Vol. 8 (1988), No. 12

VOLUME VIII

NUMBER 12

DECEMBER NEWSLETTER JANUARY MEETING Friday, JANUARY 6, 1989 7:00 PM ROCM 335, BORIAUG lWL st.. Paul. Canpus , University of Mi~..sota

January will be VIDID KNlH. M. H. S. will be pre.sf'nting several new videos. One is on the snakes of Missouri ana is well done. A lot of the inforrration present.ed is very useful t..o Minnesot.a. The second feature is on the Crocodil~ Bank 'of Madras India.

This video highlights the reptile work of the croc bank, especially of th~ studies of Jeff Lang, former M.R.S. l"r1E?.niber. There is also the possibility of some ot..hpr sneak previeWs. The "critter of the nonth" for January is SNCW HERPS. These critters come in two ca.tegories. First. is the white fonn (albinos) of reptiles and amphibia.ns in your The sE~cond is the II cold II form ( freezer. type) of your collect.i.on. Any collection. freezer specimens brought to the. ITeeting will be accept.ed. by t.he Bell HuseUIn for its teaching collection. Pledse bring your freezer specimen in something that: will keep them from thawing and making them un-displayablp. You may want. to leave these herps in your car until break time when you can rE~trieve them.

UPCOMING M.H. S. PROGRAMS The following is a list of planned events for future M.R.S. meetings: Feb. ~1a.r •.

~Vhi tE' Snake Sale!

3 - M.R.S. Election Night

3 -

Please mark your calendar for t..hese rreetings. Any changes t.o the date or event. will be announced at the, rronthly rr1eeting or in future. newsletters.

SNAKEBITE EMERGENCY

r-iinnesota Poison Control System 221-2113 (ont-state) 1-800-222--1222 Hennepin Regional Poison Center (612) 347-3141

BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 10 CHURCH STREET S.E. • MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55455·0104

DECEMBFR SPE]\l<ER OF THE MONTH

by Becky Helgesen Our special guest. sppaker for the December meeting (cnd Holiday Banquet) was Dr. Hich Funk., head of thE Exotic Anirral Clinic a.t the University of T(~nnE'ssee IS College of Veterinary M€-dicine.

His talk Frjday covered herp cases tha.t 11e has handled, a.nd incluced a slides, grnphic in every detail.

great

Ireny

He rE'viewed good cage setups for snakes, reconrnending a plein ne\\TsI-'eper substrate, clean water, and heat sourcE'. He cautioned against. using ~gboard as a cage cover, since it tends to easily harbor bacteria that can cause respiratory illness. In other husbandry information, Dr. Funk warned against overfeeding: overly fat. anima.ls are prone to hf-'.E.rt problems (including heart. attacks, just like ht:m:1a1ls) and infert.ility.

He also discussed egg-bound snakes and possible causE'S and solut.ions.

Ccmrron snake ailments include respiratory illnesses, gastroent.eritis, ulcers, worms, eye infections, and vira.l infections some of these are difficult to diagnosE' or treat. l'r1ost reptile health problems, he said, arp caused by grarnnega.ti ve bacteria.

These infect.ions can be t.rea.ted by cert-ain ant.ibiotics available through vet.erinarians.

Pet shop remedies generally do not. cover gramnegat-iv€ bacteria. If the problem is not. bact.f-'rial in origin, but. is fungal or viral, antibiotics will not, be effect.ive-; other treatments can be tried. of the nest carmon rept.ile he·alt.h problems, respirat.ory disease, can also l:e easeD by increasing cagf' tenperature and humidity, whi.eT: helps break d.0\'Vn lung congestion.

One

Dr. Funk showed a series of slides expla.ining how he anesthetizes snakes for surgery. He norrnaJ.ly uses j sofluoride (gas), which is safe to use on both hurrans and reptiles. He also showed a variety of x-rays of animals - no:r:mal, and injured or disPosed. One n:;)JrlBrkablE~ pair of slides showed a photo and an x-ray of a twoheaded turtle with pneumonia on only one sice (on half the siarresf.'-twi.n t.llrtle).

