The newsletter of the
Minnesota Herpetological Society
January Meeting Notice January 6th
January Speaker Kathy Claugherty— Iguana Rescue
President’s Letter p. 5
IBD Update p. 6
New Mailing Address! p. 8
Kid’s Korner pp. 12-13
January 2017
Volume 37
Number 1
BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Misi Stine 952.217.1267 President@mnherpsoc.org Vice President Jim Soos 612.382.1920 VicePresident@MnHerpSoc.org Recording Secretary Nancy Haig 763.434.8684 RecSecretary@MnHerpSoc.org Membership Secretary Lavania Beguhl 651.274.8511 MemSecretary@MnHerpSoc.org Treasurer Rae Jacobs Ruber 612.366.9337 Treasurer@MnHerpSoc.org Newsletter Editor Ellen Heck 612.750.1649 NewsletterEditor@MnHerpSoc.org Lois Hall 612.824.1447 MemberAtLarge4@MnHerpSoc.org Rebecca Markowitz 409.740.0235 MemberAtLarge1@MnHerpSoc.org Members at Large Tony Beguhl MemberAtLarge3@MnHerpSoc.org
PO Box 1330366 Roseville, MN 55113
Stay informed! Join us on our forums! Or you can still leave us a Voice Mail: 612.326.6516
The purpose of the Minnesota Herpetological Society is to: • Further the education of the membership and the general public in care and captive propagation of reptiles and amphibians; • Educate the members and the general public in the ecological role of reptiles and amphibians; • Promote the study and conservation of reptiles and amphibians. The Minnesota Herpetological Society is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. Membership is open to all individuals with an interest in amphibians and reptiles. The Minnesota Herpetological Society Newsletter is published monthly to provide its members with information concerning the society’s activities and a media for exchanging information, opinions and resources. General Meetings are held at Borlaug Hall, Room 335 on the St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota, on the first Friday of each month (unless there is a holiday conflict). The meeting starts at 7:00pm and lasts about three hours. Please check the MHS Voice mail for changes in schedules or cancellations. Submissions to the Newsletter
Chris Smith 612.275.9737 MemberAtLarge2@MnHerpSoc.org
Ads or Notices must be submitted no later than the night of the General Meeting to be included in the next issue. Longer articles will be printed as time and space allows and should be in electronic file format if possible.
COMMITTEES
See inside back cover for ad rates. Submissions may be sent to:
Adoption Beth Girard 612.326.6516 Adoptions@MnHerpSoc.org Education Jan Larson 507.263.4391 Jan.SkunkHollow@Juno.com Fostering Rebecca Markwitz 612.326.6516 Fosters@MnHerpSoc.org WebMaster WebMaster@MnHerpSoc.org Cover by Cartoons by Fran Frisch
The Minnesota Herpetological Society Attn: Newsletter Editor PO Box 1330366 Roseville, MN 55113 NewsletterEditor@MnHerpSoc.org
SNAKE BITE EMERGENCY HENNEPIN REGIONAL POISON CENTER 800-222-1222
© Copyright 2015, Minnesota Herpetological Society. Except where noted, contents may be reproduced for non-profit, non-commercial use only. All material must be reproduced without change. Proper credit will be given including the author/photographer and the Minnesota Herpetological Society Newsletter citing: volume, number and date.
General Meeting — Elections—Mini-Hands-on November 4th, 7:00pm; 6:30pm Social Hour Social hour begins at 6:30pm. This is a time for people to catch up before the meeting starts. In 2002 Kathy was working in a pet store that specialized in fish and reptiles. She was familiar with freshwater tropical fish having raised them for many years, and so educated herself on the types of reptiles being sold. She learned the basics of iguanas, but it was when she adopted her first two adult females that she fell head over heels in love with these magnificent animals. Kathy became involved with a local iguana rescue, where she volunteered her time by fostering. Kathy saw a need for a way to provide good quality information to people who wanted to keep the green iguana as a pet. Her vision was to create a portal of information both scientific and anecdotal, so in 2006 she founded Resource for Iguana Care and Adoption. She soon discovered another tremendous need; to find homes for iguanas that are given up. It has become her life’s mission and a labor of love. Resource for Iguana Care and Adoption became 501c(3) in 2015.
