First certificate of competence with a focus on chameleons

First certificate of competence with a focus on chameleons

by Alex Negro Sachkundenachweis

As our conference participants already know, this year for the first time the VDA-/DGHT-Sachkundezentrum Ost is offering the opportunity to take a certificate of competence with a focus on chameleons. This is the certificate of competence according to §11 TschG in Germany, which every professional or commercial keeper must take; private keepers can take it voluntarily and thus prove their knowledge. Incidentally, the definiton of commercial can also quickly apply to private keepers who have a certain number of offspring per year or a certain turnover through the sale of offspring. The first focus training course on chameleons will take place in Berlin from October 10 to 12, 2025. Registration is possible here by e-mail.

Online lecture on cognition in reptiles

Online lecture on cognition in reptiles

by Alex Negro Live lectures Webinars

The DGHT’s digital regulars’ table was launched this year. This platform is ideal for all those who prefer to watch lectures and exchange ideas with other reptile keepers from the comfort of their sofa, but don’t necessarily want to travel far to do so. On Thursday, 27 March 2025, the topic will be ‘Cognition in reptiles’.

The term cognition refers, among other things, to perception and thought processes and the results derived from them. What do reptiles think? What can they perceive and can they draw conclusions from situations? Tobias Machts introduces the topic and shows how cognition works in reptiles. Please register by e-mail to digitaler-stammtisch@dght.de.

Tobias Machts Monkeys in scales? Cognition in reptiles [German]
15. Digitaler Stammtisch der DGHT
Start at 8 p.m.

Online lecture on environmental enrichment

Online lecture on environmental enrichment

by Alex Negro Live lectures Webinars

The DGHT’s digital regulars’ table was launched this year. This platform is ideal for all those who prefer to watch lectures and exchange ideas with other reptile keepers from the comfort of their sofa, but don’t necessarily want to travel far to do so. On Thursday, 27 June 2024, the topic will be “Enrichment for reptiles”.

This term refers to various ways of making the lives of animals in human hands more interesting. There are different forms of enrichment. The best known are certainly the different ways of obtaining food through toys, which are often seen with great apes, bears or big cats in zoos, for example. However, enrichment is also possible and highly interesting for reptiles. Tobias Machts will introduce the topic and show how it works with reptiles. Please register by e-mail to digitaler-stammtisch@dght.de.

Tobias Machts Enrichement in reptiles [German!]
6. Digitaler Stammtisch der DGHT
Start 08.00 p.m.

Open letter to the EU Commission regarding the lamp ban

Open letter to the EU Commission regarding the lamp ban

by Alex Negro General topics

The European Union plans to ban mercury-containing lamps and light bulbs without exception from 2027. In terrarium keeping, this will affect almost all lamps that are also used in chameleon keeping, such as fluorescent tubes and metal halide lamps. Some are already banned. These lamps are indispensable, even vital, for keeping chameleons. So far, EU legislation under EU 1194/2012 had always made an exception for “special purposes” such as animal husbandry. This time, however, no exception is provided! Such a ban would make countless animal husbandries impossible, for private keepers as well as in zoos and species conservation projects. Therefore, a number of associations, including the German Society for Herpetology and Terrarial Science, of which AG Chamäleons is a member, sent an open letter to the EU Commission yesterday.

The open letter can be downloaded and read free of charge here. Please support the cause and share the open letter widely so that other keepers become aware of the current situation. We need strong associations like the DGHT to represent our concerns at EU level! Please also write to your MEPs so that they get wind of this issue.