SOIn€time's it. pays to be creative when c1E'Clling with reptjle injuries or unusual problems. Sincf~ reptiles heal very slowly, but quit,e well, you can thlnk up unexpect.ed solut.ions.

Dr. Funk I s final slides included some of his unexpected solutions, including 0 t.iny gecko with a cast on its broken leg, and a large tortoise whose amput.at.ea leg was replaced with a system of furnit.ure castor wheels screwed to its shell ~nd plastron.

Dr. Funk does accept animals for trea.tment that are sent to means) I and is a.n excellent. resource for us in l'r1innesota. ana phone nurrber is whereh€; nlBy be re.a.ched: Dr. Richard Funk Uni.versi ty of Tennessee College of Vet.erinary NedicinE' ])E)pt. of Env. Pract.ice P.Q.Box 1071 37901 Knoxville, TN

PBONE: (615) 546-6092

2

him

(sent

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lega.l

The following adaress

The Adoption Comrri ttee had a. 3-Toed rBox Turtle and a Ball Python up for adopt.i.on at the DecE'rrber meeting. rrwo rnembPrs were found with good qualifications for adopting the 3-Toed Box, and the decision wa.s made with CI t.oss of a coin. The Python also found a good home.

It is inportant to wear your badge at. the nonthly meetings to h~lp the Adoption Comrri ttee members know that you are a current. member that is interested in adopting a herp. This is i~rtant when they axe passing out the' adoption questionnaire during the meeting. Please find your badge when you arrive, and wear it during the meeting.

REFRESHMENTS

December refreshments were brought by Mitch Bawrran, Marilyn Brooks, Greg and Hon Hoore. There was cookies and donuts galore.

Gloria and Kristopher Anton brought birthday. Happy B-day Kristopher!

cupcakes

in

celebrat.ion

Kvanbeck,

of Kristopher' s

A'ITENTION MINN. PUBLIC RADIO MEMBERS

M.B.S. would like to place a monthly ad in the Minnesota ~tOnthly. If we can get. twelve ( 12 ) M. P . R. merribers to donate their annual free ad, we cCln have a regular notice on Minnesota. Public Radio. M.P.R. me.mbers should provide the M.B.S. board with your ~1.P.R. me.niber nuniber and expiration date. Contact John Moriarty or KatE' Anderson at the nest Inee.t.ing!

RAFFLE

The December raffle was a success again with some rea.lly nice items - frog earrings I lizard lights I snake watch, posters, 1::ooks I etc. The following is a list. of memr.€rs who held winning tickets: Kris Anton, Connie Delles, Jim Ellis, Jim. Gerholdt, Nancy & Bruce Haig, JoAnn James, Vence Jimerson, John Moriart.y, Claude & Aaron Riedel, Hary Schmidt, Tom Schmitz, ~1egan Strand, and David Wiener. Thanks to every who purchased tickets, and thanks again t.O the menibers who brought i terns.

CRI'ITER OF THE

~

The cri t.t.er of the month for Decetrber wa.s YOUR. RECOVERED HF~RP. Michael Anderson, Becky Helgesen, John Moriart.y, and Megan Strand brought herps and shared their good. and. bad herp health stories with the InenIDers. An Eastern Box Turtle shell, Redfooted t.ort.oise, Boa Constrict.or I a.nd Reticula.ted Python were brought for display.

M.B.S. OFFICERS PRESIDENT VI CE-PHESI DENT SECRETARY

TRF.ASURFR NEt'lSLETrER FDI'IOR

MEf'.ffiER-AT-IARGE ~1EMBER-AT-LARGE MEMBER-AT~LAR(,:rE

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Ann Porwell John Moriarty Kat.€ Anderson Del Jones Tom Schwitz Bruce D€lles Bruce Haig Aaron Banpton John Mel t.zer I

(612) (612) (612) (612) (612) (612) (612) (715) (612)

489-7853 647-1334 222-3500 938-8555 488-7619 374-5422 789-4637 425-7565 780-8561

In last_ months M.R.S. NAWslett.er, t.hf> article Cracks, Repair and Drilling holes in Glass by David Wien€'r, Figure 5 should read as follows: Figure 5: Holes can be orillExl. in glass with a diarrond orill bit_ and water.

