HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: myhui@bnr.ca (Michael Hui)
Subject: Re: bunny chewing and pulling on H2O bottle
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd., Ottawa, Canada
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 92 14:40:38 GMT

In article <Bvzp3u.MrI@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu> "T.C. Bradley" <bradleyt@silver.ucs.indiana.edu> writes:
>I have a question. My male dutch bunny, Gandalf, chews and pulls on the water
>bottle in his cage.  It's almost as if he isn't getting enough water, but it
>seems to come out of the bottle ok.  Is this a problem?

Just get rid of the water bottle and use a water dish instead.
It's a lot more natural way for the rabbit to get water. They
do become impatient as the quantity of water that comes out is
so little. Besides, with a water dish, you can ensure fresh water
by changing it once a day. Use a heavy ceramic bowl with vertical
sides to avoid it tipping over.

Also, try to toilet train your Bun and get rid of the cage.  :-)

Michael MY Hui          myhui@bnr.ca           Ottawa Canada
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: czichon@psyche.csc.ti.com (Cary Czichon)
Subject: Chinchillas as Pets
Organization: Texas Instruments
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 22:15:29 GMT

I've noticed chinchillas in the local pet shops lately, both gray and tan.
I've been told they're nocturnal and have special temperature and humidity
requirements.  But do they make good pets or are guinea pigs a much better
choice among mid-sized rodents?  They both come from roughly the same
geographical area.

Cary Czichon
czichon@csc.ti.com
From: cobe101@emory.edu (Christopher C. Chung)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Bunny chewing
Date: 15 Oct 92 23:06:29 GMT
Organization: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3


Of course you know that bunnies like to gnaw to keep their teeth

under control.  There are gnaw blocks for cages.  Get those and

that'll keep'em satisfied for at bit.

Now someone said,"Potty them, and house train them."

YOu'll be one lucky cotton tail lover if you succeed.  It has

been known to happen, but you'll never get it to stop the

gnawing.  For rabbits, like cats, like to destroy furniture.

In short, it's ok to have your bunny out of his/her box

when unattended, but not for too long.  You can let it raom

the house if you keep an eye on it.  Most people who have 

indoor bunnies build a very large box for it, so that it can

have it's space.  If you don't give a flip about your

furniture than go for it, and let the little termite go!

I hope this helps.  :)


      .    _  .     _____________ 
      |\_|/__/|    /             \ 
     / / \/ \  \  / Happy! Happy! \      
    /__|O||O|__ \ \   Joy! Joy!   / 
   |/_ \_/\_/ _\ | \  ___________/      
   | | (____) | ||  |/                       
   \/\___/\__/  // _/
   (_/         ||   
    |          ||\   
     \        //_/  
      \______//      
     __|| __||       ChrisTopher Chung
    (____(____)      cobe101@emoryu1.cc.emory.edu
                     
    Life is a litter box and a squeeky mouse.         
 
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: dfranck@su102r.ess.harris.com (Deniz Franck)
Subject: Ferrets -- good age to intro to baby?
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 17:33:13 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Harris Semiconductor, Melbourne  FL

Howdy folks!!

Got a question for all of you Ferret owners --
My ferret has been rather lonely for the last 9 months or 
so since the arrival of my daughter... I havent let him roam 
around as much... he seems happy, but has lost a ~little~
weight (not as interested in eating) ... when would it be safe
to introduce Ferris and Jasmine?? Jasmine is now crawling and 
starting to stand up...is she big enough to hold him off? 
Ferris is about 5+ years old now, and when he gets ~REALLY~ 
excited (his tail hairs stand on end like a bristle brush {8-)),
he does bite, luckily nothing hard-in fact no pressure at all,
but I dont want him to frighten Jasmine away from animals...

Plus, dont ferrets have some inherent instinct for "animals"
of a certain size? My sister-in-law brought over her parrot
once.. it landed on the floor and Ferris got a hold of a wing 
and feathers were everywhere ( I forgot Ferris was roaming around)
.. well, luckily the bird wasnt hurt, but I was astounded at
Ferris... He doesnt mess usually mess with my little dog unless
she is bugging him.. and my little dog is about the size of my
baby now..

Would it be better to hold off? I am thinking of giving him
away since I dont get to spend as much time with him, and he
is a social kind of ferret {8-).. But I am also betting they would
eventually be great entertainment for each other.

