Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have heard of microchip ID's being used in reptiles, and I have seen that a few breeders are advertising that their hatchlings are being microchipped before they sell them. I am somewhat familiar with microchip ID's for dogs and cats - and I realize that it would be the same chip - but where is the implant site on a Ball Python? What chips (brands and frequencies) are available? What has anyone found for the price of chip readers? And what age/size is safe for Ball Pythons to be chipped? Any information would be helpful!
~Rebecca
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1.1 Ball Pythons (1.0 Ghost, 0.1 Normal)
0.1 Dumeril's Boa
0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers

Well, I dont have some of the information that you are requesting however, I can offer a little information gathered from our state laws. I live in Ohio and they have passed a law making it a requirement to PIT tag all native species of reptiles that are household pets and register them with the state which must be renewed yearly. The brand that is used is "AVID". Supposedly these tags are subcutaneous, however, they are even going into the body cavities of the animal. For native turtles, they provided directions in the manual (with purchase of PIT tag which is like 10.00) that you can either place the needle into their hind leg, or you can drill a hole in their shell with a power drill, drop the tag in and then seal it over with dental cement. In native snakes, I believe that they have to be over 18" and then they can be PIT tagged, however, they say that they can safely tag a snake at least 8" long. They are also using this practice to help keep track of our endangered snakes (Timber Rattler and Eastern Massasauga Rattler). I believe (the last I heard) was that the reader itself can run 500.00. That is about all of the information that I have. I hope it has helped in some way.

Chris

>>I have heard of microchip ID's being used in reptiles, and I have seen that a few breeders are advertising that their hatchlings are being microchipped before they sell them. I am somewhat familiar with microchip ID's for dogs and cats - and I realize that it would be the same chip - but where is the implant site on a Ball Python? What chips (brands and frequencies) are available? What has anyone found for the price of chip readers? And what age/size is safe for Ball Pythons to be chipped? Any information would be helpful!
>>~Rebecca
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>>1.1 Ball Pythons (1.0 Ghost, 0.1 Normal)
>>0.1 Dumeril's Boa
>>0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers
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U.A.P.P.E.A.L.
Uniting A Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League

I worked at a research forest with a girl doing a graduate study on turtle populations. She ID'ed them with a combo of scute clipping and PIT tagging. The PIT tags went into the turtle at the junction of the hind leg and the body. A few tags migrated but were easily readable even inside the body cavity. I don't know what brand she was using. I want to tag some of my reptiles but haven't talked to my vet about it yet.

I have to say that the drilling holes in turtles' shells thing has me cringing at the very thought!!

I used to keep ornate box turtles... then gave them up and took over their cage for my first Ball Python, "Boris." Now I'm hooked for life.

I am really glad that microchipping is being used for so many of these species. Thanks so much for the info!

~Rebecca
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1.1 Ball Pythons (1.0 '05 Ghost, 0.1 '03 Normal)
0.1 Dumeril's Boa
0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers (40 lb darling lap dogs)

AVID PIT tags suck. The actual tags are not bad at all, but the use of a 12 gauge needle in the size of animals the state wants tagged, and the lack of experience that most owners have in the field, a huge percentage of the snakes and turtles die. Many vets in Ohio are using AVID tags, they just aren't using the needle that comes with it. Most that I've talked to are placing them inside the turtles' shells via surgery, and just underneath the snakes' skin. The few that have been using the needles are using much smaller sizes, such as 20 gauges.

Rebecca,
Copy and paste this link. Ron

http://www.pythons.com/trovan.html
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The Crawl Space

Thanks Ron, that's a good article. They pretty much said what I had thought of for an implantation site.

Does anyone have any experience with chips in Ball Pythons, good or bad? I'm just awfully curious about how often this is actually done, and with hatchlings?

~Rebecca
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1.1 Ball Pythons (1.0 '05 Ghost, 0.1 '03 Normal)
0.1 Dumeril's Boa
0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers (40 lb darling lap dogs)

I have two that are chipped(and plan on getting many more done).One was around 2500grams and the other was about 1000grams at the time it was done.
Both are healthy today,in fact this one laid eggs last year.

A friend of mine has that is one that was chipped at around 150 grams last year(and it's 900 grams now).
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Charles Glaspie

Tanstaafl:
"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch".
An acronym created by my favorite author Robert A. Heinlein.

I havent heard anything about adverse reactions in herps, but
I am on a dog list and several people have reported problems from chip migrations that had to be corrected by expensive surgeries.
The link below is an ugly expose' about Big Brother and political corruption by microchip companies.
Ed Stone, WI Herpetological Society
http://www.madison.com/communities/whs
Microchip Companys lobbying for Mandatory Chipping Laws

All ball pythons have unique patterns. Simply taking some photos of your snake's distinguishing characteristics is enough proof that the snake belongs to you. Someone in California had his BPs stolen earlier in the year and he proved in court that the recovered snakes were his with photos.

I don't see the point of using an invasive ID technique that costs money and potentially is harmful to the animal.

Tim

i was going to say ,most people would know to scan the animal with a metel detector,or just look for it
Greg
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Forever Trust in what we are,and nothing else Matters