Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been keeping, breeding, and selling herps for 40 years plus. I believe that some of us are too fastidious in our paronoia about germs, parasites, lighting etc. I do keep abreast of all current developments and use them if I think it will significantly improve what I'm accomplishing. Having said this I use aspen for my snakes and DO NOT disinfect an entire cage every time something deficates. I do not sterilize a water bowl every time I clean it. Reptiles are exceedingly territorial and most in nature spend their entire lives very close to where they were born. They feel more comfortable in their enviroment if you don't use new hide boxes, water bowls, etc. I'm not suggesting I don't clean them, I just use the SAME ones. Its like you having a favorite chair. I think their much healthier long term without massive amounts of time spent on unneccesary things that do nothing to enhance success. I have had so many species that there is not room on this forum to list them all. I first began breeding Cyclura and boids in the early 1970's. I have bred some 37 species of boids, untold colubrids, 4 species of Cyclura, 3 species of Varanids, 12 species of crocodilians, 14 species of chelonians including G. radiata, and currently am the first to breed Albino Green Iguanas. The first thing I did for the baby albinos is to cover their food with fecal matter of the adult. The reason for this is that Dagmer Werner, a German researcher in Costa Rica saw baby Iguanas eating fecal pellets of the adults. After investigations she found the babies grew MUCH faster because of being infected with germs etc. that were necessary for digestion. The moral of this long post is that if you spend more time understanding and observing your charges rather than superfluous task that only make you feel better, you will be more sucessfull. I very seldom post and I apologise for the lengthy dissertation of facts...Tom Crutchfield

The researchers name is spelled Dagmar Werner. I misspelled it the first post in case anyone wants to check it. sorry...TC

Folks, I am blown away by the timing of all of this. Wish I could say that I was leading up to it all but I can't.

Just this morning, while catching up on the latest news online I came across a Newsweek article titled: "Caution: Killing Germs May Be Hazardous to Your Health" Our war on microbes has toughened them. Now, new science tells us we should embrace bacteria. The article is dated: Oct 29, 2007 Issue.

The article is in human context, about human health, but the main point is probably across the board for all living things.

Here's the link: Killing Germs

I have only read the first few paragraphs so I can't say much about it at the moment. I'm headed back now to finish reading it.

Honestly, I'm not trying to start another debate or rub anything in anyone's face, I promise. I just thought it would be interesting to some people and related to the previous thread.

Ya'll have a great day!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

I must wonder... does the eating of the fecal matter have anything to do with germs, or is it just easier for the babies to digest because, well, it's already been digested?
-----
~Sara~
4 Leopard Geckos
4 ball pythons
1.0 Black-lined plated lizard (Lizzy Butt)
0.1 Burmese Python (Pixil)
5 Rats
6 Mice
1.1 Gerbils
1.1 Dogs (Ozzie and Mandy)
0.1 Cat (Isis)
0.0.1 Synodontis Catfish (Big Spotty Fish)
0.1 Convict Cichlid
0.0.1 blood parrot cichlid
0.0.1 African Featherfin Catfish

I was present during the oral presentation of the paper at an IHS meeting in Knoxville but that was in the late 1970's. I believe not only did the friendly flora help break down the vegetable matter so more nutrients could be absorbed but also being infected with some type of parasite that aided this as well. If you google the name the paper is there. Its been so long I can't remember the exact details just that I was surprized of the facts. Over time and experience it now makes lots of sense...thanksTC

I remember she took two groups of lizards and one group was allowed to eat fecal matter and the other not. They weren't fed the fecal matter as a diet, just allowed to at first. Over time both groups were set up and fed the SAME diet and the ones that ate the fecal matter grew at a surprizing rate compared to the group which did not. I would imagine it has to do more with being infected with needed pathogens than anything else. I believe she made this very clear in her paper. Later I intend to review it myself...thanks...TC

Hi Sara!

> > > does the eating of the fecal matter have anything to do with germs, or is it just easier for the babies to digest...

I haven't read the paper yet that Tom mentioned so I'm not saying that it says such-n-such, but based on the Newsweek article and what I know, the eating of feces wouldn't be "in place of" eating regular prey but as a digestive system microbial enhancer that allows them to get more calories from the prey that they eat.