Any suggestions would be helpful!!
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Deniz Franck SE   dfranck@x102a.ess.harris.com          (407) 729-3418
        From the ashes of disaster, grow the roses of success. {8-) 
	          -- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Re: Rats!
From: A.S.Chamove@massey.ac.nz (A.S. Chamove)
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 92 01:43:09 GMT
Organization: Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
X-Reader: NETNEWS/PC Version 2c

If you want your rat to be maximally attached to you, get the rat pup
at about 16-17 days of age, that is after its eyes open but before
normal weaning at 21 days of age. 

They make excellent pets--eat anything, affectionate, hardy.  They
like a complex environment so give them lots of variety and wood to
gnaw. 
-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arnold Chamove
Massey University Psychology
Palmerston North, New Zealand
From: christin@cae.wisc.edu (Christine Haas)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Sick ferret??
Date: 16 Oct 92 00:57:18 GMT
Organization: U of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering

Hi,

I have a question for all of you ferret owners.

I have a wonderfully mischevious ferret named Nina.  She
is almost 3 years old and she worries me often.  She likes
to eat all the things that make her sick -- especially
material.  Socks are her favorite, followed by towels, bedding,
material scraps, sweatshirts, just anything.  I wouldn't mind
it if it didn't make her sick.  I try to keep that stuff out of
her reach but you can only do so much.

Anyway, here is my question.  Sometimes I will find her sleeping
with her tongue hanging out of her mouth.  Is that normal?  My
other ferret never does that.  It makes me kind of nervous - i 
think maybe that she is really sick or something.

Well, mail me if you have an info.

Thanks.

Chris.

A few words of wisdom from the smaller creatures in my life:

	^?{

	C0o*-*-

	Bop^?0o 

And there you have it, from two wonderful ferrets;
Scooter and Nina.
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: jen@waffle.sns.com (jennifer warshaw)
Subject: parakeets in the winter
Organization: Systems'n'Software, Fremont, CA  94539-6669
Date: Wed, 07 Oct 92 22:10:28 PDT

The parakeet spotted wild in New England can, in fact, survive the 
winter.
You might want to find a nice cubbyhole around the outside of your house
to fill with straw or pine shavings if you see the bird hanging
around.  The bird may move in.  Small psittacines have done very well
in temperatures of -4 degrees farenheit.  They have down feathers
for warmth and contour feathers for insulation.  Many parrot breeders
in your area keep their breeding stock outside all winter.  They do
check frequently to assure that the birds have water available,
the bowls freeze over, but the temperature is actually only a threat
to an ailing parrot.  If the parakeet settles in, try to devise a way
to offer it a regular supply of water when the temperature is below
freezing.  If the bird is healthy, it will live.

----
jen@waffle.sns.com  (jennifer warshaw)
Systems'n'Software Free Public Access BBS --- (510)623-8652
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: hartman@thorin.cis.udel.edu (Nancy Hartman)
Subject: Re: Ferrets, Where can I find a Breeder ?
Organization: University of Delaware, Newark
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 16:23:49 GMT

In article <Ueqi0Pe00WBM01nA95@andrew.cmu.edu> Barbara Carlson <bc1w+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>Excerpts from netnews.rec.pets: 9-Oct-92 Ferrets, Where can I find a..
>by Peter Murray@earth.njit. 
>> I am looking for a good breeder of Ferrets in the 
>> central NJ area.  PA, NY, Conn 

>Marshal Farms (I believe based in NY or NJ) is a major supplier of good

I have a bunch of breeders/shelters/etc. in NJ & PA.  I tried to send them 
once, but something happened and it didn't go through.  I'll type them all
in again soon.  Don't give up on me and run to a pet store yet, I'll have
them to you soon.

- Nancy

P.S.  I'm very busy right now, so if you don't hear from me in the next
few days, PLEASE remind me.

