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Kingsnake.com
Anthony Caponetto
Crested Geckos and Carpet Pythons
March 4, 2006

PHFaust: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us at kingsnake.com, I'm very pleased to welcome Anthony Caponetto to our Eighth Annual Chat Week.

PHFaust: Anthony Caponetto keeps what he describes as "a modestly sized collection of Pythons and Geckos. Currently, my primary focus is on Carpet Pythons and Crested Geckos. I also have a great deal of interest in many other Morelia Pythons, including Green Tree Pythons and Scrub Pythons and other Rhacodactylus Geckos including Gargoyle Geckos and Rhacodactylus Chahoua." He is an active member of the Kansas City Herpetological Society and currently on the board of directors.

PHFaust: Thank you so much for joining us, Anthony, and welcome!

PHFaust: Coastal you have first question

AnthonyCaponetto: Hello everyone!

PHFaust: Anthony, when you are done with an answer please type GA so we know to "go Ahead

coastalherper: I am interested in obtaining a few Mourning Geckos this weekend. Can you share with me your experiences with them? How do you keep them? How do you go about breeding them?

AnthonyCaponetto: Mourning geckos are great. They're parthenogenic, so there's nothing to breeding them. Keep them like a crested gecko, but they're a lot smaller...

AnthonyCaponetto: Temperatures can range from low 70's to mid 80's. They seem to do best in small groups.

coastalherper: thanks

AnthonyCaponetto: There's a good link on my Other Geckos page...GA

herp_keeper_nr: I just got my first clutch of Gargoyle gecko eggs. I wasn't expecting the clutch, so I didnt check the nest box for a couple of days. The eggs were laid in cocofiber, so over the days, they became spotted. The eggs also are a bit thinner than I wanted. When I candled them, they have two shaded regions around both edges, and in the middle is lighter colored. I cannot see any viens well, because the spots, but I think I saw a few. How can I tell if they are fertile?

AnthonyCaponetto: Sounds like the eggs are good. Gargoyle eggs seem to be thinner than ciliatus eggs...and also a bit more elongated.

AnthonyCaponetto: I've seen some pretty bad/spotty looking eggs hatch, especially in that species. GA

herp_keeper_nr: yup that they seem a little longer

rhacanthurus_nr: I ordered a Baby Arboreal Rack about a month ago. With the rack, how often should I mist the Kritter Keepers to keep the humidity within the proper level for raising baby cresteds and gargoyles?

AnthonyCaponetto: I try to mist every day or every other day. Just depends on the relative humidity where you are.

AnthonyCaponetto: In the winter, it's every day here...in the summer, every day or two is fine. GA

rhacanthurus_nr: thanks

boidpro: I love the blue-grey color and the head pattern of the Inland Carpets. I know you're bringing the first ones into the US pretty soon. How long do you think it will be before they're as common as Bredl's and do you plan to cross them into Jaguars? Also, what do you think the hottest Carpet Python morph is right now?

AnthonyCaponetto: Wow...this is going to be a long answer. Bear with me...

AnthonyCaponetto: That's exactly what I like about the Inlands...the color and head pattern...I even like the overall body pattern. I can't wait to see how they look after ten years of selective breeding.

AnthonyCaponetto: Paul Harris and I have discussed Inland x Jag pairings and we both feel that it shouldn't be done until Inlands are more established in captivity. As a hobbyist, I guess I feel like it would be irresponsible to start worrying about morphs with such a rare subspecies. Let's get Inlands established in captivity before we worry about making blue and orange Jaguars. :-)

AnthonyCaponetto: Tigers and *quality* Jaguars are hot in the US right now. Then again, they're the only carpet morphs to be produced in the US so far. The morph I'm really excited about this year is the Zebra. No one knows if there will be a super form yet, but if there is, it could be something really wild. I also think something neat may happen when the Zebra is crossed to a Tiger or Jaguar. Only time will tell! The granites are great too, but that onet's recessive, so it'll be a while before they're readily available. GA

mike777777: What do you feel the future holds for the captive breeding of Chahoua? What size colony of Chahoua do you keep? These Rhacs are quickly becoming my favourite.

AnthonyCaponetto: I just keep a few chahoua...fun geckos. They're a lot less prolific than ciliatus, so I don't think they'll ever be as common in the hobby.

AnthonyCaponetto: Chahoua should be popular for a long time, though. GA

CJinNH: I currently keep a small collection of carpet pythons and enjoy working with them, the problem I have is chronic RI with my male JCP, last year I am sure it was due to cooling, so this year I decided to not cool him and see if he would breed otherwise, well he decided to breed anyways, with a friend of mines female. Well anyways he ended up with an RI again, any suggestions on how to prevent this?? Oh and the female he bred you sold to my buddy John(Farmer)

mike777777: thanks

AnthonyCaponetto: Hi CJ. Your male might need the attention of a vet.

AnthonyCaponetto: A lot of times, RI can be brought on by not having warm enough temps during the day.

CJinNH: he has been

CJinNH: cost me 400 last year

AnthonyCaponetto: How warm do you let it get when you're cooling?

AnthonyCaponetto: During the day, that is...

CJinNH: last year I was letting it get to about 84

CJinNH: this year I didn't cool at all

AnthonyCaponetto: That may be it...

