Burton's Legless Lizards?

[Koula]

Hi everyone, I've been offered a large Burton's Legless Lizard (Lialis burtonis) (and possibly some hatchling/juvies) and I'm trying to dig up as much info on them as I can.

Such questions I still need more info on are:

1. What's the best substrate for them? (A lightly moistened mix of vermiculite/sphagnum moss was mentioned, but what about red desert sand with some leaf litter/fake plants scattered about)

2. What exactly CAN they eat? Kenshin tells me they are virtually small-lizard only eaters, but is it possible for them to also take crickets, woodies, or even thawed out frozen mice pinkies?

3. Handling tips - I'm assuming firm, but gentle, and sorta like holding a snake (finger/thumb around neck, and support lower half of the body with other hand).

4. Feeding hatchling/juvies. If they are a lizard-only eaters, it's a little hard finding small lizards/geckos for them to eat. There heaps of them black skinks with the silver stripes on them around here, but are there any specialist suppliers here who mass breed small lizards as feeders? (kinda like them bandybandy snakes how they only eat blindsnakes/blindworms or whatever they are).

Also, if anyone else has any tips or hints on keeping legless lizards, please let me know. I want to make sure I can keep the big fella happy, as well as any hatchling/juvies I might get as well.

All information will be greatly appreciated. 8)

 

[Dicco]

Dude, Burton's come from just about every habitat Aus has to offer, as long as they have a place to hide, sand would be fine. Yes they are a lizard specialist, You could start a colony of local skinks for feeders if you want, not sure about handling, but they can drop their tail so be careful. Where are you getting it from?

 

[NoOne]

I would handle them as little as possible, they are a look and don't touch animal.

Who told you to handle snakes the way you said? Why would you need hold their neck, snakes just cruise around when being handle, some will coil and sit while being handled theres no need to restrain them in any way, if they are bitey you can to move them around while cleaning etc.

 

[Koula]

Dicco: I'm getting them from a guy just outside Gladstone, QLD.

dugdugabowbow: Ah, I haven't handled any snakes... yet. Just going by hear-say and piccies in books. I am getting a Children's Python as my first snake next month, so it's gunna be a real learning experience for me when the breeder/seller turns up and gives me a home course in Snake Owning 101.

 

[Dicco]

So they're CB and on licence? Does he breed em?

 

[Koula]

So they're CB and on licence? Does he breed em?

Don't know yet. I'm going to his place to look at them first and ask questions then and there before I consider taking it/them home. They seem like a very difficult species to CB/raise... there is a high chance they are probably wild-caughts from the surrounding area (is that a bad thing if he has heaps of em?)... But a visit to his place to see what herps he has will be interesting nonetheless. I'll let ya know what I see at the guy's place tomorrow night.

 

[Dicco]

Thanks Mate

 

[Springherp]

Are you sure you want a Burtons mate? Catching skinks can be a pain, also, they make a ridiculously pathetic squeaking noise when restrained! :lol:

 

[peterescue]

Don't know yet. I'm going to his place to look at them first and ask questions then and there before I consider taking it/them home. They seem like a very difficult species to CB/raise... there is a high chance they are probably wild-caughts from the surrounding area (is that a bad thing if he has heaps of em?)... But a visit to his place to see what herps he has will be interesting nonetheless. I'll let ya know what I see at the guy's place tomorrow night.

Its like this, If they aren't on license then you should perhaps think about not buying them or perhaps just keep the whole thing to yourself, Read the python haven thread and you may get the general drift.
Its illegal to take from the wild without a permit and they only give out Scientific ones in Qld as far as I know.
I think Brodey might have some info on them.

 

[Sdaji]

Ah, I haven't handled any snakes... yet. Just going by hear-say and piccies in books. I am getting a Children's Python as my first snake next month, so it's gunna be a real learning experience for me when the breeder/seller turns up and gives me a home course in Snake Owning 101

Have you kept any other species of lizards? Burton's are definately not the best lizard for a beginner and not something which even most experienced people want to keep, mostly because it's such a hassle obtaining their food. If you want something snakey, stick with the Children's python. If you're wanting a lizard, a bearded dragon or blue tongued lizard would probably be a better option to start with.

