HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: stevep@wrq.com (Steve Poole)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Raising crickets, ig meets bug
Date: 28 Sep 92 23:57:47 GMT
Organization: Walker Richer & Quinn

I'm sure I've seen details on the topic before in this group, but
of course never saved them.  What does it take to keep a steady
supply of crickets?  I'm kind of assuming that if I just toss a
mound of them into a suitable habitat then they're going to figure
out what to do.  How long will that take?

Their fate is as grub for anoles, skinks, and a baby Savannah.

On a related note, I observed interesting behavior in my green
iguana the other day.  I've read now and then that young iguanas
may eat crickets, but I've never given Shep insects before.  He's
about 28" end to end, and I dropped him into a tank with a single
medium sized cricket.  He completely ignored it until it hopped right
past his nose.  Completely unused to such creatures, he made a mad 
dash in the opposite direction!  It was interesting to note his absolute
lack of any predatory instinct or even a clue as to what the bug
might be good for, after having seen the Savannah stalk and catch
crickets like a reptilian Terminator.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: dave@aficom.ocunix.on.ca (Dave Hunter)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Toilet Python
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 92 09:30:01 -0400
Reply-To: dave@aficom.ocunix.on.ca (Dave Hunter)
Distribution: world
Organization: AFI Communications - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

G'Day from Ottawa. :-)

The python in question "surfaced" in the toilet in an apartment on the 
floor below that of its owner. The local Humane Society (S.P.C.A. type
organization) insisted that the owner had attempted to flush his three 
foot python in an attempt to get rid of it.

Cruelty charges were laid. In court, the owner claimed that the snake 
was in the bath tub soaking. The owner left the snake unattended at 
which point it crawled into the toilet and disappeared. Yes a toilet 
was brought into court but no the Ball Python would not cooperate and 
re-enter the john on demand.

The owner was acquitted of the cruelty charges but lost his snake as 
keeping pythons in the city of Ottawa contravenes the local by-laws.
 
<just got to love American news gathering...accuracy is obviously not a 
high priority>
From: mcovingt@athena.cs.uga.edu (Michael A. Covington)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Vitalite; was: Re: Need tips for water turtles (THANKS!)
Date: 28 Sep 92 15:35:17 GMT
Organization: University of Georgia, Athens

In article <1992Sep27.170944.19912@panix.com> ss@panix.com (Steve Steinberg) writes:

>Question:  What has the discussion been regarding
>Vitalite vs. Gro-bulb?  The Vita-light is gonna be expensive, so for now
>I set up a 75 watt gro-bulb about 12" from their basking rock. 

My understanding is that grow-lights are rather low in UV.  Instead, use
the cheapest "cool white" (bluish-white) fluorescent that you can find --
such bulbs are rather high in UV and my lizards thrive under them.
Don't use the more expensive fluorescent lights that are designed to look
good for residential lighting; you want the old, bright but bluish,
1950s-style phosphor that lets a fair bit of UV through.


-- 
+ Michael Covington - Artificial Intelligence Programs - U of Georgia - USA 
+ Unless otherwise noted, these are private opinions, not official statements.
From: pk@aficom.ocunix.on.ca (Stephen Kunc)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Toilet Python
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 92 06:58:00 -0400
Reply-To: pk@aficom.ocunix.on.ca (Stephen Kunc)
Distribution: world
Organization: AFI Communications - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

deb90@ccc.amdahl.com (David E Ben-Jamin) writes:

| 
| From the "News of the Weird" section in San Jose (CA) Mercury/News:
| 
| "David Rodgers, 22, was charged with animal cruelty after a neighbor
| said Rodgers had flushed his pet python down the toilet.  The python
| survived, and Rodgers staged a re-enactment of the incident in an Ottawa, 
| Canada, courtroom in Jamnuary.  Rodgers said he normally tries to keep the
| snake in warm water in the bathtub but that it prefers the toilet.  In
| the courtroom re-enactment, the snake quickly slithered to the toilet
| and Rodgers was acquitted."
| 
| Weird...Why is the "python" kept in the bathtub?  Perhaps it's an 
| annaconda?  I wonder how many scars David Rodgers has on his 
| privates... 
| 

 
Nope, it was a ball python, I saw the animal myself (I live in Ottawa), 
and I don't know where your news source came from, but the snake didn't 
have any affinity for the toilet in the courtroom reenactment.
 
The more amusing part which your article didn't quote was the whole 
thing came to light because supposedly the python went down the toilet, 
and appeared in the apartment below's toilet bowl when a young girl was 
going to the bathroom in the middle of the night. It made headlines 
here...
 
Steve

Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: hall@kronos.arc.nasa.gov (Michael Hall)
Subject: Re: sneezing rep
Organization: NASA/ARC Information Sciences Division
Distribution: rec
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 00:43:40 GMT

In article <JTHOMASO.92Oct5161234@dante.nmsu.edu> jthomaso@nmsu.edu (THOMASON) writes:

>  An interesting twist to this is that crocodiles, gavials and
>alligators yawn exactly the way we do, an interesting phylogenetic
>adaptation picked up from our saurian ancestors... As far as
>amphibians are concerned I dont know or care...

Don't know or care about amphibians?!  Hmmph!

I have never observed an amphibian yawning, except when shedding skin,
when the mouth-opening is designed to break the outer skin, not to
release excess CO2 (and maybe exercise some muscles) as with yawning in
mammals.  I don't think amphibians sneeze either.

-- 
Michael Hall            \ "Another round?  Another round?"
NASA Ames Research Center\ - anonymous dealer at anonymous casino
hall@ptolemy.arc.nasa.gov \

Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: harold@wam.umd.edu (James B. Harold)
Subject: Help for a baby tortoise
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 23:09:09 GMT

I'm only an occasional reader of this newsgroup, so I apologize if
some of this is faq-ish.

My folks recently came into posession of a baby tortoise (it was
found on their carport (in Phoenix)).  It appears to be wild,
and frankly I'm surprised that any wild tortoises have survived
the area's development, but there you go.  My folks have a large
walled in yard in which we've kept turtles and tortoises for
most of my life, and he'll be perfectly happy there eventually,
but I've learned from experience that there are enough predators
around that he'll need to be bigger before he lives there.

So...I'm looking for tips to help me get him through that touchy
first year or so (I suspect, given the time of year, that he's
a month or 3 old...I haven't actually seen him yet).  I've done
this before, but it's been awhile, so I thought I'd solicit some
info.  My plans so far:
  * I have a spare 10g tank hanging around.  I might upgrade
    him later.
  * Thought I'd set up a twin 24" flourescent fixture, with a
    incandescent spot for some heat.
  * Early on in the existence of this group, there was a debate
    on the relative merit/cost ratio of Vitalights vs other
    fl. tubes, uv light sources, etc.  Was there ever much of
    a net.consensus on this?
  * Some water, and a place to get out of the light should
    round out the habitat.  I'll keep the water shallow.
  * Any comments on the relative merits of different substrates?
    Large gravel, small gravel, coated gravel, sand, etc.?
  * As for food...mooshed fruit, maybe some commercial mixes,
    but I haven't looked to see what's out there for desert
    tortoises yet.  Any other suggestions?  Kinds of fruit?
    When they're in season, our adults *adored* cactus fruit
    (not too surprising).  But you can't always get those.

Anything else?  Any comments would be appreciated.  E-mail
preferred:  I'll be going out of town soon.  I summarize if
there's interest.

Thanks...
-- 

James Harold                 "There is always an easy solution to
harold@wam.umd.edu            every human problem -- neat, plausible,
                              and wrong."    --  H. L. Mencken 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: tmason@ccscola.Columbia.NCR.COM (Tim Mason)
Subject: Pulling snake out of a tight hiding spot
Summary: How to best pull a snake out?
Organization: NCR Corp, CCSD, Columbia, SC
Date: Tue, 06 Oct 92 18:44:35 GMT

Yesterday, I was pouring myself a glass of milk and looked down to notice the
tail of my 4 1/2 Fla. King sliding under my regrigerator.  I quickly grabbed
the end of his tail and a tug of war ensued.  I didn't pull hard enough to
hurt him (although I felt a "clicking" as if I were a chiroprator aligning
his spine).  He pulled hard, but I didn't let any more of him slide under, 
or I would have lost him.  It would have been a severe pain to get him back
out if he got himself lodged under our huge frige.