Here's an excerpt from the Newsweek article, found on: Page 3

Microbes play an important role in digestion, especially of polysaccharides, starch molecules found in foods such as potatoes or rice that may be hundreds or thousands of atoms long. The stomach and intestines secrete 99 different enzymes for breaking these down into usable 6-carbon sugars, but the humble gut-dwelling Bacterioides theta produces almost 250, substantially increasing the energy we can extract from a given meal.

Of course, "energy" is another way of saying "calories." Jeffrey Gordon of the University of Washington raised a colony of mice in sterile conditions, with no gut microbes at all, and although they ate 30 percent more food than normal mice they had less than half the body fat. When they were later inoculated with normal bacteria, they quickly gained back up to normal weight. "We are finding that the nutritional value of food is pretty individualized," Gordon says. "And a big part of what determines it is our microbial composition."

Another excerpt found on: Page 4

And there's one more thing that microbes can do, perhaps the most remarkable of all. Mycobacterium vaccae, a soil microbe found in East Africa that has powerful effects on the immune system, was tested at the University of Bristol as a cancer therapy. The results were equivocal, but researchers made the startling observation that patients receiving it felt better regardless of whether their cancer was actually improving. Neuroscientist Chris Lowry injected mice with it, and found, to his amazement, that it activated the serotonin receptors in the prefrontal cortex—in other words, it worked like an antidepressant, only without the side effects of insomnia and anxiety....

...there is at least the tantalizing, if disconcerting, suggestion that microbes may be able to manipulate our happiness. Could the hygiene hypothesis help explain the rise in, of all things, depression?

I realize the Newsweek article is a bit lengthy and has a fair amount of irrelative information, but I strongly urge everyone to read it as there are a lot of points that correlate to animal husbandry. Not to mention the fact that someone may find something within the article that may help to improve their very own life. The depression theory I quoted above is very intriguing to me because I happen to know several people affected by it and have pondered on why it's such an issue these days when it wasn't 30 years ago.

Take care!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

Of course, "energy" is another way of saying "calories." Jeffrey Gordon of the University of Washington raised a colony of mice in sterile conditions, with no gut microbes at all, and although they ate 30 percent more food than normal mice they had less than half the body fat. When they were later inoculated with normal bacteria, they quickly gained back up to normal weight. "We are finding that the nutritional value of food is pretty individualized," Gordon says. "And a big part of what determines it is our microbial composition."

I guess I should start disinfecting my house more! Maybe I could lose a couple pounds!
-----
~Sara~
4 Leopard Geckos
3 ball pythons
1.0 Black-lined plated lizard (Lizzy Butt)
0.1 Burmese Python (Pixil)
7 Rats
1.1 Gerbils
1.1 Dogs (Ozzie and Mandy)
0.1 Cat (Isis)
0.0.1 Synodontis Catfish (Big Spotty Fish)
0.1 Convict Cichlid
0.0.1 blood parrot cichlid
0.0.1 African Featherfin Catfish

Ha! Ha!

I wonder if there is, or has been, a diet plan or medicine based on the digestive bacteria. If not, there might well be one soon after the publishing of those findings.

Could you imagine being able to eat 1/3 more food but yet remain 1/2 the size? Wow!

Just in case there's any mentally inept individuals reading this, I advise against drinking a bleach/water solution prior to every meal. Hahahaha!!!! (No, no, no. For the record, I honestly wasn't making any referrence, whatsoever, to you, GB. Ha! Ha! I just had to say that in case there are any sensitive areas after our previous discussion. )

About Tom Crutchfield, he was being quite modest. His credentials are widely known and respected in the reptile industry, as a keeper, breeder, dealer, and many more areas of expertise, not merely as a personal keeper like most of us here.

I just thought I'd give him more of the credit that he deserves.

Take care!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

I would have considered it modest, except that there was already a discussion it going, and yet he decided to make an entire new thread... is our thread not good enough? J/K...
-----
~Sara~
4 Leopard Geckos
3 ball pythons
1.0 Black-lined plated lizard (Lizzy Butt)
0.1 Burmese Python (Pixil)
7 Rats
1.1 Gerbils
1.1 Dogs (Ozzie and Mandy)
0.1 Cat (Isis)
0.0.1 Synodontis Catfish (Big Spotty Fish)
0.1 Convict Cichlid
0.0.1 blood parrot cichlid
0.0.1 African Featherfin Catfish

Ha! He was being modest to both, me & you.