Harlin Wall—Green Tree Pythons & Emerald Tree Boas Submitted by Nancy Haig
December was a double feature with our guest New Guinea and Papua Irian-Jaya islands altspeaker talking on both Friday and Saturday hough some may be found on the Cape York nights. Although a long time herper and breeder Peninsula in Australia. They are a relatively slim of various reptiles, Harlin Wall concentrated his bodied snake with a long tail and can reach 4 to talks on his current passions, Green Tree Pythons 6 feet in length. They are egg bearing and the and Emerald Tree Boas. For the Friday night talk young can vary in colors ranging from lemon yelhe began with Green low to orange red to maTree Pythons. roon brown. The various strains are known by Starting out with the their localities, being statement “You have named after the closest never seen a green repvillage near where the tile or amphibian”, Harlin snakes are collected. explained they only appear to be green beTaking Biak, Indonesia cause layers of yellow as a well- established and blue chromatopoint of study; Harlin phores in the skin refract compared the monthly the green color back to averages for sun hours, our eye. Building on reprecipitation, and the search from the 1960’s through the 1980’s, he min and max of tempertraced how the studies atures. He discovered for pigment anomalies the temperatures rePhoto by Micha L Rieser needed a controlled way mained fairly stable to breed test subjects which led to the development of captive breeding techniques for snakes. through the year between 73-86 degrees FahrenHe also explained why the normal temperature heit. The comfort zone for the snakes (where cycling to stimulate breeding for temperate zone they are actively feeding and digesting) was animals does not work for tropical animals. Low- around 82-84 degrees. What did vary was the ering the temperature for tropicals can lead to respiratory problems and usually death, so Harlin humidity with a very dry season happening around September through November. But giving began researching for a better way. Green Tree Pythons (GTP), Morelia viridis, origi- the snakes a wet/dry cycle by misting or spraying nate from Indonesia, primarily from the Papua / could still cause health issues so he continued Continued next page studying. January 2017
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Corresponding to the wet/dry cycle is the availability of food. By changing the feeding schedule to match the seasonal food cycle for the snakes, he could mimic their behavior in the wild. Using well prepared healthy adults; Harlin withholds food for 3 months and then starts feeding small but regular meals every 3 days. When the male refuses meals and starts actively hunting for a female, it is time to introduce the females. Sometimes Harlan will further the male’s activity by using a shed from a different male to drape the female and cage and introduce scents of a competitor. The type of cage is very important to the development of the snakes. Fancy cages are great for showing off the cage, but a plain cage is better for cleanliness and health issues. Harlin likes to use plastic containers with a minimum of perches and small containers of water. For baby snakes he likes a wobbly X shaped perch so the babies can’t balance enough to push up against the top. This trains them so they won’t do it as adults. Ventilation and humidity is controlled by placing tape over small air holes and using paper towels or paper pads like the type used between the layers of produce at the grocery store, for substrate. Beau and Caitlin Larson brought examples of their set-ups complete with their resident Green Tree Pythons to demonstrate this style of cage. Incubation is also done in plastic tubs with a plastic mesh or grid that hold the eggs above the bottom of the containers to allow air circulation and avoid sitting in condensation. Again the air holes control the humidity of the containers. Problems with eggs can sometimes be prevented by closing holes or thin spots by painting the areas with a combination of Lotrimine anti-fungal powder and Elmer’s white glue. Harlin will also assist the pipping snakes by cutting open the slit and creating an air pocket so the baby snake does not suffocate. Harlin switched to Emerald Tree Boas for Saturday night. Although they look similar, Emerald Tree Boas (ETB) Corallus caninus are very different from Green Tree Pythons. Found in South America, from northern Colombia and Brazil, and from Venezuela, Suriname, the Guianas and Peru, they are live bearers as opposed to egg-laying and can inter-breed with Amazon Tree Boas. The average length is about 6 feet although some locality species can grow up to 9 feet. Photo by Derek Ramsey Babies can vary in color from light orange to a deep brick red, before turning green. They have the reputation of being harder to maintain; nastier attitudes and have the habit of regurgitating their meals. Harlin takes over a year to acclimate newly imported animals before breeding or selling. His advice for getting ETB’s: start with animals that come from an exporter or dealer that only deals with reptiles, avoid anyone who also deals with birds to avoid cross-contamination of diseases; contact a vet and get a proper cultures and medication dosages for that particular animal; separate and quarantine, and cut down on visual stress by covering the container with newspaper. For dealing with regurgitation syndrome he has a checklist to