HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: havrilla@scivax.stsci.edu
Subject: Python Life Span
Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 16:16:47 GMT

  Hello All,
 Just a quick question on something I haven't read or heard anything
about. I have a very healthy, hungry, and happy (female) Ball Python named
Matilda. She was captive born 7 years ago and is a few inches longer
than 3 1/2 ft. I was wondering just how long the average life span
is for a Ball Python ? Thanks for any reply's.

                                        Al Havrilla

                            A Reptiles best friend, a Herper!        
From: ruska@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Dave Ruska)
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1992 21:19:30 GMT
Subject: Snake color morphs ?
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp


Anyone care to explain the following snake "color" terms? I've encountered
these reading through various snake classifieds. 

    Melanistic (king snake) ...           [ chocolate ? ]

    Amelanistic (corn snake) ...

    Anerythristic (boa) ...

    Heterozygous (burm) ...

    Albino (burm) ...                      [ white ? ]

    Patternless Albino (burm) ...  

  Are these terms dependent on the particular (sub) species, or are they 
  common terms for any snake ?

And if you know what all those mean, then translate the following ad from NOAH:

 FOR SALE: Burmese pythons: Albino 50% probable hetero for green, albino,
           hetero for albino 50% probable double hetero, hetero for albino,
           hetero for green 50% probable double hetero. All available now....

Thanks,
Dave
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: dlb5404@tamsun.tamu.edu (Daryl Biberdorf)
Subject: Re: Heating methods?
Organization: Texas A&M University, College Station
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 05:16:38 GMT

In article <bzandrew.01dj@bbs1984.chi.il.us> bzandrew@bbs1984.chi.il.us (Bill Zandrew) writes:
>In article <1992Jul17.153723.17233@tamsun.tamu.edu>, dlb5404@tamsun.tamu.edu
>(Daryl Biberdorf) writes:
>>Is it possible for a heating-strip-gone-wrong to *overheat* the tank to
>>the point that it would harm the animals?  I believe my leopard geckos
>>are comfortable to at least 92 F or so (I *think* - correct me if this
>>is wrong), so if it gets a little warm, that'd be OK.   I just don't
>>want a good slow bake of my new pets.

>Once again I will sing the praises of hot rocks.  They seem to keep the
>HTe@6g%A`xI<2MtxHEPU'  r [5Hna*y$=<;<@FRPZ;;(wB/_temperature constant, and hav
>
>bonkers.  

Touch of line noise, eh? :)

Well, my problems with hot rocks are twofold:
  1) my 3 geckos share one 20gal long aquarium that is partitioned (with
     cardboard) into three roughly equal sections, one gecko per section,
     to prevent fighting among males and among the two large and one small
     gecko until I can sex them and they get to about the same size.

     A hot rock will not distribute heat to all three sections of the
     vivarium.  So far, the heat tape is the most promising since I can
     run it lengthwise under the vivarium to heat all three sections.

  2) according to some people I've talked to is that a hot rock's surface
     temperature can exceed 105 F (that's a Texas sidewalk in summer! -- 
     that's hot).  This isn't much of a problem if it's
     buried in sand (and assuming problem 1 doesn't exist), but I'd
     still hate to have something that hot in my vivarium with some
     expensive (on my budget) lizards.  And, if a hot rock hits 105 F
     under *normal operating conditions*, I'd hate to see what happens
     if it goes whacko.  The heat tape I've purchased is merely 
     warm, and there's glass and sand between it and the lizards.

Hopefully, I'm not being unduly concerned about this, but I'd feel
pretty bad if I lost one of my geckos due to too hot a tank.  

>        By the way, how much luck are you having with the geckos.  They are the
>coolest things I've ever seen, but have heard they are hard to keep.

I've been told by one actual owner of leopard geckos along with two
books that leopards are among the easiest lizards to keep.  They're 
nocturnal, so they don't need (or like) lots of bright light.  They
also seem to be fairly tolerant of light handling (once per day for
2 or 3 minutes, maybe...I'm trying to get them used to it).  They're
also *cool*. :)

Now the things I've heard about tokay geckos is just the opposite.  Mean
little beasties from all reports.

