Reptile & Amphibian Forums

YES!

Photos in fact.

I'm sure you can tell which is Rocky in his hide log. The two frog pics are both male bullfrogs. Let me tell you it was easy to get really close to the frogs...but snapping a shot...that's a different story.

It was so dark out there I had to shine my flashlight on the frogs to help aim my camera. Then I had to hope I didn't shake and ruin the shot(it happened a LOT...but not as much as when I first tried taking shots in the dark lol). Enjoy!!!

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Scott

Reptiles
--------
1 Colombian Rainbow Boa (Rocky)
1.0 Ball Python (Sultan)
0.1 California Kingsnake (Leota)
1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle (Yugi)
0.1 Red/Gold Bearded Dragon* (Irwin, R.I.P.)

Other
-----
1.0 Betta Fish (Tyrone)
1.0 Hooded Rat* (Clubber, R.I.P.)
0.1 Albino Rat (Isis)

...I had to really crop these photos. My good shots of Rocky(basically the same as the one you saw but larger and closer) would have been seriously altered if I cropped them to the "legal" size. And both bullfrog pics were seriously altered. The one with just the head visible is actually way off center and the one with the whole body visible...well I had to cut off some of the body. Rocky also might be a lot redder than he seems thanks to flash....but I don't know because sometimes he is really red and other times he's brownish.
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Scott

Reptiles
--------
1 Colombian Rainbow Boa (Rocky)
1.0 Ball Python (Sultan)
0.1 California Kingsnake (Leota)
1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle (Yugi)
0.1 Red/Gold Bearded Dragon* (Irwin, R.I.P.)

Other
-----
1.0 Betta Fish (Tyrone)
1.0 Hooded Rat* (Clubber, R.I.P.)
0.1 Albino Rat (Isis)

The pics are ok. If you can, try slowing down your shutter speed. If you can slow it down enough, you can probably even not use the flash.

On another note, what is that hide your snake is in? It looks like a cave of some sort. It's neat.
Rob
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"I reject your reality and substitute my own" Adam Savage
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa-Ziggy
1.0 Creamscicle motley corn--Cozmo
0.1 Creamscicle corn--Wanda
0.0.1 Normal corn
0.1 Black Pine - Spazz
1.0 Bearded Dragon - Gomer

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!

Good one!

Seriously my camera is a digital camera and only has 2 megapixels...cut me some slack. Besides...I know nothing about shutter speed lol...not a professional photographer...just a decent one lol.

Rocky's hide is your typical plastic half log. There are also holes on the top and side(the side one is the one you see Rocky peeking out of). I bought it at a reptile show in Maryland...well my friend bought it for the ball python he planned on getting....but that never happened so I got it from him lol.
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Scott

Reptiles
--------
1 Colombian Rainbow Boa (Rocky)
1.0 Ball Python (Sultan)
0.1 California Kingsnake (Leota)
1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle (Yugi)
0.1 Red/Gold Bearded Dragon* (Irwin, R.I.P.)

Other
-----
1.0 Betta Fish (Tyrone)
1.0 Hooded Rat* (Clubber, R.I.P.)
0.1 Albino Rat (Isis)

Fun frogs! And Rocky's a delight, as always. (I can't see my boa when he's in the hide box; he scrunches way in the back in the dark.)
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Renee

2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
1.0 BRB (Loki)

Hey Renee, try filling the hide with damp moss. If your BRB is always "way in the back in the dark" sounds like the hide may be a bit large for him? The hide mine like BEST is when they can burrow into something damp with just the tip of their nose sticking out.

For the snake to feel secure, it wants to "feel" stuff around it, that's how it "knows" it's not exposed. That is most likely why it's at the back of the current hide, thaat's the best location to feel hidden with as much as possible physical contact and away from the light.

If you do go with the moss, you will see your BRB less than now as it will be burrowed in it most of the time but he will be happier and will feel safer.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
20.28 BRB
16.18 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Thanks for the advice, Dave!

