Vol. 36 (2016), No. 4

The newsletter of the

Minnesota Herpetological Society

April Meeting Notice General Meeting April 1st April Meeting - White Snake Sale and Photo Contest Letter from the President page 5 Photo Contest/White Snake Sale page 6 Kid’s Korner pp 11-12

April 2016

Volume 36

Number 4

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Misi Stine 952.217.1267 President@mnherpsoc.org Vice President Jim Soos 612.382.1920 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 Lois Hall 612.824.1447 MemberAtLarge4@MnHerpSoc.org Rebecca Markowitz 409.740.0235 MemberAtLarge1@MnHerpSoc.org Members at Large Casey Sievert 651.338.3244 MemberAtLarge3@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 — White Snake Sale and Photo Contest March 4th, 7:00pm; 6:30pm Social Hour Social hour begins at 6:30pm. This is a time for people to catch up before the meeting starts.

This month’s meeting is the annual White Snake Sale. This event incudes a silent auction as well as a live auction. You must be a current member to bid, so check with Membership Secretary Lavania Beguhl if you are not sure about your status. It is also the Photo Contest. Details and the list of categories are on page 6.

There will also be a vote on the updated bylaws. If you have not seen the proposed bylaws or have any questions, please contact Misi at President@MnHerpSoc.Org or any board member. Copies of the changes are available on the forums. Most of the changes are to bring them into better compliance with government rules and regulations.

Dan Krull—A Solution to Rattle Snake Round-Ups Submitted by Nancy Haig

Dan introduced himself as a father of four, an avid outdoorsman, filmmaker, herpetologist and animal husbandry dude. He is also on the Board of the Rattlesnake Preservation Trust and an enthusiastic promotor of Lone Star Rattlesnake Days.

As herp people, we tend to dislike the idea of rattlesnake round-ups but they have continued to exist even though over the years many people have tried to shut them down. Dan feels understanding the different perspectives of the people involved could help with coming up with a solution.

If there is a solution – there must be a problem:

Photo by Kim LaForest

Giving a brief overview of the problems associated with round-ups Dan covered four main points.

Unsustainable harvesting. In 2006, the American Society of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists reported that 125,000 rattlesnakes were being harvested annually that time. Although in west Texas the populations have remained high, this is because the land is mainly privately owned open range affording the snakes some protection. Other states have seen large drops in their populations of snake due to habitat loss and over harvesting.

Burrow gassing. This is where collectors spray gasoline into burrows were the snakes have been hibernating. The snakes cannot breathe so they come out of the burrow and are then collected. They are actually pouring gasoline into the soil in Texas without regard to what else they maybe poisoning. Because of the power the round-ups have in the communities it is too controversial for local officials to consider outlawing it so burrow gassing is legal in Texas. (continued next page) April 2016

Volume 36 Number 4

Animal Cruelty. Many people do not consider snakes to be animals, so things that would be considered cruelty to other animals are seen as ok to do to snakes. Many rattlesnakes are collected far in advance of the round-up and kept in overcrowded pits, sometimes without food or water. Sometimes the snake’s mouths are sewed closed so the public can have their picture taken with a “safe” snake. The snake can’t open its mouth to bite but it also can’t eat or drink. Many are killed by chopping off the head or skinned while alive. They’re handled as a commodity rather than an animal that can experience fear, pain and death.

As Dan pointed out, try doing these things at a dog show and see what happens.

Dangerous. Although snake round-ups claim collecting the snakes protects people from snake bites, the truth is more people are bitten because of the collecting and the way the snakes are handled at the shows. Dan’s biggest concern arises from the possibility of performers who deliberately choose to put themselves in harm’s way reducing the available supply of antivenin for a legitimate emergency bite.

Along with the physical problems, there is the anti-snake education. The perception that snakes are not animals and that the round-ups are good for the community. There is a strong support for the round-ups as they bring in money for many local good charities and projects. Dan showed a short video made by for National Geographic Live! by Joel Sartore. It followed a Rattlesnake Derby in Mangum, Oklahoma. For us it highlighted all the problems Dan had discussed. When shown to the round-up people, they thought it was good since it captured all the great things they do at the show. This is where Dan and the Rattlesnake Preservation Trust has decided to try a different approach to the round-up problem. Since you can’t tell a Texan what to do. They decided to give them an alternative and let them choose.