treat all areas of causes: to wipe out candida (yeast infection) or to treat for microbial or fungal infections, you can inject the dosages into the lung cavity of a rat to avoid stressing the animal by handling. ETBs often regurgitate fur pellets like owls in the wild so avoid fluffy rodents (mice) and use rats instead; rebalance good bacteria with probiotics, yogurt and a probiotic powder can be mixed for injecting into a rat; and check for avian chlamydia - it can damage the lining of the throat and the lungs. Because some snakes won’t eat but still need medicines he sometimes uses a heavy loading dose and a nebulizer when necessary. This is very effective when treating respiratory issues. The final step is to set-up a proper cage. He uses the same system as the Green Tree Pythons. ETB’s have a slower metabolism than GTP’s so Harlin feeds them once every three weeks, giving them a good soaking bath (15-20 min) to help them move and defecate before feeding the next meal. Harlin’s benchmarks for a healthy animal are: the animal eats and digests at least 3 meals in a row without any issues and has had at least 2 good clean sheds. Emeralds require patience, but once they are acclimated they are fairly easy to maintain. Harlin runs Wall to Wall Reptiles in Grand Junction, Colorado. He can be found on Facebook and is happy to talk to people about his animals and their care. Although his talks frequently mentioned various types of health issues and medications he deliberately avoided mentioning exact dosages, believing that diagnosis and prescribed drugs should be left in the trained hands of a knowledgeable vet. He is, however, very willing to conference call with veterinarians about his experiences with herps and medication treatments. January 2017
Volume 37 Number 1
Letter from the President Greetings fellow Herpers! This coming January is the first meeting of the 2017 board. Many people continue to volunteer their time to bring the excellent content that we’ve all come to expect from the society. I feel confident in saying that we are all very grateful for their ongoing work. In addition, those that are joining or returning to the board for the first time: Welcome! With a bit of work and a little luck, we’re going to have another great year. All of us in the society come together from very different backgrounds and walks of life. It always amazes me that herpetology draws such a diverse crowd. It just goes to show that there is something for everyone, whether you’re interested in keeping herps, preserving their habitats, or any other of the many aspects that we work in. It’s going to be a great year! I hope you’ll join me in my excitement to see how this new board can bring about a further sense of wonder for the wide world of amphibians and reptiles. I wish you all a great holiday season, and I’ll see you all at our January meeting!
Looking for Herp Assistance Volunteers! Are you an experienced keeper of a particular type of herp? Are you willing and able to provide answers to others? We are looking to re-introduce the herp assistance program and need people willing to offer advice for all types of reptiles and amphibians. We are also looking for people who specialize in breeding (herps, that is) cage building, etc. Volunteers will be listed in the newsletter and on the website with a phone number and/or email address that people seeking advice can call you on. Please contact Ellen NewsletterEditor@mnherpsoc.org if you are interested in helping. For assistance with turtles/tortoises and crocodilians. Contact info: Mike Rohweder birdgitter@yahoo.com
Take an interactive trip through the world of amphibians! http://www.frogs-friends.org/en/fascinating-frogs/webdoc
January 2017
Volume 37 Number 1
New test and better understanding of deadly infection in boas and pythons Date: December 16, 2016 Source: Morris Animal Foundation This boa is suffering from inclusion body disease in its central nervous system. It is rolled up in a ball, which is not a normal posture. IBD is a serious, chronic viral infection of snakes, which can be devastating in captive reptile populations. Credit: Dr. Elliott Jacobson, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida Inclusion body disease is a serious, chronic viral infection of snakes and can be devastating in captive reptile populations. Now, a newly published study in The Veterinary Journal sheds light on the disease, and may help veterinary care teams better protect the health of their populations of large snakes. The study was funded in part by a grant from Morris Animal Foundation. Found in both boa constrictor and python species, inclusion body disease (IBD) signs may include periodic or chronic regurgitation, head tremors, abnormal shedding, anorexia, clogged nostrils, and pneumonia. The disease can rapidly progress to nervous system signs, such as disorientation, corkscrewing of the head and neck, holding the head in abnormal and unnatural positions, rolling onto the back or stargazing. Current strategies for IBD control include identification and isolation of affected snakes, but making a definitive diagnosis of IBD in a living animal can be challenging. Infected snakes may continue to feed and otherwise behave normally, and may infect other snakes prior to developing clinical signs of illness and chronic disease. The prevalence of sub-clinical, infectious IBD disease in snakes prior to this study was not well understood. "In addition to developing diagnostic