Actually the hide IS a bit big for him, since he's so small (maybe 24 inches, tops). The hide is actually a realistic fake bonsai tree perched on fake rocks with a cave underneath the roots/rocks. The cavern is oblong and Loki likes to hide on the left side, which is smaller and darker than the center or right side of the hide. I use layers of damp paper towels underneath the open bottom of the hide-tree and he's always plenty moist when I take him out. He usually does come out with some regularity, but last time I saw him he was obviously pre-shed, so I think that's what he's up to right now...

Moss would look nicer than the paper toweling! But how frequently do you have to change the moss? Is it cleanable, or do you have to toss it when it's messed on?
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Renee

2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
1.0 BRB (Loki)

I change out the moss when dirty, and no I don't re-use it. I will remoisten from time to time.

I order it by the 25# bale but you can get smaller amounts from any garden center.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
20.28 BRB
16.18 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I'll have to try the moss out...

By the way, how did we drop from 3 to 6 in the popular forum contest? (Albeit we're hot on the heels of 3,4, & 5!) Is it that we have less pages?
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Renee

2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
1.0 BRB (Loki)

It's a function of how many threads and how many replies. As new threads get started, a fourth page shows up for a time until the next archive run. At the archive run the fourth page(for us) gets lopped off. These recent posts have archived a few older posts with many replies. Some of the other forums have more pages and many fewer replies, which makes them less susceptible to archiving changing their high on the list status.

Really doesn't matter, I think we would all agree this is the BEST forum on KS!!!!!!!!!!
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
20.28 BRB
16.18 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

The top two "popular" forums are there IMO simply due to number of pages. Chams has 6 and box turtles has 4. Oddly enough there is one more forum on the top ten list with more pages than us - venemous (5 pages) but obviously they have fewer replies
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
20.28 BRB
16.18 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Definitely!!!
-----
Renee

2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
1.0 BRB (Loki)

and to think I only have 1.1 Brazilians and sooooo many pythons (at least 45), I do have several other types of boas = Dumeril, BCC, BCI, Amazon Tree, and Yellow Anacondas, but all their forums STINK when compared to this forum, I realy like the people here, when my browser loads, this forum loads along with it. Everyone here is very pleasent and I genuinely like the peeps here, I DO NOT like people in general BTW lol.
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Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

you can say that again Frank. The saying I have always used growing up (lol I'm still growing up) is "if people can't get along with me then they have social skill problems"
Bob

I assure you, I am NO social butterfly type of guy lol
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Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

weird and that makes you different. I have been called different my whole life and add Dave's comical humor and I think we get "3 kids that sat in the back on the short bus"lol did I just type that ooooops there goes the NEIGHBORHOOD!!!!! haha ya'll watch out lol
Bob

so Bob, you were the other wise a$$ with me in the back o' that bus!!

BTW, don't forget to add the two stripers to my 2007 acquisitions.

I should have pics ready for pic Monday

This is actually a first even for me, Buying and receiving newborn BRB's pre first shed!
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
20.28 BRB
16.18 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

damn you are greedy I mean fast to pick up those acquisitions lol. I'm glad you got 2 more so next year when you have all those nice looking keepers I can make one or two or three of those puppies mine hahahahalol Did you buy those cherry salmons pre-shed too or just picked them out but congrats on the first time getting the brb's before pre-shed and no shipping cost (cuz I think Jess is in Cali) and that makes that a quick grab if I might say so myself. Dave you are quick, quick, quick if I might add and I hope you don't snag anyone I see posted on the forum next so I might have to get some phone numbers lol the hell with e-mail cuz you'll beat me to it.
Bob

p.s. that was me on the back of the bus shooting those spit balls at the driver

I have kept every species of Rana you can catch in New Jersey, as a matter a fact, the only indigenous herps I have never seen are the Marbled Salamander, Tiger Salamander, and the corn snake. I have kept every other one at some time or another over the last 30 years. Nj has lots of neat herps!
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Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

the timber rattlesnake, Northern Copperhead, and indigenous sea turtles, I have seen them all in the wild though. I do not believe in keeping "HOT" herps in the Home environment.
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

Where in Jersey are you located? And where have you found black racers in jersey? It's my goal this summer to find a northern black racer finally.
-----
Scott

Reptiles
--------
1 Colombian Rainbow Boa (Rocky)
1.0 Ball Python (Sultan)
0.1 California Kingsnake (Leota)
1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle (Yugi)
0.1 Red/Gold Bearded Dragon* (Irwin, R.I.P.)

