Vol. 21 (2001), No. 9

Board of Directors

nen Museum ofNaturnl HistOIY, 10 Church Street South Eas4 Minneapolis Minneso1a 5545MJ104

President Bill Moss

651.488.1383 mngalorguy@qwest.net

Vice President

Tony Gamble

763.424.2803

Igamble@mediaone.net

Voice Mail: 612.624.7065

Recording Secretary

Julie Beauvais

The Minnesota Herpetological • t e y C 1 o S

612.321.0956

beavD01@tc.umn.edu

http://wmv.onrampinc.net/mhs/

MHS egroup email: http://groups.yahoo.com!group!Mnherpsoc

Membership Secretary

Nancy Haig

763.434.8684

nanchiag@citilink.com Treasurer Marilyn Blasus

952.925.4237 marilynbb@qwest.net

Newsletter Editor Heather Matson

612.554.8446

geckotoco@qwest.net Members at large Jodi L. Aherns

Nancy Hakomaki mngatorgal@qwesl.net Heather tngbretson Melissa Nordos Crow248@msn.com Keith Tucker

September 2001

Volume 21 Number 9

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.

612.588.9329 651.631.1380

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 763.572.0487 Minnesota Herpetological Society Newsletter is published monthly to provide its members 612.812.6146 with information concerning the society's activities and a media for exchanging informa612.321.0958 tion, opinions and resources.

Tucke022@tc.umn.edu

Committees Adoption

Sarah Richard

612.761.9544

RealSarah@aoLcom Education

Jan larson

507.263.4391 jan,skunkhollow@juno.com

Northern Minnesota Jeff Korbel

218.566.2586

Library Beth Girard

763.691.1650 bgirard@worldnet.att.net

Herp Assistance Amphibians Greg Kvanbek John Meltzer John Moriarty

651.366.0305 763.263.7680 651.482.8109

Chameleons Vern & Laurie Grassel

612.426.6109

Crocodilians Jeff Lang Bill Moss

701.772.0227 651.466.1363

Lizards Nancy Haig Heather Matson

763.434.8684 612.554.6446

Large Boas, Pythons Tina Cisewski

612.656.2665

Other Snakes Jeff Leclere John Meltzer

651.488.6388 763.263.7880

Aquatic Turtles Gary Ash John Levell

763.753.0216 507.467.3076

Terrestial Turtles Fred Bosman John Levell

763.476.0306 507.467.3076

General Meetings are held at Borlaug Hall, Room 335 on the SI. 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 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. All business cards are run for $5/month.

Items may be sent to: The Minnesota Herpetological Society Attn: Newsletter Editor Bell museum of Natural History 10 Church SI. SE. Minneapolis, MN 55455.0104

Snake Bite Emergency Hennepin Regional Poison Center

800.764.7661

Copyright Minnesota Herpetological Society 2001. Contents may be reproduced for non-profit use provided that all material is reproduced without change and proper credit is given author and the MHS Newsletter citing: volume, number and dale.

Newsletter of

The

Minne.sota

Soc L'"8\' J ~2001

Upcoming Meeting

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Herpetological e t y Volume 21 Number &i

Upcoming Meetings:

November 2, 2001 - Carol Hall December 7, 2001 fund important research and conserva- Dr. Robert Sprackland Banquet tion efforts.

December 8, 2001 Holiday Please take some time and consider featuring running for a Board position and let me Dr. Robert Sprackland October General Meeting know if you are interested. If you are Friday October 5,2001 7:00 PM January 4, 2002 not quite sure about joining the Board - Dr. Ann Paterson Program: Reptiles and the Law then please join us at the October board February 1, 2002 meeting and see us in action. Again if Guest Speaker: John P. Levell - Bert Langerwerf you are interested in running for a March 1, 2001 Board position let me know. Thanks.

