Vol. 11 (1991), No. 6

NEWSLETTER OF THE

MI ESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY

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BEll. MUSEUM OF NATURAL mSTORY

10 CHURCH ST. S.E.

MINNEAPOliS, MN 55455-0104

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Aug. 6 - 11, 1991 Joint meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles and the Herpetologists' League. Includes a two-day symposium entitled "Captive Management and Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles" on Aug. 9 - 10. Penn State University, University Park, PA. For more information, see John Moriarty.

Aug. 16-18, 1991 National Reptile Breeders' Expo, Orlando, Florida. Contact Central Florida Herpetological Society, P.O. Box 3277, Winter Haven, FL 33881.

Oct. 11-13, 1991 7th Annual MidwestHerp Symposium, Indianapolis, IN. Hosted by the Hoosier Herpetological Society.

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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; to educate the membership and the general public in the ecological role of reptiles and amphibians; and to promote the study and conservation of reptiles and amphibians.

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MRS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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PRESIDENT VICE-PRESIDENT MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY RECORDING SECRETARY TREASURER NEWSLETIER EDITOR MEMBER-AT-LARGE MEMBER-AT-LARGE MEMBER-AT-LARGE MEMBER-AT-LARGE IMMEDIATE PAST PRES.

John Mel1zer Terry Scheiber Dennis Daly Marilyn Brooks .

Jo Anne Wetherell-Moriarty Fred Bozvay Venoo Jimerson Greg. Kvanbek Bill Moss John Moriarty

(612) 263-7880 (612) 440-7482 (612) 633-8370 (612) 533-7723 ,(612) 647 -13 34 (612) 379-2070 (612) 869-8547 (612) 533 ..7723 (612) 488 .. 1383 (612) 647-1334

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Š Copyright Minnesota Herpetological Society. The contents of this newsletter may be reproduced for inclusion in the newsletters of other herpetological societies provided that the material is reproduced without change and proper credits are given to the MRS Newsletter citing volume number and date.

Next Meeting PLACE: 335 Borlaug Hall

DATE: Friday, July 12, 1991

St Paul Campus University of Minnesota

TIME: 7:00 PM

PROGRAM: Re-cap of the International Herpetological Symposium SPEAKER: MHS Members Several MHS members will be attending the International Herp Symposimn in Seattle, Washington. 'This conference promises to have some of the best talks of any sympqsium to date as well as banquet speaker, Gary Larson, of "Far Side comic fame. Members planning to attend were dispatched with a mission .. to bring back any information that might be of interest to their fellow MHS members. A review of some of the information gained will be presented at the meeting. l1

CRIITER OF mE MONTH: Your LargeH Herp Since warm weather allows you to bring out animals without the use of a cooler and a heat source, bring out the largest herp that you own. 'This could be an Anaconda or a Bog Turtle as long as ifs

your largest.

Be sure to bring a proper container to display your animal during critter time. Venomous animals must be cleared in advance wi1h Terry Scheiber (612) 440-7482. Animals are not to be displayed during the meeting except during critter of 1he month period. megal species Will not be- allowed.

Members who do not comply will not be allowed to display their animal.

Upcoming Programs August 2: A Review of the Genus EJaphe .. Marty Bjerke September 6: Husbandry and Propagation of Boas .. Jeff Ronne

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Highlights

Last Month's Program

The speaker at last month's meeting was Dr. John Newman who presented "Herp Medicine ll • EDITOR'S NOTE: Detailed reviews of MHS programs will be suspended until an MHS member volunteers to write them. For information on what this entails, please contact the editor, Jo Anne Wetherell-Moriarty.

Critter of the Month Last month's critter of the month was your healthiest herp. On display were the fonowing: Florida X Goini Kingsnake, two Nile Monitors, American Alligator, Reticulated Python, Eastern Box Turtle, Gray Treefrog, Burmese Python, Boa Constrictors, and Tiger Salamander. These critters were presented by Toni Jesmer, Bill Moss, Bethann Lord, Chris Ash, Chase Delles, Drew Newman, Jeff Ronne, and Zachary Strand.