Other
-----
1.0 Betta Fish (Tyrone)
1.0 Hooded Rat* (Clubber, R.I.P.)
0.1 Albino Rat (Isis)

I live in Woodbrige NJ, I would say south in Forked River, area closer to my home, I would have to say the perimeter of Duhernil Reservoirs in Spotswood NJ. Although not technically the "Pinelands" that area has sand, pine trees, cacti, and most things associated with the "Pine barrens" right down to the carnivorous plants in the sphagnum Bogs. I have caught them also in South Amboy, not in the suburbs, but rather the outskirts of the town, it is also another "Pinelands" type of ecosystem outside the range of the actual pinelands. Also note I have seen animals associated with the pinelands, such as Black Racers, southern ring neck snakes, and a lot of Hognose snakes, never saw any Pines there, but I am convinced there are Northern Pines and Chain Kingsnakes in those areas. I never really looked as much as I could have, because I am usually fishing the reservoir for game fish.. (it's next to my fishing honey hole lol ).

Also forgot to mention CheeseQuake Park, especially the hiking trails behind "Hook" lake and also by the crabbing bridge near the Brackish water area, just follow the path towards woods after crossing the bridge, and always a productive area in all state parks is the area behind the Ranger Station, they usually have all kinds of snake attracting Artificial Cover to search through. I have caught many ( hundreds for sure )snakes behind the ranger station in several state parks, did I mention behind the ranger station? Well yes I did, that's always one of the most productive spots for snakes in my experience.

One last note, the northern black racer's range is throughout the state of NJ, but I have caught 90 percent of them in south jersey (Pine Barrens) and or a "Pine land" like environment. This is by no means the only type of niches they are associated with in the State, but one will have a much higher success rate of finding this particular ophidian in "pine land" type of environments and or the actual "Pinelands"

Ok, almost my last note .

Most where caught hiding under artificial cover, such as, Tarps, car parts ( hoods & doors are a hot ticket item )and wood pilelings. I have caught several in an open environment
( always near some type of cover ) probably "patrolling" their Home Range for prey animals in the mid day sun. (hottest part of the day). BTW good luck catching one in mid day, why you ask? Well they do not call them Black Racers for just aesthetics.

Grease Lightening when all warmed up and usually very Agro when captured. You will most likely be introduced to their Musk Gland and their razor sharp teeth. I had one 6 footer manage to bite me over 10 times in a matter of a few seconds before I could get the snake under control, on the face even no less, they are a sight to behold as adults in their native environments. I never liked their taxonomic specie name, "constrictor", umm they aren't constrictors. The feed savagely in the captive environment once acclimated, as this also leads to lots of poop, their metabolism are very high in comparison to other colubrids I have kept.
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

...how abundant are racers? Are they everywhere like northern water snakes at a pond? Or rarer?

Luckily I'm gonna be in the Barrens this summer....so my chances will be good I hope(fingers crossed).
-----
Scott

Reptiles
--------
1 Colombian Rainbow Boa (Rocky)
1.0 Ball Python (Sultan)
0.1 California Kingsnake (Leota)
1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle (Yugi)
0.1 Red/Gold Bearded Dragon* (Irwin, R.I.P.)

Other
-----
1.0 Betta Fish (Tyrone)
1.0 Hooded Rat* (Clubber, R.I.P.)
0.1 Albino Rat (Isis)

that water and garter snakes are much more abundant in NJ than Northern Black Racers. But, they may be more abundant than I know because I guarantee they feel our vibrations and could easily disappear before they are even seen. A very small percentage of the ones I have captured are actively foraging. Most were captured under some type of AC, which most times was located in direct sunlight. I would say they are sun loving and heat seeking more so than most colubrids in NJ. I have caught them under metal sheets (used for roofs I believe)in direct sunlight, temps in excess of 100 degrees under such cover makes most snakes thermoregulate and leave the area in search of cooler temperatures.