Lone Star Rattlesnake Days presents a no-kill, pro-rattlesnake event. It mimics a round-up, having many of the basic entertainments, food, music, bar-b-que competitions but with a positive spin to rattlesnakes. There are live demonstrations with captive animals (no need to wild collect), proper handling & safety features and many harmless snakes for people to enjoy. As the program grows, the money raised will be used to further conservation, education and research projects.

To show support for an educational, no-kill roundup make a contribution, buy their t-shirt, spread the word or plan to attend.

For more information go to www.rattlesnakepreservationtrust.org Lone Star Rattlesnake Days http:// rattlesnakepreservationtrust.org/index.php/ lone-star-rattlesnake-days

Due to the White Snake Sale, we will be suspending the Adoption Program for April, and as such there will be no adoption animals at the April meeting. If you currently have a foster animal in your possession, please keep it until the May general meeting.

April 2016

Volume 36 Number 4

Letter from the President Spring is finally upon us and I am looking forward to another field herping season. I find myself excited at the prospect of walks out in the fields or along the water, and cruising the roads at night to see what kinds of wonderful creatures I will encounter. Part of the excitement is sharing that experience with my fellow herpers, as well as new comers who are interested in learning what my excitement is all about. Sharing my passion for reptiles and amphibians, and all of nature’s wonder, is an important part of who I am and is why I do what I do.

Reflecting on the mission of MHS keeps education and conservation in the forefront of my mind and helps me focus my energy and purpose for serving on the board. Much of how we work to fulfill our mission is through educational programs, hands on events, the annual field survey, and fabulous monthly meetings.

Looking ahead to spring and summer, as part of our strategic plan we are ramping up a new and important conservation effort. MHS has launched a Turtle Conservation Fund. The first recipient will be the Turtle Tunnel Project in Lincoln County, which will help protect endangered Blanding’s turtles and other wildlife by giving them safe passage under the busy roadway. It is the effort of passionate members, such as yourself, that will bring our mission to life and move this work forward. To learn more, please click on this link, and please share this link with your friends and family and ask them to participate in this fundraising effort: https://www.givemn.org/project/lincolncounty-turtle-tunnel-project54de85557e2a3 Thank you for your commitment and passion for MHS and herps--today and as we move towards the future!

Misi Stine President

Get the Shell Out of the Road Road mortality is a significant conservation threat to Minnesota's turtle populations, including the State Threatened Blanding’s turtle. Every year thousands of turtles are killed on Minnesota's roadways as they move between essential habitats. Well-designed wildlife underpasses can allow safe migration of these and other species under busy roadways.

The idea is starting to catch on in Minnesota but funding can be a challenge. The MN DNR Nongame Wildlife Program has been advising the Lincoln County Highway Department about one of these crossings within a Blanding’s turtle priority area. The County agreed to fund and install an over-sized cement box culvert as part of its highway renovation project but additional funds are needed to for a total of 400 feet of chain-link fence (200' on each side of roadway) to funnel turtles and other wildlife to the culvert. The Nongame Wildlife Program, largely funded by donations itself, doesn’t have the capacity to fund this itself.

So in a creative partnership, the Minnesota Herpetological Society has initiated a fundraising campaign via GiveMN.org. By supporting this (and future) “turtle tunnel” projects, contributors show city, county, state, and federal roads departments that Minnesotans want wildlife-friendly crossing structures incorporated into roads projects . For more information on how to make your tax deductible donation, see www.givemn.org/project/lincoln-county-turtletunnel-project54de85557e2a3 Spread the word!

Photo by Dav Kaufman

April 2016

Volume 36 Number 4

Photo Contest The photos/art projects will be on display in the meeting room during the April Meeting (White Snake Sale). All MHS members get to vote for their favorite projects. Voting will take place during the meeting and winners will be announced the same evening. Contact Beth Girard at beth_girard@msn.com Categories: 1. Herps in the Wild/ in a Natural Setting: Photographs of animal(s) taken outside and/or in a natural setting. A natural setting that has been staged is also permitted.

2. Herps and Humans / Non-Wild Setting: Subject(s) should be in a non-wild setting – i.e. photographs taken around your home, on or with something that is manmade. Some examples of this are: herps in their cages, people holding a herp, or photographs of animals taken at a zoo.

3. Kids' submissions: Any photo/artwork submission by a member who is 16 years of age or younger.

4. Mixed Media: Herp related artwork by a member or photographs taken by a member that have been altered/enhanced using photo editing software in any manner other than cropping.

There will also be an award issued for the “People’s Choice”: Members will also vote for one submission from the above categories that they feel is the best overall photograph / piece of artwork.

The submission that receives the most votes is the winner of this category.

Rules: 

You must be a current member of the MHS and be the one that took the photograph. However, you do not need to own the herp in the photo.



All entries need to show herps or be herp related.



Color and/or black and white photographs are acceptable.



Artwork is defined as sculptures, drawings, paintings, etc.



Photos should be no smaller than 5 x 7 and no larger than 11x 14 (outside dimension).



Mounting or matting of photos/art is recommended but not necessary.



Members are allowed to submit up to 2 photos/items in each category.



On the back of the photo, please include: your name and which category you want your picture to compete in.

There will be no adoptions on the night of the White Snake Sale. Please contact the Adoption Committee for details.

Items for the White Snake Sale include cages, cage accessories, herp-related books, art, toys or ???. If you are donating a cage, please bring a PHOTO of it, not the cage itself.

If you have items you would like to donate items, please contact Ellen Heck at NewsletterEditor@MnHerpSoc.Org. We will need volunteers to help with the White Snake Sale. Tasks include intake of items, data entry and setting up/clearing the rounds. Please contact Ellen Heck at or Misi Stine at President@MnHerpSoc.Org if you are interested.

April 2016

Volume 36 Number 4

2015 MHS Adoption Program - The Year in Review Submitted by Beth Girard, MHS Adoption Chair

The statistics for the MHS Adoption Program for 2015 are listed below.

359 new animals were surrendered to MHS in 2015 113 animals were returned as fosters to meetings in 2015 472 animals were presented for adoption at 12 MHS meetings 217 animals were adopted 78 animals were outsourced 295 animals were adopted or outsourced in 2015 177 animals remain in the foster program 81 members adopted animals in 2015 34 members adopted one animal 17 members adopted two animals 22 members adopted three to five animals 8 members adopted more than six animals 34 members fostered animals in 2015 11 members provided foster care 1 time 11 members provided foster care 2-3 times 6 members provided foster care 4-8 times 7 members provided foster care more than 10 times – THANK YOU Owen Bachhuber, Beth Girard, Nancy Haig, Emily & Ed Roberts, Mark Schmidtke, Amanda Young and the Weigel Family (Lisa, Sammi and Vanessa) 2 Veterinary Technicians who are not MHS members also provided special care for two animals Each member who fostered an animal is given one hour of volunteer time for each animal each month!

179 hours were logged as volunteer time by MHS members who participated in the foster program.

Of the 359 new animals, the following species were received.

Lizards - 79 Bearded Dragons - 45 Leopard Geckos - 13 Green Iguanas - 4 Other Lizards - 17 Crocodilia - 3 American Alligators - 3 Snakes - 95 Corn Snakes - 35 Ball Pythons - 32 Common Boas - 15 Other Snakes - 13

Turtles - 127 Red-eared Sliders - 54 Tortoises - 23 Painted Turtles - 20 Other MN Native Turtles - 11 Other Turtles - 19 Amphibians - 55 African Clawed Frogs - 51 Other Frogs - 4 Salamanders - 0

The number of animals surrendered to MHS continues to rise each year, although this year the increase was less substantial. The MHS Adoption Program is searching for some alternatives to its processes. Although there were only fifteen more animals surrendered to MHS in 2015 than in 2014, there is concern that we are nearing a saturation point with our members. If you have ideas, please consider sharing them with an adoption committee member or a board member. Emails may be sent to adoptions@mnherpsoc.org 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

-

166 220 252 344 359

animals animals animals animals animals

were were were were were

surrendered surrendered surrendered surrendered surrendered

to to to to to

MHS MHS MHS MHS MHS

Thank you to everyone who fostered and/or adopted an animal in 2015!

