vol. 21 (2001), no. 8
DESCRIPTION
Minnesota Herpetological Society NewsletterTRANSCRIPT
Board of Directors President Bill Moss 651.488.1383
Vice President Tony Gamble 763.424.2803
Recording Secretary Julie Beauvais
Membership Secretary Nancy Haig
Treasurer
612.321.0958
763.434.8684
Marilyn Blasus 952.925.4237 [email protected]
Newsletter Editor Heather Matson 612.554.8446
Members at Large Jodi L. Aherns 612.588.9329 Nancy Hakomaki 651.631.1380
[email protected] Heather Ingbretson 763.572.0487 Meli~a Nordos 612.812.6146
[email protected] Keith Tucker 612.321.0958
Adoption Sarah Richard
Education
Committees
812.781.9544 RealSarah@aoLcom
Jan Larson 507.263.4391 [email protected]
Northern Minnesota Jeff Korbel
LIbrary Beth Girard
Amphibians Greg Kvanbek John Meltzer John Moriarty
Chameleons
Herp Assistance
Vern & Laurie Grassel
Crocodilians Jeff Lang Bill Moss
Lizards Nancy Haig Heather Matson
Large Boas, Pythons TIna Cisewski
Other Snakes Jeff leclere John Meltzer
Aquatic Turtles Gary Ash John Levell
Terrestial Turtles Fred Bosman John Levell
218.586.2566
763.691.1650
651.388.0305 763.283.7860 651.482.8109
612.428.8109
701.772.0227 651.488.1383
763.434.8684 612.554.8448
612.858.2865
651.486.6368 763.263.7880
763.753.0218 507.467.3076
763.476.0306 507.467.3076
Bell Museum ofNaturnl History, 10 Church Street South Eas~ Minneapolis Minnesota 55455-0104
The S
Minnesota o C 1
Herpetological e t y
Voice Mail: 612.624.7065 http://m\~v.onrampinc.net/mhs/
MRS egroup email: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mnherpsoc
August 2001 Volume 21 Number 8
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 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 aJl material is reproduced without change and proper credit is given author and the MHS Newsletter citing:
volume, number and date.
~'ilinnesota Herpetological Society Newsletter August 2001 Volume 21 Number 8
News, Notes & Announcements
St. Paul Rescue These animals will be coming up for adoption in September. They will be placed at the meeting. Please do not call about adopting them prior to the September meeting. In order to adopt you must be a current member, be at the meeting (on time as we will start the process early), and have the ability to pick the animals up Saturday morning at my house in NE Minneapolis. They will not be brought to the meeting. The numbers behind the animals correspond to the picture numbers on Bill's web site. The animals may be viewed prior to the meeting on line at Bill's site (see previous email) or in person by volunteering at least 1 hour of cage cleaning, by appointment, by calling Sarah at 612-781-9544 or email me at [email protected]. I usually check my email from 6-7am so if you are going to volunteer please call. The link to the webs hots album for the animal photos is:
http://community.webshots.com/album/18193983VmsVXVrdQE
Help a Hapless Herp
12 Animals were adopted at the August meeting:
4 Iguanas (including Lizzy & Otis)
1 Corn Snake 1 Ball Python 1 California King 1 Bearded Dragon 1 Boa 1 Burmese 1 Bull Snake 1 Reeves Turtle
Still Available: 5 Iguanas 2 Alligators 2 Burmese Python 1 Nile Monitor
St Paul Rescue Animals: 5 Leopard Geckos 1 Whited Striped Gecko 1 Marmoratus Gecko 1 Golden Gecko 1 Chinese Water Dragon 3 Fat tailed Geckos 1 Tokay Gecko 1 Tegu - juvenile 3 Bearded Dragons 2 Blue Tongue Skinks 1 Panther Chameleon
1 Sulcata Tortoise - juvenile 1 Malayan Box Turtle 1 Red foot Tortoise 2 Russian Tortoises 1 Grey Banded King Snake 3 Corn Snakes 2 Malayan Blood Pythons
Remember to come to the September meeting and get your questions answered, then fill out an adoption form or two.
A special thanx to Sarah and Bill for the effort put in to this rescue and placement for these animals.