Daryl
-- 
Daryl Biberdorf  N5GJM    dlb5404@rigel.tamu.edu  or  dlb5404@tamsun.tamu.edu
        "You're not messy.  You're organizationally impaired."
                _Real_Life_Adventures_, July 3, 1992
From: prada@itu203.usa (Steven Prada)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Horny young iguana
Date: 23 Jul 92 17:09:11 GMT
	<dfgmt=#.enigma@netcom.com>
Organization: /home/prada/.organization


Well, ive never seen any iguanas mate (yet... im going to try and breed
jake next year) but Jake has behaved a lot like Shep did.  

Not that Jake tried to mate with any stuffed animals but she laid eggs a 
few weeks back (and then 2 weeks following that and then again two weeks 
later) andfor about a week before the first egg laying and until the last 
egg laying she was very skittish.

I have another young iguana who i keep in the same terrarium who i had to
move for a few days because she became very violent.  I suppose it was all
due to the fact that she was trying to defend her eggs (mother instinct?)

So unless im wrong, Shep will probably calm down within a months time or
so.,  Until then, move very slowly. :)

-steve
From: dave@aficom.ocunix.on.ca (Dave Hunter)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: My Iguana Won't Eat!
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 92 06:23:51 -0400
Reply-To: dave@aficom.ocunix.on.ca (Dave Hunter)
Distribution: world
Organization: AFI Communications - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Miyoko Erika Baensch <mb5a+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:

| a couple of other foods to try feeding your iguana (favorites of my
| friends ig):


Bread soaked in egg yolk is enjoyed by my ig. I don't offer this often, 
but every once and a while for a change seems to be appreciated.

Rgds.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: should I be worried?
From: f00020@TIGGER.STCLOUD.MSUS.EDU
Date: 23 Jul 92 13:02:48 -0600
Reply-To: f00020@TIGGER.STCLOUD.MSUS.EDU
Organization: St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN

In article <1992Jul21.165257.121682@cs.cmu.edu>, rane+@cs.cmu.edu (Aaron Hughes) writes:
> How long does it usually take for a snake to
>get rid of it's skin after the eyes clear up? Anything
>I should worry about? It's a young snake, but I don;t 
>know exactly how young. 
>
It takes a week to two weeks for the shedding to occur.  If 
you give it warm baths and rub downs with mineral oil, you
can help your snake along.

Contact Jean at Beneath The Sea Pets ph# 715-425-8303 if
you have ???? on this.  As Schuldtz on Hogan's Hero's says,
"I know Noothing!!!!"
Ronda
From: gt6441c@prism.gatech.EDU (Jon Edwards )
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: New Sailfin Dragon
Date: 25 Jul 92 05:10:15 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology

Yesterday I received a Sailfin Dragon (Hydrosaur, Soa Soa, etc) as 
a birthday present.  I am currently making plans for a 4X3X3 foot
enclosure for him.  I have a few questions though:

-I have a little okra, kale, lettuce, a grape and blueberry (he already
ate one).  What else should I supplement this with?  Tomorrow I will
get some small crickets.

-How can I keep the humidity and temperature up to spec for him?  It
will be made from plywood, have a plexiglass front, have live plants
(from same geographical region as lizard), have a 10g filled with water
to swim in, and have atleast 160 watts of flour. light above him.
This is my first attempt at this, and would like any advice or suggestions
available. 


Thank you for any help, this is totally new to me.  


Jon

-- 
Jon Edwards                                   gt6441c@prism.gatech.edu 
Georgia Institute of Technology    
  "we're just two lost souls swimmin' in a fishbowl, year after year"  
                                                       -Pink Floyd
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: cosper@seq.uncwil.edu (Kit Cosper)
Subject: Re: Bargains (was Re: help on sailfin dragon)
Organization: Univ. of North Carolina @ Wilmington
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 11:08:16 GMT

Although I have never gotten a real bargain from a pet shop,
there have been times that they unwittingly helped me sell
a snake or two.  My favorite event happened in the Sears (yes,
the national retail chain) Pet shop in Raleigh, N.C.