You can do a rough hole using a pi ece of car inner t.ube, and a normal dri 11 bi t. . Punch or cut the sizE' hole needec1 in rubber. Use silicone to glue rubber.

You might. have to cut rubber off with a razor bladE). Using duct tape or strong.packing tape, tape rubber to glass, fill hole with sand and water, set. same size drill bit on top and run drill on slow t.O semi fast, letting the sand drill the hole. One can also use heavy axle grease or lard to hold sand in hole or just keep refilling with sand. Hole wi.ll not be perfectly srrooth on edge I but it will be round and a. hole.

ARUBA ISI.J\ND RATTLESNAKE SSP UPDATE

The response to the appeal for funds for the Aruba. Island Rattlesnake field work has been overwhelming. The t.ot.al raised to date comes to $1286! This includes the $500 mat.ching funds from the Hinnesot.a zoo. This money will go a long way to makE' up the short-fvll of funding so that t.he project can go the full year.

For details, if you wissed it, see last month's M.B.S. Newslett.er.

I would like to thank M.E.S. for their aonation of $100. I would also like to thank the individual rnerribers who contributed a total of $400.

Your interest. in this project is much appreciat.ed.

I will keep the menibership updated on the progress of the field work. A special thanks also goes to the ~1innesota Zco for t.heir generous offer of matching funds.

If you would st.ill like to nBke a donation, please do so. Either send it t.o me at the Minnesota Zoo, or to my home - P.O. Box 86, Webst.er I MN 55088. Checks should be Ired€' to: HOUSTON ZOOLCGlCAL GARDENS - l\RUEA ISIMlJ) SSP. }..nd remerriber I they are tax deductible!

THANKS AGAIN 1

Jim Gerholdt FEBRUARY GFEAT WHITE SNAKE SALE! The Fifth Annual H.H.S. \Vhit€, Snake Sale will be held on Feb. 3, 1989. This gives everyone arout a month to round up those special i terns to donate to the event. The funds raised from this evening of fun and re.rgain hunting are used to help pay for our whi t.e pages, picnic expenses, post.age, holiday banquet expenses, newsletters, SpE'cial Speakers, and much nore.

Herp and Nature iteIl1s are needed. for donation t.o M.H.S. We need you the rrtelI1bers to bring several i terns to the February meeting for this sale. look around tn.e house (attic to basement.) and USE' your imagination. Heptile cages I aquariUID.s (cracked or not) I hot rocks, herp/nature phot.os and posters and books, curios, jewelry, substrate, hide roxes I wa.ter dishes and reptile f()()(l and vitamins are just- some ideas of vihat you can bring. The list is endless, just. be creativE' and elf'an out. your closets. M. H. S. needs your dona.tions!

If you cannot get. your donat.ion to the February meeting, bring them to the January rreeting and leave theln with Tatl Schroitz - \Vhite Sno.ke Sale Chairperson. If you have questions, cont.act. Tan at 488-7619. No live crit.t~ers will De accE'ptP.d or offered for sa.le at. this meet.ing. We hope to have this years event C'onputerizec1. with Del Jones I help so the tabulat.ion w:ill go quicker at the end this year.

4

路 \nyone keeping live reptiles and amphibians is asked to contribute to the annual inventory. Please submit the following information current January 1 of 1989: (1)

A conlplete inventory of all reptiles and amphibians living in your collection as of January 1. Sexes of

adult animals should be included and should be listed male (1.0.0) felnale (0.1.0) unknown (0.0.1).

Juvenile animals should also be listed using the saIne fOffi1at. For example: 1.2.1 + juv 0.0.10 would be read one adult male, two adult females, one adult of unknown sex, no juvenile males, no juvenile females, and ten juveniles of unknown sex.

