Black Rat Snake

Our Black Rat Snake 

There is one black rat snake at Scovill Zoo.

Black Rat Snakes's Size 

The black rat snake is the biggest snake in Illinois. 

Black Rat Snake's Life Span 

The black rat snake at Scovill Zoo has been alive for 17 years! 

Black Rat Snake's Housing

The black rat snake at Scovill Zoo came from Columbus Zoo in 2002.  

Black Rat Snake's Food 

Black Rat Snake's wild diet is opportunistic. They will eat anything they can catch. Lots of rodents, but also reptiles and birds.

Black Rat Snake's Lighting & Temperature Requirements

The temperature for a black rat snake should be 80-85 degrees fahrenheit.

Black Rat Snake's Substrate

You can use a variety of substrate for a black rat snake; newspaper, reptile carpet, wood chips, etc. but paper towels are the substrate of choice for hatchlings.

References

livescience.com

Written by Ms. Nicholls' Fifth Grade Class

Axolotl

Our Axolotl

There is one axolotl at Scovill Zoo. Axolotls are amphibians.

Axolotl Size

The average size is 9 inches.

Axolotl Life Span

The average axolotl life span is 15 years in captivity and 10 years in the wild.

Axolotl Housing

Axolotls need water, a big rock, a light, NO gravel, a place to hide, and a thermometer.

Axolotl Food

Anything they can swallow whole; including worms, insects, fish, shrimp, salamanders. This is why they shouldn't have gravel in their exhibit because they might try to eat it.

Axolotl Lighting & Temperature Requirements

They need a little light and water needs to be at least 40 degrees.

Axolotl Substrate

Large rocks and other rough surfaces are good to have on the floor of their exhibit.

References

livescience.org

axolotl.org

National Geographic

Written by Ms. Nicholls' Fifth Grade Class

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Size

The size of a Madagascar hissing cockroach is about 2-3 inches long, one inch wide. They can even grow to the size of small mouse. 

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Life Span

They can live to be about 5 years old.

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Housing

For their housing, you should have a 10 gallon glass tank, rubber storage tubes with ventilation holes, or a 5 gallon bucket with a well ventilated lid. It's recommended that you put a thick layer of petroleum jelly because a hissing cockroach can climb many things. The sticky barrier will prevent escapes.

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Food

Madagascar hissing cockroaches are herbivores but they will eat decaying matter. In Madagascar, they are known to eat fruit.

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Lighting & Temperature Requirements

No special lighting or heating is required. Any room that is at the temperature of between 70-85 degrees for hissing cockroaches that are any size will work.

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Substrate

For their bedding you can get coco soft and orchid bark, which are the two most popular choices. They need lots of places where they can climb and places were they can get away from each other. You can use cork flats or cork rounds for a more natural looking environment. Toilet paper and paper towel rolls are a good way to let them hide without it costing a lot of money.

References    

lllreptile.com and other sources on Google.

Written by Mrs. Sweeney's Sixth Grade Class

Common Boa

Our Common Boas

At Scovill Zoo we have three common boas. Their names are Zeke, Bebe and Nagini. Zeke is 41 years old and is a female. Bebe is a male and is 35 years old. Nagani is 8 years old and we're unsure of the gender. All three boas were donated to the zoo. Zeke is easy to handle and is often used in demonstrations or with the mobile zoo.  

Common Boa Size

A newborn boa is approximately 18 inches. An adult boa can measure between 5 and 9 feet. The record size for a common boa is 13 feet. They can weigh more than 100 pounds. The female boas are usually larger than the males. Like all snakes, they shed their skin in order to grow.

Common Boa Life Span

Common Boas can live more than 40 years. However, the average lifespan for captive boas is 20-30 years. 

Common Boa Housing

The Boa's cage should be as simple as possible. The cage should allow the boa to chose between warm and cool regions. A hide box should be included to allow the boa to feel safe and secure. Floor space is more important than height when choosing a cage for a boa. Adults should be kept in a cage that is at least 2 feet wide and 4 feet long.

Common Boa Food

Boa Constrictors are nonvenomous snakes famous for squeezing or constricting their prey. They have small hooked teeth they use to grab and hold their prey. Boas diets are composed mostly of small mammals like rats and squirrels. Bats are also a favorite food, which boa constrictors catch while hanging from the trees or the mouths of caves, snatching their prey as it flies by.

