Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Seen on a few shows on Animal Planet...

But, does anyone know how to build 'Squeeze box'? It looks like a box with a clear glass bottom used for measuring venomous snakes by biologists in the field, I've always wondered how they're made. I've never seen them for sale anywhere so maybe it's safe to assume they're all homemade...

Any ideas?

Thanks

I haven't seen a commercially made squeeze box. I use a very simple system to serve the same purpose: I use a large plastic storage box that isn't too high. I place a 2" foam pad on the bottom and I made a plexi-type shield that is the same size as the open top of the plastic box. The shield has a handle for easy manipulation. I place the snake on the foam at the bottom of the platic box, and, then slowly lower the plexi shield on top of the snake. Once gently "pinned", I use a dry erase type of pen to draw the outline of the snake on to the plexi shield (which wipes off easily when done). I put the snake back and then measure the drawn snake....a bit "old school" but it works just fine for me.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center

>>Seen on a few shows on Animal Planet...
>>
>>But, does anyone know how to build 'Squeeze box'? It looks like a box with a clear glass bottom used for measuring venomous snakes by biologists in the field, I've always wondered how they're made. I've never seen them for sale anywhere so maybe it's safe to assume they're all homemade...
>>
>>Any ideas?
>>
>>Thanks
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

I had (have?) a computer program that works well for this application and you never need to touch the snake.

Just take a picture of the snake with something in the picture of a known length (a ruler or dollar bill works). You calibrate the distance in the picture with the known length object, then follow the top of the snake with the cursor and you get the length of the snake.

I was able to tell a freind the length of his King Cobra and all he had to do was take its picture with a dollar bill next to it. It was safe and easy.

The bad news is I don't know if I even have that program anymore but someone out there more "techie" than I will. Ask around and someone will have it.

Doug T

The program is called Snake Measurer and it is a great little program. Here is a link to the free download:

http://www.serpwidgets.com/Apps/apps.html

And Rob's way is an oldy but a goody for measuring snakes in the field!