Most likely (knowing Tom what lil' I do): He was distancing himself from me (and rightfully so ) while trying to avoid the appearance of any ganging or anything.

Later!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

Actually I wanted the seperation so as not to appear to be bashing you. However the BIGGEST health threat to captive herps is stress. Imagine being locked in a bathroom and every time you eat, go wee, spill water, etc, a giant reaches in and removes you so your bathroom can be sterilized. Would you feel stressed? Thats what happens every time you over clean to save your animals life from microbes etc. Thats why Ball Pythons ball up, snakes squirm, lizards break their tales, etc. They think their going to be killed and eaten. I recently returned from a trip to the D.R. collecting. Epicrates s. striatus is arboreal and territorial.In one Mango Tree we collected a large female in was covered with old excretement inside the hollow. It looked as if it had been used for years. We returned her to it but I doubt it had ever been disinfected as it was 30' off the ground.The snake was in the peak of health. Again I'm not suggesting not to clean your cages. I'm suggesting to use COMMEN SENSE. THEY CALL IT THAT BUT IT AIN'T TO COMMON.TC

Good point on cleaning - stress. It kind of opened my eyes to what outwardly appears to be one world, but inwardly could be two different worlds.

I imagine that working in a wildlife rehab, especially injurious, the care pretty much consists of constant monitoring, moving, cleaning, etc... It's geared more towards an animal's physical needs.

Now, compare to that to general, personal keeping, stress is our biggest concern. Species specific, of course.

With a newly aqcuired captive, my first thought is to make it as comfortable as I can. Over the years this has come natural to me, to where it's really not even a thought, but more of an automatic action.

To someone in the rehab field this may be second place, and not first, due to needing to tend to the animal's physical/medical needs. Inadvertently, this could carry over to their personal keeping.

Just thinking aloud, trying to see things from someone else's POV (point of view).

Later!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

I feel like this got a little messed up over posts... I never said disinfect your cages every day!
I said that I disinfect once a week, which happens to be the day that the snakes go potty (yes. they seem to have a bathroom schedule! It is very rare for all of my snakes to not "go" on the same day.) I disinfect water bowls once a week too.
I change my bedding once a week.
Now- if one of the snakes happens to go potty off schedule, I will change bedding and disinfect on that day for them.

Some of you may disagree, but I don't think once a week is fanatical at all.
I remember happy hillbilly talking about using soap and water. Well... soap tends to kill germs, so I would consider that to be disinfecting.

Also... my snakes seem to appreciate the interaction. They aren't scared at all. They come out all exploring-like with their heads up and flicking tounges. They don't ever struggle to get away.... they just lazily explore. All of my lizards are the same way. However, I DO handle my snakes often other than cleaning, so maybe that is why they aren't fearful.
-----
~Sara~
4 Leopard Geckos
3 ball pythons
1.0 Black-lined plated lizard (Lizzy Butt)
0.1 Burmese Python (Pixil)
7 Rats
1.1 Gerbils
1.1 Dogs (Ozzie and Mandy)
0.1 Cat (Isis)
0.0.1 Synodontis Catfish (Big Spotty Fish)
0.1 Convict Cichlid
0.0.1 blood parrot cichlid
0.0.1 African Featherfin Catfish

Actually....soap doesn't kill germs, it just washes them away. Even antimicrobial soap isn't as effective as the claims say they are. They conditions they tested under are different than everyday use. Really, I'm not planning on entering this thread, but general microbiology, chemistry, and anatomy/physiology are more my thing than snake husbandry, so I felt compelled so say something.

It's a matter of defining terms. Disinfecting is using a substance such as bleach, Nolvasan, or Chlorhexaderm and mixing a solution whereby you then soak and wash items in an effort to kill as many microbes as possible. Washing in soap and water is cleaning debris and not disinfecting. So when people are talking about disinfecting on a regular basis, that may be what they're thinking of, too.

