HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: krogers@javelin.sim.es.com (K. Rogers)
Subject: Re: Five-lined skink question
Reply-To: krogers@javelin.sim.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 15:35:16 GMT

doyle cozadd <C73221DC@WUVMD> writes:

>My son is in heaven--while moving some boxes from our previous residence,
>a little (~2" snout to vent) five-lined skink crawled in one of the boxes.
>The local pet shop does not seem to know how to care for one so small.
>He got some little crickets, but they look pretty big (relatively) to me.
>I'm sending him to the library to research (he's 10) tomorrow.  Anyone have
>any other advice or experience in the meantime?

I tried to mail this but it bounced.  Guess I'll post it.

Regarding food for the skink - any insect which the lizard can fit its
mouth over will do.  Small crickets are probably ok.  If they're too
big you need to look into flies and small spiders.  You might want to
try breeding fruit flies if you plan to keep this critter for the long
term.  You can order the flies and fly culturing food from Carolina
Biological Supply Company (CABISCO).  Sorry, don't have the address on
my at the moment - the catalog's at home.  They're based in NC but
also have a warehouse in Oregon - you order from which ever is closer
to you.  BTW, breeding fruilt flies is trivial with their food medium
so don't let that scare you away.  Also, the wingless kinds are
probably easier for the lizard to catch.
-- 
Keith Rogers
krogers@javelin.sim.es.com

-- 
Keith Rogers
krogers@javelin.sim.es.com
From: nathan@charles.ucdavis.edu (Nathan Rollins)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Growing Ball Python
Date: 18 Aug 92 22:18:59 GMT
Organization: Bohemian Inebriation Association


 
 The question of rabbit prices has brought up an idea... in some areas there
are numerous wild rodents; ground squirrels, rabbits, etc. One place
I know of is on the UC Santa Cruz campus, where in the summer they hire local
sharpshooters to "keep down" the population. maybe it would be viable to
hunt for your snake's food, if you or someone you know has the equipment and
skill. I asked our local herp vet, Dr. Fredric L. Frye, about feeding wild
animals such as lizards and things to snakes, in particular with regard to
parasites, and he generally said any such things would have minimal problems.
Of course, you'd have to remove any shot pellets, but this wouldn't be a 
problem if you were using either snares or a rifle.
Just an idea...

- Otter (not nathan, nathan doesn't actually use this account.)
From: deb90@ccc.amdahl.com (David E Ben-Jamin)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Arrested person slithered away
Date: 18 Aug 92 16:44:22 GMT
Reply-To: deb90@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com (David E Ben-Jamin)
Distribution: na
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA

In article <278@angel.UUCP> larry@angel.UUCP (Larry Tenbush) writes:
>
>
>Here is something my wife found in the local newspaper.
>
>Hope ya'll like it.
>Larry
>
  (deleted)


>The box was taken to the Downtown Foot Patrol office, where officer
>Steve Stanford took charge, opening the box to reveal a 4-pound boa
>python.                                                         ^^^
>^^^^^^

Hmmmm....  Sounds like something I'd like to add to my collection.  
If anybody has any corn-kings, or perhaps an iguana-monitor, I'd be
interested.  

I assume this was a direct quote from the paper, so be it known that I am
making fun of the ignorance of the reporter and/or the police - not
Larry.   
-- 


I don't need a .sig.
From: gg02@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (GABRIELLA GRAD)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Prolapsed intestine .... again
Date: 18 Aug 92 01:37:30 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

Hello again avid herpers.

I had posted about 2 months ago about my hatchling iguana that had a prolapsed
intestine (or cloaca, or just some part of it's digestive system).  I did not
take her to the vet, but was able to re-insert the innards using a q-tip and
some vaseline.  She has been fine since then.  Her tail had been broken (hence
her name - Stumpy) and it has grown at least 4 inches since her last mishap.
She seemed perfectly healthy.

Until tonight.  I came home to find that her innards had decided to pay the
outside world another visit.  I was able to "fix" her again - she was fine
when I left the apt.

My question (yes, I am coming to it...) is this:  Does anyone out there know
what causes this condition???!!!  No one seemed to know the last time.  I have
read that it is something that happens in large lizards, but the cause was not
mentioned.  Is it bacterial, muscular, something to do with her diet??  If it
is the diet, my only guess is that she may be allergic to cheese.  I gave her
some for what I think was the first time yesterday.

