Vol. 36 (2016), No. 1

The newsletter of the

Minnesota Herpetological Society

January Meeting Notice General Meeting January 8th January Speaker Steven Bostwick—Madagascar Day Geckos Letter from the President page 5 MHS Strategic Plan page 6 Kid’s Korner pages 11-13

January 2016

Volume 36

Number 1

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Misi Stine 952.217.1267 President@mnherpsoc.org Vice President Jim Soos 651.491.9089 VicePresident@MnHerpSoc.org

C/O Bell Museum of Natural History 10 Church Street Southeast Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455-0104

Recording Secretary Nancy Haig 763.434.8684 RecSecretary@MnHerpSoc.org

Or you can still leave us a Voice Mail: 612.326.6516

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 Members at Large Casey Sievert MemberAtLarge3@MnHerpSoc.org Lois Hall 612.824.1447 MemberAtLarge4@MnHerpSoc.org Rebecca Markowitz 715.808.4681 MemberAtLarge1@MnHerpSoc.org

Stay informed! Join us on our forums!

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 Tom Junek; all rights reserved Cartoons by Fran Frisch

The Minnesota Herpetological Society Attn: Newsletter Editor C/O Bell Museum of Natural History 10 Church St SE Minneapolis, MN 55455-0104 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 — Steven Bostwick Madagascar Day Geckos January 8th, 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.

Steven Bostwick is Registered Nurse with his Bachelors in the Science of Nursing from Grandview University and Certification in Operating Room Nursing, currently at Luther Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. Steven is also Certified in Orthopedic and Neuro Trauma Surgery. He is a former Adjunct Professor of Nursing with Des Moines Area Community College and is currently President of the Association of Operating Room Nurses for Central Iowa. Steven has been involved in herpetology his entire life including study biology at Iowa State University under the herpetologist Marilynn Bachmann. Steven is past presidents of both the Iowa Herpetological Society and the Iowa State Herp Club. Steven received his Eagle Scout rank in 1991 and is currently Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 188 in Ankeny, Iowa. Steven owns a large private collection specializing in rare Boids and Gekkonids.

Steven began working with Phelsuma in 1992. Steven will be discussing species profiles of Madagascan Day Geckos and successful captive husbandry practices.

Steven’s son Anthony Bostwick received a grant to work on the Chytrid virus. He will give a short presentation of his findings at the general meeting.

Carl Franklin—The Mexican Mole Lizard Submitted by Nancy Haig

Carl Franklin is currently the Biological Curator at the University of Texas- Arlington, but before that he has traveled in search of a rather evasive reptile that caught his interest even in early boyhood. His talk Friday night covered his various adventures over the years while researching and hunting for the Mexican Mole Lizard.

Bipes biporum belong to a suborder of Squamata (lizards) known as the Amphisbaena or Worm Lizards. There are over 170 species found mainly through-out South America, the southern edges of Africa and one species found in Florida. Typically they are burrowing lizards with strong skulls and interlocking teeth that can bite off chucks of food and deliver a painful bite. They can break off their tails but it will not grow back. They live in scruffy sandy soil, traveling through shallow tunnels or hiding under rocks surfacing mainly at night. They eat small bugs and worms which they locate using highly sensitive ears which are hidden under their skin. The skin is usually comprised of concentric rings of scales and two lateral folds, most do not have external limbs, the exception being Bipes, the subject of Carl’s talk.

The Bipes are relatively small lizards ranging between 4-8 inches and having short stubby front January 2016

legs with large clawed feet. They are usually white and look like large worms. They are quite agile and can move forward or backward with ease. When disturbed, they can flail about like worms or coil and emit a foul musk-like substance. Locomotion is a stiff crawling motion as the limbs are mainly used for burrowing. (continued next page)

Photo by Marlin Harms Volume 36 Number 1

These tiny lizards are the subject of many colorful local legends as some people claim they will crawl up inside a person and shred them apart from the inside with their claws. Carl related several interesting stories about interactions with local people and visiting film crews trying to document or sensationalize the mighty worm lizard. For more information visit www.wormlizard.org.

