Overland
Not so new Member
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2020
- Messages
- 32
- Reaction score
- 33
Hello Everyone, First time joining this forum but ive lurked in the shadows on and off over the years looking at some interesting threads.
This drought has taken its terrible toll on everything, the timing for me personally has been odd to say the least, im not what youd call a lizard fan but ive always admired them as an animal in general.. it seems ive become quite the lizard owner accidently though through no fault of my own .. unsolicited as it were.
My story starts on somewhat of a sad note, My wife is indonesian and sadly so anything lizard-like is the 4 legged scale covered manifestation of all that is evil for her.. even to the point of pictures giving the same reaction.. so lizard pets were not something in my future id ever considered
when she returned home for a while recently.. Happily for myself.. not for her.. I discovered an Asian Wall Gecko in the house.. it had changed colour to match the wall, its nightly yip yip sound was at first thought to be a strange bird or cricket.. sadly I work in the logistics industry closely tied with AQIS.. so as a good australian. I captured this invader as cute as it was and handed it over to an AQIS officer. who honestly seemed to like it as much as I did but knew its fate.. no zoo wants them and this poor thing was headed for the big sleep via a vet.
apparently asian wall geckos are here and commonly come in towels from people - but none the less they try to keep the numbers low and I did my bit for the country
it seemed only 2 weeks had passed.. with the fires raging and drought in full force on the south coast, after telling my wife the fearsome bluetongue doesnt climb walls or come in houses (like an asian wall gecko). that I much to my surprise discovered a bluetongue in my house.. I got no idea what so ever how it got in the house. i'd seen one earlier in the day. but knowing they cant climb or stick to things.. I really see no way I could have brought it home
im not a lizard person, never truly considered one as a pet.. nothing more than a passing curiosity
I also know full well the laws of the land in NSW, your ment to have a licence for the things and never bring them from the wild.. none of which seemingly apply given that this ones a lizard version of a house-guest that dropped by
I leave the front door open at weekends when im home, the bluetongue seems not exactly interested in escaping.. infact its made a home in my loungeroom (lino floors thankfully)
I plan to release it whether it wants too or not once theres actual rain so it doesnt dehydrate and die
I can only assume it came in the house on the hottest day of the year recently to seek shade and water.. its ate banana, some greens.. access to fresh water.. hides at night time, active in daytime
im faced with somewhat of a problem though as this bluetongue isnt the only unsolicited house guest,
I get visits from resident hungry magpies that split their time between hunting worms in the park and hand feeding if I happen to have anything.. Ive fed water to a dehydrated baby magpie in the past, one thats become friends as well as its parents have.. knowing all too well this bluetongue would become dinner for 3 hungry magpies if it was to get in the crosshairs.. im hesitant to simply throw it outside and hope for the best
additionally where I assume it came from, where id seen others previously.. down the road from me, the mix of bluetongues and peoples cats have created on 2 occasions I know of. the disgusting result of seeing a bluetongue somewhat dismembered yet still alive, draging its insides on the outside. a fate I dont want my new found friend to be the unfortunately receiver of
in these strange times of drought im sure many are faced with unprecedented wildlife encounters such as the ones ive been saddled with.. id love to hear any similar stories and resolutions
is there any prevision in the NSW licencing for reptiles to keep such a thing?
im aware the companion lizard class licence doesnt need any documentation to be submitted.. but id love it be all by the book if it stayed long term (through its own free will)
the lizard itself ive named "Naga" as a joke to my wife.. indonesian for dragon
it likes its food, it isnt shy.. somewhat tame.. and like all videos ive seen online, doesnt object to being held.. infact seems to enjoy it and goto sleep in my hands more oftern than not.. with a little quirk of only hissing slightly if I stop giving it a light stroke on its head as it sleeps
I admit as someone who never really wanted a lizard, when/if "naga" goes home.. buying one and having proper licencing wouldnt be far behind.. ive rather gotten attached to this almost cat-like lizard despite its cold skin and snake head.. I see where the interest grows and why people choose them as pets
does anyone have a similar situation in these and offer any advise? I realise its a rather complicated and open question on my fronts
Thankyou
This drought has taken its terrible toll on everything, the timing for me personally has been odd to say the least, im not what youd call a lizard fan but ive always admired them as an animal in general.. it seems ive become quite the lizard owner accidently though through no fault of my own .. unsolicited as it were.