Luckily, after about 25 minutes, he decided he would give up.  Is there a
good way to get a snake to let go?  Could I have hurt my snake by holding
his tail to prevent him from moving further under the frige?  
-- 
---------------------------
Tim Mason
Tim.Mason@ccscola.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM
From: clubzen.fidonet.org!shakala!melchar
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: oops!  lost the snake info
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 92 13:14:40 PDT
Organization: Shakala - (Clan Zen Radio Network) Sunnyvale, CA 1-408-734-2289

     Unfortunately, my computer went down and ate the information about 
snakes that I had requested (& that some of you had so kindly sent my 
thru the 'mail').  Could you PLEASE resend that info.  I scanned it as I 
was 'capturing' it and it looked quite useful.
     Anyone who wants to help out a real tyro when it come to snake 
care/selection would be really appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Barbara Haddad - shakala!melchar@clubzen.fidonet.org 
Shakala - (Clan Zen Radio Network) Sunnyvale, CA 1-408-734-2289
From: mojo@reed.edu (-><-)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Another question about mice:
Date: 1 Oct 92 23:36:31 GMT
Article-I.D.: reed.1992Oct1.233631.23454
Organization: Paradise...or Basingstoke...or Reading


I've never yet seen a mouse put up much of a fight, but then I almost never
feed them live (my ball pythons will eat mice-cubes happily, praise be).

Personally, I like (well, not exactly *like*, but...) asphyxiating the mice
in a spice jar.  They go pretty quickly, though not as quickly as they would
at the jaws of a snake.

	NT
-- 
"How could I dance with another/When I saw him standing there"
	- Soren F. Petersen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       < Nathan Tenny | mojo@reed.edu | tenny@euclid.uoregon.edu >
From: mojo@reed.edu (the eyes of the Nile are opening---you'll see)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Two-headed snake pictures in a.b.p.misc
Date: 27 Sep 92 07:50:12 GMT
Article-I.D.: reed.1992Sep27.075012.17277
Organization: Okefenokee Glee & Perloo Union


I've posted a GIF of a two-headed garter snake to alt.binaries.pictures.misc;
there are two more to follow in the next couple of days.  I also have a
lovely picture of a two-headed racer, but the scan didn't come off; I'll try
to get a chance to scan it again.

If someone would upload these to tamsun, it would probably be a Good Thing;
the archive there seems to be growing slowly.  (The guy who took the photos
has given his permission for this, BTW.)

Should I post pictures of my corn snakes as well (both ~2 months old, one
normal, one amelanistic)?  I have scans but don't want to post unless
someone is actually interested.

	NT
-- 
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
\A tautology is a thing   \ Nathan Tenny            /  The opinions expressed/
/which is tautological.   / mojo@reed.edu           \  may not even be mine. \
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
From: mcovingt@aisun3.ai.uga.edu (Michael Covington)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Quin-turtle-ets
Date: 6 Oct 92 03:16:28 GMT
Organization: AI Program, University of Georgia, Athens

A few days ago, when the weather turned cool suddenly, I put a tarp
very loosely and irregularly on the ground in my outdoor turtle pen,
to give the turtles something to hide under because the pinestraw
hasn't fallen yet.

Today, looking for one of the turtles, I picked up the tarp, and two
newborn baby box turtles were staring right back at me!  A search led
to finding two more, plus a nest just the right size for five, with
some eggshells but no sign of non-viable eggs or dead babies.

Thinking back, I remember when the nest was dug, but the turtle filled
it back in so well that, afterward, I thought it was a trial nest in
which no eggs had been laid.

The babies are all indoors now, in a small terrarium, and doing fine.
They are 32 mm long and weigh about 6.5 to 7 grams each.
-- 
:- Michael A. Covington     internet mcovingt@uga.cc.uga.edu 
:- Artificial Intelligence Programs       phone 706 542-0359
:- The University of Georgia                fax 706 542-0349
:- Athens, Georgia 30602 U.S.A.          amateur radio N4TMI
From: pholland@iastate.edu (Paul J Hollander)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Another question about mice:
Date: 2 Oct 92 19:36:10 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.1992Oct2.193610.26129
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA

In article <17848@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu> nathan@charles.ucdavis.edu (Nathan Rollins) writes:
>
> Here's another vote for stunning or killing mice. (Deleted)
>	Despite all the kind help, I never got the hang of spinal
>dislocation for mice... (Deleted)
>	Has anyone tried a commercial snap-type mousetrap for
>dispatching them? My Burmese is growing fast, and soon she'll be
>onto adult rats, which may be a bit harder for me to kill; would a
>spring-type rat-trap be an answer?

Well, a spring type trap could be an answer.  I've used them to catch wild 
rats in the barn, and they do a good job killing the beasties.  One might do 
a good job on your fingers, too, though.  8^)

I never cared much for bashing a mouse.  Too bloody, and too likely to be a
stun instead of a clean kill.  And I was only fair at spinal dislocation
until I started using an empty tin can.  Put the edge of the can on the 
mouse's neck and lean on it.  The same technique works for rats, too; you just
have to lean on the can a little harder.

Paul Hollander    pholland@iastate.edu
Behold the tortoise: he makes no progress unless he sticks his neck out.
From: nathan@charles.ucdavis.edu (Nathan Rollins)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Another question about mice:
Date: 2 Oct 92 12:25:33 GMT
Organization: Department of Music, UCDavis


 Here's another vote for stunning or killing mice. While pet shop mice
may be fairly tame/stupid, most of the ones I've met still seem to get 
fairly panicy around snakes. Back when I was young and foolish, I let
my corn (who always struck "quick and deadly") go after a general average
mouse... it only takes one lucky jump for the mouse, and the snake has it
by the tail, or a hind leg, and the mouse turns and CHOMP... nasty
wound. The snake can usually kill the mouse eventually, but it's not
worth it to risk an expensive herp to a $2 mouse; wounds and bites
from mice can lead to death, as the unfortunate Black Pine story
apparently shows. 
	Basically, whether "killer mice" are the rule or the exception;
doesn't matter. Don't take chances. Thump the little furry beasts. A
mouse, and other rodents, especially rats, are MEAN when cornered or
fighting for their life. And they're sure cornered in a snake cage.
	Despite all the kind help, I never got the hang of spinal
dislocation for mice... I usually thump the bigger ones HARD with 
a thick stick and good aim, and the smaller ones (hoppers, which
have small teeth but eyes open, hyperactive and nippy) are still
usually dispatchable by throwing violently against a hard floor. 
	Also have noted that ones without eyes open are generally
harmless... I thump them anyway, because my Corn seems to prefer them
thus. 
	Has anyone tried a commercial snap-type mousetrap for
dispatching them? My Burmese is growing fast, and soon she'll be
onto adult rats, which may be a bit harder for me to kill; would a
spring-type rat-trap be an answer?

 -Otter
From: aok@copernicus.berkeley.edu (Alan Kamas)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Free Range Geckos
Date: 28 Sep 1992 19:35:10 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: copernicus.berkeley.edu

I'm seriously considering buying a gecko and letting it roam freely in
my apartment.  I have a few concerns that perhaps someone in this group
could answer:

1) Even though I live in California, it still gets cold in the winter.  My
   apartment could drop to the low 50's for days at a time.  Can a gecko
   survive this?

2) Can a Gecko damage an apartment?  Will he gnaw on curtains, CDs, 
   clothers, or funiture?  Does anyone have experience with this?

3) I keep a fairly clean house.  Would there be enough bugs for a gecko
   to eat?  Would I have to set up a feeding area for him?

4) What if he escapes?  I wouldn't want to be responsible for unleasing
   yet another non native species into the environment.  Would this be
   a problem?

5) With so many Geckos to choose from, I'd like to get one that's hardy,
   inexpensive, and that makes the neat Glecko clucking (ticking?) noises.
   Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance for your help!

- Alan.

Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: pals@ipact.com
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Python eats rabbit in movie
Date: 3 Oct 92 08:33:09 CDT
Organization: IPACT, Valparaiso IN

In article <1992Oct2.163759.131@ipact.com>, I wrote:

> 
> The next seen 

Good grief - of course that should read "scene"

> to be a Reticulated 

and "Reticulate".  That's what I get for posting in a hurry before I head
out the door on a Friday.

-- 
Randy Pals                |pals@ipact.com
IPACT, Inc.               |
From: pingleto@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Mike Pingleton)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re:  SF Garter
Date: 30 Sep 92 19:06:37 GMT
Article-I.D.: ncsa.1992Sep30.190637.7614
Organization: Nat'l Ctr for Supercomp App (NCSA) @ University of Illinois
Originator: pingleto@mars.ncsa.uiuc.edu

I can pretty much guarantee you *tetrataenia* will never come off the 
endangered list.  Or any other ground or water dwelling species of animal
for that matter.  The day is soon coming when certain herps only exist 
in zoos and in the collections of herpetoculturists.

Mike "doom and gloom" Pingleton
From: nivek@terapin.com (Kevin Bierl)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: can reptiles sneeze?
Date: 6 Oct 92 20:58:25 GMT
Article-I.D.: terapin.nivek.1s0s
Organization: BBS

In article <ead.718219648@orion>, ead@cs.ucsb.edu (Eric De Mund) writes:
>dear rec.pets.herp,
>
>can reptiles sneeze? how about amphibians?
>
>ead <ead@cs.ucsb.edu>

I have a Blue-Tounged Skink and she sneezes. The first time she did it I rushed
to the store and talked to them about it. It turns out that she will sneeze if
she is agravated or wants something.