Listen I am NOT attacking you and never intended to. Anything I said was meant to be constructive not a personal attack. Everyone does things differently. I related what works for me. As it works very well I have no intention of changing unless I stop getting results. Results are what count not methods. The more I learn the less I realize that I know. That was the reason I seperated my post to avoid a mindless conflict. Personally I don't care how others do things. It has NO effect on me at all. I was merely giving examples of why I think people today are too fastidious in their lives. Newsweek did a much better job. By the way an ordinary bleach solution is about as good as it gets for disinfecting things. Arguing over how often to clean is nonsense. Again most of this stuff is commen sense. What I said is factual but was not directed at you or anyone else. To argue over this crap is an exercise in futility. all the best...TC

uh... I didn't realize we were still arguing. I understand what happy hill was saying about how it is hard to interpret how a post was meant to be taken because of lack of vocals/hand gestures/body language, etc.
I wasn't trying to imply that you were attacking me... sorry if it came off that way.
I was trying to clear something up that seemed to me had possibly been confuzzled

In any case, I was not accusing you of anything, okee dokee?

I'm not letting myself get upset by these postings anymore, because there are a thousand different ways that people do things with their animals, and for every article that I am told to look at, there's another article saying the exact opposite. It's just a waste of time, we're just going around in circles.
Every species has different needs, and what works for one might not work best for another. Maybe the subject of germs isn't important either way... I mean, I use bleach or soap and water once a week, change bedding/disinfect cages every time the animal poos, and quarentine my new animals for two months and I've never had ANY problems. Happy Hillbilly quarentines for 1 1/2 weeks and doesn't disinfect his cages/bowls every week and doesn't have any problems. I don't know your quarentining time period, but you said you don't disinfect every cleaning and don't have problems. So, if it doesn't matter either way to the animals, let's each just keep doing what we were doing that worked for us, and let the matter go... okay?
-----
~Sara~
4 Leopard Geckos
3 ball pythons
1.0 Black-lined plated lizard (Lizzy Butt)
0.1 Burmese Python (Pixil)
7 Rats
1.1 Gerbils
1.1 Dogs (Ozzie and Mandy)
0.1 Cat (Isis)
0.0.1 Synodontis Catfish (Big Spotty Fish)
0.1 Convict Cichlid
0.0.1 blood parrot cichlid
0.0.1 African Featherfin Catfish

I've been trying to fade out of the picture on this but felt compelled to mention a few things.

I have a nice big smile on my face that's not a smirk, but a genuine, friendly smile. I will make no assumptions, insinuations, accusations or anything likewise, I promise, so I ask that everyone not take anything I'm about to say that way.

Rarely do debates change the minds of the debaters. That is not what debates are about, what they're supposed to do. Debates are for two or more people to present their arguments, to layout the reasons for their way of thinking, for everyone else to see, in hopes of giving people what they need to make an informed decision.

Our political jackarses are not trying to convince each other during their debates, they're trying to convince us that they've got the best solution. I can only hope that everyone else sees what I see; That at least 95% of them are absolutely clueless to what the real world is like.

Anyway......, I'm sure that several hundred, if not thousands, of people have read these latest discussions, and at least that many more will do so before much longer. Hopefully they will somehow benefit from the discussions.

Donning a thick skin while participating on forums will serve us all well.

Someone stated; "for every article that I am told to look at, there's another article saying the exact opposite."

A lot of times that's true. On the same token, many times "the experts" will say something, only to do an about-face years later. That tells me that even "the experts" are human, they make mistakes, too. They get it wrong sometimes.

I've got three books on a particular reptile species I'll not mention sitting right here in front of me. Most people would unwittingly say that they each were written by "experts." Yeah, and Al Gore is an expert on global warming. How to consume 20 times the national average of household energy, maybe. Go, big Green! A Nobel? Hahahahahaha!!!

The books are fairly good books with a lot of good information, but neither of them are totally accurate. In fact, they each mention the fact that other books contain inconsistent & inaccurate information.

The reason some books contain inaccuracies? Because they're written by people that study the animal for only brief periods at a time, not dedicated keepers of that animal.

There are, of course, some books written by scientific keepers, long-time dedicated to the species they write about. But even these will vary in opinions on one thing or another, from author to author, expert to expert.

We have to keep in mind that there are "facts" and then there are "opinions." We have to be able to distinguish between the two.

I could point out what's facts and what's opinions of what has recently be discussed but I'm not here to do everyone's thinking for them. I'm here to try to help, share, and learn. I'm not here to create enemies or friends, to try to look intelligent, build up my ego, look & feel important, or anything other than positive benefits for the forum members/readers and myself. Friendship is a bonus, one that I enjoy & value. In my case, it's what's in a name: Happy Hillbilly.

For the record, I welcome differences of opinion. If everyone thought like me it would be a perfect world, and we couldn't have that, could we? Hahahahaha!!! Just kidding, of course.