The recent release, by the Humane _ White Snake Sale Julie Beauvais-Recording Secretary Society of the United States (HSUS), of a report critical of the commercial reptile trade in the United States has sparked a new debate in the herpetocultural community. The moral, legal, and health

The Vice-president's Report

By Tony Gamble

Creative MHS People Wanted

;ssltas of keeping repti:t:; pets ate under scrutiny. HSUS is asking that tI',e USDA enact a ban on the sale of reptiles in the US because of the risk of Salmonella. Is there any precedent to a ban of this sort? What other laws effect the keeping of reptiles in captivity? Do these laws change from state to state?

October's speaker, MHS member John P. Levell, can answer these questions and more. This talk will help put the HSUS report into perspective, and provide an overview of the current' legal aspects of reptile keeping.

John is an expert on the subject of herp law and is author of two editions of the book "Reptiles and the Law". He was MHS vice-~resident from 1993 to 1994 and again 10 1999. He also sE,rved as newsletter editor in 1995 and 1996. He is currently Executive Director of NorthStar Herpetological Associates, an organization devoted to herpetological education and research. John is an energetic and passionate spe" ker and this talk will offer members an E>xcellent chance to get caught up on tile legal issues that influence the herpetocultural hobby.

The MN Zoo has asked us if we would be interested in doing a display window inside of their Zoo lab (the interactive, hands-on area). They would like the subject to be about green iguanas and the problems associated with having them as captive pets. The window is four feet square. If you are interested, contact Bill Moss at 651-488-1383 as I will form the committee.

Elections

MHS Board of Directors 2002 Ballot.

President Jodi L Aherns Vice President Tony Gamble Recording Secretary Membership Secretary Nancy Haig Treasurer Marilyn Blasus Newsletter Editor Heather Matson Members @ Large (voting for four) Nancy Hakomaki Heather Ingbretson

It is time once again to start thinking about the elections coming up in November. As always volunteers are needed to become a part of the MHS Board of Directors. This is a great opportunity for members to become involved and help shape the future of the MHS. Some of the things that we If you are interested in running please do as the Board is to decide on the Julie @ 612.321.0958 contact operational budget for the MHS, decide on policy, plan special events, run the White Snake Sale and decide on funding for grant requests that we receive. I always liked reviewing the grant requests because it is great to know that the Society helps to

Minnesota Herpetological Society Newsletter

September 2001

Volume 21 Number 9

Classified Advertisements Classified ads are free to the member ship.

Deadline Is the night of the general meeting to be Included In the next 1.0.0 male, 0.1.0 :: female, 0.0.1 unsexed, cb "" captive bred, obo '" or best offer, + =times run( ads are run only 3x unless requested to continue).

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For Sale TIger Geckos CB 2001 $40 each. 4 or more $30 each. email: Heather, geckoloco@qwest.net or call 612.554.8446 LARGE ANIMAL DISPLAY CAGE - ONE OF A KIND 8' L x 3.25 ' D x 4.5' H, BEAUTIFUL GLASS AND WOOD FINISH INCLUDES HEAT LAMP, FLORESCENT LIGHTING, LOGS AND SHELF $800 OR B/O, CONTACT ROB AT 763-531-1924++ Leopard geckos-5 leo's (All incubated as female) Hatch dates- 7-5 (1), 7-22 (2), 8-3 (2) When leas are five weeks old and healthy they are sold. Pricing- Offspring from a high yellow male and a normal female are $45. Offspring from a High yellow male and a Leucistic female are $50.Call (763-754-8029) or email Qanheit@qwest.net). Ask for Aaron++ Sale: CB Ambanja Panther For Chameleons (Furcifer Pardalis) babies 2 months old, both male and female, eating small crickets. $100.00 pleasecall Linda at (612)729-2256 or e-mail at (Iwitte@usfamiIy.net)++ For sale: Albino mllksnake project; 1.1 albino ruthveni,1.5 possible het ruthvenl x thayerl, 1.1 possible het ruthvenl. Also for give away 1.1 12 year old Hog Island boas F1 from wild caught. Mark Hauge, 320-202-9871, email whitneywee@home.com +++

Het. Albino Leopards, Tremper Blood.

Banned nice yellow $25 each. Jungle nice color $40+ each. Striped Super nice color $75+ each. Viper Geckos all sizes Baby subadult Breeders call for pricing. TIeten Frog Eyed Gecko CB 2001 $40 each. Gaint Frog Eyed Gecko CB 2001 $50 each. Call Jodi LAherns 612.588.9329

Wanted Wanted Adult Female Leucistlc Leopard Gecko, ready or almost ready to be breed.

Contact Chris at (507)-359-9444 or at tex_2001@hotmail.com

Eastman Nature Center is looking for a Milk snake, Fox snake, or a Black Rat snake.

Snake will be used for school group and Need Home: 1.1 adult common boa con- family classes and must handle well. strictors 7'.5" each. Accustomed to han- Please call Kim at 763/420-4300. dling & people, used in live animal programs. Interested parties must be over 18, All the shed snake skins in the world. experienced in handling large snakes. Needed for giveaways at educational proReferences.

Contact: Long Lake grams. Contact Bob Duerr 612.541.0362 Conservation Center (Palisade MN), Male Sail Tail Dragon to entertain my 800.450.5522, or IIcc@mlecmn.net+ female. Large Male Northern bluetongue sklnk of aUeast 2 years of age.

Contact Domonie at 763-424-4243 or domonie@domunique.com Female Gulf Coast Box Turtle. Looking for a girl to keep my fella company. Or a pair for breeding. Contact Heather Matson 651.647.3444 or geckoloco@qwest.net

MHS Rodent Sales Mice

Pinkies Fuzzies Hoppers Adults

$7/dz. $7/dz. $8/dz. $10/dz

Rats

Sm Pups Lg Pups Juvn Rats Adults

$12/dz. $18/dz. $24/dz.

6@$15 or $30/dz.

Frozen Rabbits - all sizes.

Prices very reasonable - pinkies to adults. Jim Daluge 763.295.2818

Flightless FruitFlies - Excellent food for dart frogs, mantellas, hatchling geckos, baby chameleons, spiderlings, and other small herps. Two species available Drosophila (small) and D. hyde! (large). $5/culture or $25/6 cultures. Each culture contains 30 to 50 adult flies and has the potentail to produce to several hundred young. Also, Mealworms - Two sizes available - regular and mini. $511000. Can be delivered to MHS meetings. Cal Tony Gamble 612.818.6861 or email tgamble@mediaone.net

newsletter.

For pick up at monthly meetings only. Orders Must be placed at least one week In advance of date of meeting at which the frozen rodents are to be deiivered.

Place orders with Tina Cisewski at 763,856,2865 All Proceeds go toward the operating costs of the society.

The MHS is a completely volunteer run, non-profit organization.

Minnesota Herpetological Society Newsletter

September 2001

Volume 21 Number 9

News, Notes & Announcements Help a Hapless Herp

the males show lots of interest while the females show little interest.

The females will nest under bushes or other cover. It takes hours for the female to St Paul Rescue Animals were all dig out the nest. The eggs are about adopted during the Septmember meet- the size of a ping pong ball and are hard ing: shelled. Jake removes the eggs and 5 Leopard Geckos incubates them at 84-85 degrees 1 Whited Striped Gecko Fahrenheit in moderate to low humidi1 Marmoratus Gecko ty. It takes about 3-6 months for the 1 Golden Gecko eggs to hatch.

1 Chinese Water Dragon 3 Fat tailed Geckos The next speaker was Jodi Aherns.

1 Tokay Gecko Jodi talked about breeding geckos, pri1 Tegu - juvenile marily leopard geckos. Jodi uses 40 3 Bearded Dragons gallon aquariums for breeding. He uses 2 Blue Tongue Skinks crushed limestone as the substrate.

1 Panther Chameleon The adults eat 2 times per week, crick1 Sulcata Tortoise - juvenile ets and mealworms. Jodi has one male 1 Malayan Box Turtle gecko to 15 female geckos. He intro1 Red foot Tortoise duces them on January 1st and keeps 2 Russian Tortoises them at temps of 82-94 degrees. There 1 Grey Banded King Snake are two egg laying chambers and he 3 Corn Snakes checks for eggs every day. Jodi incu2 Malayan Blood Python bates the eggs at 82-84 degrees Bravo, to al that put in applications for these now fortunate animals.

General Meeting Review Julie Beauvais, Recording Secretary by

The speaker for January's general meeting was a panel of breeders from around Minnesota. The first speaker was Glen "Jake" Jacobson. Jake talked about breeding leopard tortoises.

Leopard tortoises are found in the Savannah's and grasslands of central and southern Africa. They typically get to be about 50-60 pounds as adults.

Jake keeps his tortqises in a large outdoor enclosure with a 6' X 10' pond that is 6-8" deep at the deepest point. In the enclosure he plants 6 types of clover and 20 other kinds of grasses to make the grass more nutritious. He also offers a wide variety of greens and also offers them cactus. During breeding

Fahrenheit in 55-60% relative humidity.

The eggs are incubated on slightly damp vermiculite and they hatch in 5060 days. The babies are kept 15 per cage and are fed small crickets 5 times per week. He supplements them with Minerall and with 03. The babies are ready to sell at 3 weeks of age. Some of the colors of leopard geckos that he breeds are leusistic, tangerine, patternless and albino.

cool, dark and damp places .. Jeff gradually drops the temperature down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. He hydrates the snake with a small container of damp moss. They hibernate from December 1st to March 1st. Once they are out of hibernation he feeds them well especially the females. Two to three weeks later he will introduced the pairs by placing the females into the males cage. He continues to feed the females well and watches for the pre-lay shed.

Jeff uses a shoebox with damp moss for a nesting box. He then removes the eggs and incubates them on moss or vermiculite at approximately 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The eggs begin to hatch in 50-60 days. Jeff keeps the hatchlings in deli cups with paper towel substrate.

Thank you guys for some very informative talks.

White Snake Sale ...

Has officially moved to March. So start cleaning out closets and picking items like cages, books, lighting, etc. from garage sales to donate as. auction items.

The Photo Contest will be in march as well. Start going through those summer photos to enter and win.

The photo entries MUST be turned in The last speaker was Jeff LeClere. Jeff by the February meeting. Contest rules and categories will be in the next talked about breeding colubrids. Jeff said that he uses a sweater box drawer newsletter. system to keep and breed the animals.

Heuses newspaper substrate and includes a water bowl and hide box in the enclosures. Colubrids hibernate in

Bumpersticker Contest We need your help designing a new MHS bumpersticker that will help make drivers more aware of turtles on roadways. MHS members will vote for their favorites at the March, 2002 meeting (aka White Snake Sale). Remember to keep things simple (these things are read at high speedsl). Good luckl Sample:

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You could Advertise Here for just $10 per Month or $120 per year.

Advertising Policies 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 ran three consecutive months, after which time they may be resubmit-

ted. Corresponding members are allowed a complimentary business card advertisement monthly as space permits. Due to federal restrictions on Non-profit mailing permits, we are not aHowed to run ads for travel, credit or Insurance agencies.

Business card advertisements may be purchased at $5/ad, per month. For other rates please inquire.

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Submissions: All advertisements should be submitted to the MHS Editor, Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Deadline is the night of the General Meeting for inclusion in the next newsletter. Make checks payable to: Minnesota Herpetological Society.

r-----------------------------------------------, Minnesota Herpetological Society Membership Application New Renewal Membershlp# Type Check #

Name Address City, State, Zip, Phone

Email

List in MHS Directory?

Yes

No

Herp related interests

Active Memberships: Sustaining ($60/yr)

Contributing ($30/yr)

Basic ($15/yr)

Bronze ($50/yr 2 1/4 pg ads) Gold ($100/yr 2 Full pg Ads) 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, Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church SI. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Please allow 6·8 weeks b for _______________________________________________ processing.

Corresponding Memberships:

Basic Commercial ($25/yr 2 Bus Cards) Silver ($75/yr 2 1/2 pg Ads)

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MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 10 CHURCH STREET SE MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55455-0104

Non-Profit Rate U.S. Postage PAID Mpls, MN

Permit No. 2275 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

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