(2)

A list of all species which bred during the previous year (1987). Infonnation may be very sparse with simply an indication that the taxon was bred during the year, or it may be quite lengthy including, but not limited to: date:) of copulation, dates of egg laying and hatching, types of substrates and temperatures used during incubation, light cycles, hibernation, etc. Any type of infonnation up to three or four paragraphs may be used.

(3)

Please list all specimens in your collection which you believe may set a longevity record for the species.

List the date of acquisition, your specimen ID number, the sex, estimated age at capture, wild or captive bred, living or dead. There is also room for some brief notes.

(4)

A listing of any publications (including books, museum bulletins, journals, magazines, etc.) with reference to reproduction of captive reptiles and amphibians. Supplement the list which appears in the 1985 edition.

(5)

Be sure to include your name, address, and telephone numbers as you want them listed.

Send all information to:

Frank L. Slavens P.O. Box 30744 Seattle, WA 98103

INVEN1'ORY, LONGEVI1'Y, nREEDL~G No'rES REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS IN CAPTIVITY, CURI~ENT JANUARY 1, 1988 compiled by

FRANK L. SLAVENS ~

402 pages Available for: $32.50 hardbound, $25.00 softbound plus $3.00 postage ($4.00 overseas)

r

This inventory lists 462 genera, 1357 species and several hundred subspecies. Information is compiled from 400 reptile and amphibian collections (148 public, 252 private), mostly in the United States.

--------~--------

TO ORDER -------~-------足

CURRENT ISSUE: #

1988 Hardbound $32.50

#

1988 Softbound $25.00

$_--$,----

PREVIOUS ISSUES: 1976 - 1984 out of print #'

1985 Softbound $25.00

$

#

1986 Softbound $25.00

$

#

1987 Softbound $25.00

$

POST AGE & HANDLING ($3.00 each book) $ OVERSEAS POSTAGE

($4.00 each book) $

TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED

$_--

Name: Institution: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, Address: Send all information to: city

State

Zip

Frank L. Slavens P.O. Box 30744 Seattle, W A 98103

HOLIDAY BANQUET SPEAKER

by De?n Bowman Dr. Richard Funk from the Uni versi ty of Tennessee, Fnoxvi lIe, spoke t.o us on Boa s and Pythons at. our Holiday Banquet. He told us there is sane controversy in thE' classification of the Beidae family, and ment.ioneo the studies donp by Underwood in 1977 a.nd McDowell in 1975. A range map wes shown, explaining the distribution of True Boids. Most live in the NEW World tropics.

Asian and Afri.can sand boas, Rubber and Rosy Boos of North America, and some Madagascan species are.some of the exceptions. The True Pythons inhabit the Austr?l-Asian region and Africa.

An exception is the Mexican burrowing pyt.hon.

there are quit.e a fevv people in the Society interested in breeding their l::oas and pythons, Dr. Funk had SOIl.lâ&#x201A;Ź helpful hi.nt.s.

Many people neglect to provide branches for arroreal snakes, which do their mating in branches. He said there should be a substrate for pythons on which to lay their eggs. This subst.ra.te will' provide hmnidit_y and if it is covpred, will give the snake a sense of security. )?ythons tend. to brood their eggs, but Dr. Funk recommends renoving them for incubation. Be careful when separating the eggs. Moist paper towels are preferred as an incuba.tion medium as verrniculi tE' can get int.o a baby's mouth upon hatching. lIatchlings that have ingest.ed vermiculite have refused to feed, and diE'-d. He suggests talking witb people who have had success breeding their snakes and using half of what they say, because what. works for one person won't necessarily work for you. Some lx:>a. constrict.ors breed every ye-ar, others alternate years. We were told 'toas will mate each day for up to three nonths during breeding season.. Boas and pythons have fBirly smootn hewipenes contrasting with the spiny pernipenes on c.'Olubrid snakes.

As

After his presentation, we had an opportuni t.y to a.sk Dr. Funk questions. The 75 :rrerobers who att.ended the ba.nquet wished to thank Ri.ch for hi.s informative slide presentation.

In conclusion, I would like to thank Dennis Daly for his notes, whiC'h makp. this review possible.