I was in the store with my roommate, looking to see if there was
anything mislabeled (or mispriced :-) that we may want.  A sales
geek (not that all sales people are geeks, but this guy was 
award winning material!) was explaining to some high school kid 
that pythons, like fish, would only grow to the size of their environment.
The kid was trying to decide between a Ball python and a Burmese........
Well, this was too much and my roommate busted out in laughter.
Sales geek becomes defensive, customer becomes hesitant, roommate
picks himself up off the floor.  Anyway, we left, followed by 
the high school kid.  We invited him over to see our collection,
showed him the difference between an adult Ball and Burmese
and sold him a baby Ball at a VERY fair price. (Can you say
"Happy parents"?)  I shudder tothink what would have happened
if he had purchased the burmese from the pet shop and told his
mom it would only get a few feet long..........


Kit


-- 
   Kit Cosper                        cosper@seq.uncwil.edu         
   PP-ASEL-IA                        AMA 31022
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: datri@convex.com (Anthony A. Datri)
Subject: Re: Snake color morphs ?
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 04:07:02 GMT
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

>>    Amelanistic (corn snake) ...

>Pink eyes and tongue.

Mine has a pink tongue, but red surrounded by orange eyes.

>name for them.  Amelanistic and anerythristic in corns, striped in California
>kings, and most of the black rat snake mutants are the exceptions.

There are striped mutants of Corns too.

-- 

======================================================================8--<
From: nivek@terapin.com (Kevin Bierl)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: Cheese, Meat and Mouth rot...
Date: 28 Jul 92 04:58:09 PST
Organization: BBS

The issue of "Reptile & Amphibian" that has the Ig info is the -
Jan./Feb. 1992. I also posted a short list from the book you might want to look
for.

                                Nivek
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: debra@solbourne.com (Debra Frances)
Subject: Re: EMERGENCY---Need a response 10 minutes ago
Organization: Solbourne Computer, Inc.
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 15:28:10 GMT

Not on your (their) life!  At best, you'll have two severely stressed aninmals.
At worst, you'll have only one.  Your hognose will be fine in a snake bag, (or
styrofoam cooler if you can borrow one - small air holes would be appreciated).
                                DEBRA
From: ruska@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Dave Ruska)
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 15:48:35 GMT
Subject: Re: should I be worried?
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp

In rec.pets.herp, rane+@cs.cmu.edu (Aaron Hughes) writes:

> Hello herpers. Well, it looks like my Boa is getting
> ready to relieve him/herself of its old skin (eyes
> clouded up, then cleared up about 3 days ago, looks
> like he is refusing food).

My baby boa (B.c.c) had it's first shed around 2 weeks of 
age (before I got it). It was 3 weeks of age and 19
inches when I got it. It's 2nd shed was at 6 weeks of
age and about 23 inches. The eyes clouded for a day or two,
then cleared for 3 days, and then shed overnight (one piece).
During the time when the eyes had cleared the skin was sticky.
The snake is now about 10 weeks old and 27 inches long, and
probably ready for another shed. It's ate 13 mice to date
(hoppers to small adults).

Sounds like your snake should drop it's skin soon. Assuming
you have a water bowl for the snake to soak in, and the humidity 
in the tank is not too dry, I wouldn't start worrying yet.

> Aaron Hughes        DoD#0482   		The Freedom Junkie	
> rane+@pulsar.fac.cs.cmu.edu		Bad cop. No donut.

Dave R.      (daver@hpgrrd.gr.hp.com) 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: rane+@cs.cmu.edu (Aaron Hughes)
Subject: should I be worried?
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 92 16:52:57 GMT
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon

Hello herpers. Well, it looks like my Boa is getting
ready to relieve him/herself of its old skin (eyes
clouded up, then cleared up about 3 days ago, looks
like he is refusing food). It's only about 20 inches
long, thick as a quarter (thickest part), but now he
looks like a sock. His skin has become loose - it looks
like he is starving (but I just fed him a little over
a week ago) - by that I mean his skins now has sags and
looks too big for him, but he has not yet rubbed any of
it loose. How long does it usually take for a snake to
get rid of it's skin after the eyes clear up? Anything
I should worry about? It's a young snake, but I don;t 
know exactly how young. 