tests for IBD, a major finding in this study is the subclinical nature of IBD," said Dr. Elliott Jacobson, one of the papers' authors and faculty member at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida. "Many apparently healthy boa constrictors have not only the reptarenavirus, that is considered the causative agent, but also have subclinical IBD." Researchers at the University of Florida, in collaboration with Colorado State University and University of California, San Francisco, sought to understand disease prevalence in captive snake populations using both routine and specialized immunohistochemical cell-staining techniques. The research team tested 131 snakes and determined that 19 percent of their study population had inclusion body disease. In snakes positive for IBD, 87 percent were clinically healthy. Blood samples from a subset of these snakes also were tested using polymerase chain reaction. Routine and special staining techniques showed there was good agreement between the presence of reptarenavirus in the blood cells, and being IBD-positive. For managers of large reptile collections, knowing that infected snakes can be asymptomatic is important for the care and welfare of the entire collection. IBD is an incurable disease and can cause significant illness in infected animals. Understanding the prevalence rates, as well as having a reliable diagnostic test, is critical for the preservation, management and welfare of these animals. The results of this study can inform management strategies of snake collections to reduce IBD, and help veterinary teams maintain the health of animals in their care. Journal Reference: L. Chang, D. Fu, M.D. Stenglein, J.A. Hernandez, J.L. DeRisi, E.R. Jacobson. Detection and prevalence of boid inclusion body disease in collections of boas and pythons using immunological assays. The Veterinary Journal, 2016; 218: 13 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2016.10.006 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161216142842.htm
January 2017
Volume 37 Number 1
Upcoming Hands-on Event Schedule Harry Potter Event—Ramsey County Library—Shoreview Branch, February 4th 2-3:30pm. Since this is a Harry Potter event, snakes only! (how often do we get to say that?) Harry Potter Event—Ramsey County Library—White Bear Lake Branch, February 11th 2-3:30pm. Since this is a Harry Potter event, snakes only!
Here’s the deal- Bring your herp(s) to one of the shows listed above, and talk about them. That’s it! You don’t have to be an expert, you’re not giving speeches. Most of the time you will find that people are more than open to hearing about our misrepresented critters.
Contact Jan at Jan.SkunkHollow@Juno.com for details or if interested in signing up. Or sign up on the website.
Herp First Aid Emergency kits, whether they be for earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, floods or fires, share a lot of commonalities. The basics, of course, such as food and water, are mandatory. A close third is an adequately supplied first aid kit. (yes this is a repeat but important) http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Reptiles-Magazine/The-VetReport-Herp-First-Aid-Kit-Checklist/
The Myth of the Singing Bushmaster Reaching over 3.5 m in length, the bushmaster is the largest viper in the western hemisphere. Legend spread among both colonists and natives from the Amazon region and Central America has it that it sings. Finding these numerous unrelated reports quite puzzling, since it is well known that snakes cannot sing, scientists took to finally disentangle the myth. https://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2016/11/161117104852.htm
Scientist Says More Snake Species Resist Toxin Larger number of snakes than previously thought has mutation that protects them from toad toxin, even if they don't eat toads, a research team reports. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161122193506.htm
Snake Venom Composition Could be Related to Hormones and Diet Many people are afraid of snakes, but scientists are now revealing insights about their venoms that could give even ophidiophobes an appreciation for the animals. One team has found that the proteins from the venom gland can vary depending on age and gender. These findings suggest that hormonal and dietary influences are at play. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/10/161007155932.htm
Blue Coral Snake, calliophis bivirgata: A Mysterious Beauty Armed with Exotic Toxins Toxicologists in Malaysia published the first report on the venom proteome correlating toxic functionalities of the Malayan blue coral snake, an exotic species from the country. The toxins are unique among snakes and have deep implication on antivenom production and drug discovery. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160905130251.htm January 2017
Volume 37 Number 1
MHS Reports and Announcements November2016 Treasurer’s Report
New Mailing Address
Submitted by Rae Rueber
As of last month, the official mailing address of the Minnesota Herpetological Society is:
Beginning Balance
$27,002.07
Income Raffle Donation-Public Donations-amazon Smile donation-Hands On Membership Rodent Sales Banquet Sales Interest on Savings Total Income
$0.00 $340.00 $23.21 $48.61 $360.00 $437.00 $310.00 $0.14 $1,518.96
PO Box 1330366 Roseville, MN 55113
Notice to All Committee Chairs 2016 volunteer hours are due January 2017. Please start gathering your data and compiling your year-end report!