Raffle Results Thanks to RJ Reptiles, John Peterson and Ann McKenzie, as well as several anonymous donors of raffle items. The raffle netted $ 45.00. The winners and their prizes are listed below.

Bill Moss .. No..Pest Strip Marla Wilber .. pipestone turtle Gail Dubay - Reptl-thenn

Tony Gamble .. Repti-vite Gloria Anton .. glow lizard

The proceeds go to help offset operating expenses. Thanks to all who purchased tickets .

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Board Position

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Mary Ann Waldon has resigned from the position of recording secretary. The MHS constitution allows for the position to be filled by appointment A volunteer to fill this opening is needed.

Duties consist of taking minutes at both the general meeting and the board meeting and writing the . minutes up for the newsletter and presentation at the next board meeting. Please contact John Meltzer at I ~ 263 ..7880 for more infonnation if you are interested.

Board Meeting The printing of minutes from the board meeting has been suspended until the pOSition of recording secretary is filled.

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Help a Hapless Herp Anyone with animals to go up for adoption should contact Fred Bozvay prior to the meeting.

Refreshments Nanette Jimerson and Candy Ashbach will now share the responsibilities of refreshment . chairperson. If you would like to provide refreshments for a meeting be sure to sign up in advance at the meeting.

MHS Member Profile

by Drew Newman

AnnPorwoll, Founding Member, Reminisces Sitting in the meeting room on the frrst Friday of each month, it is difficult to imagine MHS as a young, struggling organization that it was back in 1981. Yet it was only ten years ago that MHS was conceived and began to grow into the large organization that it is now. Ann Porwoll was one of the frrst members and she shared with me some memories of the early days.

Ann's fust encounter with MHS was the result of seeing a poster at Twin Oties Reptiles advertising a meeting. The rust meeting was held at the Bell Museum of Natural History. Almost immediately, a constitution and by-laws drafted and a board of directors was set up. Ann has served on the board as member.. at-large, secretary, vice-president, president, and immediate past president. Now the run was on to attract new members. Aim remembers putting notices in the calendar of events section of the newspaper, putting up posters in pet shops, and putting together a brochure. When in six months the membership reached sixty people, everyone was pleased.

Some of the frrst annual picnics were held at Como Park in st. Paul and Ann remembers having to go out there at 6 AM on a Sunday morning to hold a picnic area until the group arrived. She also recalls when MHS did "Hands-on" at Grand Old Day in St. Paul. Both days were very hot and rough on the animals.

Ann has served on a number of committees and was active in helping to organize the first Midwest Herp Symposium. All of us should be thankful that back in 1981 Ann , and others like her, invested the time and effort to make MHS what it is today.

Next Newsletter Deadline July 1 MHS Newsletter, V"oJ. XI, No, 6

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THE ELONGATED TORTOISE (Geochelone elongata )

by William Ness Elongated Tortoises are not as popular as Red foot and Yellow foot Tortoises but they do show up in collections and in pet shops and prices lists. Adults can reach about 12 inches in length and have a relatively narrow carapace, typical of many forest..dwelling tortoises. There are smudgy black spots on costal, central and most marginal'scutes of the carapace. The plastron has black blotches on the abdominals and often on the umerals, pectorals, and femorals. There is a small narrow nuchal Beute (small scales on the front center edge of the carapace)., In adults the interpectoral seam (seam between the third pair of plastfal scales from the front) is slightly longer than the interhumeral seam (seam between the second pair of p1astral scales). The head is unpigmented greenish yellow to almost white. Males develop a concave plastron and have much longer tails than females. The female's tail barely extends beyond the vent while the male's extends over one inch.

During the breeding season the skin around the nose and eyes turns pink in both males and females. The limbs are grayish with large flat scales.

The range of the Elongated Tortoise is Northeast India through Bunna, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and east to North Vietnam, and south to Penang, Malaysia. Elongated Tortoises are usually found in low-lying areas of hilly or mountainous districts in mesic (semi-moist) rather than xeric (dry) areas. Unfortunately, individuals in low lying areas are hunted for food. They appear to be more abundant in the southern part of the range. Elongated Tortoises seem to have an extreme tolerance for heat. One individual was found in Thailand on an open hillside when the ground was almost too hot to touch. (Fauna of British India, Vol 1, 1931).