Thanks,

Aaron

rane+@pulsar.fac.cs.cmu.edu
-- 
Aaron Hughes        DoD#0482   		The Freedom Junkie	
rane+@pulsar.fac.cs.cmu.edu		Bad cop. No donut.


Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: kenny@stsci.edu (Debbie Kenny)
Subject: Can a bunny get along with only three legs?
Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 02:50:14 GMT

Hi,

   I posted an article last year asking about bunnies and chemotherapy drugs.
Well, neither drugs or surgery has helped my poor little bunny, and now I have
a horrible decision to make.  The tumors have been confined to just his right
front arm and shoulder area.  All the surgery he's had has made the arm
virtually useless - he has very little feeling there and pretty much just drags
it along, but it looks like he does lean on it a little when he hops around.
My vet wants to amputate the arm at the shoulder to keep the cancer from
spreading.  The tumors reappear every six or eight weeks, and the arm almost
always gets infected, despite my best efforts to keep it clean.
   My question is, has anyone had any experience with a bunny amputee?  Can 
they still get around with only three legs to hop on? (My vet seems to think
they can).  Will my bunny still be happy, or will he hate me for crippling 
him?  My only other option is to have him put to sleep, and I don't like that  \choice any more than I like the amputation one.  I would greatly appreciate
hearing from anyone who has had this sort of experience.  Thanks in advance.

Debbie Kenny 
Newsgroups: rec.pets,alt.folklore.urban,talk.bizarre,alt.sex
From: thawley@indetech.com (Todd Hawley)
Subject: Re: Jackelope / Basselope
Summary: let's stick to the 'lope' family here 
Organization: Independence Technologies, Inc. Fremont, CA
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 17:49:09 GMT

In article <BrpGLv.5BM@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> hucke@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Matt Hucke)  
states:

>I heard that basselopes are banned in California because the government  
>is afraid that Richard Gere will use them for, ah, "immoral purposes".

Uh no, that rumor is completely false and unfounded. Besides, I thought
he had Cindy Crawford for that.

>Bruce Wayne, "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns"

And a good `Knight' to you. BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA.

-th		"burn BUSH in '92"
From: rivers@mdnitedkas.enet.dec.com (Kim Rivers)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Re: ferrets vs european polecats
Date: 30 Jul 92 15:44:45 GMT
Reply-To: nm%%decwrl::'%s"
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation


In article <l70ndbINN2m7@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM>, mooring@rikki.Eng.Sun.COM 
(Linda Mooring) writes:
-
>I called the zoo, and the woman there gave me a typically
>bad California answer, "there is no such thing as a domestic
>ferret."  She gave me the number for the animal resource 

 Hey now, watchit here.  Some of us folks from California get a little hackled
 when we're mass lumped under the category of Airhead.  :)

 In the woman's slight defense, she may have been thinking of the black footed
 ferret, which is wild, but is much, much larger and not really related to
 the domestic ferret save for the general animal family (or whatever it's
called)


>So, does anyone out there know how different the domestic
>ferret and the European polecat are?  I thought the 
>European ferret had solid coloring - this one had a
>mask and dark feet.  I've got some ferret/polecat information
>on file, and will consult the library this weekend.  Anyone
>know of any other good sources?  (I already have 4 or 5
>small books on owning ferrets.)

 The European polecat is very similiar the the domestic ferret and in fact,
they are often confused.  This is where you get the people who will swear up
and down how vicious a ferret is: they are thinking of the polecat, which 
is sometimes used for hunting in Europe.  

I believe the ferret is an offshoot of this animal, which explains the basic
similarity.  However, the personality is greatly different.  The Polecat *is*
a wild animal.  The ferret is not.  One would not care to have a polecat as
a pet.  Various books and other sources will back me up on this.


Cheers,

kim  
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: blaraway@geppetto.encore.com (Brad Laraway)
Subject: ferrets
Keywords: help
Organization: Encore Computer Corp.
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 18:45:55 GMT

	Looking for the posting on distemper and vaccines.  My ferret Sebastian
	is up to date on his shots but would like to be sure of what he's      
	getting next time.