Expenses Program Midwest Symposium Deposit Paypal Fees Square Fees Website Service Charge Total Expense Cash Increase/Decrease Ending Balance
$260.06 $250.00 $12.03 $1.25 $14.95 $0.00 $538.29 $980.67 $27,982.74
Placement of Cash Holdings Checking Savings Paypal Cash on Hand Total
$8,962.51 $17,489.25 $1,340.98 $190.00 $27,982.74
Board Meeting The board meeting will be held 6pm January 7th at the Byerly’s in St Louis Park. Everyone is welcome to attend the board meeting. We encourage you to come check it out. January 2017
Volume 37 Number 1
Kid’s Korner
January 2017
Volume 37 Number 1
Kid’s Korner
January 2017
Volume 37 Number 1
MHS Reports and Announcements
MHS Foster Agreement Thank you for volunteering to foster animals for the Minneapolis Herpetological Society. While fostering an animal you will be expected to provide a temporary home for the animal until the next MHS general meeting. During that time, you agree to: Provide proper housing, food, lighting and temperature requirements for the species, and if needed, provide health care for those with special needs. House the animal in a quarantined area to protect both your personal collection and the fostered animal. Inform the Adoption Chair adoptions@mnherpsoc.org if you have any questions or concerns in regards to the health of the animal. If you decide to adopt an animal, or have found an alternative home for it, please let us know as soon as possible. Please contact the Adoption Chair 3-5 days prior to each general meeting as to the status of the animal/s you are fostering. (Health, status, and whether you will or will not be returning it at the general meeting.) ___________________________________ Name & Date (Please print)
___________________________________ Signature
Contact information: Name: ________________________ Member #: _________ Exp. Date: ____________ Address: ________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Phone: __________________________________________________________________ Email: __________________________________________________________________ If I am not at the meeting, you may contact me about housing the following species: ________________________________________________________________________ __________ Initial here if we may call you midmonth for help transporting an animal. __________ Initial here if we may contact you about transporting intake items.
When an animal is taken home to be fostered, its travel enclosure and the paperwork (label and attached 3�x5� card) should be kept intact so they can be returned with the animal. This helps the Adoption Committee maintain accuracy with its paperwork. The animal should be housed in a quarantined area to protect you, your family, your personal collection and the fostered animal. These animals should not be used for educational purposes as their health status and temperament are questionable. If a situation should arise and the animal you are fostering needs medical care, please contact the Adoption Chair. MHS reimburses for medical care on a very limited case-by-case basis. Please send an email to adoptions@mnherpsoc.org 3-5 days before each meeting to let us know your intentions. Do you intend to bring the animal back to the meeting? Have you, or someone else, adopted it? Do you intend to keep fostering it, but are unable to attend the meeting? If we do not hear from you in 60 days (two meetings), the animal will be considered to be adopted by you. When returning a foster animal to a meeting, please make every attempt to do so before 6:40pm. We would like all members to have the opportunity to view the animals prior to the start of the meeting. Thank you again for agreeing to foster animals for the Minnesota Herpetological Society! We could not continue the adoption program without members willing and able to care for those waiting to be adopted. Beth Girard MHS Adoption Chair Email: adoptions@mnherpsoc.org Cell# 612/616-8431 January 2017
Volume 37 Number 1
MHS Reports and Announcements IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ANYONE FOSTERING AN MHS ANIMAL Due to the requirements of the new MHS insurance policy, more complete records need to be maintained concerning the animals “owned” by MHS. This refers to those taken in at Intake and not outsourced or adopted. To this end, we are updating our paperwork and have created a new FOSTER AGREEMENT. If you are currently fostering an animal and have not turned in the new form, please complete the one in the newsletter and email it to adoptions@mnherpsoc.org or return it at the August meeting. If you are currently fostering animals for MHS, please send a list of the animals you are currently fostering and the date you began doing so. The list can be sent to adoptions@mnherpsoc.org Any animals not reported by the AUGUST MEETING (August 5th) will be marked as “adopted” by you. You may still surrender those animals to the adoption program at a later date. Only animals that have been reported to us by August 6th as “fostered” will be covered under the MHS insurance policy. Animals fostered at the July meeting are already listed. The two-page FOSTER AGREEMENT includes the following restrictions. When an animal is taken home to be fostered, its travel enclosure and the paperwork (label and attached 3”x5” card) should be kept intact so they can be returned with the animal. This helps the Adoption Committee maintain accuracy with its paperwork. The animal should be housed in a quarantined area to protect you, your family, your personal collection and the fostered animal. These animals should not be used for educational purposes as their health status and temperament are questionable. If a situation should arise and the animal you are fostering needs medical care, please contact the Adoption Chair. MHS is reimburses for medical care on