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*SNAKE*
Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 226 |
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hi peter love the bats are they hard to keep |
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PAUL SMITH
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Peter
Senior Member Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 310 |
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Hi Paul, Warmth, space, a wide variety of fruit, a choice of suitable roosting spots and some company are the main requisites. Other than that and the obvious routine cleaning below the roosts, they are pretty much left to their own devices. |
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BLF Dragonscapes Habitats officer
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation e: peter.hill@arc-trust.org |
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*SNAKE*
Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 226 |
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are they smaller than the fruit bats Ive seen on TV ( the flying fox ) more black in colour and what about there temperament can you handle them where can you buy them |
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PAUL SMITH
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Peter
Senior Member Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 310 |
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Paul, the Egyptian or Dog faced bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) is one of the smallest if not the smallest fruit bat species, the larger males body size being approximately that of a female domestic rat. All of mine take food from the hand, and those bred here are tamer again, often landing on me to take food (they find pears irresistable). The original animals have grown steadily calmer around me as the group has grown in size.
I got mine from a private breeder who wanted to make room for something else. Wildlife parks commonly have them, I know Longleat has a sizeable colony. They are controlled by CITES.
Tony, do you have any pics of your epualetted? Would love to see them if so. Yes I can vouch that this species are also very gentle and timid (with humans) there is plenty of bickering amongst them as a group though. |
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BLF Dragonscapes Habitats officer
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation e: peter.hill@arc-trust.org |
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Peter
Senior Member Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 310 |
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Forgot to say that they are unique amongst fruit bats in that they do use echo location to a degree.
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BLF Dragonscapes Habitats officer
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation e: peter.hill@arc-trust.org |
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Peter
Senior Member Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 310 |
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Some info re the species;
Common name: Egyptian Fruit Bat Habitat and natural range: Rousettus aegyptiacus is found in Southern, Western, and Eastern Africa, Egypt, the Middle East, and Cypress, There are three subspecies R. a. aegyptiacus, found in North Africa, Cypress and the Middle East; R. a. Leachi, from Eastern and Soutthern Africa; and R. a. Occidentalis, from Western Africa. However, they only occur where there are suitable caves for roosting and freedom from human disturbance. |
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BLF Dragonscapes Habitats officer
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation e: peter.hill@arc-trust.org |
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