Anyhow, thanks for any help.  If I find out what the cause is (from a vet I am
calling tomorrow), I will let you all know.

In the meantime, happy herping.

Gaby
From: ruska@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Dave Ruska)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Name that snake, general questions on snake keeping
Date: 14 Aug 92 16:33:26 GMT
Article-I.D.: hpfcso.119310010
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA

In rec.pets.herp, srh3@Ra.MsState.Edu (Steven R. Hollis) writes:

> .......................................  There is a way to sex snakes
> but it takes a trained fellow (don' try this at home) to insert a 
> rod into the snakes vent...depending on how far it goes in will
> determine which sex it is (i.e. it doesn't go in far with the guys 
> cuz his penis gets in the way)

Actually I think it's the other way around. The probe goes in *deeper*
on a male where it enters one of two inverted hemipenes, but enters
a shallower gland duct on a female. The depth (measured in subcaudial scales)
varies amoung species. Probing is not something to be done by casual snake
owner, but most breeders can sex the animals for you. 

> 
> Steve

Dave
From: 71162.3470@CompuServe.COM (Peter P Donohue)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Yellow Rat Snakes for sale (NY City area)
Date: 23 Aug 92 03:48:41 GMT


   I have three yellow rat snakes for sale.  All were captive born a
year ago (purchased from Glades Herps).  Two males, one female.  About
20" long.  All eat well and have good temperments.  Asking $25 each or
$60 for the trio - will consider trade for other snakes, equipment, or
supplies.
   If interested, reply to this account or call (914)232-9359 (leave a
message).  The snakes are presently in Northern Westchester.  I will
deliver in Westchester or Putnam Counties.

					Pete



Distribution:
  rec.pets.herp >internet:rec-pets-herp@ucbvax.berkeley.edu
  me [71162,3470]

Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: krogers@javelin.sim.es.com (K. Rogers)
Subject: Re: green tree snake query
Reply-To: krogers@javelin.sim.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 16:50:11 GMT

pholland@iastate.edu (Paul J Hollander) writes:

>>I'm presently looking into purchasing a green tree snake which I once read 
>>somewhere was a good snake for the inexperienced to purchase... any 
>>comments, suggestions would be greatly appreciated
>
>Off the top of my head, I can think of only the emerald tree boa, green tree
>python, a vine snake or two from Asia, and the North American green snakes
>(_Opheodrys_) that might fit that name.  IMHO, none is a good beginner snake.
>The boa and python cost too much and rather unfriendly.  The vine snakes eat
>lizards.  The green snakes are rather nervous and the smooth green snake 
>I had would only eat field crickets.  I've never tried to keep a rough green
>snake so can't comment about them.

You forgot to mention the teeth on the emerald tree boa and the green
tree python.  Take one look in the mouth and you'll think five or six
times before keeping them (unless you're into the dangerous animal
thing, which some people are.)  They may not be poisonous but it'd
still *really* ruin your day if you got bit by one.
-- 
Keith Rogers
krogers@javelin.sim.es.com
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: enigma@netcom.com (Enigma)
Subject: Re: *Request for Info*(Ig/Lizard)
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 92 04:21:10 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)

In article <1992Aug14.234741.1486@javelin.sim.es.com> krogers@javelin.sim.es.com writes:
>LJ03933@LMSC5.IS.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM writes:
>
>>Here's the situation:
>> A friend of mine is seriously considering turning his atrium
>>into a sort of giant terrarium. This atrium is situated in the
>>center of the house, is the access to the front door.
>>Size: about 12'*12' (10' ceiling).

One point I'd be concerned about:  what about the drafts from the 
front door?  Northern California can get quite chilly in the wintertime,
especially at night.

>>-What type of plants? (is the recommended ig/lizard apt to break or tear
>>                       up plants?)
>
>If you get an ig all plants will become a self-serv salad bar.  Igs
>and plants don't get along well together.

It just occurred to me you might know the answer to this one:  What
if you *want* the plants to become a self-serve salad bar?  I'd like
to set something like this up someday too, and I'd like to have a 
lot of plants growing that would be particularly nutritious for igs,
but more importantly, I need a list of poisonous plants to avoid.