Last but not least; One thing that will most always cause problems, friction, is misquoting someone or stating things out of context. Most of the time it is unintentional, carelessness, but it still causes problems just the same. Ya'll, if you're gonna quote someone, say that they said "such-n-such", please make sure you get it right. Many times, on different forums, I've seen misquoted statements and statements taken out of context snowball into damaging devices.

Example:
It was said by someone that "Happy Hillbilly quarentines for 1 1/2 weeks..."

The fact is, I never stated that I quarantine for 1 1/2 weeks. The fact is, I never said how long I usually quarantine an animal.

To set the record straight, once again, and for the last time, the "1 1/2 weeks" referrenced stems from the photo session of my rescued burmese & my long-term captive male burmese. THIS is what I said: "The snakes only came into contact for about 2 minutes, max. They aren't housed together, although I wouldn't hesitate to do so if i wanted to or had a need to."

In the same post, a few paragraphs down, I also stated: "I've always said that if a person can't tell that a reptile has any health problems within 2 weeks, then they've still got a lot to learn."

Let's just say that an inexperienced, mentally inept individual, for some unknown reason, looks up to me, considers me to be fairly knowledgeable about reptiles. (I know, that's quite a stretch of imagination. Ha! Ha!)

They only read something falsely attributed to me and take it as gospel from me. They only quarantine their newest reptile for 1 1/2 weeks and it spreads a deadly disease that wipes out all of their reptiles. Not good.

When most people see a beautiful digital image they notice the vibrant colors. What they don't see are the millions of dots per pixel that make that image.

Here's the deal with my rescued burmese. The snake was the single reptile in the household for all of it's seven years of life since purchased as a baby. No contact with any other snake prior to my acquisition of her. Based on what I know I believe the odds of IBD had come & gone. After closely observing the snake for 1 1/2 weeks, normal water intake, normal defecation & passing of urates, good physical condition, etc..., with my level of experience I was not, am not, concerned with any of the shorter incubation period illnesses because I feel certain they don't exist.

With the two snakes coming into contact for the minimal time that they did during the photo session, I believe that I stand a better chance of getting struck by lightnin' while runnin' naked as a jaybird across the mountain tops at exactly 11:19pm tomorrow night than either one of the snakes contracting an illness from the other. Ha! Ha! No, I don't always go streakin' thru the mountain tops, only when Billy Bob comes home early. JUST KIDDING!!! Hahahahaha!!!

So, just how long do I quarantine new captives? Independently based. It all depends on many factors. That rescue is still in her own cage.

Some "experts" suggest 3 months, while other "experts" suggest 6 months. So who's right?

Given the low level of knowledge & experience with most of today's keepers, I, personally, suggest most of them quarantine somewhere between two to three months. People are posting left & right saying, "Hey! I just bought such-n-such from a pet store today and I need to know what to feed it, what to keep it in, temperatures, etc... Can I keep this gecko in with my gator?" Yes, by all means, do it a favor and do so.

Ya'll have a good one!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

I think I agree with what you are saying, but then again, I've beem sleep deprived for the past two weeks (averaging 2-3 hours a night... which may explain my argumentiveness) and long posts are just not in my rhelm of understanding anymore.

I'm sorry for generalizing your quarentine... but you did seem pretty firm on the two weeks and you can tell pretty much anything THING.
The brain generalizes things so that it can better understand. It is a perfectly natural human response to take one statement and use it as basis for all opinions on the subject. I believe this is what I've done with your quarentine statements.

I also think that midterms and debates don't mix very well, and I'm sure that ANYONE can tell that I've been trying my best to get out of this conversation without completely disappearing. It doesn't really seem to be working.

I've already put my two-cents into the subject and explained my point of view. So, if you notice me missing from this post in the future, don't consider me a coward or that you've "won" (though nobody CAN win as it's not something that can be settled over a message board) just hope that I'm sleeping well and won't say confuzzled things in the future.

I thought I liked debating, but I'm not so sure anymore. I may have just learned to keep my mouth... er... hands... shut or only open it to speak about less touchy subjects.

I do have one question though, to happy hillbilly, if you don't mind me asking, what state are you from?
-----
~Sara~
4 Leopard Geckos
3 ball pythons
1.0 Black-lined plated lizard (Lizzy Butt)
0.1 Burmese Python (Pixil)
7 Rats
1.1 Gerbils
1.1 Dogs (Ozzie and Mandy)
0.1 Cat (Isis)
0.0.1 Synodontis Catfish (Big Spotty Fish)
0.1 Convict Cichlid
0.0.1 blood parrot cichlid
0.0.1 African Featherfin Catfish

Little sleep, debates & midterms =

Ha! Ha! Hang in there and forget about debating, at least for now. I don't see how it could be hashed out much more, anyway.

I'm originally from central FL. That's where I was born & raised. Not far from where Laura lives & where Tom used to live. But my maternal roots are right here in the southern Appalachian mountains. My mom is from Oneida, TN, and I now live in Murphy, NC, about 2 1/2 hrs from Oneida.

Here's an interesting tidbit: My great, great, great, great grandfather was Mr. Hatfield of the Hatfield & McCoy feud.
So, don't mess with my pig.
Hahahahaha!!!

Catch ya later!
HH

-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

One of my professors is related to your great great grandfather then.
I'm from TN, and when you say hillbilly, most people include TN in where they think one would be from, and so I wondered if you were in the same state.
-----
~Sara~
4 Leopard Geckos
3 ball pythons
1.0 Black-lined plated lizard (Lizzy Butt)
0.1 Burmese Python (Pixil)
7 Rats
1.1 Gerbils
1.1 Dogs (Ozzie and Mandy)
0.1 Cat (Isis)
0.0.1 Synodontis Catfish (Big Spotty Fish)
0.1 Convict Cichlid
0.0.1 blood parrot cichlid
0.0.1 African Featherfin Catfish

I'm in the southwest corner of NC, the tri-state area of NC, TN & GA. I can be in TN within 5 minutes and GA within 15.

I'm 1 1/2hrs south of Knoxville, 1 1/2hrs east of Chattanooga, 1 1/2hrs north of Atlanta. Heck, I'm 1 1/2hrs away from anywhere/everywhere, and I LOVE IT!!! 11 miles to nearest pay phone.

Welcome to my "neighborhood."

Take care!
HH

-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

Hey Sara!
I just wanted to check in on ya & see how you did on your finals.

Take it easy!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

I won't know until the essays are graded, but I did pretty well on the other questions.

But I have a huge paper tue on tuesday and a speech due next week, so I have plenty to keep me occupied.

I'm doing my speech on animal hybrids, so I'm not TOO concerned about it, but I HATE speaking in front of large groups.

The work is never over
-----
~Sara~
4 Leopard Geckos
3 ball pythons
1.0 Black-lined plated lizard (Lizzy Butt)
0.1 Burmese Python (Pixil)
7 Rats
1.1 Gerbils
1.1 Dogs (Ozzie and Mandy)
0.1 Cat (Isis)
0.0.1 Synodontis Catfish (Big Spotty Fish)
0.1 Convict Cichlid
0.0.1 blood parrot cichlid
0.0.1 African Featherfin Catfish

Good deal. Give it all you've got and don't lose hope or sight of your goals.

Nearly 30yrs after graduating high school I finally made it to a Jr college. I only need 3 more classes to graduate with an AA in Network Administration & Support and a few certifications. I took off this year just to get things setup for this breeding season (burmese pythons & savannah monitors) so I'll go back & finish up next fall. So I can relate somewhat to what you're dealing with.

Hang in there!
Mike
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

Good job with getting back to college.
I'm the first one in my family (including uncles, aunts, etc, etc) to go to college, so I feel like it is all resting on me to make everyone proud. It's a bit overwhelming at times.

I'm hoping next semester will be easier, as I'll know more about what to expect and all. This is my first semester, and it is a lot different from highschool, but I'm sure you know that.

I graduated late from highschool because I was in the hospital for a few months and couldn't catch up. Then I went into the work force, but now I'm in college and I hope to start making myself proud instead of stressed.
Without these animals and my SO, I think I'd have sunk by now.
Is it as stressful to you? Does it get easier with each new semester?
-----
~Sara~
4 Leopard Geckos
3 ball pythons
1.0 Black-lined plated lizard (Lizzy Butt)
0.1 Burmese Python (Pixil)
7 Rats
1.1 Gerbils
1.1 Dogs (Ozzie and Mandy)
0.1 Cat (Isis)
0.0.1 Synodontis Catfish (Big Spotty Fish)
0.1 Convict Cichlid
0.0.1 blood parrot cichlid
0.0.1 African Featherfin Catfish

This is a real small community. Local school is K-12 with lest than 300 students overall. My wife is from here & she's the first & only one in her family to even get into college, much less graduate (4yr degree). She beat the odds, with perseverance, determination. She graduated from Montreat-Anderson in Montreat, NC.