Note: I have captured almost 100 percent of my Milk snakes under that (roofing sheet, that is, hummm, wavy seems like a good word, but not the correct term to describe the metals characteristics)same material. And also under logs and large rocks (little boulders is an accurate adjective.) This type of AC ( roof tin? )gets me, ALL KINDS OF EXCITED, for there is almost always something to be found under them. I remember catching Meadow Mice and keeping them as pets when I was younger, also Deer Mice. ( as pets, never thought of the possibility of zoonosis occurring ). Furthest thing from my mind as a lad. Since I am babbling. Looking back at all the fresh water turtles I have either just captured and or kept. One would think I should have contracted Salmonella somewhere along the way, another explanation could be I have developed a resistance to it by excessive exposure over the years. They didn't nickname me "snake man" and "Swamp Man" for no reason.

I also should mention that it is possible that turtles may not spread this to humans as often as once believed. The law about the size of a turtle ( 3 or 4 inches )that can legally be sold for educational purposes ( loophole used by Herpetoculture at reptile shows )is simply ridiculous because, they only made that law because little kids may put them in their mouths and contract salmonella, hummm I don't remember being very "germ smart" as a little kid. Meaning if I held a "carrier" regardless of its carapace length, I most likely didn't wash my hands and most likely put them to or in my mouth for one reason or another. There may be a more sensible reason not to sell hatchling turtles, "Choking Hazards" in small children would at least make some kind of sense. But just for Salmonella poisoning makes little since at all, because kids will be kids, I am sure most of us have been somewhat lacksed, in the hand washing department when we where young children. Well enough babbling hehe
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Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

You are soooo lucky! We have a more limited number of herps in Minnesota than a lot of states (I guess they don't like the -20 degree temps) But we DO have timber rattlesnakes---and once I saw a whole hill covered with moving garter snakes---so packed you couldn't even see any grass. There must have been many hundreds all coming out of a communal winter burrow; from the tiniest little garter snake I've ever seen to the hugest (bigger than I thought they got)! In fact, I even saw tiny snakes riding on the backs of larger ones. Needless to say, I grabbed a couple to show my kids (and then set them free). I'll never forget that sight!
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Renee

2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
1.0 BRB (Loki)

I would love to see the sight of all those Thamnophis at one time, like you assumed it was a denning area, this type of thing I have only read about in regards to garters from Manitoba Canada. Was there any noticeable breeding activity among them? they usually breed under those conditions, when they are communed in a large number like that. I have been studying aggregation behavior in snakes since early childhood. Very interesting stuff, especially in garter snakes with their utilization of pheromones to attract mates and also repel certain males from already mated with females by using sperm plugs that are inserted into the female and loaded with male pheromones therefore tricking the other males into thinking she is a he, so many interesting reproductive behaviors in this particular genera of snakes, Pythons and Boas are also quite interesting in sexual selection and species recognition. Although all snakes use these pheromones for species recognition, certain taxa use intricate sex trails, Anacondas for example have a larger then typical scent gland for leaving scent trails for the males to follow to large breeding balls. I am not sure but I think rainbows are very closely related to anacondas (more so than typical boa species) so they also have a larger than normal musk gland. Can not seem to find any literature on Epicrates with regards to such hypothesis of mine.
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

In case you have not visited this site, I thought I should post a link for you...
Welcome to Minnesota Herpetology!