MHS could not have an Adoption Program without your support!!!

April 2016

Volume 36 Number 4

Upcoming Hands-on Event Schedule Chuck & Don’s—Mahtomedi, MN Saturday April 2nd 12noon-2pm Home Expo—Friday April 8th 6-9pm, Saturday April 9th 9am-1pm. Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 34th Ave N, Plymouth, MN Chuck & Don’s—Rosemont, MN Saturday April 9th 12-3pm Chuck & Don’s—Northfield, MN Saturday April 16th 1-3pm STEM Event—Thursday April 21st 5:30-7pm. Battle Creek Elementary School, 60 Ruth Avenue, St Paul, MN Family Science Night—Friday May 13th 5-7pm. Glacier Hills Elementary School. 3825 Glaciers Hills, Eagan, MN Chuck & Don’s—Mahtomedi, MN Saturday May 14th and Saturday June 4th 12noon-2pm Waterfest—Saturday June 4th 11am-4pm. Lake Phalen Park, St Paul, MN Chuck & Don’s—Mahtomedi, MN Saturday June 4th 12noon-2pm Minnetonka Native Plant Sale—Wednesday June 8th 3-7pm Minnetonka City Hall parking lot Lark Toys—Kellogg, MN Saturday June 11h 1-3pm Pet-A-Palooza—St. Paul, MN Saturday June 4th 9am-4pm. State Fairgrounds Kidfest Carnival and Environmental Fair—Friday July 29th 6-9pm. Hilde Performance Center, Plymouth, 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.

2016 Annual Field Survey Set The annual field survey will be held the 2nd weekend in June; the 10th-12th at White Water State Park. Some for a day or stay the entire weekend. As always, Jeff LeClere will be heading this up.

Stay tuned for more details. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/whitewater/index.html

Creepy Crawly Rescue opens In January, Engeseth started a rescue organization to help reptiles and invertebrates, the creatures she loves. Run out of her Eden Prairie home, Creepy Crawly Animal Rescue takes in the lizards and snakes people can’t care for or don’t want. http://www.startribune.com/new-eden-prairie-rescue-helps-reptilesfind-homes/371145681/

Lizards Keep Their Cool Why did the lizard cross the forest floor? It's an ecological conundrum that James Cook University researchers Mat Vickers and Professor Lin Schwarzkopf have answered with a novel approach. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160224132927.htm April 2016

Volume 36 Number 4

MHS Reports and Announcements Looking for Herp Assistance Volunteers!

February 2016 Treasurer’s Report

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.

Beginning Balance $27,261.86 Income Raffle $51.00 Donations-Public $249.00 Donations To Turtle Conservation Fund $80.00 Amazon Smile $10.72 Membership $120.00 Rodent Sales $542.00 Interest on Savings $0.15 $1,052.87 Total Income

Submitted by Rae Rueber

Snake Sheds Wanted

Expenses Program $50.00 Eden Bio-Creations (https:// $120.00 edenbiocreations.com/ ) has asked if MHS mem- Adoption bers would be willing to give snake sheds of all siz- Grants from 2015 $1,500.00 es, and species to them to produce their shed tex- Permits $272.00 tile products, like cell phone covers. In return Paypal $2.92 MHS would receive a donation for each product sold using our members snake sheds. Here is a Skype $40.12 video on the program: Rodent costs $548.75 https://www.youtube.com/watch?

Ren Fest $21.98 v=J59mMc92xZU#t=119 MN Council of Non Profit $50.00 For those of you willing to share your sheds with Website $14.95 MHS for this program a box will be made available $2,620.72 Total Expense at the monthly meetings, starting in January, to collect them for this group. Here is what we need Cash Increase/Decrease -$1,567.85 when you bring in your sheds: Ending Balance $25,694.01 1. each shed is placed in it's own Ziploc baggie, and labeled with the species Placement of Cash Holdings 2. be sure that the shed is does not have any large Checking $6,757.82 chunks of feces on it Savings $17,487.94 3. All sizes of sheds are accepted, Paypal $1,258.25 4. Please feel free to submit even if torn (include Cash on Hand $190.00 all the pieces), as they can be put back together.