Breeding is similar to Geochelone travancorica which'is described as follows by Auffenburg (Auffenburg,W. 1964 Notes on courtship of the land tortoise (G. travancorica) Journal of Bombay Natural History 61(2):247 -253). The adults assume a reddish color around the nostril and eyes during the breeding season (Nov-Jan). The sex of the intended mate is confinned by smelling the cloacal region by means of a characteristic movement involving extension of the head followed by rapid movement of the head through a short vertical arc, the movement terminates in a small and rapid curlicue. FolloWing sex recognition the female is "immobilized" by repeated ramming by the male. This is common in tortoises but is carried out for particularly long periods in this species. possibly to bring 1:\te honnonal systems of both to a state of readiness. Mounting follows the variable period of shell ramming. Maintenance of mounted posture is probably assisted by insertion of the c1awlike tail tip into a shallow depression at the level of the femoral-anal seam of the female.

Although several of my tortoises are of breeding size and have exhibited the pink coloration indicating the breeding season I have not observed any breeding behavior yet. I have tried introducing several new males to the group to stir things up but have not had any results yet. I plan to alter a few of my management techniques in the future to try to stimulate breeding. The diet of Elongated Tortoises consists largely of fruits in the wild. The Minnesota ZOOlogical Gardens' has been quite successful at breeding, hatching, and rearing Elongated Tortoises but apparently is no longer interested in producing any more young at this time, and no longer have them on exhibit.

In captivity Elongated Tortoises will eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and greens. Given the opportunity they will graze in the backyard. Proper diet is always a concern for any herp that does not live on Whole animals (one mouse contains the RDA of all essential nutrients for a snake), and tortoises are no exception. Without the correct proportions of required nutrients young tortoises can develop soft or irregular shells, rickets, and other problems. Fortunately, the Minnesota Zoo ' did some work on developing a diet that seems to work well for this species. Basically the diet is

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composed of 2 parts kale, 2 parts rabbit pellets, 1 part green beans, 1 part carrots, 1/2 part each of banana, apple, orange, and monkey chow. All the ingredients are chopped up in small pieces to discourage consumption of only favorite foods. When this mixture was fed on a daily basis the tortoises developed bumpy shells, probably from too rapid growth. But when this mixture was fed 3 times a week with dark greens such as kale offered on alternate days shell growth appeared normal. The Minnesota Zoo tortoises occasionally consume cockroaches and mice that wander into their exhibit. I try to offer this diet as often as I can, but sometimes offer frozen :mixed vegetables dusted with vitamins alternated with dark greens and occasionally soaked monkey chow biscuits.

Frozen mixed vegetables is a quick and easy meal but I don't .like to use it too much because there is so much com in many of the mixes. The calcium: phosphorus ratio is an important consideration in shen and bone growth and while kale has about a 4: I ratio and green beans have about a 3:2 ratio, com has about a I: 10 ratio which is just the opposite that you want. On occasion I will offer cactus pads (with the spines rubbed oft) which have about a 10: 1 calclum:phosphorus ratio and the tortoises really devour it. My tortoises do not seem to like rabbit pellets and if the pellets don't get soggy enough and mushed in well enough with the rest of the mix the pellets seem to fmd their . way to the bottom of the dish and get left. Dandelion greens, leaves of plantain, endive, and spinach are given in addition to kale. Some foods, like spinach, can have some detrimental effects on the tortoise's physiology if fed exclusively. A number of zoos feed kale and spinach on a regular basis but alternate them with other foods and have had no ill effects.