                             Nivek@terapin.com
From: 71162.3470@CompuServe.COM ("Peter P. Donohue")
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: RE: herp magazines
Date: 27 Sep 92 17:12:20 GMT

>Yes, thanks.  A followup question.  For a beginner who is interested
>mostly in snakes (more specifically, North American snakes), which
>magazine is best and why?

   I subscribe to them and am quite pleased with the quality of
articles in both of them.  Neither one is targetted to snakes alone, so
you may have some issues with little of relavence to the ones you keep.
Interestingly, a lot of information that pertains to a different type
of herp is also useful for the ones you have.  I, too, also only keep
North American colubrids, yet I enjoy reading each issue from cover to
cover.
   My personal opinion (mine, all mine - feel free to have your own) is
that Reptile and Amphibian usually has slightly more informative
articles while the Vivarium has better pictures.
   I would recommend that you get them both.  If I had to choose just
one, I would probably recommend that you subscribe to Reptile and
Amphibian because it is cheaper.

                                     Pete

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter P. Donohue                        email: 71162.3470@compuserve.com
   I'm looking for a marketing position on the west coast (anywhere
from Denver west, except in LA).  Background: a BS in Marketing and
Computer Science, an MBA in International Management, and about 2 years
of experience.  If you know of a position or could give me a lead on
a contact, please let me know.  Thanks.

Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: garys@miki.pictel.com (Gary Sullivan)
Subject: Re: Python eats rabbit in movie
Organization: PictureTel Corporation
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 23:22:08 GMT

In article <1992Oct3.083309.132@ipact.com> pals@ipact.com writes:
>In article <1992Oct2.163759.131@ipact.com>, I wrote:
>
>> 
>> The next seen 
>
>Good grief - of course that should read "scene"
>

Well, gee... I seen it, didn't you?


>> to be a Reticulated 
>
>and "Reticulate".  That's what I get for posting in a hurry before I head
>out the door on a Friday.

Actually, the term *is* Reticulated, but the python wasn't.  I saw the
film the other day, and I think it was a Burmese
(python molorus bivittatus).

-- 
---------------------------------
Gary Sullivan  (garys@pictel.com)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: gerard@progress.COM (Gerard Bras)
Subject: Re: Another question about mice:
Organization: Progress Software Corp.
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 20:29:27 GMT

cain@silverblue.fac.cs.cmu.edu (Sebastian Nightingale Cain) writes:

>What I have been doing lately is picking the mice up by the tail, and  
>dangling them in my Burmese's cage, where it promptly grabs them by the  
>head and does them in rather quickly.  Of course my burmese is only about  
>2.5' long at the moment, but you won't catch me doing it that way once it  
>gets bigger.  Uh-uh, no way. :-)

I used to do this too.  Then my pythons got big and forgetful.  They started
grabbing at my hands, mouse or no mouse.  You are training your snake to 
strike in your direction.  IMO, you will have cause to regret this within
two years.  IMO, hand feeding is a major blunder and I have scars to
substantiate this opinion.

cheers,
gerard
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Another question about mice:
From: jknife@desire.wright.edu
Date: 28 Sep 92 17:19:06 EST
Organization: Wright State University 

All of this stuff about mice chewing on snakes is kind of scary.  I've had a
corn snake for about a month now, but so far he's only big enough for 
pinkies.  When he gets big enough for adult mice, I don't want him to get 
hurt.  Are fighting mice common, or the exception that gets talked about a lot?
Also, what is a good way to "stun" a mouse? 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: seedman@IASTATE.EDU (John D Turnipseed)
Subject: Re: Herpetology Network Help!
Reply-To: seedman@IASTATE.EDU (John D Turnipseed)
Organization: ISU, The Institute for the Supression of Undergrads
Distribution: na
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1992 21:35:51 GMT

In article <20722@plains.NoDak.edu>, eide@plains.NoDak.edu (Jason Eide) writes:
> I recently came accross a ad for the
> Herpetology Network
> 215-464-3562 Modem
> POB 52261, PHILA, PA 19115
> Reptile/Amphibian info and Databases
> 
> My question is, is it possible to access this site via the internet,  Telnet
> site?  Thanks!
> 
> Jason Eide
> eide@plains.nodak.edu

	I don't normally follow up posts by including the original text,
but in this case I think it's important to get HERP-NET's number out as often
as posible.  In answer to your question... No.  Unfortunate for me, but 
good for the phone company.  They get a lot of my money.  If you would like 
more information on HERP-NET, I can send a copy of the press release to 
you.  


					-=- Seedman