I didn't plan to "throw 'em in a tank", exactly. I was hoping I could find a couple of chucks, a few other lizards, a kingsnake, a rosy boa, and a couple of coral snakes that wandered over from AZ, and I planned to keep them all together in a two gallon stockpot on the back of my stove, where I hoped the pilot light would be enough to keep them warm. I was going to feed them chicken-and-dumplings.

SERIOUSLY, though, I am being reminded of why I don't often post on public forums--nobody knows you, and everybody seems to assume the worst of you. When I said earlier that I was a beginner, I didn't mean that I was a beginner to herps. I have kept herps for years, including a chuckwalla that I bought as an adult that lived for over 11 years. My father is a veterinarian, and, while he didn't exactly specialize in herps, he did see many of them in his practice, and I have been around them and other animals all my life. I am aware of the very specialized needs of different animals with regards to temp, humidity, full spectrum lighting, specialized diet, etc., and I would never get an animal (like a horned lizard) that I couldn't easily provide for. Personally, I consider chuckwallas easy and fascinating. All that said, I AM a beginner to collecting wild animals. I haven't ever taken an animal from the wild and tried to keep it permanently. As a kid, I might catch a lizard and keep it for a day or so before letting it go, and as a five year old, when I could easily find several horned lizards every day, I used to carry horned lizard hatchlings around in a match box in my pocket (I'm not kidding), but, luckily, my mother or grandmother would make me let the animal go after an hour or so. So, I am a beginner to FIELD HERPING, especially in Southern California, and that is why I was looking to this forum for advice. Thanks to everybody who offered suggestions.

Angus

[ Hide Replies ]

• Herping in Southern California: chuckwallas esp. - angusblack, Wed Sep 14 13:41:58 2005
• So let me get this straight..... - chrish, Thu Sep 15 15:55:24 2005
• In Addition. . . - chris_mcmartin, Thu Sep 15 16:05:35 2005
• RE: In Addition. . . - EJ, Fri Sep 16 05:37:07 2005
• RE: In Addition. . . - chris_mcmartin, Fri Sep 16 16:53:56 2005
• You have my most humble appology... - EJ, Fri Sep 16 17:06:25 2005
• btw... - EJ, Fri Sep 16 17:08:09 2005
• ....: In Addition. . . - regalringneck, Fri Sep 16 22:34:57 2005
• RE: In Addition. . . - antelope, Fri Sep 16 12:32:58 2005
• RE: So let me get this straight..... - angusblack, Thu Sep 15 16:49:31 2005
• The license won't do you any good... - herper, Sat Sep 17 00:24:25 2005
• RE: The license won't do you any good... - angusblack, Sat Sep 17 00:49:26 2005
• RE: The license won't do you any good... - chris_mcmartin, Sat Sep 17 09:29:07 2005
• CA Law Discussion - chris_mcmartin, Sat Sep 17 09:32:00 2005
• RE: The license won't do you any good... - angusblack, Sat Sep 17 10:43:34 2005
• Response from CA Dept. of Fish & Game re: license requirements - angusblack, Mon Sep 19 12:37:27 2005
• RE: The license won't do you any good... - metalpest, Thu Sep 29 14:25:54 2005
• Your asking for alot....... - sharrack, Thu Sep 15 17:50:47 2005
• RE: Your asking for alot....... - angusblack, Sat Sep 17 00:25:23 2005
• RE: Herping in Southern California: chuckwallas esp. - SNAKEPIT24, Thu Sep 15 18:14:42 2005
• RE: Herping in Southern California: chuckwallas esp. - rjhilo, Thu Sep 15 18:27:27 2005