During warm summer days I graze the tortoises in corrals in my backyard. We do not use any chemicals on our lawn and neither do any of our close neighbors so I don't worry much about picking up toxins. I throw additional dandelion greens into the corral as well as plantain and o1her greens to supplement the grasses in the corral. Kale and o1her greens are grown in the garden specifically for the tortoises "and I also let dandelions grow in the garden. The tortoises are not left out all night unless the forecasted low is above 70 degrees since I do not have heated nest boxes yet The corrals have a wire tops for three main reasons: the tortoises like to play acrobats and stand on each o1hers shoulders to escape; the neighbor kids and my own like to put toy trucks in the corral for the tortoises to play with; and my Collie has a fondness for tortoise doodoo (leading cause of bad breath and who knows what else). When not in the corral the tortoises live in . a modified snake cage. The cage is about two by two by six feet long. There is a thennostatically controlled 40 watt ceramic heater in a pegboard box attached to one end about six inches above the floor to provide a fairly constant ambient air temperature. Below this heater is a hot pad (nonadjustable similar to human hot pad) that is located undemea1h a one foot by two foot by one inch high hardboard box. Covering the hot pad with the low box prevents the tortoises-from wrecking the pad and getting shocked. There is a sort of open ended hide box on top of this so the tortoises have a wann floored box to crawl under if they want. There is also a jumbo sized "sizzle stone" at the opposite end of the cage as wen as a couple of light sockets on the ceiling to provide basking areas. A box of dirt about one foot square and 1hree inches deep, a water bowl, and a two foot fluorescent full spectrum light complete the cage. The lights are turned off at night but the "sizzle stone", hot pad, and ceramic heater run continuously. I have used newspaper for flooring for about four years and with the sizzle stone, box of dirt, hot pad pla1ionrt, water bowl, and each other to climb on, the tortoises seem to have pretty good muscle tone and do not exhibit the splayed legs that some animals do when kept on slippery newspapers. I tried using rabbit pellets as a substrate for a while but it has to be changed very often to prevent mold from growing where the pellets get damp. Newspapers were a lot cheaper and seemed to work okay for me, with a lot less hassle. The water bowl is a small dog dish and is too small for the tortoises to crawl in which prevents anyone from getting stuck upside down and drowning and theoretically prevents them from defecating in it. Theories are fine but tortoises are not theoretically oriented and crawl onto the water bowl and manage to make 1heir fecal deposits anyway. Several times a week the tortoises are soaked in a large plastic tub with enough wann water to cover their backs. I use a soft toothbrush and scrub off any dirt or feces that may be stuck to the shell and skin. Invariably, 1hey will defecate in the water if left long enough. If not left long enough they will defecate shortly after being returned to a nice clean cage. As soon as they defecate I move them to a tub of clean water MHS Newsletter, Vol. Xl, No" 6

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or rinse them with a hose. They are then returned to the cage. About once a month I weigh and measure each animal to make certain that everyone is gaining or maintaining their weight If I am quick with the triple beam balance I can get a weight before curiosity sets in and the tortoise starts all four legs going and bouncing the scale around. I have found that if I approximate the weight based on the last time and set the tortoise on its back on the scale I can usually get a reading before ' things start bouncing.

Tortoises seem to have a lot more personaliiy than snakes and mine seem to be a lot more active than most of my snakes. True, when snakes are hungry they are pretty active, but when you open the door you may get bit if you don't feed them first. Tortoises greet you at the door when its chow time but they check things out before chowing down. So far none of my tortoises have mistaken my hand for lunch. Not so for the snakes. My Elongates each have their own personalities. The large six year old captive hatched female'is a chow hound. She is the first to the food dish and the last to leave. She likes almost everything but rabbit pellets but will usually eat oranges and monkey chow frrst. Her sister is a very finicky eater and is only half her size, but has a smoother shell. She prefers green beans and is always the ftrSt to leave the food dish. The five year female is intermediate in her feeding. She eats a lot but not as much as the large one. My male is a 'wild caught long tenn captive and is a mover. His primary occupation is looking for a way out of the cage. Eating is a minor diversion from looking for the open door. Unfortunately he has not shown much interest in the females even when evetyone in 'the cage develops a pink nose indicating the breeding season. I have tried bringing in other males to stimulate him but nothing has worked.

(The other males weren't interested either). Future plans include a larger cage and more time outside in the sununer to see if that will help stimulate breeding behavior.

'Herp Humor

by Drew Newman Anyone who keeps reptiles andlorampbibians probably has some great stories to tell but the sad fact is that most people in our everyday life cannot appreciate such tales. However help has arrived. Beginning this month you can call or write to me with your funniest herp experiences.

These will be published in the newsletter (anonymously, if you prefer). So ten me about the time dinner guests arrived when you had a Tokay Gecko attached to your face or when your Burmese Python musked the vet from head to toe. This is your column everyone so lets get some stories coming in.

Write:

Drew Newman 1115 Albemarle st. Paul, MN 55107

or Call: (612) 489-5104

No submissions at meetings please.

Snakey Riddles What do little Rattlesnakes like best in school?

Answer: Hiss-tory!

What kind of snake do you fmd on the front of your car?

Answer: A wind shield viper!

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FLIES!

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Commercial Advertising The MHS board has approved the running of paid commercial advertising. Anyone interested in more infonnation on ad rates and sizes should contact Greg Kvanbek in advance at (612) 5337723.

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1.0.0 = male; 0.1.0 = female; 0.0.1 = unknown

WANTED: I need all the shed snake skins in the world - always - to give away at reptile programs.

Contact Bob Duerr at (612) 541- 9417.

WANTED: 0.1 Hennann's tortoise, or any leads about where to find one. Willing to trade 1.0 Hermann's tortoise as part of purchase. Contact John Moriarty at (612) 647-1334

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4056 Central Avenue N. E. Columbia Heights, MN 55421

Largest Selection of Reptiles & Amphibians in Minnesota Cages, Books, Feed & SUpplies

C iii:) PETS & SUPPLiES Tropical and Marine Aquaria Garden pools and Aviaries Food and Supplies for all Pets

PHil PAlAN

(612) 781-0805

540 Winnetka Ave. No. GokSen VaI~Y. Mn 55427

Bruce Delles

(612) 593-0298

CAPTIVE BRED REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS

Il.' IlltlJ#"II.lt ' BOX 3695 MINNEAPOLIS. MN 55403

OWNERS: JOHN & RUTH MELTZER

(612) 263-7880

INSTRUCTIONS: Ads are run as a free service to paid members. Ads for venomous species, illegal species, or sick animals will not be nm. MHS takes no responsibility for legality or health of any animal advertised here. Ads may be 11m for three consecutive months at which time ads may be re-submitted The editor re8elVe5 the right to omit ads when space is limited so as to allow all members a chance to advertise. Size of ads is limited to 4 typed lines or 1 standard size business card. Deadline for all newsletter items is the 1 st of the month. Send all newsletter items to : ATIN: Newsletter Editor, Minnesota Herpetological Society, Bell Museum of Naturallfutory, 10 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455-0104.

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HERP ASSISTANCE PEOPLE

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II Do you ever have a question about one of your herps and wonder who might be able to provide an II II answer? Most people who keep pets of any kind have been in this situation at one time or another. II II A group of MRS members has volunteered to provide assistance. Listed below are the people and " II their specialties. Please be reasonable about the time of day and how frequently you call. /I

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Large pythons an.d constrictors Glen (Jake) Jacobsen 757-8268 Jack Walsh, Jr. (715) 822-8726

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Other Sn.akes Del Jones 938-8555 John Meltzer 263-7880

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Lizardll Nancy Haig 789-4637 Bamey Oldfield 1-923-4856

Ampbibians John Meltzer 263-7880 Greg Kvanbek 533-7723

Terrestrial turtles and tortoises John Moriarty 647-1334 Ann POlWoll 489-7853

Aquatic Turtles Barney Oldfield 1-923-4856 Dennis Daly 633-8370

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Minnesota Herps Greg Kvanbek 533-7723 John Moriarty 647-1334

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_ _ SUSTAINING •.••..•. $60.00

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_ _ INSTITUTION ..•••. $25.00

_ _ CONTRIBUTING ••••. $30.00

_ _ BASIC ..•••••••..••.• $l5.00

OFFICIAL (ORIGINAL) MHS T-SHIRT - $7.00 includes postage (indicate how many of each) Adult:

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Kids: 6-8__

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Please enclose payment. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Minnesota Herpetological Society. Membership is for 12 months from date of joining. A membership card will be sent by return mail. A receipt will be sent only on request. MAIL TO: Mirmesota Herpetological Society, Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455-0104

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