All native reptiles are protected and you need a licence to keep any in captivity. It is illegal to keep exotic (non-Australian) reptiles in captivity.
If you are thinking of keeping a reptile as a pet you should find out what you are letting yourself in for. A book well worth reading is "Care of Australian Reptiles in Captivity" by John Weigel. This contains lots of information on housing, feeding, breeding, diseases as well as care sheets on a whole range of species. There is also a range of booklets produced by Australian Reptile Keeper Publications, Bendigo on keeping Long-necked and Short-necked turtles, Shingleback lizards, Bearded dragons, Blue-tongue lizards and Carpet pythons. (http://www.reptilepublications.com.au) (e-mail search & discover or reptiles@netcon.net.au). Having read up on reptile keeping you will have to decide what particular animals you want to keep.
Remember - a reptile is a long term commitment. Turtles can live for more than 30 years, pythons for more than 15 years and lizards such as Blue-tongues for 20 years. Your pet may well outlive you.
Licences are issued by the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. To obtain a licence contact Wildlife Licensing (Phone +612 9585 6444) and ask for an application form to be sent to you. Complete the form and return it to the Service with the appropriate fee. If you live in other Australian states of territories check your local national parks service for details.
Once you have received your licence you can start your quest to locate a suitable animal. Reptiles cannot be removed from the wild (or even from the back garden) and can only be obtained from another keeper. In New South Wales reptiles cannot be purchased in a pet shop although they are available through some interstate pet shops.
If you do not know any keepers you should join one of the reptile groups to meet other people with similar interests, to find out more about keeping and to obtain your reptile. Most groups have facilities at meetings for members to advertise animals available or wanted, and some groups also provide this information in their newsletters.
When you have found your animal a transfer is made from the present holder to you. You must provide to the person from whom you are obtaining the animal your licence number, name and address. That person must in return provide you with their licence number, name and address. You must record this information immediately into the record book that you will have received with your licence. Similarly if you acquire any additional animals, lose or dispose of any, this must also be recorded in the book.
The record book must be completed and returned to the Service in April of each year. You are liable to be fined if you fail to do this.
Your licence is renewed every two years on 1 December and you will receive a notification from the Service inviting renewal.
Gerry Swan and Glenn Shea
Herpetology
Australian Museum
The journal Herpetofauna, published by the Australasian Affiliation of Herpetological Societies (an umbrella organisation representing most of the herpetological societies in Australia and New Guinea) appears twice a year, and is the only national journal dealing exclusively with herpetological research. The current editor is Dr Glenn Shea, a research associate of the Herpetology section of the Australian Museum. The address for correspondence is: PO Box R307, Royal Exchange, Sydney, NSW 2000.
ACT Herpetological Association (ACTHA)
PO Box 160, Jamison Centre, ACT 2614.
E-mail act_herps@angelfire.com
Australian Herpetological Society (AHS)
PO Box R79, Royal Exchange, Sydney, NSW 2000.
Central Coast Reptile and Frog Group (CCR&FG)
PO Box 922, Gosford, NSW 2250.
E-mail ccrft@iprimus.com.au
Hawkesbury Herpetological Society (HHS)
PO Box 30, Emerton, NSW 2770.
Macarthur Herpetological Society (MHS)
PO Box 235, Narellan, NSW 2567.
E-mail oz_python@msn.com
Monaro Amphibian and Reptile Keepers (MARK)
Website: http://www.sambar.com.au/mark
E-mail ssambars@bigpond.net.au
North Coast Herpetology Group (NCHG)
PO Box 8006, Flynns Beach, NSW 2444.
E-mail snakecharm_au@yahoo.com.au
Orana Herpetological Society (OHS)
PO Box 809, Mudgee, NSW 2850.
E-mail oldtoad@telstra.easymail.com.au
Reptile and Amphibian Interest Group (R&AIG)
PO Box 5013, East Lismore, NSW 2480
Riverina Frog and Reptile Society (RF&RS)
PO Box 712, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
Phone: 0422 507 067
E-mail t_withers@tsn.cc
Society of Frogs and Reptiles (SOFAR)
PO Box 30, Jesmond, NSW 2299.
E-mail bradmc@hunterlink.net.au
South Coast Herpetology Society (SCHS)
PO Box 248, Fairy Meadow, NSW 2519
Groups whose primary interest are frogs have not been included in this section.
There are few veterinarians working in the Sydney region with a particular interest in reptiles. The two most commonly recommended veterinarians are:
Dr Robert Johnson, Springwood Veterinary Clinic
12 Ferguson Rd, Springwood
Phone: (+612) 4751-1888
Dr Mike Cannon, Cannon and Ball Veterinary Surgeons
461 Crown St, West Wollongong
Phone: (+612) 4229-8888
Others that may be of use:
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2003
This page: http://www.amonline.net.au/factsheets/reptiles_pets.htm
