Mixed-species vivarium

Housing both Golden and Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs, along with Golden Eyelash Vipers.

Photo taken on 5th January 2011.

This vivarium looks like a right dangerous husbandry nightmare.An accident waiting to happen , in fact. I am surprised that it should be in London Zoo , and just hope it will not give a bad example to too many.From time to time one sees vivaria , cages and enclosures that seem designed to show off to others in the zoo world , saying " our staff are experienced enough to deal with this challenge". It is like driving without holding the steering wheel - the driver just looks like an idiot to most.I am a huge fan of London Zoo but this needs to be said.

It's perhaps worth pointing out that Jersey have this exact same mix as well, albeit in a taller tank: http://www.zoochat.com/56/eyelash-viper-golden-strawberry-poison-dartfrog-103479/

Both are very well-respected herp institutions and I'm sure they know what they're doing.

Surely this viv would have been designed by the herp team themselves? So if they didn't feel comfortable with the husbandry of it they would change it's design/layout.

I read a recent report from a reptile TAG meeting regarding eyelash vipers and a number of zoos reccommened them as very suitable for such a mixed species exhibit. I saw the Jersey mix over five years ago, it was indeed very impressive.

This does make a very interesting exhibit. I watched visitor reactions for a while and found that almost everyone spotted the Golden Poison Dart Frogs first; a remarkable number then saw the sign for a snake and would then spend quite a while looking for the Eyelash Viper.

London do occasionally try less conventional (but well-advised) mixes for a brief period before determining whether to continue with them. As Al has mentioned, this has been a recommended combination and even though it's not a new mix, I think London have done nothing wrong in trying this out.

Chester Zoo also mixes Eyelash Vipers with Poison Dart Frogs in the Spirit of the Jaguar.