Holiday Banquet Dec 5, 2015 Carl was also the featured speaker at the Holiday Banquet. He gave a wonderful presentation about his survey Photo by Gary Nafis studies involving Fresh Water Turtles in Texas. His main field site was in a beautiful wild river valley that he eventually convinced his wife would be a great place for them to live. By combining incredible photos with even more colorful stories about his observations and adventures, Carl created an amazing look into the world of these special creatures.

Snake Sheds Wanted Eden Bio-Creations (https://edenbiocreations.com/ ) has asked if MHS members would be willing to give snake sheds of all sizes, and species to them to produce their shed textile products, like cell phone covers. In return MHS would receive a donation for each product sold using our members snake sheds. Here is a video on the program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J59mMc92xZU#t=119 For those of you willing to share your sheds with MHS for this program a box will be made available at the monthly meetings, starting in January, to collect them for this group. Here is what we need when you bring in your sheds: 1. each shed is placed in it's own Ziploc baggie, and labeled with the species 2. be sure that the shed is does not have any large chunks of feces on it 3. All sizes of sheds are accepted, 4. Please feel free to submit even if torn (include all the pieces), as they can be put back together.

If you have any questions about this please direct them to Lois Hall at MemberAtLarge4@MnHerpSoc.org January 2016

Volume 36 Number 1

Letter from the President, and a letter from the very first MHS President!

As we begin our 35th year, I would like to share with you the very first letter written by the very first MHS President, Delvin Jones, published in 1981, Volume 1, Issue 1, of the MHS Newsletter.

I believe it reflects how much our society has grown and changed, yet how much we are still the same: looking for members to participate in a society that belongs to all of us, planning for speakers our members will enjoy, while working on goals and minding the governance of the organization so it grows even stronger in the years to come.

President Jones:

MHS Members, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who were at the initial meeting of the Minnesota Herpetological Society. The thirty people present can take pride in knowing they are charter members of a new and growing society.

A special note of thanks should go to the people who worked on the organizing committees that layed the ground work for our society. These people gave generously their time and energy to draft the constitution, to get the word out about the meeting, to organize a program and to find people willing to take on the responsibility of serving as officers of the society.

Dr Tordoff and Dr. Regal of the Bell Museum, also, deserve our thanks and appreciation for their assistance in forming the society and offering the association with the Bell Museum. This provides the society with a Bell Museum mailing address and allows us to use the university facilities for our meetings. This will be a distinct advantage for us as we grow.

I want to encourage all members, whether officers or not, to take an active part in the functioning of the society. Now is when you can have the greatest impact on the direction and emphasis of YOUR society.

If you have ideas or suggestions for society programs or activities be sure to make them known. The names and phone numbers of the officers are included elsewhere in the newsletter for your convenience.

Delvin Jones, President Now, back to the present and future: In the coming year, I personally look forward to herping with you, learning with you, and sharing our passion for these amazing animals. Thank you for your commitment and passion for MHS and herps--today and as we move towards the future!

Here’s wishing you Happy Holidays and an Adventurous, Healthy New Year!

Misi Stine President

January 2016

Volume 36 Number 1

Minnesota Herpetological Society Vision Statement The vision of the Minnesota Herpetological Society is to protect reptiles and amphibians through conservation and education, and promote and support responsible herpetoculture.

Mission Statement The Minnesota Herpetological Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to: Provide educational programs that promote appreciation and proper care of reptiles and amphibians Support the study and conservation of reptiles and amphibians Facilitate the protection, and if necessary the rescue of reptiles and amphibians

Minnesota Herpetological Society Strategic Plan 2016-2019 Governance Goal Over the next three years, the Governance Committee will improve the governance of MHS to reflect the growing and changing needs of the organization. The committee will update the by-laws and policies, institute board education and development, complete a review of board structure, implement meeting efficiency practices, and complete the Charity Review Council accountability standards review process.

Education Program Goal Over the next three years, the Education Committee will improve the educational program to better meet the needs of the volunteer educators and to reach a wider audience in a more efficient and effective manner. In the next year, at least 20 information sheets on common species will be developed. In the next two years, the committee will make available to volunteer educators education program information that aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards.

Membership and Marketing Goal Over the next three years, the Membership and Marketing Committee will improve the experience of current membership and increase membership by 20% over the 2015 total number of members.

The committee will develop a plan to increase market presence and brand recognition through social media and by creating partnerships to increase visibility and awareness. The committee will work with the web developer to ensure that phase one of the website plan is fully developed and implemented.

Conservation Fundraising Goal Over the next three years, the Conservation Committee will increase fundraising to support an annual conservation investment of $40,000. This will quadruple MHS’ current conservation efforts (approximately $10,000). The committee will investigate and implement a varied fundraising strategy to help meet this goal. Funds will go towards the MHS conservation grants program, mitigation of impacts of roads on amphibians and reptiles, and other on-the-ground conservation efforts, either directly or through conservation partner-lead initiatives.

Adopted: November 19, 2015

January 2016

Volume 36 Number 1

Historical view of MHS Bylaws presented by Nancy Haig

Over the past few months the MHS Board of Directors has been reviewing our By-laws and policies to bring them up-to date with our current practices and state and federal requirements. This is a part of the recently approved Strategic Plan but it is also standard practice for most Non-profits. Bylaws outline the structure of an organization and detail the rights and duties of its’ members and Board of Directors. What follows is a brief view of how and why our Bylaws have changed over the years.

1981- A group of people interested in reptiles and amphibians gather together for discussions. They formalize the group by drafting a constitution for an organization whose purpose is to: future 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. to promote the study and conservation of reptiles and amphibians.

They decided to call the organization the Minnesota Herpetological Society (MHS). At the first meeting of the organization on May 1st, 1981, 30 people joined as members and approved the constitution. They then elected a Board of Directors comprised of a President, Vice-President, a Treasurer/ Secretary and three members-at-large. As the society grew, the constitution was amended in August to add a Newsletter Editor to the Board of Directors.

1982- The MHS had grown to 67 members and the Constitution was changed to add a 4th memberat -large to the Board of Directors and change the dues structure. By December 1982 membership had passed 100.

1983- At the March Annual Meeting the Bylaws were changed to: remove term limits from the Newsletter Editor position, allow the Board to fix the Annual Meeting dates.

1986-At the March Annual Meeting the Bylaws were changed to: make the immediate past president a non-elective position and allow the 4 members-at-large to be elective positions. By the end of December 1983 the membership had reached 140.

1989- Due to rising membership needs and higher costs for printing and mailing the newsletter, the Board began the process of applying for non-profit incorporation with the State of Minnesota. This would enable the MHS to utilize nonprofit advantages, primarily, the bulk mailing rates. This was also the first step needed to obtain a tax-exempt determination with the Federal Government (IRS).

1990- The Constitution and Bylaws were rewritten to conform with the standards required by the State of Minnesota, they were reviewed by an attorney and submitted to the membership for approval. The Board also adopted a Code of Ethics and Aims and Goals for the society. The MHS was granted non-profit status May 1990 under MN Statutes 317A . To learn more about these statutes please go to www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=317A 1991/1992- After receiving nonprofit status, the MHS applied for tax-exempt status with the Federal Government. The Bylaws were amended to split the Recording Secretary and Treasurer duties into two positions. These Bylaws were part of the application process and the stated purpose of the organization has determined our classification as a 501 ( c) 3 public charity. To learn more about the IRS/nonprofit regulations please go to www.irs.gov/charities.

