HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: gerard@progress.COM (Gerard Bras)
Subject: Re: Can snake-owners get homeowners insurance?
Organization: Progress Software Corp.
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 18:17:18 GMT

stevet@oakhill.sps.mot.com (Steve Turner) writes:

>I've been trying to get some renter's insurance for my
>apartment, but was surprised to learn that most, if not
>all, insurance companies consider snakes too great a libility 
>to insure.  I've been turned town by no fewer than 6 agents
>so far because I have 2 captive boas (in locked cages).

>If you keep snakes *and* have insurance, please refer me to
>your insurance company.  Note that I don't want to lie about
>my pets, but if they don't explicitly ask, then that should 
>be fair game, right? 

I own my house so it may be a little different, but my insurance carrier
(Metropolitan) has never asked about resident wildlife.  I've never 
brought it up.  As far as I know there are no exclusions in the
policy.  Likewise, there's nothing specific in the mortgage agreement
either.  There are general provisions about maintaining the value of
the property and protecting the mortgagers interests, but no rules 
about animals with excessive numbers of teeth.

cheers,
gerard
From: jknife@desire.wright.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: snake fear
Date: 11 Jan 93 15:44:52 EST
Organization:  Wright State University 



	I'll be getting married in the upcoming summer, and I have a bit of a
problem;  My soon-to-be mother in law is VERY scared of snakes.  I'm not
willing to part with my corn snake and Boa, but I don't want their presence to
keep her from visiting (I know, laugh it up, but . . .)

	Has anyone out there ever tried to "cure" herpetophobia? (sp?)  Any
suggestions?  

	By the way, having someone "snake-sit" is out of the question.


	Thanks,
	Joe Knife
From: tenny@euclid.uucp (Nathan Tenny)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Wanted creature to add with fish
Date: 4 Jan 93 21:26:05 GMT
Article-I.D.: pith.1iaa1dINNa4l
Organization: Department of Mathematics, University of Oregon
NNTP-Posting-Host: euclid.uoregon.edu


Depending on the fish...

The little African dwarf frogs don't seem to be very palatable---I had them
in a tank with a couple of Surinam toads (which eat anything) and they
survived...if this was the kind you had, I'd be surprised if it got et, but
you never know.

Surinam toads are really cool, but they'll eat your fish.

Newts are cheap, good-looking, and easy to care for if you get them at the
right temperature.

They aren't exactly herptiles, and they'd require really cold water (under 60F,
I think), but I had a Pacific brook lamprey briefly.  Lots of fun to watch; it
would latch onto the side of the tank and suck algae like a hyperextended
pl*co.

	NT
From: bzandrew@amiganet.chi.il.us (Bill Zandrew)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Wanted creature to add with fish
Date: 5 Jan 93 00:20:37 CST
Organization: Amiga Network Information Systems

I used to raise fish and I can't think of anyghing good to keep with them. 
Frogs and turtles are bad.  Shrimp don't live long.  How about some cool cat
fish?  An upside down cat or a plecostomus!  Hmmmmm!
From: tmohler+@cs.cmu.edu (Tim Mohler)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: The Makeup of A Snake's Housing...
Date: 5 Jan 93 19:10:14 GMT
Article-I.D.: cs.C0EAL7.2CI.1
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon

In article <1993Jan4.182754.16230@Csli.Stanford.EDU> kyle@Csli.Stanford.EDU (Kyle Wohlmut) writes:
>In article <C0725H.MoE.1@cs.cmu.edu> tmohler+@cs.cmu.edu (Tim "Is it
>safe" Mohler) writes:

Huh? Does my name form some sort of pun in German?

>anything but the largest rats.  You sure gerbils are suitable food for
>a 7+ footer?

What do you mean by suitable? Is there some problem with larger snakes eating
smaller prey? Or so you mean feasible to breed and feed 15 at a sitting?

I have not had any direct experience with a 7 ft Burmese. I am going on
experience with my roomates's 2.5 foot Burmese.

Sorry if I said anything horribly wrong...