Though most of their prey is large, boa constrictors will eat anything they can get their enormous, stretchable jaws around.

  

Common Boa Lighting & Temperature Requirements

Boas are typically solitary and mostly nocturnal. They will sometimes come out in the day to sun themselves on a rock.

Boas prefer an air temperature between 80 to 85 degrees. The snake will probably chose a warmer area of its cage to rest while digesting a meal.

Common Boa Substrate

Newspaper is recommended as substrate because it is less likely to be ingested and is quick to dry.  Substrate heating pads are recommended.  

References

livescience.com www.livescience.com/52787-boa-constrictor-facts.html

reptiles magazine www.reptilesmagazine.com/Snake-Species/Boa-Constrictor/ 

Written by Ms. Aker's Fifth Grade Class

Aldabra Tortoise

Our Aldabra Tortoise

We have one Aldabra Tortoise at Scovill Zoo.  It is still very young at just 2 years old, since they can live to be 200 years old.  It is not known yet if it is a male or female tortoise.

Aldabra Tortoise Size

The average male Aldabra Tortoise can grow to have a shell length of 4 feet and weigh over 550 pounds.

The average female Aldabra Tortoise is smaller with an average shell length of 3 feet and weight of over 350 pounds.

Aldabra Tortoise Life Span

Most Aldabra Tortoises live between 80 and 120 years. Some have been known to live 250 years.  

Aldabra Tortoise Housing

Aldabra tortoises spend the mornings and early evenings eating, and they spend the hotter parts of the day in the shade or lounging in shallow water holes. 

In the wild, Aldabra Tortoises are found on the Seychelles Island chain in the Indian Ocean.  They can live is low shrubs, grassland, swamps, and coastal sand dunes.  They can be solitary animals, or roam in herds.

Aldabra Tortoise Food

Aldabra tortoises are mostly herbivores. In the wild, they eat grass, leaves, plants, stems and other tasty weeds. They will also feed on insects and dead animals. In captivity they will eat grass, flowers, cactus pads, all sorts of leafy greens and commercial tortoise food. They also like fruit and melons.

References

a-z animals a-z-animals.com/animals/aldabra-giant-tortoise/

sea world seaworld.org/Animal-Info/Animal-Bytes/Reptiles/Aldabra-Tortoise
reptiles magazine www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Turtles-Tortoises/Aldabra-Tortoise/

Written by Ms. Aker's Fifth Grade Class

Green Tree Python

Our Green Tree Python

The name of the Green Tree Python at Scovill Zoo is "Thing One."

Green Tree Python's Size

The average size of a Green Tree Python is 4 to 6 feet.

Green Tree Python's Life Span

Green Tree Python's can live to be 35 years old.

Green Tree Python's Housing

In the wild, they live in rainforests, bushes, and shrubs of New Guinea, and north of Australia. In captivity, they spend much of their time coiled around branches. Wet paper towels are needed to keep the humidity up. They also use shredded cypress and moss on the bottom of their enclosure to help with the shedding of skin.

Green Tree Python's Food

They eat small mammals and occasionally eat other reptiles.

Green Tree Python's Lighting & Temperature Requirements 

The best lighting and temperature for Green Tree Python's is 82 to 85 degrees. The humidity must stay at a steady 80%.

References

The Animal Files

Written by Mrs. Nibbelin's Class

Burmese Python

Our Burmese Python

Scovill Zoo only has one Burmese Python. His name is Fang. He is an albino python, meaning his colors are different than the norm.

Burmese Python Size

The average size of a Burmese Python is 12' to 18'.

Burmese Python Life Span

A Burmese Python's life span is 20-25 years. 

Burmese Python Housing

A Burmese Python's house should be at least 5m of space or a large enclosure.

Burmese Pythons Food

Burmese Pythons are Carnivorous and eat birds, rats, mice, pigs, and rabbits.

Burmese Pythons Housing

Burmese Pythons have a temperature requirement in their habitats of about 80 degrees. They should have a semi-aquatic, substrate including wood shavings and shredded products as well.

