zoo in person? Zoos are predicated on continuing education and conservation, if you were there in person you may get a different response. Just a thought.

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by infernalis

The zoo sector does not care what we have to say... even the biologists are routinely ignored by zoos. (Think back a few years, we had a retired zoo keeper on here that wanted to argue and fight with every biologist still breathing that high basking temps were not needed.)

Yes, I remember him (Frank Indiv...), he still has his blog page and to this day still won`t accept the surface temps we know are perfectly acceptable (actually required).
Many people (newcomers especially) will follow his advise (sadly)...

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Did you consider showing up to the zoo in person? Zoos are predicated on continuing education and conservation, if you were there in person you may get a different response. Just a thought.

Hi, I was in close contact with several large zoos a few years ago and was given details of the conditions they were offering, but these days "they" don`t seem particularly interested in sharing the current methods, I would doubt very much they would want to discuss them with me if I went in person, more to the point actually change their methods.
I know from the details I was sent at that time that in the main their varanids were kept undermetabolised to some extent, very few zoos had success repeatedly breeding many of the species they kept.

I`ll try and get a link up to the article I mentioned above...
Here it is, click on the pdf link..

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct...29759880,d.d24

[Albert Clark]

I`ll try and get a link up to the article I mentioned above...
Here it is, click on the pdf link..

@ Murrindini: Thanks for the link. Great article.

[sirtalis]

Speaking of basking temps and improper care, the komodo Dragon at the San Antonio zoo is kept in an indoor room enclosure a few inches of mulch and a single red lamp heats the cage apart from an A/Vheater unit, it's been in there for a few years now