Total $25,694.01 If you have any questions about this please direct Board Meeting them to Lois Hall at MemberAtLarge4@MnHerpSoc.org The board meeting will be held 6pm April 2nd in the Community Room of the St. Louis Park Byerly’s.

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

April 2016

Volume 36 Number 4

MHS Reports and Announcements Minutes of the February 6, 2016, MHS Board of Directors Meeting Como Dockside Community Room Attending: Misi Stine, Jim Soos, Nancy Haig, Lavania Beguhl, Rae Rueber, Ellen Heck, Lois Hall, Chris Smith, Casey Sievert, Rebecca Markowitz Opening remarks by President Jan General Meeting Attendance: 115 Committee Reports: Recording secretary-Nancy-The minutes for the January 9, 2016 Board Meeting were approved.

Calendar: Grant requests are due by Feb 15 for review at March Board meeting. Annual Committee reports are due. WSS and photo contest information should be posted. White pages published.

Membership report-verbal, will be posted in the board forum.

Website Report: Misi-There were issues with initial install because of plug-ins in Wordpress. Some plug-ins require regular updating to stay functional. Brad is ready to scrap the whole thing and reinstall programs. We still owe $1000.00 on initial agreement.

Action item: Misi will ask Brad to provide an estimate with a “not to exceed amount� for the additional work loads.

Old Business: Group Norms: Discussion concerning attendance at General & Board Meetings. For general courtesy, board members should inform the president if they will not be attending at least 24 hours before the meeting and try to find someone to cover their duties when needed Bylaw changes: Discussion on how to handle the Q&A at the March meeting. Decision was made to present them as one document instead of single article changes. Voting at the April meeting will follow the election rules. Membership list will be used to register voters and hand out ballots. Q&A will follow speaker before break. Board members will be available during break for further questions. Action Item: Ellen will write up the notice for the Bylaw change and official call for vote notification.

New Business: Adoption: Beth Girard-Feb adoptions- 10 new and 8 returning fosters. Adoption committee notes to be attached to these minutes. Beth will email yearend reports for Misi to post on forum. There will be no intake or adoptions in April because of the WSS. Action Items: Rebecca will write up a notice for the newsletter and make the announcement at the March meeting. Rebecca and Casey will work on recruiting more members to help out with adoptions. Beth and Casey will work on transferring phone call responsibilities. Beth will be on leave until July or August.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure forms. Forms should be filled out for review in March. In addition year end committee reports are also due. Action Items: Misi will email out reminders and forms to committee chairs WSS/photo contest- Misi will be working with Ellen to create a membership list but it will it will not be connected to the database. Jim Soos will take charge of the photo contest, the supplies should be in the cabinet. Rebecca will be in charge of the volunteers. Ellen will be in charge of the computer for the auction. John Moriarty will be contacted for live auction. Misi will check with Chris to see if the room has been reserved.

Vendor at meetings: Vendor policy says they must sell outside the meeting room.

Fundraising Page- Misi for Chris- Chris will email the turtle fun raising page for review, money will be accepted thru GiveMN, paypal or direct checks . There needs to be line-items in the treasurers report to follow the funds through the various accounts.

Meeting adjourned at 8:45pm April 2016

Volume 36 Number 4

Kid’s Korner

April 2016

Volume 36 Number 4

Kid’s Korner

April 2016

Volume 36 Number 4

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 April 2016

Volume 36 Number 4

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!

April 2016

Volume 36 Number 4

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).

April 2016

Volume 36 Number 4

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 April 2016

Volume 36 Number 4

Minnesota Herpetological Society Membership Application New

Name

Renewal

Address

Membership #

City, State, Zip

Type

Phone

Email

List in MHS Directory? Yes No Contact information only? 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 April 1st - 7:00 pm Room 335 Borlaug Hall U of M St. Paul Campus

Friday May 6th—General Meeting Speaker: Brad Baysinger—Amazon tree boas Friday June 3rd—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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