> > > Is it as stressful to you? Does it get easier with each new semester?

Jr/community college is generally easier than a 4-yr college. Is it stressful to me? Ha!

Take an old man that hasn't done any school-type thinkin' in almost 30 years and put him in a classroom with people young enough to be his children. What do you think? Hahahaha!!!

Nah, it's really been fun, but it can be stressful, if you let it. You just have to remember that YOU control that stress. It's up to you what level of stress you deal with. That's not to say that it's easy to control stress, just that it's possible.

The first semester is usually hard because it is so different from HS. The instructors aren't going to push you to do your work, you either do or don't. The work load can be overwhelming and takes some getting used to. You'll need to devise a strategy that works for you. The typical "I'll get to it when I can" attitude won't cut it in college. It's the other way around. You'll get a lil' R & R (rest & relaxation) when you can.

Second semester is usually easier but not always. It's mostly easier due to hopefully you've developed good study skills and strategic study times & places. I do my best studies and work in a park-like setting, all by myself.

A lot of students, including myself, get overconfident after their first semester or two and take on more than they can handle. Be careful about that.

If there is one thing that I must tell you about how to be successful in college it would have to be: Do not procrastinate!"

Get your work done as soon as you can, never putting it off even for a few hours. Once you get behind in college, you are BEHIND. The weight of the load will crush you. This is the #1 reason people drop out of college. Procrastination - It's a killer. In all of life.

Try your best not to look at your workload as a whole, look at it piece by piece, take it one step at a time. Don't say, "I've got a paper due Tuesday and a speech due next week, also." But look at it as, "I've got a paper due Tuesday." Once you've completed that, then you look at the next piece of the puzzle and say, "I've got a speech due next week." One step at a time, or else you can get overwhelmed real easy.

To make this "How to be Successful in College" article complete, there is only one more thing I feel you should know. Do not accept mediocrity from yourself. Never do just what you need to get by, whether in the amount of work/study or the contents of your reports/papers. Give it your all, all the time. Do your very best.

That's it. I seriously believe that's all a person needs to know to be successful in college. It just so happens to be the same recipe for a successful & fulfilling life.

Now, get out there & knock 'em dead, gal! You can do it!!!

I hope you have a great weekend!
Mike
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

you couldn't have said it any better. I believe you are right that this entire (well, not entire, because quarentine time can't really be misunderstood) may just be that each of us have different definitions for the same word.

I am aware that soap doesn't act the same way as bleach, and I probably should have been clearer. What I mean is "more than just replacing soiled bedding OR rinsing with water"... something that gets it cleaner than that, ya' know?

Microbiology sounds like an interesting subject... did/are you majoring in it in college?
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~Sara~
4 Leopard Geckos
3 ball pythons
1.0 Black-lined plated lizard (Lizzy Butt)
0.1 Burmese Python (Pixil)
7 Rats
1.1 Gerbils
1.1 Dogs (Ozzie and Mandy)
0.1 Cat (Isis)
0.0.1 Synodontis Catfish (Big Spotty Fish)
0.1 Convict Cichlid
0.0.1 blood parrot cichlid
0.0.1 African Featherfin Catfish

You know, generally speaking, email and BB forums can get touchy because there's no voice inflection or emotion. I'm glad you understood the context well. I'm working on my master's now and one particular author I have to read focuses on logic and debate SO MUCH! One thing that does make sense is to always define terms in the beginning. So, it's not that I was insinuating that you did not know that soap didn't kill germs, more that when every one is talking about disinfecting and cleaning, are we all thinking of the same thing?? It's really been an interesting thread, more for the archive left behind for new keepers or interested readers...food for thought.