The Bylaws approved in 1991 are the basis of our contracts with the state and federal governments.

We hold our non-profit and tax-exempt status by performing the activities described in our purpose statement and staying compliant with the requirements of the law. The 1991 Bylaws were also the start of our current Bylaws. Since then we have amended the Bylaws seven times. Each time the board has discussed and reviewed a change before presenting it to the membership for a vote of approval. (continued next page) January 2016

Volume 36 Number 1

Historical view of MHS Bylaws (continued)

1994-In March, Section 4.02 Term of Office was amended to give the Treasurer no term limits. Later in September, Section 3.01 MHS Administration was amended to clarify the position of Immediate Past President and how to handle the election ballot.

1996- A line was added to Section 2.06 Active Members Rights “Active members shall be entitled to hold office provided they are eighteen (18) years of age or older.� A similar line was added to Section 3.01 MHS Administration setting an age requirement on members of the Board. In December Section 2.02 Active and Corresponding Members was amended to change the definitions of Corresponding members and allow new classifications for commercial dues.

2000-In May, the membership was presented with several choices for amending Sections 4.02 Terms of Office ; Section 5.02 Elections; and Section 6.01 Annual Meeting. Voting in September defined when board terms start and set a 4 year term limit for all positions except Treasurer; changed the slate of voters to include all candidate positions not just officers; and changed the Annual Membership meeting to November.

2003-In April Section 5.04 Counting the Votes and Section 5.05 Ballots were amended to allow a verbal vote confirmation if there are no contested positions. Section 3.01MHS Administration was changed to remove the Immediate Past President as a required board position.

2011-In Nov, Section 4.02 Term of Office was amended to: Board of Directors may serve only four (4) terms consecutively.

Only the membership of the MHS can approve a change to our Bylaws, the Board of Directors can only propose a change. In the near future, the Board will present a re-write of the Bylaws that will encompass changes in language, the introduction of new policies required by state and federal codes, and the updating of basic organizational structures that should allow the use of current and future technologies. You will have time to review the document and ask questions before the proposed change will be put to a vote. I hope you all will take advantage of this opportunity to get involved in the process. Read our current Bylaws, research the state and federal requirements, ask if you have questions, and be there to vote when the time comes.

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.

We are also looking for someone to handle the rodent orders and pickup. The position includes taking the orders, maintaining the inventory (freezers are provided), ordering the rodents, picking them up and delivering them to the meeting. Time spent is 3-5 hours a month. Contact Misi Stine at President@mnherpsoc.org or Nancy Haig at RecSecretary@MnHerpSoc.org for more information.

January 2016

Volume 36 Number 1

Upcoming Hands-on Event Schedule Home Depot—Saturday January 23rd 11-2pm. 1705 Annapolis Lane, Plymouth, MN Science Fair—Thursday January 28th 6:30-7:30pm. Groveland Park Elementary School, 245 St Clair Ave, St Paul, MN STEM Event—Thursday April 21st 5:30-7pm. Battle Creek Elementary School, 60 Ruth Avenue, St Paul, MN 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.

National Park Service Turns 100 This year is the 100th anniversary of the National Parks. Although Yellowstone National Park was established in March 1872, the National Park Service was not formed until August 1916, We would like to encourage you to visit a park, places like these play a key role in protecting endangered species, including reptiles and amphibians, such as salamanders in the Great Smoky Mountains. Here are some cool links for you to explore: Centennial (U.S. National Park Service) Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service) NPS: Explore Nature » Biologic Resources » Endangered Species

Firefighters Rescue Snakes, Lizards Firefighters had to put whatever fear of snakes they had to rest when a California reptile store erupted in flames. Crews saved hundreds of the cold-blooded creatures from the searing heat. http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/30788221/firefighters-rescue-snakes-lizards-from-reptilestore-fire

Giant Tortoise Fossils Found in Bolivia It died around 13 million years ago, but a fossilized giant tortoise is helping to reveal the history of one of the highest and driest plateaus in the world. Paleontologists said the creature, which is a relative of the giant tortoises found on the Galapagos Islands, shows the Andean Plateau in southern Bolivia was much lower before the Andes rose. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3379180/Gianttortoise-fossil-reveals-Bolivia-s-lowland-past-5ft-long-reptile-livedAndes-drier-9-000ft-LOWER-today.html

2015 Wrap-up from Reptiles Magazine The first articles in the list are the top 6 trending news articles for 2015. The other five articles made the top 50, but only due to the stupidity and cruelty of some people. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/2015-Top-Trending-ReptileNews-Stories/

January 2016

Volume 36 Number 1

MHS Reports and Announcements December 2015 Adoption Report

November 2015 Treasurer’s Report

Submitted by Nancy Haig

First of all, thank you to everyone that helped out on Friday night. The move to a different meeting room was made a lot easier by the willingness of the members to help out. It was a little rocky setting up in cramped quarters but the adoptions turned out well.

We had 12 new animals, 2 fire bellied toads, Blue tongue skink, Leopard Gecko, 1 teeny, tiny, baby painted turtle and 2 cornsnakes and 1 desert kingsnake and 4 Red eared sliders (RES) and 7 returning fosters.

10 animals were adopted, 4 Red eared sliders were outsourced, and 5 animals are in foster.

The desert kingsnake, which turned out to be a california kingsnake, one cornsnake, one ball python, a common boa, and a Bearded Dragon with a damaged tail are still looking for homes.

Hope your Holidays are Happy and Safe, See you next year.

New Meeting Process At the October meeting we instituted new procedures for the adoption program that we hope will expedite the entire process. We have heard from several people that they would be willing to foster animals if they did not have to wait so long after the end of the presentation for determinations to be announced. We rely on the members willing to foster animals as we continue to average more than twenty-five new animals each month. #1. On the morning of the meeting, a list of the animals available will be posted on the MHS Website in the Public and Member Forum areas under “Adoption”. You will find a post (i.e.: “Adoptions for October 2015”) there with the animals we know about at the close of Intake. A few animals do trickle in on Friday, but they are mostly foster returns from previous months. #2. We will make every effort to be set up by 6:30pm on meeting nights so the animals will be available for viewing a full thirty minutes prior to the beginning of the meeting. #3. Adoption Request forms will be on the back tables.

Please turn them in as soon as possible. #4. The President will announce one last opportunity for Adoption Request Forms to be turned in just prior to the introduction of the night’s featured speaker. A member-atlarge will collect them. #5. The Adoption Committee and one board member will meet briefly (outside the meeting room) during the program to make the determinations. #6. The determinations will be announced after the speaker’s presentation, but before the break begins. Animals that are being adopted will be on the west side and animals still in need of fostering or adoption will be on the east side of the room. We will only need a few minutes after the speaker is finished to assemble the animals before you can pick up your adoption/foster animal/s.

January 2016

Beginning Balance Income: Raffle Donations-Public Donations-Hands On Membership Rodent Sales Holiday Banquet Interest on Savings Total Income

$29,310.60 $36.00 $51.89 $204.50 $525.00 $559.00 $425.00 $0.30 $1,801.69

Expense: Adoption Costs Program Parking for SL Interpreters Rodent Costs Ren Fest Supplies Paypal Fees Supplies Wesite Total Expense Cash Increase/Decrease Ending Balance

$60.00 $314.20 $12.00 $548.75 $17.00 $19.96 $21.43 $14.95 $1,008.29 $793.40 $30,104.00

Placement of Cash Holdings Checking Savings Paypal Cash on Hand Total

$11,372.37 $17,487.43 $1,054.20 $190.00 $30,104.00

Board Meeting The board meeting will be held 6pm January 9th at the Como Dockside Restaurant Community Space.