a very limited case-by-case basis. Please send an email to adoptions@mnherpsoc.org 3-5 days before each meeting to let us know your intentions. Do you intend to bring the animal back to the meeting? Have you, or someone else, adopted it? Do you intend to keep fostering it, but are unable to attend the meeting? If we do not hear from you within 60 days (two meetings), the animal will be considered to be adopted. When returning a foster animal to a meeting, please make every attempt to do so before 6:40pm. We would like all members to have the opportunity to view the animals prior to the start of the meeting. The form also has a place for you to note if you may be available to transport and/or house animals and/or husbandry items that are surrendered between meetings. When a need arises, an email will be sent to all fosters residing in the area where assistance is needed. You are under no obligation to respond. Thank you for your willingness to be part of the MHS Adoption Program. If it were not for our amazing fosters (LIKE YOU!) we would not be able to help over three hundred animals find forever homes each year!!!
January 2017
Volume 37 Number 1
QUARANTINE PROCEDURES One of the snakes from this month’s adoption was found to have mites. Although we do keep contact to a minimum between animals and enclosures, we want to remind everyone to follow proper quarantine procedures!!! DO NOT put new animals in the same space, or share enclosures or cage furnishings, with your collection! MHS has included a page of Quarantine Suggestions for several months now. Unfortunately it was written 20 years ago for zoos and other groups with large collections and the equipment and knowledge necessary for evaluating fecal exams. The one I like can be found at http://www.herpcenter.com/reptilearticles/quarantining-reptiles/ QUARANTINING REPTILES Quarantining your new acquisitions is done so that you can monitor the animals behavior, appetite, stool, and activity. It is also done to protect the animals you currently own. This is a step that can actually save your entire colony of animals, save you money, and save you time. Quarantining new animals should become an instinctive behavior by both new and experienced enthusiasts, though it is often overlooked at one time or another by all. It is a crucial step in the prevention of colony infection. Diseases like Cryptosporidium can destroy an entire collection if introduced to your reptiles. WHAT IS QUARANTINING Quarantining is the process in which you isolate the reptile you are bringing home. This is the time period in which you monitor the animal and note or treat the animal for any illness or injury that it has. Quarantining ensures that you will not spread any contagious illness or parasites to your current collection. REPTILE QUARANTINE BASICS Keep the set-up simple Keep the set-up clean Keep the setup isolated Monitor the reptile Save it for last TIME FRAME Your new reptile should be quarantined for a minimum of 30 days. Ideally, 60-90 days would be better. Once a reptile has finished the quarantine period and is deemed fit, they can be introduced into their permanent enclosure in the proximity of other reptiles. QUARANTINE SET-UP A setup designed as a quarantine tank should be very simple in design and extremely easy to clean. The goal is to use the quarantine tank as an observational area. For reptiles, the quarantine tank should consist of the bare essentials. The enclosure itself should be made of solid plastic or glass. Old fish tanks are great quarantine tanks. Avoid wooden enclosures as quarantine tanks as they are difficult to clean. QUARANTINE TANK The best substrate to use for a quarantine tank is either no substrate, or paper towel. This makes cleaning a breeze, allows complete visibility to monitor the reptiles feces, and is a complete risk free substrate from impaction. The rest of the enclosure should be limited to a hide, a water bowl, and feeder dish (If required.) A calcium dish should be part of a leopard geckos quarantine tank. Climbing branches and other decor should not be in the quarantine tank. Continued next page January 2017
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The tank above is an example quarantine setup for a leopard gecko. The tank is a 32 quart Sterilite tub heated with a human heat pad. It contains a hide directly over the heat source, a moist hide/cool hide, a calcium dish, a mealworm dish, a disposable water dish, and paper towel as a substrate. The example shows how simple the enclosure can be for the quarantine period. This setup is easy to clean and maintain. Holes have been drilled into the sides of the Sterilite for air circulation, and the cover also has holes drilled into it. CLEANLINESS Your quarantine tank should be cleaned daily. Remove any feces (after looking it over) from the enclosure, change the water, remove any dead insects, and make sure the tank itself is clean. You want to be able to monitor the animal as closely as possible. The cleaner the tank is, the easier it will be to monitor the reptile. ISOLATION It is best to isolate the reptile from the rest of your collection. This is best done by placing the quarantine tank in a separate room from where you house your other reptiles. It doesn't stop there however. You should also be isolating what items come into contact with the quarantine tank. You should never use the same cleaning materials between a quarantine tank and those that house the rest of your collection. The same is true for water and feeding dishes. This could result in indirect contact with a parasite or illness. MONITORING Make sure you spend some time watching the reptile in quarantine. Watch how he hunts/eats, make sure he isn't lethargic, and ensure that he is alert when you disturb him. Reptiles in general are