7

1988 PROTO

caNmer

RESULTS

1988 Photo Contest ha.c1 a tota.l of 31 entries, sOOmi t_ted by 10 meIPbers. The contest was judged by JOc~n Gc.lli, Nongcure Specialist; Aaron Hanpt.on, M.R.S. Bocrd Nernber and 1987 People I s Choice vlinneri and John Slivon, Bell Museum Photographer.

The Hinners were:

The

Black and white prints: 1st. - Dennis Daly 2nd - Dennis Daly 3rd - Jo Anne Wetherell Color Prints Natural set.t.ing: 1st - John Moriarty 2nd - Mark Kelly 3rd - Barney Oldfield

Color Prints People setting: 1st. - Barney Oldfield 2nd - r.1ark Kelly 3rd. - Mark Kelly

Color Slides Natural setting: 1st. - Barney Oldfield 2nd - John Horiarty 3rd - Blake Sheldon

Color Slides People setting: 1st - Blru(e Sheldon 2nd - Carol Dorff 3rd - Bruce Cutler

"People's Choice Award" - Barney Oldfield UPGRADE TO SUSTAINING OR CONTRIBUTING MEMBER

Last months nevJ'sletter announced the winner of the Illustration Cont.est and sh()\\TOO the winning illustration.

Prints sui table for frarrd.ng will be gi \len t.O members joining or renewing their rOPJrbE~rship at Sustaining ($50) or Contributing ($25) leve.ls bet.ween June 1, 1988 and May 31, 1989. The prints a.re limited, nurribered and signed. If you have renewed your me..rnbership or just joinE~d and would like a copy of this print, you may upgrade your present Ine'..rrbership to Sustaining or Cont.ributing befort:" ~1ay 31, 1989 by contacting Kate Anderson (M.R.S. Secreta.ry) either at a rronthly rr.eeti.ng or by phone a.t (612) 222-350'0.

ORIGINAL RATrLE SNAKE ItLUSI'RATION "vINNER

The origina.l RB.t.tle Snake Illustration that M.H. S. gave prints of t.O Sustaining and Contributing rne.mbers from 6/87 to 5/88 was won by Jamie King. Congratulations Jamie! !

OOMMI'ITEE CHAIRPERSONS NEEDED

M.H.S. is in need of a Display Commit.tee Chairperson and a State Fair Commit.t-ee Chairperson. vIe are a.lso looking for a chairperson for the 1990 Midwest.

Herpetological Conference Corrltnittee. If you are int"_erested in helping with these com:ni tte路es and would like to chair the commi tt.ee, contact a Board Merrber for details on duties and haw you can help.

8, '

•

EDIWR I S

NOTE:

PLFASE

SE.1\lD

AIL

NFWSLE~ITER

AR'rICLES AND CLASSIFIED ADS TO: Tan

Schm:itz, 85~ W.. .fJfj.nnehaha, St .. Paul, m..

At::tn: MIS Editor.. ro Nor send articles or ads to the MRS address. The deadline for all NP\ilTslet.t.er i telTlS is the 15th of t.he month! All Cla.ssified ads ar~ run inthp MRS :t-7ewsIE:t.ter as a free service to tbe merrbership. No pcdd ads are accE:'pt.ed from non-members. No aas will be run for venonous species. l7hile t-1HS will not run ads for known' sick or illeg~l aniIPals, we accept. no responsibility for the health or legality o~_any animal advert.ised here. Please LIMIT SIZE of ad to a.pprox. four ( 4) lines.' . Business cards rrak~ acceptable ads. <

MHS DELI

RClTlE'rrber: order frozen rats and rat. pups no later than 7 :00pn the MONDAY before t.he meet.ing. Call Bruce or Connie at 593-0298 to pla.ce your order.

FRESH FROZEN RATS - JillffiO SIZE - $2.00 EA.ffi

RAT PUPS - $5.00 PER DOZEN 3 OOZEN PLPS or 6 ~IXJLT RATS LIMIT!