Everyone is welcome to attend the board meeting. We encourage you to come check it out.

Volume 36 Number 1

MHS Reports and Announcements/Kid’s Korner Rodent order issues As some of you are aware, we are having trouble with our website site and logging in or contacting someone via their MHS email has not always been possible. Hopefully the site will be better by the new year. We are also experiencing a shortage with jumbo mice and adult mice. This is due to seasonal breeding slowdowns and the need for our distributer to hold back on adults to compensate for smaller broods of babies.

For the time being the best way to order rodents is to sign up at the General Meeting. If you can’t log into the order form on line, contact the MHS president’s email. Currently we are not accepting orders for jumbo mice. We will try to stock adult mice but may need to limit the orders to one (1) dozen each per person if our supplier cannot fill the full order. We will also be offering a trial of crawler rats for those who need something between an adult mouse and a jumbo.

Best news- Tony Beguhl will be taking over as the new rodent packager, so be sure to thank him by picking up your rodent orders before the end of break so Tony and Renee can enjoy the rest of the meeting without having to wait for stragglers.

January 2016

Volume 36 Number 1

Kid’s Korner

January 2016

Volume 36 Number 1

Kid’s Korner

Frog Jokes for Kids Q: Why are frogs so happy?

A: They eat whatever bugs them!

Q: What happens when two frogs collide?

A: They get tongue tied!

Q: How does a frog feel when he has a broken leg?

A: Unhoppy.

Q: What happens when you mix a frog with a bathtub scrubby-mit?

A: A rubbit!

Q: Why did the frog read Sherlock Holmes?

A: He liked a good croak and dagger.

Q: What happened to the frog’s car when his parking meter expired?

A: It got toad!!

Q: What’s green green green green green?

A: A frog rolling down a hill Q: What is a frog’s favorite game?

A: Croaket Q: What did the frog order at McDonald’s?

A: French flies and a diet croak Q: Why did the frog say meow?

A: He was learning a foreign language.

Q: Why did the frog go to the hospital?

A: He needed a “hopperation”!

Q: What is the thirstiest frog in the world?

A: The one who drinks Canada Dry! Q: How deep can a frog go?

A: Knee-deep Knee-deep Q: What do stylish frogs wear?

A: Jumpsuits!

Q: What does a bankrupt frog say?

A: “Baroke, baroke, baroke.”

January 2016

Volume 36 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 2016

Volume 36 Number 1

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 2016

Volume 36 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 2016

Volume 36 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 2016

Volume 36 Number 1

Minnesota Herpetological Society Membership Application New

Name

Renewal

Address

Membership #

City, State, Zip

Type

Phone

Email

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, C/O BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, 10 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing.

Rodents!

Order your MHS Rodents today!

Ordering by phone? See the new phone number below.

Mice Pinkies Fuzzies Hoppers Adult

Weight 2-3 grams 5-7 grams 8-11 grams 25-30 grams

Price $7/dz $7/dz $8/dz $10/dz

Rats Small Adult Med. Adults Large Adult Jumbo

Weight 50-60 grams 125-150 grams 200-240 grams 250-350 grams

Price $18/dz $22/ 10 rats $17/ 6 rats $16/ 5 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

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.

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 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, C/O 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.

Advertising Costs 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 C/O BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 10 CHURCH STREET SE MINNNEAPOLIS, MN 55455-0104

Next Meeting:

Save the dates!

Friday January 8th - 7:00 pm Room 335 Borlaug Hall, U of M St. Paul Campus

Friday February 5th—General Meeting Friday March 4th—General Meeting Friday April 1st—General Meeting

MHS Voice Mail:

MHS Web Page:

612.326.6516

www.MnHerpSoc.org

https://www.google.com/maps/place/1991+Upper+Buford+Cir+Borlaug+Hall,+St+Paul,+MN+55108/data=!4m2!3m1!

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