Tim
From: rptjr@brahms.udel.edu (Richard Terrell)
Subject: Boa for sale!
Organization: University of Delaware
Distribution: usa
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 03:01:43 GMT

Hey out there in netland!  I have a gorgeous healthy red-tail/common boa
mix.  Ive had him for nearly two years.  He's about five feet long.  Eats
well live or dead rats.  Has some attitude, but was really tame when I had
time to handle him every day ( I no longer have as much time which is why
I'm looking for a better home for him [not sure of sex]).  Will take $150
O.B.O. for him.  Shipping can be arranged or I will be travelling to CT
and Jacksonville, FL within the next 5 months.  Please e-mail responses to:
 rptjr@brahms.udel.edu.  Tell your friends and neighbors if they might be
interested.  Thanx-
		Rich
From: nvonstein@memstvx1.memst.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Flex Watt Heat Tape
Date: 8 Jan 93 10:56:35 -0600
Distribution: na
Organization: Memphis State University

In article <1993Jan8.064142.1845@midway.uchicago.edu>, tjr3@quads.uchicago.edu (thomas john ryan) writes:
> While trying to find this stuff near me, I happened to
> be transfered through to a Flex Watt representative that
> wanted to know what I would be using it for.  When I told
> him that it would be used to heat reptile cages and explained
> how some of the systems that I had seen were set up, he
> offered to send me a free sample and asked if I would be
> interested in becoming a distributor in the area.  I told him that
> I would see.  What this all means is that, if everything goes through,
> that I could get this stuff at a wholesale price.  If this is the case,
> any opinions out there on whether or not this would be a good idea.  
> Of course, I would sell to anyone emailing me at my price plus shipping,
> but that is another story.
> 
> Tom

I would certainly be interested in hearing more about it.  After you try the
sample he sends you, please post and let us know what you think about the
product.

Thanks
Nancy
> 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: gerard@progress.COM (Gerard Bras)
Subject: Re: Color vision in snakes?
Keywords: This article printed on 100% recycled electrons
Organization: Progress Software Corp.
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 17:51:59 GMT

kyle@Csli.Stanford.EDU (Kyle Wohlmut) writes:

>The Emerald Tree Boa is at least one example of multiple stenopeic
>pupils.  Well, actually, most of them have two.  From observation I
>would conclude that most colubrids have fixed pupils.  Which is rather
>confusing considering that the colubrids evolved much later!  Could
>their eyes de-evolve? (Although they probably prefer the term,
>'Evolutionarily challenged')

I think so, I've heard that the snakes evolved from subterranean lizards which
had become legless and nearly sightless.  Upon resurfacing they re-evolved vision
in some unique ways.

Again, this is just from reading.  Anyone who knows for sure is invited to educate me.

cheers,
gerard
From: dd76@umail.umd.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: iguana questions
Date: 8 Jan 93 23:08:01 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: U of Maryland - Zoology

Has anyone heard about the Frederic Frye book on captive iguana care (major
volume, I understand) that's supposed to come out in 1993?  I don't have the 
full reference with me here, but if you go to any bookstore with Books In 
Print on computer, they can pull it up for you.  It says to contact the publi-
sher in writing (which I haven't done).

Also,

	My 3 ft ig has a lump IN her tail that's seems to have gotten larger over the 
last few months.  The scales over the area are fine.  It is located 1/2 way
down the tail and is in the center of the tail, cross-sectionally speaking.
It's about the size and shape of a small pea.  Parasite?  Funky tumor?


Any opinions would be apreciated.

Deborah
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: srutt@boulder.Colorado.EDU (DNA Kaifeng)
Subject: Subscription to _The Vivarium_?
Summary: Subscription to _The Vivarium_?
Keywords: Subscription to _The Vivarium_?
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date:  5 Jan 93 01:33:39 GMT

Could anyone tell me how I can get a subscription to _The Vivarium_?
What is the address and what are the various subscription rates?
Thanks,
                          -steve

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@******************************************
@ email: srutt@beagle.colorado.edu @* "Nothing in biology makes sense except *
@   Dept. of Molecular, Cellular   @*  in the light of evolution."           *
@    and Developmental Biology     @*  - T. Dobzhansky                       *
@ University of Colorado, Boulder  @*                   Opinions are my own. *
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@******************************************
From: zenpk@fourfold.ocunix.on.ca (stephen kunc)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: The Makeup of A Snake's Housing...
Date: Wed, 06 Jan 93 15:28:55 -05
Distribution: world
Organization: FourFold Symmetry, Breckenridge, Quebec

tmohler+@cs.cmu.edu (Tim Mohler) writes:

> 
> Yah - and gerbils fight when you bring in a new pair of them. They don't eat
> their babies, though. They do seem to be monogamous, worse luck for me.
> I was hoping to have a stud-gerbil and about 6 females, but no such luck.
> 
> On the other hand, they are cuter than hell. Which gives some people some pro
> 
> "How can you raise them to DIE like that? They are SOOOO CUUUUTE."
> 
> Tim
> 

 
Since I'm forced to breed a pile of wretched rodents to keep my reptile 
collection going, I find it's an amusing side-hobby to experiment with 
them in some instances. I've found that the best way to keep rats is in 
a large cage, with 3 or 4 females, and 1 male. The litters all get 
dumped into a "communal" pile, and sometimes two, and one or several 
mothers will take care of them.
 