FRESH FR07.EN

FOR SALE: Guyanan Boa Constrict.ors B. constrictor SSP.8 captjve bred

our facili t.ies. $225.00 each.

Terry, P.O. Box 878, Milwa.uke€, tJI

and

Free periodic df'livery to 'IWin Ci tj ps .

53201. Or call (4]4) 645-7347.

rorn

at..

Contfl.ct

POl<. SALE: Used fonnica herp cages, front opening, 47" long X 23" wiele X 20 11 hi.gh

$100/ea.

Cant.act. Dean P..owrran at (612) 561-7842 evenings.

FOR SAlE: Frozen adult mice ($5/dz), adult ra.ts ($2/ea), & mec1. size short ha.ir guinea pigs ($1.50/ea). Call Vence or Nanette at (612) 825-8035 evenings.

FOR SAlE: ].0 Adult Fraire King Snake L. calligaster calli.gaster, approx. 2', $30.

Call Greg Kvanbek (612) 533-7723 afternoon.

FOR SALE: 0.1 Giant Green Chinese Treefrog, $ 25; 3 .0 African. Bubbling Runnin.g Frogs Kassina senegalenis, $20/ea.ch. Custan made volt.age regulators availablp for $15 to $25. Call mornings for Dave (612) 444-9775.

FOR SALE: Books - Dit.mars Reptiles of the \vorld $15; Pope Turtles of the U.s. and Cunada $17.50; Vogt Anphibians ?nd Reptiles of Hisconsin $17.50.

Other t.itles available. Contart John Moriart.y at (612) 647-1334.

SAI..E:: Frozen mice (pinkies, fuzzies, juveniles), 50ea/$26.50 sold by reservation only, can be deliverro to rronthly H.H.S. meetings. Cont.act Bruce @ (612) 593-0298.

FOP

Fenales - S:r:ot.t.ec1 Turtle Clerrroys gutt2.to. Feneles - Florida Box Turtle Terrapene carolina bauri to be used for captive breedjng. Ca.ll (718)837-7231, 7 to 10 pn, or write Vincent. J. Congro, 2031 73rd Street, Brooklyn, NY ] 1204.

WNJTED:

HIBE:RNATIt-".lG SP1\CE FOP PENT: We haVE? r(')Q'!l for many snakE'S i n a 50 dpgrf'E' hibernacull:rrn.

Call John at. (612) 263-7880 for rrore inforTIBtion or wri.te us at. our NEW ADDRESS - R.J. REPTILES, BOX 3695, ~INNEAPOLIS, MN 55403.

9

SOCIETY

lEU MUSEUM Of JllAlUML ~y

XI) CHUltCH sntaT Sol. e MINNEAPOUS. MINNiSOTA 5545S.1014

Jim Mead 211 C7ark Street Mankato , MN 56001

"

66 02/8~ C

~

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION AND T-SHIRT

RDER FORM

MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 10 CHURCH STREET S.拢 0 MINNEAPOUS, MINNESOTA 55455路0104

NAME(s),_________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________.___________________________ CITY~

__________________________________________

PHONE

STATE~

INTEREST~S

_______ ZW_____________________

___________________________________

DO YOU WISH THE ABOVE INFORMATION USTID IN THE MHS DIRECTORY TYPE Of MEMBERSHIP

o NEW o RENEW o SUSTAINING.............................. $5,0.00

o

CONTRIBUTING ........................... 525.00

o

Admits all members of a family to monthly meetings INDIVIDUAL .............................. $10.00

o FAMILY ................................... $12.50

DYES

ONO

OFFICIAL MRS T-SHIRT SO MO LO XLO $7.00 each includes postage PLEASE ENCLOSE PAYMENT WITH APPLICATIOlQ',路MAKE; CHECKS PAYABLE TO MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOClETY;MEMBERSHIP IS FOR 12 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF JOINING. you wri.L RECEIVE YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD BY RETURN MAIL-.A RECEIPT WILL BE SENT .' ':".

ONLY ~N REQUEST. ;').

e

~

S

S

E

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7/86

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MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL