Pets
As a biologist, having pets is both part of my profession and my own personal life. After I stopped doing research in the lab and field I realized that I miss observing animals and their behavior. So, some pets have found their way into my life - and house. They are shown below in no particular order. We have one aquarium, three "dry" terraria, one which serves as grow-out for our baby dragons, and three "wet" terraria.
Check out the pages on dart frogs and lizards.
Latest update 19 May 2024
Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni) [Grekisk landsköldpadda sv.]
We have a group of tortoises consisting of two males, Darwin and Wallace, and four females, Jane, Dianne, Marie and Rosalin. Darwin and Wallace are separated, but the females will hang out with both at times.
Since 2021, they live permanently outdoors with a bit of grass (dandelions and clovers mostly) to wander about in and feed off. Their house is insulated and have "floor" heating to prevent them from freezing during the winter when they dig into the ground to hibernate.
In the summer of 2023, we were lucky enough to catch Diane and Jane dig and deposit eggs that we could retrieve. Due to a incubator malfunction we ended up with only Diane's eggs surviving. But we are now happy co-parents of six little "pucks".
Darwin coming to greet us.
Birute (top left - now deceased), Jane (top right) and Wallace (bottom center) are fine living together.
Four of the six babies out feeding, marked with nail polish so we can track growth
The indoor part of the outdoor housing (brown building to the left other photo)
The outdoors for the tortoises (their house to the left)
Musk turtle (Sternotherus carinatus) [slamsköldpadda sv.]
We actually have two males of these charming creatures, but it is hard to tell them apart so we have not named them. They live together with a number of fish (see below), but the tank is large (200 x 60 x 60 cm) so even though they disagree at times, they are doing fine together.
Amazon milk frog (Trachycephalus resinifictrix) [Mjölkgroda sv.]
The most amazing little creatures with wonderful eyes when "closed", as they turn on a + looking shape. We have one still. Enjoyable as they are rather active even during the day.
Australian green tree frog (Litoria caerulea) [Korallfingergroda sv.]
This one only come out at night so hard to get a good look at them and they seem to change looks every now and then as can be seen from these photos.
Banded bullfrog (Kaloula pulchra) [Kaloulagroda sv.]
Some may disagree, but this one is simply irresistible. They hang around mostly on the ground in the same tank as the geckos Gordon and Kate. All it takes to lure them into the open part of the tank is a bit of rustling from crickets. They are not really fat, but keep a healthy amount of air in their bodies to maintain the attractive plumpness.
Common tree frog (Polypedates leucomystax) [Asiatisk skumbogroda sv.]
These are our 'oldest' frogs, and we still have one them. They are very variable in their looks from day to day as you can see from the photos. They are fairly active during the day and don't mind sitting out in the open, so we easily see them most of the time.
American green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) [Amerikansk lövgroda sv] and
We have two males of this species and they are at times very vocal. They sound like small dogs and it is fun when we have visitors asking if we also have dogs, and we can say - nah it's just our frogs!
The fish - Synodontis sp., Ancistrus sp., Guianacara sp., Chromobotia macracanthus, Neolamprologus multifasciatus, Pethia conchonius
Sorry for the poor quality photos. Using my phone camera, but should really use the SLR and a proper flash etc...
Millipedes
We have a number of millipedes living together with the lizards and frogs. Hands give an idea of the size of the larger species. The others are about 5-10 cm max. We don't see them very often as they like to crawl around under the debris, but that just makes it more exciting once we do see them.
Cameroon matt black (Mardonius parilis acuticonis)
Rusty millipede (Trigoniulus corallinus)
Rainbow millipede (Tonkinbolus dolfusi) together with a rusty.
Olive millipede (Telodeinopus aoutii)
Bumblebee millipede (Anadenobolus monilicornis)
Sun beetle (Pachnoda marginata top, and Pachnoda sinuata bottom) [rosenbagge sv.]
These are some charming critters that are about 2.5 cm long. Since they only live for a few months, but reproduce in the terrarium, the numbers change and at present there about 10 of them. They (P. sinuata) live with the baby geckos and the poison dart frogs. P. marginata has their own little house where we hope they will reproduce. They seems to do no one any harm and simply enjoy life. Eat more or less rotten fruit as adults and some old leaf and wood as larvae. Every now and then they decide to fly and pretty quickly crash into something.
Neocaridina sp. and Caridina sp. shrimp
These Neocaridina reproduce new little blue shrimp all the time.
We have seen a female carry eggs but are still waiting to see our first babies of the polka Caridina shrimp.
Former animals kept
Whereas we try and provide the best possible environment for our animals, some will grow old and some will die for no apparent reason. Most of them, except maybe the tortoises, will die before we do so it is something one has to accept as part of keeping pets. Below are some of the animals we have lost over the past 10 years.
American grey tree frog (Hyla versicolor) [Amerikansk grå lövgroda ]
Siberian hamster (Phodorus sungorus) [sibirisk dvärghamster sv.]
We inherited a hamster from a friend when it (the hamster!) was already old. It lived for almost three years. Then we bought this guy Noctis, but he only made it a little more than a year.
Noctis, the dwarf hamster boy
Mossy frog (Theloderma corticale) [Mossgroda sv.]
We had two "mosses". You see one from behind and one from the side (the eye gives him away). I think they perhaps more resemble a pebble with lichens on them, but since I am neither a lichenologist nor a bryologist... This investment was supported by funds from my dear colleagues at work as a birthday gift 😍
Below are some animals that I have had and found some photos of on an old hard drive. Many are from the 2000-2004 period.
Green cheeked conure (Pyrrhura molinae)
Linus the male
Bella the female