I've also occasionally had day-old mice someone has given me to feed to 
something, but which hasn't been taken, and my rats will raise mice 
pinkies without a problem. I currently have three adult mice who, for 
all practical purposes, think they're rats, because they all live 
together and were raised by rats practically from birth in communal 
piles.
 
A few months ago, the same worked with a girbil, who grew to adulthood 
in the big rat cage. The interesting thing was, when the girbil 
achieved maturity, he took on the duty of "guarding" the communal 
litter pile when the moms were eating. It was really quite amusing, and 
at the time there were mice living there too.
 
You're correct though, mice cages definately reek the most. I can't 
tell if mice stink as individuals when they live with 10 rats though. 
In my opinion, rabbits are the absolute worst of all to raise. I hate 
everything there is about them.
 
Stephen Kunc
Mad Scientist

--
stephen kunc, zenpk@fourfold.ocunix.on.ca
FourFold Symmetry, Breckenridge, Quebec, Canada 
Xref: sparky rec.pets.herp:4510 rec.aquaria:9983 alt.aquaria:6530
From: dd76@umail.umd.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp,rec.aquaria,alt.aquaria
Subject: Re: Lighting: blacklight white??
Date: 12 Jan 93 21:54:07 GMT
Organization: U of Maryland - Zoology

> I've never heard of a "blacklight white" before.  Has anyone else?
> What is it?


GE makes two kinds of "black light" tubes.  One is called "BLB"  which 

translates as 'black light black' meaning the kind of black light we're all 
familiar with from hands stamps at bars, etc.  It has a coating on it which
makes the visible part of it appear purplish.

The other tube is called just "BL" and it's a black light tube that looks like
any other tube light although the light coming out of it definitely has a
different look to it.  That's what would be referred to as 'black light white'.

I have a 48" BL tube alongside a 48" vitalite in my 4 ft' fixture above  my
igs environment.


Deborah
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: mikeh@oakhill.sps.mot.com (Michael Herman)
Subject: free food in austin
Organization: Motorola Inc., Austin Tx.
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 13:59:09 GMT

I have two female gerbils and a female dwarf hamster to give away.

they will come with cages if needed.

Lost my snake and its might as well get rid of them.

Also: any breeders in Austin?? the local herp store
is nice but too expensive. thinking of getting a ball python
and/or an igunaua.

Ill drop teh gerbils off to you, if its close too austin,
and of you got a nice collection of herps to show off  :):)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp,sci.bio
From: simonb@extro.ucc.su.OZ.AU (Simon Blomberg)
Subject: Re: Color vision in snakes?
Organization: Sydney University Computing Service, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 06:27:35 GMT

melanie@cayman.amd.com (Melanie Typaldos) writes:

>Over in rec.pets.herp we've been having a discussion on whether
>snakes have color vision or not.  ( Personally I believe that they
>do.)  I was hoping that someone in sci.bio might have some solid
>knowlege on this topic or on color vision in reptiles in general.

>Also, I remember hearing a while ago that it may not be true that
>most mammals lack color vision.  What's the current story on this?

>Hope you don't mind the cross-posting...just looking for some
>elightenment.

>----Melanie

[stuff deleted]

Well, I've just looked for the relevant section in my PhD supervisor's recent
book: Shine, R. (1991) Australian snakes. A natural history. Reed Books Pty.
Ltd. ISBN 0 7301 0349 8. 223 pp.

This is a secondary source, so anyone who has any better references please
feel free to contribute. The relevant section says:

"The eyes of snakes apparently lack oil droplets, which are used for colour
vision in other vertebrates. However, there is a wide variety of different 
types of eye structures among snakes, involving cones and rods in the retina,
and at least some diurnal snakes are known to have red and green colour
receptors."

Over all, I get the impression that not much is known, but that colour vision
is not out of the question for at least some snakes.

Simon.

(Hi Melanie!)


-- 
Simon Blomberg                                   simonb@extro.ucc.su.OZ.AU
School of Biol. Sciences, A08
University of Sydney            We demand the right to stop to look even at
NSW   2006  Australia        lizards, which are nobody's property. -JBS Haldane
From: rowe@lepomis.psych.upenn.edu (Mickey Rowe)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Color vision in snakes?
Date: 11 Jan 93 20:42:49 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania

In article <1ii7g2INNtg@MINERVA.CIS.YALE.EDU> bell-peter@yale.edu
     (vineland expatriate) writes:

>In article <1993Jan7.132950.4922@memstvx1.memst.edu>
     nvonstein@memstvx1.memst.edu writes:

>>Does anyone know if the King cobra has binocular vision?
>>
>>Nancy
>
>
>Almost all animals have at least some binocular vision;  the question is 
>how much.... 