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Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

reasons I love our forum. That was VERY nice of you Frank....definitely above and beyond!!!!!
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
20.28 BRB
16.18 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

on the Boa forum
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

Yeah, and here you won't typically get your chops busted. However you will get jabbed in the ribs quite often
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
20.28 BRB
16.18 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

all in good fun
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

Duh, just like a big happy family!!
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
20.28 BRB
16.18 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

it's funny until someone loses an eye
Bob

p.s. one big dysfunctional family right?jk

then it's hilarious bob! lol just kidding.
-----
Scott

Reptiles
--------
1 Colombian Rainbow Boa (Rocky)
1.0 Ball Python (Sultan)
0.1 California Kingsnake (Leota)
1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle (Yugi)
0.1 Red/Gold Bearded Dragon* (Irwin, R.I.P.)

Other
-----
1.0 Betta Fish (Tyrone)
1.0 Hooded Rat* (Clubber, R.I.P.)
0.1 Albino Rat (Isis)

-

Thanks for the heads-up on the site, Frank! I'm a member of the MN Herpetological Soceity, but I hadn't seen that MN Herp site. It looks priceless.

It could well be that the garter snakes were in breeding mode. Given the vast numbers, my first thought was that they had just emerged for the spring---especially since they swiftly dispersed. I wish they would have hung around longer!

It makes me want to go back to the wooded park where I saw them in Little Canada (MN). (Although it's probably too late in the spring to run across a group of snakes now...)
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Renee

2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
1.0 BRB (Loki)

Hey Renee... what part of MN are you from? I just moved from there a little over a year ago. I used to live in Chanhassen, and for a short while I was in Zimmerman.
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©

Chanhassen? You must be familiar with Leaping Lizards then! That's where I ended up getting my BRB on the advice of a MN Herp Society member who has over 40 snakes. (My husband was very uncomfortable with me buying one via the web or I might have done that.)

Were you a MHS member while living here?

I live in Roseville, very near the St. Paul U of M campus where the MHS meets. I often walk through the farm fields and usually spy a fair amount of wildlife in the area---but lately, no snakes, *alas*

Where are you located now?
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Renee

2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
1.0 BRB (Loki)

Yes... I LOVE Leaping Lizards! The gal that runs the store is so nice and knowledgable. Did you pick up your BRB recently? I was visiting and stopped by Leaping Lizards a few months ago. They had a nice little BRB there at the time. I held it for a bit, and sadly put it back. Perhaps it was yours?

I live in Madison, WI now. There isn't much out here for reptiles, and I miss Leaping Lizards and Twin Cities Reptiles. I recently was made aware of a nice place that has a good sized reptile selection in Milwaukee. It is about a 1.5 hour drive though, so have only visited once so far.
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©

Yes, Aubrey, I just got my BRB a little over a month ago from Leaping Lizards, so it could well be the little guy you played with. They said he was born last year. He's quite sweet-tempered

At the time I started searching for a BRB, Twin City Reptiles (which is much closer to where I live) didn't have any, and didn't know if they'd get any in before August---when they expected some from their breeding pair. Shortly after I brought Loki home, they got in a bunch of young BRB's (I was over there last night looking at them). But of course, none of them are as lovely as Loki!

I'm sorry to hear that you don't have any good reptile shops in easy driving distance. Next time you plan to be in the Twin Cities, let me know, and maybe I can take you to lunch to hear about your snake breeding adventures (That's living vicariously for me, since raising them is out of the question...at least for now. My husband is NOT a snake guy---so I was thrilled when he said out of the blue last month that I could get another snake. And he surprised me again recently by actually asking if he could hold one of the snakes when I had a couple out...so maybe some day! If not, I'll love the ones I'm with! LOL
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Renee

2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
1.0 BRB (Loki)

Yeah, that sounds like a fun idea! My mom lives in Zimmerman, MN and is always trying to get me to visit, so I'm sure I'll be up there soon.

LOL, I never thought I'd see or hear of that BRB again after holding it. What a small world, huh?

Sorry to hear that you have a limit on your snakies.... I'm sure you'll be able to extend the boundaries a little in the future. Seems to be the case with everyone I've talked to with "limits".... they always get more animals eventually.
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©

Yeah, I was originally only supposed to get one snake, so I've already tripled the limit!
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Renee

2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
1.0 BRB (Loki)

if you do I would be VERY interested in any field observations you make.
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research