Reptile & Amphibian Forums

at the time britain's leading herpetologists, Professer Angus Bellairs, wrote(correctly) 'it is hardly surprising that the behaviour of reptiles in captivity is often a travesty of that in nature. they are likely to become sluggish and refuse to feed, eventually dying of starvation. they seldom breed, so that stock can only be replenished by purchase or collection of fresh specimens.'

we have come a long way baby!!
good luck this season and keep pushing for better ways to keep and breed the worlds greatest creatures.

i found this quote in an old book: KEEPING AND BREEDING SNAKES BY CHRIS MATTISON-introduction-page#8
blandford press-london-1988

i love to read these old books.they were usualy out dated before they hit the book stores back then but you can still learn alot by not making the same mistakes that they made. it said on page#98 'availability: Eastern kingsnakes are rarely bred in captivity, although wild-caught animals are sometimes available.
well it has been 18 years anybody got any of these rare kings lol

i found this 1 at a local flea market for 3 bucks, has color slides, and a record narrated by walter cronkite, from columbia record club 1960

that is a great find! must have been used in a class room.thanks for sharing. have you ever played it. can you scan the slides and post some of the pics?
jason

thanx, i have played it 1 time to see if it was in good shape and it is ;> ill see if i can scan the pictures in the book there black and white, as for the slides i dont want to take a chance with them....warren

probably the only book (actually more like a pamphlet) that I have managed to keep over the years since I was a youngster out in the Northern NJ woods always looking for something living in and around the streams, under rocks, wooden boards, namely reptiles and amhibians. Written in 1957 by a guy named Mevin F. Roberts, it contains some nice basic information geared toward the younger snake enthusiast, with most photos from William Haast at his Miami Serpentarium in Florida. He put a real positive spin on keeping snakes as pets, and I believe this book left a life-long impression on me, probably helping to renew my interest many years later. Jim

having joined the NYHerp society in 1966 and that was an accurate statement at the time. we have come a long way.
Its sad thinking of how many languished in our care at that time because of poor husbandry skills. Now 13 yo kids are breeding GTPs. Incredible.

scarlet kings? nice n/p

After i read your post i called up Barnes&Noble and ordered another Mattison Book, just what i need another freakin snake book, i already have a few by him anyway, oh-well. and thanks for reminding me of '69 that was a very good year, lots of cool imports!lol!

they make me feel smart.hehe
hows that O.T. treating you! i just bought an old Peterson Field Guide today. it is the third edition, expanded copy.but it still has some of the drawings from 1958 and 1975 by roger conant.what are some of the oldest books that you have-first editions of -any? that book store should send you a christmas card! i don't know why but these old books are so cool.the history of keeping reptiles is very interesting. i am going to a book store this weekend that has alot of old books to see if i can find some more. i would like to know what people like FR or Applegate were reading back in the 60's and 70's. it had to be like building a space shuttle and having the diagram of a tug boat to go by! i have alot of respect for the authors don't get me wrong. but for the people who would not accept that a snake could not be captive bred and then proved that it could...highest respect!
i would like to know who bred what first and then compare it to the books and notes of the time.

yeah i got nothing better to do.
hey how is snickers?
jason

Sorry about the typo, anytime someone mentions the 60's i think about 1969 that was the best year of my life!
"SNICKERS" is doing great, did you see those blizzard cals in the classifieds not to long ago?

no i got to stay out of there! i have been out on the roads looking for native florida snakes.monday found a baby cottonmouth water snake.didn't mess with it though.they have nice patterns as babies but boy are they mean! it will be hopping on the roads here soon.i am not going to keep any i just like to look and get them off the road before some bum runs them over.trust me you will be getting a duval county eastern from me this year if i find a young one.my brother is taking me to his deer hunting club and he swears there are many there. he knows what they look like and even showed me a pic so i'm going to check it out also going to south carolina in a few weeks
i just want to catch one.if you want it it is yours otherwise i will let it go. i can't risk my collection to a wild caught snake germing them up.a buddy of mine wants to trade his female eastern for my bull snake.but i have become attached to him. i just need to find him a girl friend.
catch ya later bro
jason

I'll take the chance, but if it is'nt healthy lookin then let it go. Now i'm gonna look at the Duval's on Hillson's site,lol!
thanks again,
JETZ...........

they are sweet! i have caught them before but like i said, i am burned out on them. i love them they are big and very gental. but i grew up with them so the cal kings and the thayeri are on my list. i wish that i lived in the big bend area of texas or the west coast! i would never give you a snake that i would not keep in my own snake room.i would have it cleaned up by Dr. Rossi and show you pics! hey i am setting some goals for this years snake hunting and it goes like this
1.get a(some) pic of a canebrake rattle snake(they are PINK HERE)
2.get a(some) pic of a wild indigo
3.catch you an eastern from duval
4.catch myself a scarlet king (the only w/c i would risk it over)

so i have set some lofty goals-but without goals why would we ever move!!!!!!!
i'll give you a call soon!
later bro
jason

You are so lucky to have a reptile vet that's one of the best.
ANYWAY, about my books, about my only 1st ed. is Snakes and Snake Hunting, C.Kaufeld and maybe Handbook of Snakes, Wright-&-Wright vols.1,2. I'm sure everything else are reprints.

who dat snake? sweet! n/p

.