The easiest way to get a quick idea of how much overlap there is
between the two eyes is to see how large a range of angles there is
from which you can see both eyes.  If you can see both of the animal's
eyes, then both of its eyes can probably see you.

> for example, in turtles there is a strip of visual space 
>over the animals' heads where the ocular fields converge;  on the retina,
>the region subtending that area is densely packed with photoreceptors, 
>primarily cones.  This 'visual streak' is analagous to our fovea.  

Retinal specializations like foveas and visual streaks come in a
variety of flavors, and don't necessarily have to do with binocular
vision.  There are also animals that have no areas of retinal
specialization and yet do have reasonably large overlaps in their
visual field.  I'm studying sunfish right now, and I can tell you that
they fall into this category pretty well.

>Peter
>bell@minerva.cis.yale.edu

Mickey Rowe     (rowe@pender.ee.upenn.edu)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: aad@siemens.com (Anthony Datri)
Subject: Re: Color vision in snakes?
Keywords: This article printed on 100% recycled electrons
Organization: Siemens Corporate Research, Princeton (Plainsboro), NJ
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 15:52:22 GMT

>confusing considering that the colubrids evolved much later!  Could
>their eyes de-evolve? (Although they probably prefer the term,
>'Evolutionarily challenged')

After all, colubrids are considered to be "more advanced" than boids because
they lack the latter's vestigial hind limbs.
-- 

======================================================================8--<
From: ffn2@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (FREDRICK F NOECKER)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: FREE HERP NEWSLETTER
Date: 4 Jan 93 19:07:32 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

Hi,
  My name is Rick Noecker and a associate of mine, Chris Zimmer, publishes
  a herptology newsletter called the _Rep Amp_.  The _Rep Amp_ focuses on
  animals such as snakes, reptiles, amphibians, turtles and tortoises.  These
  articles that we write focus on how to properly choose, feed, care for and
  breed the already mentioned herps.

  Chris has been working with reptiles for over 10 years at his fathers pet
  store.  In this time he has dealt with many different species of heps and
  has learned how to deal with many herp problems firsthand.  I have worked
  for Chris for over 2 1/2 years now and have done quite a bit of research on
  the herps that I have dealt with.

  The articles that are written in the _Rep Amp_ are based on research and
  personal experience on the particular herp.  Anybody is welcome to write for
  the _Rep Amp_ that has moderate experience and that is willing to do good
  research using up to date references.  So if you are interested in writing
  please let my know by responding over the server.

  THE _REP AMP_ IS ABSOLUTELY FREE AND NON PROPHIT.  We make no prophits from
  the publication of the _Rep Amp_ and it is free to anybody that is
  interested in subscribing to it.

  If you wish to subscribe to the _Rep Amp_ please give me your postal
  address.  I am sorry but the _Rep Amp_ is not yet available on e-mail yet so
  please if you are interested give me your postal address.  No where is to
  far for us to mail it to you and we do so at no cost to you.

  If you have already subscribed to the _Rep Amp_ please don't give me your
  name and address again.  If you enjoy the _Rep Amp_ please tell your freinds
  and give me there names and addresses also.  Too much is never enough.

  Thank You,
    Rick Noecker
    215-758-0304

    P.S.  Your comments and questions are appreciated.
From: mwaldvog@ent1.ent.ncsu.edu (Michael Waldvogel)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: PERMITS
Date: 11 Jan 93 23:48:17 GMT
Organization: Dept. of Entomology - NCSU, Raleigh, NC
Originator: mwaldvog@ent1.ent.ncsu.edu

In [Message-ID: <C0LqvC.FK0@news.udel.edu>], rptjr@brahms.udel.edu 
(Richard Terrell) wrote:

>I moved to Delaware (oh joy!) a few months ago and was appauled to learn
>that I have to pay $25 to have reptiles in this state.  Is DE the only
>state screwed up enough to require permits for non-native animals or do I
>have disgruntled bretheren out there in netland?  If any other states
>require permits, how much are they? 

Why are governments paranoid about non-native animals??

Ever heard of the Africanized Honey Bee??  Ask folks in south Texas and
Mexico and Central America.

Ever heard of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly? (as noted by another reader)
ask folks who are involved in Southern Cal.'s multi-billion dollar 
fruit/vegetable industry.