Few people even claim to have managed to get Burton's reliably feeding on anything other than lizards or small snakes, fewer still (if any) have actually done it. This is one species I would love to keep, but I almost certainly never will because of the feeding issue.

 

[africancichlidau]

Have you kept any other species of lizards? Burton's are definately not the best lizard for a beginner and not something which even most experienced people want to keep, mostly because it's such a hassle obtaining their food. If you want something snakey, stick with the Children's python. If you're wanting a lizard, a bearded dragon or blue tongued lizard would probably be a better option to start with.
Few people even claim to have managed to get Burton's reliably feeding on anything other than lizards or small snakes, fewer still (if any) have actually done it. This is one species I would love to keep, but I almost certainly never will because of the feeding issue.

My God! I find myself agreeing with the Studge

 

[Hickson]

I saw a Burton's in the Tanami a couple of years ago - red sand and spinifex, so it shouldn't be a problem. But if they're wild caught from QLD, they might be from a different habitat.

Australian Reptile Park in Gosford has (or had) them, someone there may be able to give you more detailed info on captive husbandry.



Hix

 

[peterescue]

My God! I find myself agreeing with the Studge

EEEYUP! Scarey innit. twice in one day too.

 

[geckodan]

I have kept and bred (twice only) Burtons for the past 8 years. To be honest they are a pain in the bum from a feeding point of view as adults, hatchlings are a nightmare. They are interesting , I'll grant you that , but they are dissapointing from the point of view of how much work you have to put in with little prospects of ever breeding them (I fluked it and still don't know how or why).
I would look at something else if you really want to enjoy them.

 

[Pike01]

Hey swiftrat, if they are legal and your gonna keep them then sand is fine as a substrate, put in a couple of dried grass clumps as they love to hide in it with their heads out looking for anything passing. you will have to spray or mist the cage every couple of days as they prefer to lap droplets off their surroundings rather than a water bowl.Feed them asian house geckoes or garden skinks if you have to. Its best to let them cool down during winter as their food supply disappears.
I use to pay some local kids 20c a skink but it backfired a bit when they started bringing me 50 -60 a time and ask for the cash ha ha.

 

[Koula]

Thanks for all the tips and advice so far guys. I just talked with the guy and the legless lizards he has ARE wild-caughts. I'm gunna mull it over for a few days and give it a good think before I do anything else.

By the way, these "asian house geckos"? Are they those big fat pink/white ones you see on the walls and ceiling when you flick the lights on at 2am?

 

[Ricko]

why think about anything they are wild caught!!!!!!!!!! and not collected by a licensed collector

 

[Koula]

I ain't thinking anything about it now really. After reading more on them, they do sound like more of a hassle regardless of being licenced/captive bred or wild caughts. I'm gunna stick with the children's python when it arrives.

 

[Brodie]

Gday,

I have successfully gotten burtons to feed on pinkies, it was a hell of a lot of work, and wasnt really worth it.

If you cant be bothered catching them skinks, dont keep them.

They arent that interesting captives to begin with anyway.. I now keep scaleyfoots instead and they are a much better animal, they also feed on insects.

I have never known burtons to feed on invertebrates, but I have seem them eat frogs in the wild, I have gotten 2 eggs from one large female before but they didnt hatch.

If they are wildcaught, they may still be on permit. There are a lot of burtons floating around that have been used in scientific studies, thats how I got mine.

Up here it is relatively easy to get a collection permit, you just need to supply NPWS with a valid reason for collection....

Dont handle them, it doesnt take much for them to drop their tails! Grab them midway between their snout and vent. Be careful u dont just grab the middle bit of the animal because this is actually tail!

If you want some pygopods, try and get scaleyfoots, they are prettier and easier to keep, mine feeds on small woodies.

Cheers

 

[Koula]

Scaleyfoots, ey? Would the be seen around coastal eastern QLD area?