-- 
Holly McGrath   <enigma@netcom.com> 
1803 Mission Street, #339          
Santa Cruz, CA 95060              
(408) 479-4072  (voice mail)
From: pk@aficom.ocunix.on.ca (Stephen Kunc)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: *Request for Info*(Ig/Lizard)
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 92 12:44:42 -0400
Reply-To: pk@aficom.ocunix.on.ca (Stephen Kunc)
Distribution: world
Organization: AFI Communications - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

LJ03933@LMSC5.IS.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM writes:

| Here's the situation:
|  A friend of mine is seriously considering turning his atrium
| into a sort of giant terrarium. This atrium is situated in the
| center of the house, is the access to the front door.
| Size: about 12'*12' (10' ceiling).
| 

 
More people should keep caimans...
 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: mundy@chemvx.tamu.edu (Dr. Stubby)
Subject: Re: Prolapsed intestine .... again
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: Sex Studies Division, Texas A&M Univ.
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 05:07:00 GMT

>My question (yes, I am coming to it...) is this:  Does anyone out there know
>what causes this condition???!!!  No one seemed to know the last time.  I have
>read that it is something that happens in large lizards, but the cause was not
>mentioned.  Is it bacterial, muscular, something to do with her diet??  If it
>is the diet, my only guess is that she may be allergic to cheese.  I gave her
>some for what I think was the first time yesterday.
> 
> 
>Gaby


ssssssssssssssssssssex

I'll be honest with you. It *sounds* like a muscular problem. Do you notice 
that this is around the time the last meal also decides to visit the outside
world?








					---- The Cunning Linguist

p.s. I'm not a sex-fiend, but I play one on usenet.

Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: srh3@Ra.MsState.Edu (Steven R. Hollis)
Subject: habitat question
Organization: Mississippi State University
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 17:58:28 GMT

Hi, me again.  Got a question about my hognose.  I am looking to improve
his environment by remodeling his aquarium...what should i put in for him to 
burrow through?  Potting soil?  Leaves?  A mixture??   How would some small
plants do in there as well??


thanks in advance
Steve

--
================================================================================Steve Hollis--Your friendly neighborhood zoology major
srh3@ra.msstate.edu
================================================================================
From: gt6441c@prism.gatech.EDU (Jon Edwards )
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Five-lined skink question
Date: 18 Aug 92 04:52:35 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology


  Well, in grade school here in Georgia, we used to catch them by hand
for the fun of it.  Small flies would be good.  There is a biological
supply store that someone told me about here a while back, but I don't
remember the number.  Anyway, when they get bigger, they will bite onto
your childs fingers and not let go :)  It is not really painfull, just
frightening the first time it happens.  


Jon

Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: christ@sci.ccny.cuny.edu (Chris Thompson)
Subject: Re: sick rat snake
Organization: City College of New York - Science Computing Facility
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 22:04:42 GMT

In article <1992Aug17.175724.14441@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> jpgraham@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (John P Graham) writes:
>I have had an emory rat snake for ~ 6 months :
>It is ~ 3.5 feet long and pretty thin.
>In the past 2 months or so I have had a problem 
>with feeding him ... he constantly 'throws up' 
>food given to him after 1 or two days.
>He has also become relatively inactive as late , 
>and is soon about to shed. I have tried to feed 
>him live mice (~ 1.5 - 2 inches in length) and he 
>takes them happily ... and keeps them for a day or 
>two !! If anyone has any suggestions as to what is 
>wrong I would greatly appreciate the help ... 
>
>Until then, many thanks, John Graham.

Well, I wouldn't feed it too often- every week-10 days should be fine.
And don't bother feeding it if its about to shed- it either
won't take it, or will barf just like you said.  And rat snakes
aren't the fattenst of snakes to begin with--just give it a few
weeks, see what happens.  Also- try removint the water dish after
it eats- some snakes will drink themselves into barfing right
after they eat.

Chris

-- 
(Help!  I've fallen and I can't reach my beer!)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: jpgraham@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (John P Graham)
Subject: sick rat snake
Organization: The Ohio State University
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 17:57:24 GMT

I have had an emory rat snake for ~ 6 months :
It is ~ 3.5 feet long and pretty thin.
In the past 2 months or so I have had a problem 
with feeding him ... he constantly 'throws up' 
food given to him after 1 or two days.
He has also become relatively inactive as late , 
and is soon about to shed. I have tried to feed 
him live mice (~ 1.5 - 2 inches in length) and he 
takes them happily ... and keeps them for a day or 
two !! If anyone has any suggestions as to what is 
wrong I would greatly appreciate the help ... 

