Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Curious-has anyone worked with miniture microschips. Are they samll enough to use on small lizards such as HL's and does anyone know how they would be applied? I'm assuming the same way others have chips applied. I've seen them on alligators, crocs, and some chucks from Baja, which are much bigger and can take a chip being stuck in the tail etc. IS there any way that any of you are aware of indentifying a lizard permanantly without causing harm?. Since they shed, a tatoo or anything like that would probably not work. Since we have some of you who have spent alot of time in labs etc. with your studies, I thought you might contribute if you happen to know. Thanks!!

Hey Lou

I have heard of lizards marked in the field by clipping toes off. I have my baja chucks microchipped and was just talking to the vet about it and it is reccomended that the lizard be at least 100 grams for the smallest microchip. That was a reccomendation by Avid, the chip company.

Tom

Cliping toes was recomended to me as well. However I realy dont want to clip them how would we like it? I am still in search for a good method

Hello Lou. I use microchips all of the time in field study HLs and captive study group HLs. The are easy to insert and show no ill effects to the HLs. I have used them for years.

Lester G. Milroy III

I need some for young island chucks. My vet will not chip them until they are over 100 grams.
Tom

Avid chips, model 100. They are rice grain size, 11.7 mm. 100 grams in weight for a bird is recommended. HLs should be about 60 to 70 mm SVL minimum.

Lester G. Milroy III

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Hello Lou.

Ther are several other ways to mark HLs, beside toe clipping (which I find a bit detrimental to HL health because of possible infections and damage to dexterity).

Chipping works great, but it is invasive and care is needed with use. A chip reader is used to read the chip code.

There is also beeding, which is invasive and care is needed here also. Beeding is the practice of using a very fine nylon string and very small colored beeds. The string is inserted through the skin with a colored beed combination for ID records. The beeds can be seen from a distance using binoculars for minimal disturbance to the HL's activity.

Marking the HLs with a sharpie on the belly also works well if you are following HLs in the wild on a regular basis. It can be refreshed as needed. Shedding removes the markings when tracking is completed.

There is newer technology being used every day and some of it is absolutely marvelous. GPS radios, newer micro radios, and it just gets better.

Lester G. Milroy III

Hi Reptoman,
Here is a link to an paper on using a scanner and computer to take a "print" of the unique spot patterns on an HL's underside. This seems a pretty non-invasive and hi-tech way to mark your HL's. It can even be used in the field these days with a laptop and the new light weight USB scanners I believe.
If anyone has more info or a web page link on the microchips I hope you'll post it.
Cheers!

Link
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