	Also looking for a ferret shelter or a good breader in central or south
	florida.  Looking to get a secound carpet shark.  ( Who came up with
	that saying?)      

	You may have seen a this posting before but I didn't get any replies,
	not sure if I'm getting out on the net.

	Thanks,

	Brad Laraway

Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: jrm@b11.b11.ingr.com (Joe McFarland)
Subject: Re: Parents, Children, & Pets (was "Re: Life Spans")
Reply-To: farland@outland.b24a.ingr.com (Theresa McFarland)
Organization: Intergraph Corp. Huntsville, AL
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 19:55:29 GMT

>> > I'm getting tired of taking care of my kid's pets but do not dare
>> > neglect them.
>
>writes:
eakfast, we must take time to feed it,
>
>Please, if you have a child who wants a pet, don't get one unless either:
>
>      - you are willing to take care of the pet yourself, or
>
>      -	you are willing to work with the child to care for the pet.
>	(This takes more time than taking care of it yourself.)
>
>Nancy LaRoche (HRS)
>att!drutx!njl

I agree wholeheartedly.  My in-laws have a wonderful cat they adopted
becaude some kid's parents decided she needed a cat.  The kid used the 
cat for gravity experiments (drooped the kitten out of trees to see
if it would land on it's feet!).  Mom took him in out of pity and then
asked the neighbors if they wanted him back.  They were glad to get 
rid of him.  Too bad for them, he's a great cat - despite his early human
contact!
From: frey@alfheim.actrix.gen.nz (Bruce Clement)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Re: Roaches
Distribution: world
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 92 22:58:55 GMT
Organization: Private System

bpeal@eng.clemson.edu writes in article <1992Jul25.204855.1154@hubcap.clemson.edu>:

> Has anyone found a way to rid pets cages of roaches

Have you considered pet rats? My ones have tended to eat any 
insects that they could get their little paws on. They also steal &
carry off cigarette butts, so if you meant *that* type of roach  ...

They're real cute and friendly too.

--
Bruce Clement    (frey@alfheim.welly.gen.nz   Waffle 1.64, 
                  frey@alfheim.actrix.gen.nz  SNEWS/2,  UUPC 1.11q)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: mlinda@novell.com (M'Linda Taylor)
Subject: Re: Origin of Ferrets
Organization: Novell Inc.,  Austin, Texas
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 13:27:05 GMT

In article <1992Jul22.054950.19788@udel.edu> hartman@dewey.udel.edu (Nancy Hartman) writes:
>In article <1992Jul20.182243.29778@bwdls61.bnr.ca> clewis@bwdlh118.bnr.ca (Chris Lewis) writes:
>
>The original poster should tell her mother to do her homework before 
>making rash judgements!!!  If her mother actually convinces a ferret
>owner that the ferret would be much "happier" in the wild, then she will
>have the death of that ferret on her head.  A cruel death at that, one 
>of hunger, dehydration, and exposure!
>

Hi Nancy,

I'm the original poster.  Regarding rash judgements, she *knows* better,
it's more of a knee jerk reaction.  She would never impose her opinion
on anyone but me and only when I make a "gee, I'd like to get a ferret
one of these days" noise.  The reason I posted a request for information
*was* to educate her.  She's quite reasonable and is willing to change
an opinion when presented with appropriate evidence.

Thanks for the info.

M'Linda
Mom-Cat to Rio-The-Loud and Thomasina-The-Cute

************************************************
*           - Lonestar -                       *
*Internet: mlinda@novell.COM                   *
*UUCP: {ames,sun,apple,amdahl}!novell!mlinda   *
************************************************
From: bwithem@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Barbara S Withem)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Toy collies,etc
Date: 29 Jul 92 14:46:55 GMT
Organization: The Ohio State University
X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11]

I am looking to adopt a puppy  that will become a small dog. I am thinking 
along the lines of a toy collie or sheltie or a mutt with a mix of one of these
breeds in it. I would be interested in any stories, good or bad, about these 
breeds or any advice. Thanks-Barb
Newsgroups: rec.pets