Until then, many thanks, John Graham.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: cu@island.COM (Charlotte Upchurch)
Subject: Baby Snakes for Sale
Keywords: Snakes for Sale
Organization: Island Graphics Corp.
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 14:35:17 GMT

 FOR SALE:

Baby Burmese Pythons and Boa Constrictors.
About 3 months old.
$100 each

Please reply to cu@island.com
From: 71162.3470@CompuServe.COM (Peter P Donohue)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: re: sick rat snake  what to feed corn snake...
Date: 23 Aug 92 03:48:37 GMT


   This is in response to two sets of articles that I've read recently
on the net.  The first involved a person whose snake was throwing up two
days after eating.  There was an article in Reptile and Amphibian a
short while ago on regurgitation in reptiles.  In summary, the article
stated that 90% of the time reptiles regurgitate because of one of two
reasons.
   The first is if the temperature is too cold.  Reptiles need heat to
digest their food.  If it is too cold, the food could start to rot in
their stomachs.  As a defense mechanism, the reptile will regurgitate
the food.
   The second reason why is if the animal is handled too soon after
eating.  Snakes eat a lot of food at one time (compared to most other
animals which eat multiple times per day).  If a snake feels he/she
might be in danger, he would be in better shape to fight or run with an
empty stomach, so they regurgitate.
   
   Another person asked about what size food to feed their baby corn
snake.  The general rule for most snakes is to provide food that is
almost as thick as the snakes thickest part.  Generally, the snake could
eat larger items, but it isn't necessary to chance harming them.

					Pete
From: wayne@brunz.Santa-Cruz.CA.US (Wayne Feick)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Chameleon question
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 92 14:40:33 PDT
Distribution: world
Organization: Canadian Consolate, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

I visited a friend of mine recently and he had a chameleon which he let
roam free in his house to eat flies.  He used to have two of them, but one
was very territorial and the meek one ended up dying.

I looked chameleons up in an encylopedia and found that they come from
Africa; the description it gave didn't seem to match what my friend had, so
I'm assuming his was misnamed.  From memory, his was about 2.5 inches from
snout to vent with another 2.5 inches of tail. It liked to climbed the
walls and screens and changed colour from brown to green when we moved it
from one place to another.  It didn't like to be caught, but would eat
flies from my hand.  Can anyone suggest what this little guy might actually
be, or suggest similar lizards which would do the same job?

I'm curious to know what else a chameleon would eat if allowed to roam
around the house.  We have quite a few spiders here, and I would consider
getting one or two if it would keep the spiders controlled.  Or is that
just a bad idea I should forget about right away?

Assuming it's not a bad idea, a few other questions come to mind...

What sort of habitat would I need to set up in the house to keep one happy?

Is it normal for chameleons to be territorial? If so, how much space
should be allowed for each?

Would a chameleon be likely to stick around the house, or would it tend to
climb out an open window and disappear into the yard?  If it did, would it
stick around the yard, or wander off?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

--
Wayne Feick						 waynef@sco.com Work
					   wayne@brunz.Santa-Cruz.CA.US Home
From: guppy@wixer.cactus.org (Jennifer Mery)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Have new turtle, need info
Date: 17 Aug 92 20:25:02 GMT
Organization: Real/Time Communications

I missed the beginning of this topic, but I have had a red eared slider
river turtle for almost 2 years now, and she's lived on floating food
sticks by Tertra called Reptomin. I've tried to feed her bug at times,
but i think they're too big so far, so she just eats the sticks, and she
wont eat anything if it's not floating on top of the water.

I've heard that you shouldnt feed a turtle raw meat, because it may
start salmonella growth in the tank, so I wouldn't feed her any meat
that I thought was too raw for me to eat. 

jam
-- 
==============================================================================
Jennifer Mery |
Austin, Texas | guppy@wixer.catus.org
==============================================================================
From: ruska@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Dave Ruska)
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 16:26:00 GMT
Subject: Re: Growing Ball Python
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp

In rec.pets.herp, donb@igor.tamri.com (Don Baldwin) writes:

> Well, last night (for the first time) I fed a rat to the little Ball Python
> that I got a year ago.
> 
  ...