experts at hiding illness. This is how they survive in the wild. Make it a point to ensure that the animal is behaving normally and that its stool appears "normal". THE LAST STOP When cleaning your enclosures, save the quarantine tank for last. This will help reduce the chance of indirect contact. Also save the quarantined animal for last when you are working with your collection. You want to limit any possible exposure between the new reptile and your current collection. By making the quarantined reptile the last stop, you are placing distance between any accidental exposure. PERSONAL HYGIENE It is always a good practice to use an antibacterial soap to wash your hands after every handling session you have with a reptile or its enclosure. It is especially important to maintain proper hygiene protocol when dealing with an animal in quarantine. The accidental spreading of a disease or parasite could come from direct or indirect contact with another animal, or its supplies in your collection. Avoid this by washing your hands every time you leave the quarantine area. It is crucial that you maintain strict protocol when quarantining. A single parasite that has been introduce to your collection could cost you extreme amounts of money in vet bills, delayed breeding programs, and could even result in the death of one or more animals in your collection. Quarantining is very simple to do and can save you a great deal of headaches. Be vigilant and quarantine all new reptiles!
If you do find mites, take the proper steps to avoid having it move to other animals. Many of us use Provent-a-mite if we believe an animal may be infested. It can be purchased many places, such as at LLL Reptiles on-line. They have a video which describes the process at http:// www.lllreptile.com/products/391-provent-a-mite Proper quarantine procedures should ALWAYS be used when introducing a new animal into your collection! This includes enclosures, furnishings, substrate, cleaning materials, feeding tools, and YOU!
January 2017
Volume 37 Number 1
Quarantine Suggestions (Editor’s Note—this was run last month as well, but we consider this to be such an important topic we are running it again) Miller, R.E. 1996. Quarantine protocols and preventive medicine procedures for reptiles, birds and mammals in zoos. Rev. Sci. Tech 15(1): 183-189 QUARANTINE PERSONNEL Ideally, a keeper should be designated to care only for quarantined animals; otherwise, a keeper should attend quarantined animals only after fulfilling responsibilities for resident species. Equipment used to feed and clean animals in quarantine should be used only with these animals. If this is not possible, then equipment must be cleaned with an appropriate disinfectant (as designated by the veterinarian supervising quarantine) before use with post-quarantine animals. Institutions must take precautions to minimize the risk of exposure of animal handling personnel to zoonotic diseases which may be present in newly-acquired animals. These precautions should include the use of disinfectant footbaths, the wearing of appropriate protective clothing and masks (in some cases), and minimizing physical exposure in some species (e.g. with primates, by the use of chemical rather than physical restraint). A programme of tuberculin testing and surveillance must be established for zoo/aquarium employees, to ensure the health of both the employees and the animal collection. QUARANTINE PROTOCOL During the quarantine period, certain prophylactic measures should be instituted. Individual faecal samples, or representative samples from large numbers of individuals housed in a limited area (e.g. birds of the same species in an aviary or frogs in a terrarium), should be collected, on at least two occasions, and examined for gastrointestinal parasites. Treatment should be prescribed by the attending veterinarian. Ideally, release from quarantine should be dependent on obtaining two negative faecal results at a minimum interval of two weeks, either initially or after parasiticide treatment. In addition, all animals should be evaluated for ectoparasites and should receive appropriate treatment, if necessary. Vaccinations should be updated as appropriate for each species (1). If the animal arrives without a vaccination history, it should be treated as being immunologically naive and should be given an appropriate series of vaccinations. Whenever possible, blood should be collected and sera stored in a freezer (not frost-free) at either - 70ÅãC or - 20ÅãC. Such sera could provide an important resource for retrospective disease evaluation. The quarantine period also presents an opportunity to identify permanently all unmarked animals, when anaesthetized or restrained (e.g. tattoo, ear notch, ear tag). Also, whenever animals are restrained or immobilized, a complete physical examination, including dental examination, should be performed. Complete medical records of all animals should be kept, and should be available for consultation during the quarantine period. Necropsy should be performed, under the supervision of a veterinarian, on all animals which die during quarantine; representative tissues should be submitted for histopathological examination. QUARANTINE PROCEDURES Evaluation of faecal samples for parasites is required for each species. Ideally, at least two negative results should be obtained from samples taken with a minimum 14-day interval, although other protocols are necessary for some parasite infestations. As noted above, all appropriate vaccinations should be performed. Recommendations and suggestions for appropriate quarantine procedures for several animal groups are presented below. This is extremely important. ALWAYS work with newly acquired animals last. Rubber gloves are cheap! Discard between use (don’t try to re-use them).