My story starts on somewhat of a sad note, My wife is indonesian and sadly so anything lizard-like is the 4 legged scale covered manifestation of all that is evil for her.. even to the point of pictures giving the same reaction.. so lizard pets were not something in my future id ever considered
when she returned home for a while recently.. Happily for myself.. not for her.. I discovered an Asian Wall Gecko in the house.. it had changed colour to match the wall, its nightly yip yip sound was at first thought to be a strange bird or cricket.. sadly I work in the logistics industry closely tied with AQIS.. so as a good australian. I captured this invader as cute as it was and handed it over to an AQIS officer. who honestly seemed to like it as much as I did but knew its fate.. no zoo wants them and this poor thing was headed for the big sleep via a vet.
apparently asian wall geckos are here and commonly come in towels from people - but none the less they try to keep the numbers low and I did my bit for the country
it seemed only 2 weeks had passed.. with the fires raging and drought in full force on the south coast, after telling my wife the fearsome bluetongue doesnt climb walls or come in houses (like an asian wall gecko). that I much to my surprise discovered a bluetongue in my house.. I got no idea what so ever how it got in the house. i'd seen one earlier in the day. but knowing they cant climb or stick to things.. I really see no way I could have brought it home
im not a lizard person, never truly considered one as a pet.. nothing more than a passing curiosity
I also know full well the laws of the land in NSW, your ment to have a licence for the things and never bring them from the wild.. none of which seemingly apply given that this ones a lizard version of a house-guest that dropped by
I leave the front door open at weekends when im home, the bluetongue seems not exactly interested in escaping.. infact its made a home in my loungeroom (lino floors thankfully)
I plan to release it whether it wants too or not once theres actual rain so it doesnt dehydrate and die
I can only assume it came in the house on the hottest day of the year recently to seek shade and water.. its ate banana, some greens.. access to fresh water.. hides at night time, active in daytime
im faced with somewhat of a problem though as this bluetongue isnt the only unsolicited house guest,
I get visits from resident hungry magpies that split their time between hunting worms in the park and hand feeding if I happen to have anything.. Ive fed water to a dehydrated baby magpie in the past, one thats become friends as well as its parents have.. knowing all too well this bluetongue would become dinner for 3 hungry magpies if it was to get in the crosshairs.. im hesitant to simply throw it outside and hope for the best
additionally where I assume it came from, where id seen others previously.. down the road from me, the mix of bluetongues and peoples cats have created on 2 occasions I know of. the disgusting result of seeing a bluetongue somewhat dismembered yet still alive, draging its insides on the outside. a fate I dont want my new found friend to be the unfortunately receiver of
in these strange times of drought im sure many are faced with unprecedented wildlife encounters such as the ones ive been saddled with.. id love to hear any similar stories and resolutions
is there any prevision in the NSW licencing for reptiles to keep such a thing?
im aware the companion lizard class licence doesnt need any documentation to be submitted.. but id love it be all by the book if it stayed long term (through its own free will)
the lizard itself ive named "Naga" as a joke to my wife.. indonesian for dragon
it likes its food, it isnt shy.. somewhat tame.. and like all videos ive seen online, doesnt object to being held.. infact seems to enjoy it and goto sleep in my hands more oftern than not.. with a little quirk of only hissing slightly if I stop giving it a light stroke on its head as it sleeps
I admit as someone who never really wanted a lizard, when/if "naga" goes home.. buying one and having proper licencing wouldnt be far behind.. ive rather gotten attached to this almost cat-like lizard despite its cold skin and snake head.. I see where the interest grows and why people choose them as pets
does anyone have a similar situation in these and offer any advise? I realise its a rather complicated and open question on my fronts
Thankyou