-- 
- Nancy

Nancy Hartman					CIS graduate student
hartman@udel.edu				U. of Delaware
Organization: University of Central Florida--Computer Services
Date: Friday, 9 Oct 1992 14:30:51 EST
From: <COP80208@UCF1VM.BITNET>
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Lizard FAQ wanted

Hi folks,
 I just aquired a water monitor and although I have kept snakes for many
years, I've never owned a monitor (or any lizard for that matter).  If there
is a FAQ out there for lizards, I would appreciate it if someone could either
post it or e-mail it to me.  I would also like to hear from anyone out there
who has had experience with these guys. I know there are quite a few Savannah
owners out there.
 Thanks in advance,
Mike & Spot
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: pholland@iastate.edu (Paul J Hollander)
Subject: Re: breeding box turtles
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 23:54:38 GMT

In article <QernUOW00awTIiBkVM@andrew.cmu.edu> ab3n+@andrew.cmu.edu (Alexander Bernard Brands) writes:
>Does anyone have experience with or know
>anything about breeding box turtles indoors?
>I have a female and would like to get her a boyfriend
>if it's possible to breed them.
>    -Alex

Generally, breeding reptiles involves exposing them to approximately the
natural cycle of temperature and light.  I know that people have bred box
turtles in captivity, but mostly the turtles have been outside during the
summer.  Unfortunately most of the material about breeding is scattered
around in the scientific literature and in things like Slavens' _Inventory_.
Besides doing a search through the Zoological Record, you ought to get
into a good amateur herp society, such as NOAH for example.  IMHO, turtles
are among the more difficult reptiles to breed in captivity.  Good luck.

Paul Hollander    pholland@iastate.edu
Behold the tortoise: he makes no progress unless he sticks his neck out.
Organization: University of Central Florida--Computer Services
Date: Wednesday, 14 Oct 1992 10:00:19 EST
From: <COP80208@UCF1VM.BITNET>
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Vitamin Supplements?

I won't be able to try pinkies until Friday, but so far all I've gotten
my water monitor, Spot, to eat is crickets.  He loves them!  I tried guppies
first, but he wouldn't eat them (alive & swimming or dead).  I then tried meal
worms, but again, no luck.  I figured I'd try crickets and BOOM!!!  We were in
luck.
What I'm wondering is . . . How good are crickets for him? Will he over-eat or
will he stop when he gets full?  I've heard of people suplementing their pets'
food with vitamins.  Are these special pet vitamins or will a drop of baby
vitamins that you get in the drug store suffice.
Any responses will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Mike Moss & Spot
COP80208@UCF1VM.CC.UCF.EDU
From: pals@ipact.com
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Terrible problem feeding the little bugger....
Date: 11 Oct 92 13:22:26 GMT
Organization: IPACT, Valparaiso IN

In article <1992Oct9.153141.20161@ultb.isc.rit.edu>, 
mds5597@ritvax.isc.rit.edu writes:
> 
> 	I started feeding the Albino Corn pinkies.  ...
> It is about the 11th day of no food for
> her. Is any of this making any sense to anyone....? Very frustrating....I had
> lost an iguana years ago and I don't want to lose this snake.
> 

Oh, yes, it makes sense.  As I write this, I am about to force feed my
baby red corn snake a pinky.  I had the advantage of watching an 
experienced person do it first.  You hold the snake firmly at the back of 
the head, and then use the pinky's snout to pry open the snake's mouth.
Then, using a small ramrod (I use the blunt end of a small nail), gently
but firmly push the pinky down the snake's throat.  Go slow, and alternate 
sides with the ramrod to make sure the pinky is not hanging out anywhere.
The snake will fight this and try to regurgitate the pinky until it is 
completely in the snake's throat, when he should start pushing it towards 
his stomach.  If I'm wearing
my watch, mine will hook its tail around the band and pull out of my
hand.  It's a little tricky at first until you get the hang of it.

Of course, there are less drastic measures, like tapping the pinky against 
the snake's body to try an elicit a strike that hopefully will result in 
the snake eating the pinky.

If you want more details on the force feeding, send e-mail.