Ever heard of the gypsy moth???  Hang around DE, MD, VA, PA, or NY and 
    watch the leaves disappear before July.

Ever heard of kudzu???  Y'all come on down here and see.

How about the Caribbean iguana tick? It also attacks livestock?
 
    OR 

Ask Australians about what happened when rabbits were first
introduced into their country.

Why doesn't rabies occur in Great Britain (at least it wasn't there
a while back)?????


AND 

In <Message-ID: <1993Jan10.020106.23708@netcom.com>, mhall@netcom.com 
(Michael Hall) wrote:

              <irrelevant part snipped>
>in jail.  I never did get a license while in New Jersey, and now I'm in
>California.  Nyah, nyahnyah, nyahnyah, nyah!

                        GROW UP!!


Mike Waldvogel

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
| Michael Waldvogel, NCSU-Entomology, Box 7613, Raleigh NC 27695-7613   |
|=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=|
| Voice: (919) 515-2703      |  INTERNET: waldvogel@ent.ncsu.edu        |
| FAX:   (919) 515-7746      |  USDA-FTSMAIL: a348capsranc@attmail.com  |
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-- 
| Michael Waldvogel  - waldvogel@ent.ncsu.edu |
| Dept. of Entomology, N.C. State University  |
| Raleigh, North Carolina  27695-7613         |
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: linda@cbnews.cb.att.com (linda.f.desmond)
Subject: FREE HERP NEWSLETTER
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 20:08:10 GMT
Keywords: Newsletter

This is my first time reading of this newsgroup and I am pleased with what
I see.  I currently keep 2 garter snakes, 1 African Fat Tailed Gechko, and
a Sudan Plated Lizard (3 separate tanks!).  The Gecko just shed this weekend
and it was about 95% complete except for a few toes.  We helped him the
next day with hydrogen peroxide to loosen the "gloves" and what a great
disposition these guys have.  The Plated Lizard on the other hand is really
skittish.  We have only had him a few days so much of it (I hope) is aclimation
to his new home.  Planning to set up the 4th tank with swifts.

In reading saw that a Free Herp Newsletter is available but was not sure
to whom to send my address.  Just post it here?

Again I am so pleased to find others with the same interest and willing to
share knowledge.  Compared to other animals, there is much less in the way
of excellent current reading material on herps.

Linda Desmond
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: gerard@progress.COM (Gerard Bras)
Subject: Re: Color vision in snakes?
Organization: Progress Software Corp.
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 17:48:49 GMT

rowe@pender.ee.upenn.edu (Mickey Rowe) writes:

>Last fall I put together a series of 4 posts dealing with the
>evolution of color vision.  I'll e-mail them to anyone who's
>interested.

Yes, please.

Me:
>>>Snakes, have highly evolved eye structures, capable of both focusing
>>>and dilation/contraction to control the amount of light admitted.
>>>In fact, it the means of focusing that is the one characteristic of 
>>>snakes which is totally unique from all other animals.  

Mickey:
>Are you sure about this?  If I recall correctly, some boids have
>multiple stenopeic pupils (i.e. when the pupils are open they're
>vertical, but when they're stopped down they look like a series of
>pinholes one on top of the other--Tokay geckos definitely have this
>sort of pupil; look at one in bright light to see what I mean), but
>the garter snake I referred to above has an immovable pupil if I
>recall correctly.  I can look that up pretty easily if you want.

It was a while ago that I read this but here's the gist of it.  Please
excuse any sloppiness in terminolgy, but I'm a software geek, not a bio major.
The gist of the difference is that while most every other sighted animal focuses
by means of a distinct lens with muscle attached directly to the lens, snakes
lack a distinct lens and focusing is achieved by muscles within the iris changing
the shape of the eyeball.  My recollection is that even other reptiles don't share 
this.  The auther claimed that this was pretty much the major distinction between true 
snakes and certain legless lizards.

Please feel free to set me straight on any of this.  I welcome the education.  Also I'll be 
happy to try and dig up references.

cheers,
gerard

Newsgroups: osu.for-sale,rec.pets.herp
From: fields@news.cis.ohio-state.edu (jonathan david fields)
Subject: 2 iguanas for sale
Organization: The Ohio State University Department of Computer and Information Science
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 22:21:49 GMT

 I have two baby iguanas for sale.  They are approx. 6-7months old.  Each
 has its own 30 gallon tank with all the equipment needed to raise them.
 If you are interested in one or both, please leave me some e-mail.
 Thanks,
 
 Jeff Rosen (Rosen@CIS@ohio-state.edu)
 
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------