January 2017
Volume 37 Number 1
Online Classifieds In addition to ads in the newsletter, MHS provides online classifieds via the forums. A valid login (provided to current members) is required to both post and read ads. http://www.mnherpsoc.org/forums/members/classifieds January 2017
Volume 37 Number 1
Minnesota Herpetological Society Membership Application New
Name
Renewal
Address
Membership #
City, State, Zip
Type
Phone
List in MHS Directory? Yes No
Check # Herp related interests
Active Memberships: Sustaining ($60/year)
Contributing ($40/year) Basic ($20/year)
Corresponding Memberships: Commercial ($25/year, 2 business card ads/year) Required check info. Drivers Lic #
State
DOB
Please enclose the proper payment with your application. Make checks payable to MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Membership is for 12 months from the date of approval. A receipt will be sent only upon request. Mail To: Minnesota Herpetological Society, PO Box 1330366, Roseville, MN 55113 Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing.
Rodents! Order your MHS Rodents today! Ordering by phone? See the new phone number below. Advertising Policies
Mice Pinkies Fuzzies Hoppers Adult
Weight 2-3 grams 5-7 grams 8-11 grams 25-30 grams
Price $7/dz $8/dz $9/dz $11/dz
Rats Small Adult Med. Adults Large Adult Jumbo
Weight 50-60 grams 125-150 grams 200-240 grams 250-350 grams
Price $35/ 20 rats $23/ 10 rats $15/ 5 rats $9/ 3 rats
For pickup at monthly meetings only. Orders may be placed via: 1. At the meeting for the following month 2. Online at www.MnHerpSoc.org
MHS Ad Policy: The MHS assumes NO RESPONSIBILITY regarding the health or legality of any animal, or the quality or legality of any product or service advertised in the MHS Newsletter. Any ad may be rejected at the discretion of the Newsletter Editor. Due to space limitations, unpaid and complimentary advertisements are subject to occasional omission. Classified Ads: All active members are allowed a classified ad, run free of charge as space permits. Ads may be run three (3) consecutive months, after which time they may be resubmitted. Submissions: All advertisements should be submitted to the MHS Membership Secretary at the general meeting or mailed to: Minnesota Herpetological Society, PO Box 1330366, Roseville, MN 55113. Deadline is the night of the General Meeting for inclusion in the next newsletter. Make checks payable to: Minnesota Herpetological Society. Advertising Costs
Orders MUST be placed 10 days in advance of the meeting to guarantee availability. We no longer keep an inventory of rodents on hand, so if you attempt to place an order after the deadline, there is no way to fill it.
Size Cost Business Card Sized $5/month or $55/year* 1/4 Page $10/month or $110/year* 1/2 Page $20/month or $220/year* Full Page $40/month or $440/year*
MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY PO Box 1330366 Roseville, MN 55113
Next Meeting:
Save the dates!
Friday January 6th - 7:00 pm Room 335 Borlaug Hall U of M St. Paul Campus
Friday February 3rd—Cris Hagen Friday March 3rd—Bradley Wilson Friday April 7th—White Snake Sale
MHS Voice Mail:
MHS Web Page:
612.326.6516
www.MnHerpSoc.org
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