Originally my intention was to go to vet school, so I joined the rat race and took a lot of micro, chemistry, calculus, etc. My declared major, though, was Animal Science at the U of FL. I liked working with large animals like cattle, swine, and horses. My first reptile pet was a Savannah Monitor that I snuck into my dorm because it was closest thing to a gator I could get! I never did apply to vet school, came back to Orlando, and eventually graduated with a degree in Cardiopulmonary Sciences. So basically I have a degree in hearts and lungs...weird. But we had to study a lot of specialized disease processes. I didn't like working in the hospital, so I used my background to become a science teacher and wildlife educator. I take my animals around to reach out to kids to 1) Overcome fears and misinformation 2) Teach them about basic natural history of the animals 3) Inspire conservation efforts and respect for life.

You sound like a remarkable, articulate, and very nice person. All the best in your endevours...TC

After some personal experience, I don't think I would ever go for manipulating gut flora. I had a sinus infection a few years back so the doc prescribed a basic amoxicillin. I developed the basic GI symptoms: loss of appetite and diarrhea that I thought were associated with antibiotic use. I finished my round like a good patient, but the GI problems persisted. After a few weeks, I had lost 5 pounds, and was in the bathroom constantly. Come to find out, the meds killed off my beneficial bacteria and I was fortunate enough to have been infected with Clostridium in the past. Then I had to take a second antibiotic that knocked my socks off. I couldn't tolerate food of any sort, just the sight off it grossed me out, and I couldn't get off the couch. I lost another 5 pounds and could only take that med for about 3-4 days. Now I take capsules of beneficial bacteria and 'dirt' on a regular basis to keep that nasty bug in check. Not to mention the fact that I'm not really a good candidate for oral antibiotics in the future. There are so many things in there that we still don't know about and I wouldn't want to upset the balance. I know we're all just playing with the diet idea, but I don't care if I could eat cheesecake for breakfast, mashed potatoes for lunch, and fettuccine Alfredo for dinner, no one's messing with MY bacteria!

I don't hyper disinfect, but I wash bowls when I change the water, I use a spray cleaner when I change the paper (more for odor than disinfecting, which is the same kinda), I wash my hands throughout the day, and I don't eat leftovers more than 2 days old! I do use UVB lighting on my lizards, though. Like someone said, I think if you asked 10 different people about husbandry, you would get 10 different responses. And like with all things in life, if you compare yourself with others, you will always find someone doing it better, and some you are better than! It's a scary trap of pride for me, unless I'm the using the information to make improvements in my situation without judging others.

Well said and I agree...TC

Tom,
If the burmese I rescued wasn't in a tentative agreement already I'd swap you for that iggy, or even that Keys coral. Sorry!

Ha! Ha!

Beautiful creature you've got there. Congratulations!

Take care!
Mike
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

I just traded it for a lifetime supply of lysol.sorry...TC

speaking of lysol, I've been told that you shouldn't use it because it can kill snakes... true or not true?
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~Sara~
4 Leopard Geckos
3 ball pythons
1.0 Black-lined plated lizard (Lizzy Butt)
0.1 Burmese Python (Pixil)
7 Rats
1.1 Gerbils
1.1 Dogs (Ozzie and Mandy)
0.1 Cat (Isis)
0.0.1 Synodontis Catfish (Big Spotty Fish)
0.1 Convict Cichlid
0.0.1 blood parrot cichlid
0.0.1 African Featherfin Catfish

Of course its toxic. It was supposed to be a funny reply.

Yeah, I know it was a joke, I wasn't taking it seriously. I was just trying to get some information at the same time.

For my future reference, what other household cleaners that are deemed safe for people aren't safe for reptiles? Of course I would rinse them, so I'm not talking about the pure form of the substance, but rather cleaners that leave behind fumes etc.

When you guys do use cleaning solutions, what do you use?
It would be nice to be able to get something cheaper than these cleaners made specifically for reptile cages. I know they are making loads of profit simply because of how they are marketing it and who they are marketing it to.

Sorry if the above is full of stupid questions.
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~Sara~
4 Leopard Geckos
3 ball pythons
1.0 Black-lined plated lizard (Lizzy Butt)
0.1 Burmese Python (Pixil)
7 Rats
1.1 Gerbils
1.1 Dogs (Ozzie and Mandy)
0.1 Cat (Isis)
0.0.1 Synodontis Catfish (Big Spotty Fish)
0.1 Convict Cichlid
0.0.1 blood parrot cichlid
0.0.1 African Featherfin Catfish

I have a question. I was reading an article on Herp News and came across the name "Tom Crutchfield" regarding "Tom Crutchfield's Reptile Enterprises". Are you THAT Tom Crutchfield?

-Sara