-- 
Randy Pals                |pals@ipact.com
IPACT, Inc.               |
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: donb@igor.tamri.com (Don Baldwin)
Subject: Finding lost herps
Organization: TOSHIBA America MRI, South San Francisco, CA
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 92 00:56:28 GMT

From: "Peter Bell" <pmb2@midway.uchicago.edu>

Look behind the fridge, in the nice warm coils.  Look soon, cuz the coils can
burn an animal that is hiding in them.  A remarkable number of snakes will do
this.  Also, water heaters, etc.
Peter

--------------------------------------------------------------------
From: seedman@iastate.edu (John D Turnipseed)

        My recommendation --- First, get a good flashlight.  Second, think
                              like a snake.  In my experience, snakes that
                              find themselves out of a small cage, find
                              themselves in a larger cage (the room) and
                              begin to look for a way out of it.  They do
                              this by finding a wall and following it.
                                 So, start at the cage, find the nearest
                              wall, and use the flashlight to work your
                              way around the room.  Be Careful!  Look
                              underthings before moving them.  The life
                              you save might be your snakes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Birny Baker bxb@calmasd.prime.com

About finding lost snakes, I used to go into the snake room,
close the door, hold my breath and listen. Listen in all the
sections you can get close enough to. This only will work of
course if a) you have great hearing like I do, and b) the
snake happens to be crawling at the moment. Otherwise I agree
wholeheartedly with the cautious movement of objects and the
use of a good flashlight.

It's kinda funny to think about hearing a snake crawling
across the carpet, but it worked a couple times for me.--

--------------------------------------------------------------------
From: hall@ptolemy.arc.nasa.gov

Avoid having escaped amphibians in the first place.  Keep them
in an extremely secure enclosure, as when they escape their lives are
in immediate danger due to dehyrdation.  Often times, a suspected escapee
can be found hidden in the terrarium, burrowed beneath the soil or
otherwise concealed.  But if one does escape, look in moist, cool, dark,
enclosed places.  This usually means house plants, particularly in the
leaves, in the soil, in the drainage tray, and between inner/outer pots.
Also check the bathroom and kitchen and any place else where water is found,
including in or around their terrarium.  If you fail to find the escaped
amphibian on the first pass, place dishes of water all over the place,
in corners, around the terrarium, etc.  You may find your escapee
here or at least keep it alive until you can find it.  Remember that
most amphibians are nocturnal, so to find an escaped amphibian out in
the open or on the move you'll probably have to look at night, with a
flashlight.  As a side benefit of this approach, frogs become dazed by
flashlights shined in their eyes, making it easy to capture them.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: bpb9204@tamsun.tamu.edu (Brent)
Subject: Re: Terrible problem feeding the little bugger....
Organization: Texas A&M Univ., Inc.
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 00:29:59 GMT

mds5597@ritvax.isc.rit.edu writes:
|
|	I started feeding the Albino Corn pinkies. They were large enough to
|have hair. She would start to eat it but not finish. I called the person I
| [...]
| She does not look all that impressed by it....won't even look at it.

A good size for the corns are *new* pinkies.  No hair, small, easy for
the snake to swallow.  As for the snake's new habit of totally ignoring
the small ones, you'll have to try the suggestions that get posted here
from time to time (wash pinky w/soap & water, then rub with a lizard;
wave a dead chicken over your head when the moon is full, etc.)

A rule of thumb to remember when feeding your snake(s) is that do not feed
them anything with a larger girth than the snake.  This is definitely true
of both of my snakes.  

|Yesterday I found her at the top of the tank(I have never found her there
|before....don't even know how she got up there.) and that's where she was all

Snakes use their tails to support them as they slither up the corner or 
side of the tank.  This is just normal and they tend to really get active
with this in the evening and night.  Just be sure you have a good, totally
enclosing lid on the tank.  A good idea is to use some extra weight on the
lid (books, etc) just in case the lid can be pushed up a bit.  If the lid
can be firmly locked on, that's even better.

-Brent
-- 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brent P. Burton, N5VMG                          Department of Computer Science
bpb9204@tamsun.tamu.edu                                   Texas A&M University
      What are typical family values?      Good buys at WalMart.
From: fsjdj1@acad3.alaska.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Finding lost herps
Date: 15 Oct 92 19:11:28 GMT
Organization: University of Alaska Fairbanks

In article <1992Oct13.005628.5501@igor.tamri.com>, donb@igor.tamri.com (Don Baldwin) writes:
> From: hall@ptolemy.arc.nasa.gov
> 
> Avoid having escaped amphibians in the first place.  Keep them
> in an extremely secure enclosure, as when they escape their lives are
> in immediate danger due to dehyrdation.  Often times, a suspected escapee
> can be found hidden in the terrarium, burrowed beneath the soil or
> otherwise concealed.  But if one does escape, look in moist, cool, dark,
> enclosed places.  This usually means house plants, particularly in the

This brought to mind something I hadn't thought of in a while.  When I was
young I had a newt in an aquarium without a lid, thinking there was no way
it could climb the glass.  After having it for some two or three months I 
came home one day to find it was gone, and after tearing apart the living
room and adjoining kitchen it was nowhere to be found.