Critter of the Month Sara Knez
Chile Toad Buto limen sis
Dion Grethen Eastern Hognose He/erodon platirhinos
Joy Norquist Emperor Scorpion
Glen Jacobson Waxy Monkey Frogs Phyllemedusa savagii
Tayha Anderson Smooth Green Snake Opeodrys uerralis
May 5th, 2001 Board Meeting Review
by Julie Beauvais, Recording Secretary
The May 5th board meeting was held at the St. Paul Student Center. There was a quorum present. The first order of business was to vote Heather Ingbretson in as a member at large. The minutes from April were read and amended. They were moved and accepted as amended. Marilyn reported that the raffle raised $164.50 for the Global Gecko Association. So far $1308.00 had been collected from the White Snake sale. 48 T-shirts were sold last night. We also approved an additional amount of $100.00 to cover the cost of printing the White Pages. The treasurer's report was moved and accepted. Nancy Haig presented an active membership report. The membership report was moved and accepted. Tony listed off the next few speakers. A grant request was tabled because they were not in a hurry to get the money. We discussed that our membership brochure needed to be updated and reprinted. The board approved $150.00 to get the brochures reprinted. We also discussed how to boost attendance at the annual picniC . but tabled it because it was too late to do anything this year. Heather Ingbretson said that she would take care of coffee and refreshments. Discussion of our 25th anniversary started but Bill said that it was too early to start planning. We also need someone for the sales table. There was also a short m-eeting after the general meeting in June. The Treasurer's report was presented and accepted. Nancy Hakomaki had a budget for Renfest, which was approved by the board.
MHS Library News Beth Girard
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HE
Minnesota Herpetological Society Monthly Newsletter August 2001 Volume 21 Number 8
Victoria's Secret- By Heather Ingbretson
Part II A Trip to the Animal Emergency Room
So, off we were to the Animal Emergency room at 8:00 in the evening with Victoria, our sick Leopard Gecko. She was nestled in a temporary plastic cage inside a cooler with a heat pack and a deck of cards in case the wait was long. If we had only known how long it would bel
We brought along a healthy gecko for comparison figuring wherever we went, they may not know much about Geckos. When we got to the Veterinarian Clinic, we found a wait-
that they included a boa constrictor We walked into the room and set the among these animals. The boa appar- cooler on the floor. The Veterinarian ently had gotten pneumonia and had already had Victoria's tiny cage up on since fully recovered. the surgery table and was pulling
At about 9:30, they called us into an examination room to wait there. We pulled out the cards and after about another 45 minutes, a young doctor in his mid 30's came in and introduced himself. He said that they didn't have anyone on duty that knew much about geckos, so he encouraged us to go to another Clinic in the Cities that had a Veterinarian that knows Geckos and was still open with no waiting line.
The Veterinarian apologized profusely for our long wait and we wearily headed out the door with cooler in tow.
her out. She lifted her up and looked her over. After a few moments, she set her back down in her cage and turned to us to figure out a game plan.
"Well," she said, "she looks a bit thin, like you mentioned, and she might be a bit dehydrated. I'd like to soak her in a warm water bath to see if that will give her some more energy. I know that most reptiles will absorb a certain amount of water through their skin and it certainly can't hurt. Then we can run that fecal while she's in the bath. Did you say you had a fecal with you?"
ing room with two other couples and At around 11: 15pm, we arrived at their sick animals. The Veterinarian the other clinic. It struck us immediTechnician took Victoria to keep her in a ately that it was a much cleaner, much warm place. Then we sat and waited newer looking clinic. It had a waiting for two hours. room that was much bigger and much
"Yes," I replied, "I have it right here." I got out the fecal sample in our little ziplock bag and handed it over to her. She took it in her hands and looked closely at it and kind of poked at it through the bag for a moment.
While we sat, we found an opportunity to talk to the other couples in the waiting room. There was an older couple with their poodle that had eaten something it shouldn't have. There was also a young couple with a kitten that was reacting badly to a shot.
We also had plenty of time to look around on the walls of the waiting room. There were newspaper clippings of a dog that swallowed a 4 inch knife. A copy of the X-ray showed the knife still in the dog. The dog survived only because it had swallowed the knife handle-first. It was pretty amazing.
brighter.
I also got a good impression of the Veterinarian immediately. She greeted us very shortly after we came in and invited us back to look over the gecko with her. She was probably in her late 30's to early 40's and she seemed much more professional and knowledgeable about geckos. She immediately recognized that Victoria seemed thin and mentioned that she had Leopard Geckos of her own at home.
She looked up at us after a moment looking a bit disappointed, "I'm sorry, but this fecal is already dry. It won't really work as a fecal sample. They have to be moist. I know it's hard to get a gecko fecal sample because they are so small and they dry up fast, but if you ever have to bring in another gecko fecal sample, you can always put in a few drops of water to keep it moist."
I'm sure I didn't have any intelligent The room she brought us into was a reply, but I was a bit disappointed very large room. It had two stainless conSidering we had waited all week to steel surgery islands in the middle of get a fecal sample and now realized the room. There were countertops it was no good. With our geckos
On another wall in their entryway all along two walls with deep sinks being on Calcium Carbonate, it made it was a collage of "patient" reports? and stainless steel draining racks along even more difficult to get a moist sam-stories of animals that came in sick another wall. pie since the substrate itself had and recovered. We were impressed such a drying effect. In any case, I
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Minnesota Herpetological Society Monthly Newsletter August 2001 Volume 21 Number 8
had other questions for her that might what she was doing. She is a doctor help us figure out Victoria's Secret of after all, right? It was probably best to why she was ill. let the doctor do her thing quickly.
"Well, can you look at and tell me what that oration is?" I inquired.
her stomach But I still winced like someone had black discol- just run their fingernails down a chalk
board. I shook the feeling away and
"Sure," she said, "Let's take a look at her." She took Victoria out again and flipped her over onto her stomach. Victoria didn't like that much at all. She thrashed her head around and made sounds that I've never heard coming from an adult gecko. Victoria even bit the doctor on her on the finger. "Wow, she's certainly got some energy left in her anywayl" the doctor exclaimed.
I winced in pain for poor Victoria. It was all I could do to not grab Victoria away from the Veterinarian and protectively cradle her in my own hands. I couldn't bear to see Victoria in such pain. Yet, I figured the doctor knew
tried to concentrate on what she was saying.
"Are you talking about this darkness here?" she asked, pointing to her middle abdomen where there was a darkblotch.
"Yes, that's what I was noticing."
"That's probably just her internal organs starting to show through. There's nothing abnormal about this. When they lose enough body fat, you can see through the skin on their belly. Normally, there is a layer of fat here that makes it difficult to see any of the organs, but I'll bet if you look at that
normal gecko that you have, you will be able to see the same pattern on its belly, but much fainter."
Sure enough, I looked at the normal one and the exact same pattern of blotching was evident on her stomach, too. It was very faint, and you had to know what you were looking for. It made sense.
"Another thing that we could do is to take an X-Ray. If there were any sort of impaction, it would show in the X-Ray. With the symptoms you're describing of not eating and not producing any fecals, there's a good chance that it could be impaction. In either case, a warm bath can't hurt her."
We agreed to the X-Ray and returned to the waiting room to wait for the results. We were optimistic about the Veterinarian's knowledge and expertise. . We were confiden.t that she would be able to help her.
A half an hour later the Veterinarian came out to give us an update.
"I have some good news" she started, "Victoria produced a fecal for us while we were giving her the bath, so we were able to perform a fecal test. The results showed one flagellate, but this is somewhat common for Leopard Geckos. In fact, some people would not treat a Leopard Gecko with flagellates. In any case, we're not going to treat her for flagellates at this time, because we found something interesting in the X-Ray. Why don't you come and take a look at it?"
We followed her down the hallway and into another room that appeared to be more of an exam room. It had a countertop island in the middle of the room with more of a wood-grain appearance. It also had a small counter in the corner of the room with an X-Ray light above it.
She walked over to the corner of
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Minnesota Herpetological Society Monthly Newsletter August 2001 Volume 21 Number 8
the exam room and put the X-ray up on light to show us what she saw.
"Here you go. This is Victoria," she began, "And it looks fairly normal except for this right here." She pointed to a round white spot on the X-Ray near her lower abdomen. "I'm guessing it's some sort of blockage. It's hard to tell what it is exactly, but we should treat Victoria for impaction."
was on her way to recovery. I was kind of looking forward to seeing exactly how you give a Gecko a shot.
But I was mostly looking forward to seeing Victoria again and when I heard the Veterinarian walking down the hallway and I naturally turned to wait for Victoria to come into the room. I really wanted to see how she was holding up. The Veterinarian walked into the room smiling like a hero and holding
"So," I asked, "What do we do for a clipboard like a waitress holds a tray
I could tell that she was just trying to reassure us, but she didn't seem too convinced with her own words. I started to get nervous.
Then with the gecko laying on the table the Veterinarian gently poked at Victoria's side. Still no reaction. As a last resort, she pinched Victoria on the tail?probably a last ditch effort to get a reaction from her. No such luck.
impaction?" in front of her. Victoria was laying right The Veterinarian picked up Victoria on the clipboard closest to the with her two hands, looked the Gecko
"Well, one of the first things is to Veterinarian. straight in the eyes as if peering straight hydrate her and we've already done into the fragile creatures soul for one some of that. I would recommend soak- The first thing I said was, "Wow, she last wisp of hope and said, "Let me go ing her in warm water at least once or looks so? relaxed." She was laying and uh," she paused for a brief moment twice a day. The other thing we there with her hind legs stretched out as if looking for the right word so as not should do is to administer some behind her the way geckos lay when to alarm us. She finished the thought antibiotics. I've already given her a they are basking under a heat-lamp or with, "revive my ... uh?plan." shot of that, but she's probably going to when they are sleeping. It is a sign need a shot every day for a few days. If of absolute comfort. I was amazed for And with that, the Veterinarian turned you think you can handle giving her the a second that Victoria was in such a around and left the room with gecko shots yourself, it would probably be the state of relaxation. Then I realized that in hand. best for her." she was probably just worn out from the
"That's fine," I said, "I'll do it. I can give shots. I've just never given them to a gecko. Where do you give them to a gecko? In the tail?"
"No, she said, "They're given in the
whole ordeal and was simply exhausted.
The Veterinarian walked over to the table and set down the clipboard with Victoria on it. Victoria didn't even move.
front arm." I'm sure my eyes popped "Wow!" I exclaimed, "She looks REAL-out of my head at that moment LY relaxed." because I was picturing this frail little gecko whose legs were almost as Then the Veterinarian picked her up
I turned to Brian with my jaw firmly planted on the floor. We were both speechless. We didn't know what to say. I turned towards the door where they had entered and exited within a period of about 90 seconds and I looked back at the examining room table with syringes and medicines and charts and papers that the Veterinarian had brought in with her.
thin as the needles and I'm trying to and Victoria's limp body slumped over Talk about a Freudian slip! Let me go figure out how you would hold such her fingers. Victoria didn't resist or and revive my?uh, plan. a tiny limb still while trying to administer fight. In fact, she didn't reactat all. a shot. Much less how you would avoid hitting a vain or a bonel
"Of course I will show you how to administer the shots," she said as if in reply to the shocked look on my face. "I'll go and get her along with some supplies and we'll get you all set. I'll be back in a minute."
Then I added hesitantly, looks like she's?dead."
"It almost
The Veterinarian, now getting a bit nervous said, "Oh, no she's just?" and she tapped her on the head to try to get a reaction from her then she opened up her mouth to look at her gums I suppose. Then, just slightly
She left and Brian and I were left in the more nervous the Veterinarian set her room looking at the X-Ray. I was happy on the table again. "She's probably to find out that it was something that just a bit tired from the shot," she tried could most likely be fixed and that she to explain.
6
Patient. That's what she meant to say, "Let me go and revive my Patient." And that's probably exactly what she was trying to do.
For goodness sakes I! You can't REVIVE a gecko. A dog maybe. A cat maybe. But a gecko? I don't think so!
Finally, I turned to Brian and said, "She's dead."
I repeated my thoughts, "Victoria was already dead. That Veterinarian
Minnesota Herpetological Society Monthly Newsletter August 2001 Volume 21 Number 8
brought a dead gecko into the room."
He looked at me and nodded in agreement, not knowing quite what to say.
Then I said it a fourth time, "She brought a dead gecko into the room."
I couldn't believe this whole event. How could a Veterinarian walk into an examining room with a dead pet and not know that the patient is dead? And what exactly did she think she was going to do to revive her patient?pardon me to revive her PLAN. Freudian slip or not, I couldn't believe the last two minutes.
"So," I said verbalizing my thoughts, "What does she think she's going to do now? Victoria's dead. What's she going to do?give her CPR?"
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I knew she had to be dead and I couldn't think of a logical way that the Veterinarian would be able to revive her. I mean, you can't exactly perform CPR on a gecko.
After a few minutes the Veterinarian walked back into the room very slowly and somberly. She was empty-handed. I can't say I was all that surprised.
form an autopsy free of charge if we wanted. I'm sure she was just as curious to find out what happened as we were at this point.
We accepted and the results were very surprising. The round thing in the X
We laughed awhile about it. Then I continued, "I can just see her now in the other room giving Victoria little puffs of breath and pushing her finger down on her little gecko abdomen.
Ray was not impaction. It was her liver. I could just see her now with a 9V batThere was no sign of impaction at all. tery and little gecko paddles yelling There were a few granules of "CLEAR" to all the people in the little Calcium carbonate, but nothing sub- operating room. Victoria would be stantial and certainly nothing to worry hooked up to a little gecko heart moniabout. She mentioned a disease called tor. Her belly would be covered with "Fatty Liver Disease" that she had little round stickers with wires comheard about in other reptiles, but that ing out of them. The lines on the has never been documented in gecko monitor would tell what the Leopard Geckos. She gave a few heart rhythms were doing. Every reasons why fatty liver disease hap- minute or two the Vet would yell pens in the species that it is found? "CLEAR" at yet another attempt to typically starvation conditions or simi- revive her "PLAN." lar. I think I was still in shock a bit. I don't remember much more than that. In any case, we were already lookI just remembered "Fatty Liver ing back at the event as something we Disease." In any case, she offered could laugh at. We were sad over these last pieces of the pu~zle to sooth Victoria's,loss, but I wasn't about to our minds. We were grateful to know just let it slide by. that there was nothing more that we could have done to help her and I was Over the next few weeks I talked to all a bit more grateful to know that it was- sorts of Gecko owners and breeders n't anything I had done wrong. Liver and told them my story and showed diseases don't just develop in four them my X-Ray. If Victoria was dead, I weeks and that was how long I had didn't want her early death to be in owned her. vain. I wanted to let other people
She looked downright embarrassed, We left the clinic with X-Ray in hand?a humiliated and horrified all at the same' nice souvenir of the 4-hour, $130 time if you can imagine that. evening. To lift our sprits, we
know about "Fatty Liver Disease" in Leopard Geckos. I posted to kingsnake.com and got a surprising response from a woman on the east coast who lost 8 Leopard geckos in the fall of 2000 to Fatty Leopard
stopped at a Grocery store to get ice cream treats. "I'm SO sorry," she began, "She was
fine just a few minutes ago. I don't know what happened."
Disease. She had a world renowned On the way home, we broke the somber Reptile Entomologist and silence by laughing it off. Epidemiologist perform autopsies on
I'm sure my face went white and I think I tuned out every1hing she said from there on. I think I heard something about billing and of course they
"Did you see the look on her face when she realized Victoria was dead?"
would have to bill us for the office I've never seen anything so hilarious in appointment and the X-Ray, but they my entire life. And what was the deal wouldn't charge us for the antibiotic with "Let me go and uh, revive my uh, shot and I'm sure she said something PLAN" else, but I wasn't listening.
"Revive my PLAN? She probably Finally, I snapped out of it and stopped went in the other room to give the gecko staring at the floor. She offered to per- mouth to mouth I What a riot!"
her Geckos and he pronounced their deaths as caused by "Fatty Liver Disease."
Even more interesting was that he did further studies on the samples. It turns out that when crickets eat moldy food, they store the mold toxins in their bodies at extremely high levels and the crickets don't get sick. When the Leopard Geckos eat these crickets, they also ingest the toxins that
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Minnesota Herpetological Society :Monthly Newsletter August 2001 Volume 21 Number 8
the crickets stored up. These toxins get stored in the Gecko liver and eventually lead to something that resembles "Fatty Liver Disease."
That is the hypothesis. It has yet to be proven. I informed the previous owners of this hypothesis along with a few other Gecko owners.
In any case, it certainly gave us all some food for thought. (Pardon the pun.)
So, Victoria did have a deep dark secret after all. Hopefully, we can all learn from this and maybe one day we'll understand more about this mysterious disease.
-August, 2001
MHS Library News
Beth Girard
If you had the opportunity to stop by the MHS Library at the August meeting, you may have noticed a new section ... Education. In it, you can now find .. . "Frog Math: Predict, Ponder, Play" ... a Teacher's Guide by the Lawrence Hall of Science; and, "Ranger Rick's NatureScope: Let's Hear It for Herps!" by the National Wildlife Federation. Several other teacher's guides have been ordered ... they are scheduled to arrive just in time for the new school yearl Visit the library at the next meeting and check them out!
A large selection of children's books have also been added to the collection. These books can be utilized by parents and educators as well. The new titles include ... "The Reptile Ball" by Jacqueline Ogburn; "Snakes" and "Crocodiles & Alligators" by Seymour Simon; "Extremely Weird Frogs"; "Komodo
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Dragons: Giant Lizards of Indonesia"; "Scaly Babies: Reptiles Growing Up"; "The Salamander Room"; "The Snake Scientist"; "Outside and Inside: Alligators" and "Outside and Inside: Snakes" by Sandra Markle.
July 7th, 2001 Board Meeting Review
by Julie Beauvais, Recording Secretary
These materials represent an emphasis The July 7th, 2001 board meeting took by the Society to provide benefits to place at the St. Paul Student Center. A those members involved in the educa- quorum was present. The minutes from tion process, whether formally, as a the May meeting were read and amendclassroom teacher, or informally. ed. They were moved and accepted as Another benefit is the series of work- amended. Marilyn said that the rodent shops, "Tips and Tools for Teaching cost were About Reptiles and Amphibians" high because Tina replaced the rodent announced in the last issue. In your stock. The Treasurer's report was August newsletter, you should have moved and accepted. Nancy reported received a copy of Cold Blooded that there are approximately 412 memConnections, which contained a regis- bers. She is tration form for the workshops at Dodge still working on family memberships, Nature Center on October 13th, and at which can cause problems when peoWargo Nature Center on the 27th. Two pie renew memberships. There are 39 additional dates have been added to exchange memberships. Nancy the schedule. On November 10th, a guessed that there are about 270 paid workshop will be held at the Minnesota memberships. The membership report Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The was moved and accepted. We Bell Museum of Natural History will host received an email grant request from the fourth on November 17th. Pre-reg- the Children's Museum requesting a istration is necessary. If you need addi- grant to redo the turtle habitat and to tional information, contact Beth by care for 2 box turtles, 2 painted turtles, phone at 763-691-1650 or bye-mail at 1 blandings turtle and a corn snake. <[email protected]> This was tabled until we receive a for-
mal grant proposal. Randy Blasus A donation box will be set up at the gave us a report on the field survey. MHS library for the next few months. Marilyn had a request for reimburseClean out your closets and dust off ment for cost incurred for the field surthose shelvesl Do you have something vey. The board approved the reimsitting around that a classroom teacher, bursement. The board also approved scout leader, or program naturalist can and additional $50.00 towards the use to educate and intrigue young peo- printing of the membership brochures. pie? We are looking for old herp magazines, turtle shells, shed skins, skulls, etc., to use as door prizes at the workshopsl Please be sure to sign the register of donated items when you drop your treasures off! Many thanks!
Remember, if you won't be using your copy of Cold Blooded Connections, why not help spread the word and pass it on to a neighborhood teacher!!
General Meeting Review by Julie Beauvais, Recording Secretary
May's speaker was Dr. Dan Keyler. Dr. Keyler's talk was on venomous snake bites and remedies over the millennia. 4000 years ago Egyptian priests would open up the victims arms to let the demons out. Dr. Keyler showed a slide of a man with cuts across his arms. Sometimes these cuts would be made by snake fangs.
Milmesota Herpetological Society MonUuy Newsletter August 2001 Volume 21 Number 8
Helpful Hints for Hands -on Minnesota Herpetological Society
I'm glad to see so many people coming to our events. Here are a few things to remember:
Treasurer's Report Prepared by
1) Know the following about your animal. a) What kind it is. b) What it eats c) Where it lives in the wild d) Life expectancy
2) Never allow anyone other than yourself to hold your animal. 3) Try to be polite - even answering really dumb questions! 4) Come often - Thanksl
Jan Larsen [email protected]
Marilyn Brooks Blasus, Treasurer
For the Month Ending: July 31, 2001
Income: Membership Sales (Net) Donations Raffle Misc
Total Income:
Expenses: Aristotle suggested eating the snake. Australian snakes because their Newsletter Printing Another remedy used was mixed venom doesn't have the enzyme & Postage herbs to which they added snake flesh properties that rattlesnakes do. Other Printing
355.00 93.20 450.00 62.25 2.00 962.45
311.06
and opium. Thomas Glass promoted surgically & Postage In the 1600's in the far east they started treating the bite. Program 50.00 using snake stones. Snake stones In 1906 in Grasshopper Valley in . Conservation/Donation _ were st?nes that v-:ere put on the wound Tennessee t~e Church of God start- . Supplies & Refreshmnt . so that It would stick and when It fell off ed the practice of plckmg up ven- Misc you were cured. Snake stones are still omous snakes. So far 74 people Total Expense: used in some countries today and there have died. Other people have tried are disputes over whether it really electroshock treatments. Net Gain/(Loss): works. Nowadays some people use Snake plantains were used by Native active immunization, which consists
293.86 654.92
307.53
Americans. They thought that the pat- of injecting small r-------------------, terns on the plants matched the pat- amounts of venom terns on the snakes. into your own body. There was snake bite booze that you There is also passive would pour on the wound. Some said immunization in which that if you were bite then drink as much you are given serum alcohol as possible. You could also prepared from another drink snake oil according to others. animal. Current In 1685 there was the split chicken research treatment. In this treatment you would into new antivenins split a chicken in half and use it to cover have a process that the wound. When it turned black or breaks the venom the feathers fell off then you were down into smaller, less L--, __ ~_ .... - .... _ .... _--.... ----I cured. Chemicals such as strychnine, harmful, proteins. The his- rFl congo red and nicotine have been used tory of treating snake bites . ';) to treat bites. Snake bite kits included has been very long and t)i:/' g potassium permanganate to be put on very interesting. Thank you the wound up until the 1930's. Dr. Keyler for sharing this An Army surgeon made the X cut. Then unique history with us. you would suck out the blood and use a tourniquet. Dr. Keyler showed some very gross slides of the results of using a tourniquet. Others wrapped the entire limb, which can work for cobras and
EnglIsh Spot Dutch
Jim's Rabbit Shack "Where Spots Are Tops·
JIM DALUGE (763) 295·2818
8700 Jaber Ave NE Monticello. MN 55362
9
j\lillllesota Herpetological Society NewsleUer August 2001 Volume 21 Nwnber 8
Classified Advertisements Classified ads are free to the member ship. Deadline Is the night of the general meeting to be Included In the next newsletter. 1,0.0 = male, 0.1.0 := female, 0.0.1 = unsexed, cb = captive bred, abo = or besl offer, + = times runt ads are run only 3x unless requested to continue).
For Sale
LARGE ANIMAL DISPLAY CAGE - ONE OF A KIND 8' Lx 3.25 ' D x 4.5' H, BEAUTIFUL GLASS AND WOOD FINISH INCLUDES HEAT LAMP, FLORESCENT LIGHTING, LOGS AND SHELF $800 OR BIO, 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 Uan[email protected]). Ask for Aaron+
For Sale: CB Ambanja Panther 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 (lwiUe@usfamiIy.net)+
Yearling Corn Snakes fedding on thawed frozen pinkies. 1.0 amel. 0.1 anery. 1.0 snow. 1.1 ghost. Call Laurie 763.428.4625 or email [email protected] +++
For sale: Albino milksnake project; 1.1 albino ruthvenl, 1.5 possible het ruthveni x thayeri, 1.1 possible het ruthveni. Also for give away 1.1 12 year old Hog Island boas F1 from wild caught. Mark Hauge, 320-202-9871, email [email protected] ++
Frozen Rabbits - all sizes. reasonable - pinkies to adults. 763.295.2818
Prices very Jim Daluge
Flightless FruitFlies - Excellent food for dart frogs, mantellas, hatchling geckos, baby chameleons, spiderllngs, 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. $5/1000. Can be delivered to MHS meetings. Cal Tony Gamble 612.818.6861 or email [email protected]
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 LAhems 612.588.9329
Tiger Geckos CB 2001 $40 each. 4 or more $30 each. email: Heather, [email protected] or call 612.554.8446
BO or possible trade to good home with visitation rights. 1.2.0 (purchased as - but they have not bred) northern BTS - (2) 3.5 years old (1) ?- $250. for all three. 0.0.2 schnlederri skinks - sub adult - nipped tails $25 pair. 0.0.1 juvey savanah monitor - $40.00. All have been recently parasite checked/and or treated. Contact Domonie at 763-424-4243 or [email protected]+++
Wanted Wanted Adult Female Leucistic Leopard Gecko, ready or almost ready to be breed. Contact Chris at (507)-359-9444 or at [email protected]
Eastman Nature Center is looking for a Milk snake, Fox snake, or a Black Rat snake. Snake will be used for school group and family classes and must handle well. Please call Kim at 763/420-4300.
All the shed snake skins in the world. Needed for giveaways at educational programs. Contact Bob Duerr 612.541.0362
Male Sail Tail Dragon to entertain my female. Large Male Northern bluetongue skink of atleast 2 years of age. Contact Domonie at 763-424-4243 or [email protected]
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 [email protected]
@I~@1
I MHS Rodent Sales I ~ ~ ~ Mice Pinkies $7Idz. Rats Sm Pups $12/dz. m ~ Fuzzies $7/dz. Lg Pups $18/dz. ~ ii!I Hoppers $8/dz. Juvn Rats $24/dz. ~ ~ Adults $10/dz Adults 6 @ $15 ~ m or $30/dz. ~
~ m ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ m ~ ~ ~ ~ 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 delivered. ~ ~ Place orders with Tina Cisewski at 763.856.2865 ~
~ ~ ~ ~~:~~~e~s ag~o~;~t~I~~o~~~;:!i;~u~~~~n~~:~~t ~~~~~~~ation. ~ @I~@1
II
You could Advertise Here for just $10 per Month or
$120 per year.
II
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 resubmitted. 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 allowed to run ads for travel, credit or insurance agencies.
Business card advertisoments may be purchased at S5/ad, per month. For other rates please inquire.
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 LB • General Meeting for inclusion in the next newsletter. Make checks payable to: Minnesota
Herpetological SOciety. j-----------------------------------------------, : Minnesota Herpetological Society Membership Application I I New I I Renewal I I Membershlp#
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Active Memberships: Suslaining ($60/yr)
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Corresponding Memberships: Basic Commercial ($25/yr 2 Bus Cards) Bronze ($50/yr 2 1/4 pg ads) Silver ($75/yr 2 1/2 pg Ads) Gold ($100/yr 2 Full pg Ads)
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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 for processing. L _______________________________________________ ~
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA- ST. PAUL CAMPUS
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Next Meeting: September 7,2001
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MHS Voice mail: 612.624.7065
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MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 10 CHURCH STREET SE MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55455-0104
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POSTMASTER: DATED MATERIAL
Newsletter of
The Minne,sota Soc [Q'('
J ,£\!Iil/S.t 2001
Upcoming Meeting The
Vice-president's Report By Tony Gamble
October General Meeting Friday October 5,2001 7:00 PM Program: Reptiles and the Law Guest Speaker: John P. Levell
Herpetological • 1 e t y
Volume 21 Nmnber "1
Upcoming Meetings: November 2, 2001 - Carol Hall December 7,2001
fund important research and conserva-- Dr. Robert Sprackland December 8, 2001 Holiday featuring
Banquet tion efforts.
Dr. Robert Sprackland January 4, 2002 - Dr. Ann Paterson February 1, 2002 - Bert Langerwerf March 1, 2001
The recent release, by the Humane - White Snake Sale
Please take some time and consider running for a Board position and let me know if you are interested, If you are not quite sure about joining the Board then please join us at the October board meeting and see us in action. Again if you are interested in running for a Board position let me know. Thanks, Julie Beauvais-Recording Secretary
Creative MHS People Wanted
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 ;ss~es of keeping repti:o pets ate under scrutiny. HSUS is asking that the USDA The MN Zoo has asked us if we would MHS Board of Directors enact a ban on the sale of reptiles in the be interested in doing a display window 2002 Ballot. us because of the risk of Salmonella. Is inside of their Zoo lab (the interactive, President there any precedent to a ban of this hands-on area). They would like the sort? What other laws effect the keep- subject to be about green iguanas and Jodi L Aherns
ing of reptiles in captivity? Do these the problems associated with having Vice President laws change from state to state? them as captive pets. The window is Tony Gamble October's speaker, MHS member John four feet square. If you are interested, Recording Secretary p, Levell, can answer these questions contact Bill Moss at 651-488-1383 as I and more. This talk will help put the will form the committee, HSUS report into perspective, and provide an overview of the current legal aspects of reptile keeping. Elections
It is time once again to start thinking John is an expert on the subject of herp about the elections coming up in law and is author of two editions of the November, As always volunteers are book "Reptiles and the Law", He was needed to become a part of the MHS MHS vic~-~resident from 1993 to 1994 Board of Directors, This is a great and again In 1999. He also s{,rved as opportunity for members to become ~ewsletter editor in 1995 and 1996. He involved and help shape the future of IS currently Executive Director of the MHS. Some of the things that we NorthStar Herpetological Associates, do as the Board is to decide on the an organization devoted to herpetologi- operational budget for the MHS, cal education and research, John is an decide on policy, plan special energetic and passionate spec ker and events, run the White Snake Sale and this talk will offer members an excellent decide on funding for grant requests chance to get caught up on tile legal that we receive. I always liked review-issues that influence the ing the grant requests because it is herpetocultural hobby. great to know that the Society helps to
Membership Secretary Nancy Haig
Treasurer Marilyn Blasus
Newsletter Editor Heather Matson
Members @ Large (voting for four) Nancy Hakomaki Heather Ingbretson
If you are interested in running please contact Julie @ 612,321 ,0958