Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I wrote this today on another site. Its about a new project for me that i am making public and posting how it goes as it goes. You know, not knowing if it will work or not.

Its a species that poses some problems in captivity.

I am trying to use a link, so you do not have to click on it if your not interested.

I do use this site as an example, but do not use any names. The comparison is about approaches.

Read it and enjoy. I hope it works. If not, can someone tell me out to do it. I clicked copied on the URL and pasted it on the link area below. Thanks and enjoy
Link

Hi !
The link works...

Excellent post, those are interesting ideas to think about with harder species. I like the don't give them the kitchen sink, it makes so much sense.
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Gerard

"Sleep my friend and you will see, your dreams are my reality. "

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

Heres a thought, it works really well with easy to breed species too. You see a whole new set of results.

Heres another thought from an old guy(herp keeping wise) At one time, these snakes were very hard to breed, particularly in areas outside of SoCal and Central to S.Fla.

When I was a kid in SoCal, we could keep them in a cage in the carport and as long as i fed them, they laid eggs. Then I moved to Az. and I actually had to learn what was needed. I am glad you enjoyed it. Best wishes

We actually hatched two greenttrees from one clutch in one of our shops in Miami. They both went full term, pipped and died. It was really messed up, I couldn't believe it. I don't have time to spare on monitor because of the turtles, otherwise I would be working with them.

I'm sure it was hard back then, just like the species I work with that haven't been established, yet. I started my lissemys off with nothing and have been adding certain things and seeing how they use it. My problem was never with "choices", that's common sense, I just don't think everything they do in our cages is what they would do in the wild. Hopefully I will be successful with the lissemys, not only figuring out the husbandry but the incubation, too. It's is going to be fun!

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Gerard

"Sleep my friend and you will see, your dreams are my reality. "

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

I understand Gerard, you know about your opinion about captive and wild.
Where we disagree is what is the same and what is different.

You said, EVERYTHING, and thats the point, no sir, everything does not translate over and surely there is no need for everything to carry over.

All we want from nature is what allows the successful ones to be successful. And its not even about reproduction.

For instance, how come wild reptiles do not have problems with parasites, yet they re-infect themselves with every feeding.

Why do wild reptiles have such a strong ability to heal from wounds and are so resistant to disease?

What supports those are what is of interest to me.

What supports stable and strong reproduction, is of interest.

We surely do not have to duplicate predator loads and anything else the hinders the animals from succeeding.

What we do want to duplicate is base behavior that allows and supports these animals in captivity.

I do agree with NoBody, the word choices really sucks. IT really needs to be defined, like, whos choices, what choices.etc.

I would bet if you could put something in your cage and your turtles would lay eggs left and right, you would do it, yes? Well there is. Cheers

I always thought that was weird how imported animals are affected by parasites so bad but in the wild they lived with them. I'm sure some are taken out by them but not like in a cage, why? Diet?
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Gerard

"Sleep my friend and you will see, your dreams are my reality. "

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

Imported animals lose the ability to fight off parasites, because they are housed, kept and handled very poorly, long before they get into this country.

By the time we get them, they are commonly in a immune-surpressed state.

If you went and caught a nice healthy pair that were together when you found them, and you took care of them from that point, i am sure they would be very easy to keep and breed. I know that because I did that with many species.

Thats how I become a first breeder of many species, I found them and imediately took them and put them in good caging. Often times, I fed them in the field, if I could not get them back quickly.

On the otherhand, many of my friends doing what I was doing, stayed in the field for weeks and months, all the while keeping their prized snakes in bags. Hmmmmmmmmm they had a few more problems then I did.

I am not sure your experience with imports is a good thing, surely its understood that imports are normally not considered HEALTHY or something thats normal for the animal or species. Cheers

I have seen Feas vipers come in and suck, all the time, never did good. My friend went to China, caught his animals and they were kept hydrated and as stress free as possible all the way back to Bejin and sent here. They did and are doing great still. At work one day, we got a shipment with Azemiops that were cared for in the same way and set up very quickly, they did great.I never thought to put stress and parasites together. Interesting!
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Gerard

"Sleep my friend and you will see, your dreams are my reality. "

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

I am keeping at three groups. In two different type setups. The above cage is the only tall cage.

And yes, these are all wild caught nasty monitors. So far, so good.

Cool, I have seen a good amount of babies over the years, hopefully they will get dialed in and they won't be so random. I couldnt believe ours died right after hatching.
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Gerard

"Sleep my friend and you will see, your dreams are my reality. "

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

That is not uncommon with varanid eggs, that are not nested or incubated suitably.

Varnaids are only different snakes by degree. With them, nested well means consistantly good hatch rates. WIth poorly nested varanids, poor hatchrate, weak neonates, are more normal. etc.

WHile its not 100% true, its way up there, hahahahahahahahaha. I have screwed up and got lucky, you just do not want to depend on luck. Cheers

Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. One day I will start keeping monitors more seriously, varanus yuwonoi is one I come close to every time but I figure someone with the time/experience should get them.
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Gerard

"Sleep my friend and you will see, your dreams are my reality. "

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

Are you working with macraei too?
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Gerard

"Sleep my friend and you will see, your dreams are my reality. "

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

thats the good stuff! good luck and keep us posted!

,,,,,,,thomas davis
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Morphs... just like baseball cards BUT ALIVE, how cool is that???

my website www.barmollysplace.com

That is great info.

I have a box turtle that has been living outside in a large area of the yard for the last 5 yrs. She definitely has a Summer hide and a Winter hide that she made herself (dug) in different spots. She has an intermediate hide she uses when going from the Summer hide to the water trough. You just made me realize that indeed she centers her daily routine around these places. The first year she wandered alot more, now her routine is completely predictable.

I have a leopard gecko that was a "wall climber" as you say. I made some elaborate retreats out of foam (mostly for display), and now she has a predictable routine and does not wall climb like she did before - instead she has picked two areas and will be in one or the other most of the time. Ahd she ignores a 3rd retreat altogether. Again, I didn't realize until I read your post what is going on. I guess she has found her "center" and her behavior shows it. She will eat from my hand now, but would not at all when she was an avid wall climber. A larger cage helped me provide what she needed.

Thanks and I am glad if I could help you understand your reptiles.

Its amazing what we see if we look. Good luck with them. Cheers