About three years later we moved and found him "mummified" in the corner of
a bedroom closet about seventy feet from the 4' tall bookshelf where the 
aquarium had been.

Moral: The little buggers, whatever they are, will probably escape a lot
       farther than you think.

                   (Except scorpions.  Check the shoes.)

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Jack Johnson                           |     The opinions expressed herein are
Internet:  FSJDJ1@acad3.alaska.edu     |     in no way related to any opinions
Bitnet:    FSJDJ1@ALASKA               |     held by anyone, real or imagined.
-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
From: ruska@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Dave Ruska)
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 17:41:14 GMT
Subject: Venomous lizards ?
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp


Last weekend I had the opportunity to view the reptile collection  of  a
private  collector. (I had met him a few weeks back in a local pet store
where we were both buying bulk mice).

His collection included some more common snakes such as Snow  Corns  and
Pueblan  Milk  snakes,  some  breeding  pairs/trios  of Kenya Sand Boas,
numerous Indian Pythons (ranging from 10 to about 70 lbs), and a pair of
Brazilian Rainbows.

Falling is the less common category (less commonly kept at least) was  a
3 foot long Copperhead (a pit viper, right?).  Take my word for it, this
snake got my respect -- especially after the owner took it out  and  set
it  on  the  floor  of  the room (wish I had worn my cowboy boots!). The
snake had a piece of loose skin on it's head which the owner  wanted  to
remove.  He had no problem handling the snake, commenting that the snake
was really quite mellow. I was glad when it was back in it's tank!

The last thing he showed me in his collection was a trio of lizards that
were  in  an  open  topped terrarium. They were black with yellow spots,
with skin textured like little beads, and were about 10 inches long.   I
think  he  said  they  were  around  a year old. As far as lizards go, I
thought they looked fairly cute, with a rounded  face  somewhat  like  a
salamander.  When  I  had  no  idea what type of lizards these were, the
owner told me they were papered MEXICAN BEADED  LIZARDS  and  that  they
were  extremely  rare.  He also said that they are one of two species of
lizards that are VENOMOUS, the other being the Gila Monster.

Well, I learned that lizards (or at least  a  few  species)  deserve  my
respect!

Has anyone else had the opportunity to meet up with a  Venomous  lizard?
And do they they have anti-venom for these things!

Dave                                             (daver@hpgrrd.gr.hp.com)
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 19:02:25 EDT
From: <SAF108@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: TARANTULA HUNGER STRIKE

Anyone out there who has a Tarantula, I have a question.
I have a Chilean Flame which has refused to feed for roughly
3 months going on 4. I have tried to feed all sizes of crickets
and even a pinkie with no luck. Any suggestions would be welcome
                                     THANX STEVE
From: mcovingt@aisun3.ai.uga.edu (Michael Covington)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: breeding box turtles
Date: 16 Oct 92 23:49:27 GMT
Organization: AI Programs, University of Georgia, Athens

In article <QernUOW00awTIiBkVM@andrew.cmu.edu> ab3n+@andrew.cmu.edu (Alexander Bernard Brands) writes:
>Does anyone have experience with or know
>anything about breeding box turtles indoors?
>I have a female and would like to get her a boyfriend
>if it's possible to breed them.
>    -Alex

They breed _outdoors_ just fine.  I suspect that, indoors, the female
would be reluctant to make a nest unless the terrarium were quite large.

-- 
:- 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: brett@surfpix.princeton.edu (Brett Borowski)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Finding lost herps
Date: 15 Oct 92 21:04:13 GMT
Article-I.D.: Princeto.1992Oct15.210413.27702
Organization: Princeton University
Originator: news@nimaster

When I was young (not TOO long ago), I had a newt on a 3ft tall bookcase.
We came home from shopping one night to find it at the bottom of the
stairs.  It went down 3ft then 12 feet across my bedroom under a bed
(with dust under it) 10 more feet to the stairs, and down the flight
which includes a bend.  I just picked him up and replaced him.  I don't
really remember how he ened up, though.  :(

Brett@surfpix.princeton.edu