> Don Baldwin  -  Software Engineer  - e-mail to:  donb@tamri.com

Must be something in the air.... Last friday my Ball Python ate it's first
meal since being wild caught (probably 9 months ago). Up until now I had
tried every combination of tempurature/daytime/night-time with white-mouse/
brown-mouse/black-mouse/black-rat/tan-rat/rodent-alive/rodent-stunned/
rodent-dead.  I decided it was time to try a different approach - I stopped
providing light during the day, covered it's tank on all sides with 
cardboard, turned up the heat to 88-90, and left it alone for a week. I then
got a brown gerbil, killed it (yuck!), and quickly placed it in the tank.
The snake watched it for 10 minutes and then swallowed it up like a pro.
With any luck I'll be able to cross scent another gerbil onto rats.
I really don't want to buy gerbils at $4 a swallow from here on out....

- dave    (daver@hpgrrd.gr.hp.com)
Organization: Washington University, St. Louis
Date:         Mon, 17 Aug 92 21:15:16 CST
From:         doyle cozadd <C73221DC@WUVMD>
To:           NETNEWS@WUVMD
Subject:      Five-lined skink question
Newsgroups:   rec.pets.herp

My son is in heaven--while moving some boxes from our previous residence,
a little (~2" snout to vent) five-lined skink crawled in one of the boxes.
The local pet shop does not seem to know how to care for one so small.
He got some little crickets, but they look pretty big (relatively) to me.
I'm sending him to the library to research (he's 10) tomorrow.  Anyone have
any other advice or experience in the meantime?

Thanks.

Doyle Cozadd
St. Louis
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: adwright@iastate.edu ()
Subject: Re: Chameleon question
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 16:24:21 GMT

In <bzandrew.01nh@bbs1984.chi.il.us> bzandrew@bbs1984.chi.il.us (Bill Zandrew) writes:

>Aren't most old world chameleons endangered or worse by now?

I used to live in South Africa (Pretoria area) and during a two year span, my 
wife found perhaps five chamelons. The natives in that area at least would kill them on sight. We would take any we found and stick them through the chain-
link fence of a nearby private game reserve. 

We read a book called "Myths and Legends of Southern Africa". Most of the cultures have a garden of Eden-like creation story, but many times the chamelon is 
the one who messed things up between Man and God in these stories. The chamelon
plays a role similar to the serpant that tempted Eve. I think this factor is
a significant part in the demise of the chamelon, at least in populated areas.


Allen

Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: pholland@iastate.edu (Paul J Hollander)
Subject: Re: "corn-kings" (was Re: Arrested person slithered away)
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 20:24:52 GMT

In article <1992Aug18.192838.18674@reed.edu> mojo@reed.edu (O.D.'d on Life Itself) writes:
>In article <70sg02TN1eKO01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com> deb90@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com (David E Ben-Jamin) writes:
>>If anybody has any corn-kings, or perhaps an iguana-monitor, I'd be
>
>Hey, they *do* have corn-kings...I forget the author's name, but the Herp
>Library book on corn snake colour-morphs contains a picture of a _fertile_
>cross between a corn and a CA king.  Pretty neat-looking.

Yes, but the author did not say if the snake was backcrossed to one of the
parent species or mated to a sibling.  And it didn't say what the ratio of
live babies to infertile eggs and dead embryos was.  And were there both
males and females among the hybrid's babies?  IMHO, the cross isn't as pretty
as a real corn, the odds of getting hybrid babies is lower than when mating
corn x corn, the hybrids probably have *some* impairment of fertility 
compared to the parent species, and the market value is strictly for rarity.
So I see little point in making such crosses.

Paul Hollander    pholland@iastate.edu
Behold the tortoise: he makes no progress unless he sticks his neck out.
From: larry@angel.UUCP (Larry Tenbush)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: New family member
Date: 20 Aug 92 17:29:16 GMT
Organization: Angel's Retreat - San Antonio, Texas


Great News!

Last night we had a herp society meeting and the speaker HAD a
Rhacodactylus trachyrhynchus, well he made a bad mistake he sold
the little guy to me for 65.00.  Now all I need to do is find a 
book on him, I have the breeding of geckos book but it only has
the R. chahoua.  Does any one know of a book?

Thanks for reading.
Larry "Happier than a pig in fecal"

PS: I talked to a coule of other people last night and they told me
    that the little guy runs around 150.00 to 200.00 on some price
    lists.  Is this true?


-- 
WHOAMI: Larry "Bear" Tenbush 
  CITY: San Antonio, Texas  78230
 SMART: larry@angel.ucm.org
  BANG: ....!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!dptspd!ephsa.ucm.org!angel.ucm.org!larry