References

National Geographic

reptilesmagazine.com

Written by Mrs. Pack's Class

Galapagos Tortoises

Our Galapagos Tortoises

Galapagos Tortoises are the world’s largest species of tortoises. Our two Galapagos Tortoises here at Scovill Zoo came from Hawaii. They were not born at Scovill Zoo. The male Galapagos Tortoise is Sam and he is in his 40’s, which is like a teenager in human years since tortoises’ typically live to be 100 years to 200 years old. The female Galapagos Tortoise is named Ella and she is in her 40’s as well, which is like a teenager in human years.

Galapagos Tortoise Size

Galapagos Tortoises on average grow to be 400 to 500 pounds. The Galapagos Tortoise can grow to be 4 feet long, this makes them the largest tortoises in the world. Galapagos Tortoises usually keep growing until they are 50 years old. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Goliath in 2002 that weighed in at 919 pounds, was 4 ft 5 in long, 3 ft 4 in wide, and 2 ft 3 in high became the largest Galapagos Tortoise ever recorded.

Galapagos Tortoise Life Span

In general, Galapagos Tortoises are the longest living of all vertebrates (animals with backbones).Tortoises have been on Earth a very long time, dating back at least 200 million years, which means they shared the planet with dinosaurs. Their life spans from 100 to even 200 years old. The giant Galapagos tortoises, which can live up to 200 years old, were among the species that helped Charles Darwin formulate his theory of evolution in the 19th century. 4 years ago a tortoise that was brought over by Charles Darwin himself died at the Australia Zoo (The Crocodile Hunter’s Zoo.) The lifespan of a Galapagos tortoise in the wild is a little over 100 years and tortoises living in captive have a lifespan of at least 170 years.

Galapagos Tortoise Housing

Galapagos tortoises that live in drier areas have saddle-shaped shell, which allows stretching of the necks to grab vegetation that grows above the ground such as vines, leaves and fruit. Galapagos tortoises that live in colder climates have dome-shaped shell which prevents stretching of the necks. They feed by grazing the grass.Unlike any other animal, Galapagos tortoise can survive up to one year without food and water.

Galapagos Tortoise Food

Galapagos tortoises lead an uncomplicated life, grazing on grass, leaves, and cactus, basking in the sun, and napping nearly 16 hours per day. A slow metabolism and large internal stores of water mean they can survive up to a year without eating or drinking. Galapagos Tortoises live on land and not on water. They drink plenty of water.

References

National Geographic

National Geographic for Kids

www.philadelphiazoo.org

www.lifescience.com

Written by Mrs. Prasun's Kindergarten Class

American Alligators

Our American Alligators

Scovill Zoo Currently has 4 American Alligators:

                        G – adult male - 33 years old

                        Elle – adult female – approx. 20 years old

                        Wednesday – young female

                        Pugsley – young male

G and Elle are in the main habitat.  Wednesday and Pugsley are part of the mobile zoo.  Our alligators were obtained from resident confiscates.  Alligators do not make good domestic pets.  

American Alligator Size

Males can grow up to 15 feet long, while females can grow up to 8 1/2 feet long.

American Alligator Life Span

Alligators can live to be 30-50 years old.  Currently there is an alligator, named Muja, that is approx. 80 years old in Germany.  He is thought to be the oldest living alligator in captivity. 

American Alligator Housing

American alligators are found in the southeastern United States (Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Texas).  They live in fresh water areas like ponds, lakes, rivers, marshes, and swamps.  Alligators prefer warmer, humid climates. 

American Alligator Food

The alligators at Scovill Zoo eat a diet of rats.  The larger alligators eat 5-10 rats in one sitting and the younger alligators eat 10-15 rats.  When it’s warmer they eat 3-4 times per week.  When it’s cooler, they eat less, about 1 time per week.  Wild alligators eat a wider variety of food such as fish, turtles, birds, deer, and other reptiles and mammals. 

American Alligator and Crocodile Differences

Alligators have a rounded nose, while crocodiles have a V-shaped nose.  Alligators are fresh water reptiles and only their top teeth show when their mouth is closed.  Crocodiles are salt-water reptiles and you can see both top and bottom teeth when their mouth is closed.  Ever heard of a crocodile smile?

References

Ryan Kirkland - Zookeeper

Written by Mrs. Cripe's Kindergarten Class