Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We're getting an ultrasound at work. Just what I wanted..now I'll have proof my female isn't gravid! LOL, I think I'll be the Queen of snake ultrasound technology in 6 months or less. I better learn how to use it quickly.

Now this is really even more off topic. Does anyone have experience in preparing flesh covered skulls with beetles? If so please email me at:
lmmisch@yahoo.com

I have a coyote head I need to prepare for mounting. Someone gave it to me for sort of a Christmas gift. Yes, even my friends are odd, but I didn't shoot it or contribute to the event except for putting it in my freezer. Sometimes it's good to live alone.

Preparing a flesh covered coyote head with beatles?!! Just what in the heck is going on down there in Texas?
Life here in Sacramento is just too darn dull.
Have a safe (but no dought exiting) New Years,
Paul

..as if they were worth a million dollars a piece. Someday they probably will be.

Be safe,
Linda

what about using tenebrios?

Linda,
...People around here use fire ants to clean gator skulls for display. That is the onliest thing fire ants are good for. I suspect that they are a big factor in the decline in reptile populations here in the SE.
...We use a very simple ultrasound at work to scan bladders. I have played with more serious ultrasounds and I think with a mid level machine I would be able to ultrasound to find embryotic snakes. One problem is that most ultrasound probes are fairly large and snakes have scaly skin (guess you knew that) and smallish rounded bodies. That makes it difficult to get a good matchup of the probe and the snake's body. You need to get a good amount of ultrasound gel between the probe and the snake to get good transmission and reception of the sonic pulse. There are a few breeders who use ultrasounds regularly.
Good luck with the new toy,
Jeff

>>We're getting an ultrasound at work. Just what I wanted..now I'll have proof my female isn't gravid! LOL, I think I'll be the Queen of snake ultrasound technology in 6 months or less. I better learn how to use it quickly.
>>
>>Now this is really even more off topic. Does anyone have experience in preparing flesh covered skulls with beetles? If so please email me at:
>>lmmisch@yahoo.com
>>
>>I have a coyote head I need to prepare for mounting. Someone gave it to me for sort of a Christmas gift. Yes, even my friends are odd, but I didn't shoot it or contribute to the event except for putting it in my freezer. Sometimes it's good to live alone.

>>Linda,
>>...People around here use fire ants to clean gator skulls for display. That is the onliest thing fire ants are good for. I suspect that they are a big factor in the decline in reptile populations here in the SE.
>>...We use a very simple ultrasound at work to scan bladders. I have played with more serious ultrasounds and I think with a mid level machine I would be able to ultrasound to find embryotic snakes. One problem is that most ultrasound probes are fairly large and snakes have scaly skin (guess you knew that) and smallish rounded bodies. That makes it difficult to get a good matchup of the probe and the snake's body. You need to get a good amount of ultrasound gel between the probe and the snake to get good transmission and reception of the sonic pulse. There are a few breeders who use ultrasounds regularly.
>>Good luck with the new toy,
>>Jeff
>>
>>>>We're getting an ultrasound at work. Just what I wanted..now I'll have proof my female isn't gravid! LOL, I think I'll be the Queen of snake ultrasound technology in 6 months or less. I better learn how to use it quickly.
>>>>
>>>>Now this is really even more off topic. Does anyone have experience in preparing flesh covered skulls with beetles? If so please email me at:
>>>>lmmisch@yahoo.com
>>>>
>>>>I have a coyote head I need to prepare for mounting. Someone gave it to me for sort of a Christmas gift. Yes, even my friends are odd, but I didn't shoot it or contribute to the event except for putting it in my freezer. Sometimes it's good to live alone.
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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer

It should easily be able to scan reptiles. The probes are specific for small animals, and the salesman (I realize they sometimes are completely honest) assured me they could do reptiles, so it darn well better! I am not experienced in looking at the images, so it will be new to me. We received it today but they did not ship the power cord. When I called about it they told me they bring it when they set it up so we can't screw anything up. Imagine that! They don't trust us. When the setup person comes to educate us, I'll bring a test snake just to be able to ask the most beneficial questions. Too bad I don't have a real aggressive venomous one.

fire ants are a good idea...and free! I just don't know anyone who has land with a mound to borrow. I have tried red ants on birds but the wee little bodies always disappear. I'm not sure what's getting them.

>>We're getting an ultrasound at work... I think I'll be the Queen of snake ultrasound technology in 6 months or less.

>>Does anyone have experience in preparing flesh covered skulls with beetles?

That is so awesome! I am sure the ultrasound will be a lot of fun to play with. What a handy thing!

As for skull cleaning ... Not sure. I have a cow skull I have been trying to figure out how to clean for a month now. Last week someone suggested a soak in Borax?!
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~ Noel ~ My Email

I looked up several similar webpages/websites by searching for cleaning skulls. Several good ideas...they all sound too aromatic and like too much work for me. I'll do it if I have to...eventually. I kinda like the beatle method, even that sounds kind of gross. I also was told to soak it in water for 24 hrs and bury it a foot deep for 6 months. I'm gonna wait a while and decide.

You know what? I work with an archaeologist. I will ask her. She has TONS of bones and whatnot in her office and home. I am sure she will know a way to do it safely without damaging the bone. In fact, I think she is the one that was mentioning the borax soak to me.

So, I'll get back to you Monday when I see her next.
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~ Noel ~ My Email

Skull cleaning? I would think fly maggots, any of the feeder roaches would work. Clint

they are free! Honestly, for some reason, I cannot do maggots. Roaches terrify me. Weird hugh? During the summer at the vet clinic I work at we get wounds infested with maggots, and I just can't do it. I will vomit. Nothing else bothers me to this extent. Even the boss makes someone else do the prep work on maggot infested wounds. He has known me for 20 years and the only thing that curls my stomach is this. It kinda bothers me that I don't do maggots I have the intelligence to understand and know how they are of benefit and even save lives, but I have some glitch that fires off incorrectly when the squirmy little grubs are involved.

Do you think mealworms could do the job?

>>they are free! Honestly, for some reason, I cannot do maggots. Roaches terrify me. Weird hugh? During the summer at the vet clinic I work at we get wounds infested with maggots, and I just can't do it. I will vomit. Nothing else bothers me to this extent. Even the boss makes someone else do the prep work on maggot infested wounds. He has known me for 20 years and the only thing that curls my stomach is this. It kinda bothers me that I don't do maggots I have the intelligence to understand and know how they are of benefit and even save lives, but I have some glitch that fires off incorrectly when the squirmy little grubs are involved.
>>
>>Do you think mealworms could do the job?

Hey just bring it over to my place we have lots of fire ant mounds . I know some people boil them to remove the flesh but I beleive it lossens the teeth a little. If you do put it on a mound or outside cover it with something to keep the ctitters from hauling it off. Lost a bear skull that way years ago, something hauled it off.....randy
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Honey have you seen the Cat lately !!

A friend of mine bought his on ebay for like $8000....I hear that's a steal...

Chris O
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www.chrisolsonreptiles.com
Naked I see the camp of those who desire nothing

After 20 years working with critters this is new and puts a whole new dimension to my work. I was getting burned out. This should keep me going a year.