AnthonyCaponetto: I would take him to a good herp vet and see if they can do a tracheal wash to figure out the culprit.

AnthonyCaponetto: ...and then treat him accordingly. GA

CJinNH: ok thanks

AnthonyCaponetto: BTW, Let me know if you need help finding a good vet.

AnthonyCaponetto: GA

feline89: what would you consider the best type of boa to own if someone was looking for a medium to small sized one?

AnthonyCaponetto: I'm not much of a Boa guy, but I know some of them are really small. I think some Mexican locales only get to a few feet...I just don't know about their temperament.

AnthonyCaponetto: I did hear about some really cool Boas the other day. HarlequinBoa.com - Really neat story behind them.

AnthonyCaponetto: Really nice looking boas too.

AnthonyCaponetto: GA

feline89: k, thanks

JungleDancer: Do you think that the some of the morelia species will become as popular as BP or BCI's as more cbb animals are produced and available? .... and are you working with any Diamonds or Diamond X's?

AnthonyCaponetto: Cathy, right?

JungleDancer: yep

AnthonyCaponetto: I think Carpets are gaining steadily on BCI's.

AnthonyCaponetto: With all the variation in size/color/pattern, I think they'll continue gaining in popularity.

AnthonyCaponetto: Adults range from 4-9 feet on average, so they're not big snakes...meaning hobbyists can have larger, more complete collections.

AnthonyCaponetto: I have some great 75% Diamonds, which are pictured on my website.

AnthonyCaponetto: http://acreptiles.com/pythons_carpets_DxJ.htm

AnthonyCaponetto: GA

JungleDancer: cool, I like hearing that from my chondro sheltered world! Time to look at the diamonds!! Thanks!

jeffb: any suggestions on how to safely remove a large gecko that has clamped and locked onto you? Not that this is a pressing need a the moment, just good to know.

AnthonyCaponetto: Uh oh....

AnthonyCaponetto: If it's a Tokay, name it and start thinking of how you'll explain it to people.

AnthonyCaponetto: Vodka works well too...just drink as much as possible...this way you won't mind the gecko being there..

AnthonyCaponetto: Ok...Seriously... Running them under cold tap water usually works well.

AnthonyCaponetto: GA

jeffb: Thanks - the last one eventually dried up & fell off

PHLdyPayne: Hello Anthony, thanks for coming. I currently own 2:3 crested geckos, and started breeding the two older females with the two males, kept in two pairs in two different cages. One female's first clutch consisted of one egg which collapsed about a week later, despite properly moistened vermiculate. It later turned yellow and started to mold. It is normal for the first cage of a newly bred female crested to go bad?

AnthonyCaponetto: First clutches are notorious for being infertile.

AnthonyCaponetto: Sometimes, young adult females will pass a pair of infertile eggs, despite the fact that they've never been with a male.

PHLdyPayne: that's good to know, her second clutch, consisting of two eggs do look alot better...though she sure took long enough to lay them

AnthonyCaponetto: If it's her first year breeding, that may be why. A lot of first year females don't have such a productive year.

PHLdyPayne: it is her frist year breeding

AnthonyCaponetto: Yep...that would explain it. Don't expect a great first year out of any female, but she should be a machine by next year.

AnthonyCaponetto: GA

boidpro: If you had to name one, what would be your favorite morph of crestie? Also, which morph is most popular in general? Do you think an albino, or any other genetic morph will ever become available in cresties?

PHLdyPayne: Thanks again.

AnthonyCaponetto: My favorite designer morph (combination of several traits) has to be the red pinstripes I've started hatching out last year.

AnthonyCaponetto: Right now, I think red geckos are hard to beat, regardless of pattern or the lack thereof.

AnthonyCaponetto: Good reds always sell very well.

AnthonyCaponetto: I think we should see some sort of genetic mutation pop up in the next few years. With the sheer numbers being produced, the odds are we'll probably see an albino by the end of the decade.

AnthonyCaponetto: GA

lironsamuels: Hey Anthony! Where do you see GTP's going from here? Any exciting projects envolving GTP's that you know about?

AnthonyCaponetto: Chondros are awesome...they'll always be popular.

AnthonyCaponetto: I just listened to Damon Salceies give a talk about the albino project.

AnthonyCaponetto: It sounds like they have some really interesting plans for the albino.

AnthonyCaponetto: With all the other seemingly "genetic" traits seen in chondros these days, I see them as a species that will always have a big following.

lironsamuels: Thanks

Chamcham505: Thanks for coming Anthony, I have a male crested gecko with thick tail (The base is really muscular) and a female with the base of the tail so thin and fragile, it's practically malible enough to break off. The tail kind of just flops to the side, but I don't think it's becuase of any sort of calcium/vitamin defficiancy (I bought her like that) Is this a normal thing in crested geckos?

AnthonyCaponetto: Cham, it sounds like your female may be a bit calcium deficient or just a little underweight.

Chamcham505: ...I was afraid of that. The breeder I purchased her from ensured she was just fine, and she's actually gained weight...

AnthonyCaponetto: Geckos store a lot of fat in their tails, so if it's just thin, she may be a little underweight. On the other hand, if it's curvy or crooked, that could indicate a possible calcium deficiency.

AnthonyCaponetto: Continue to watch her and if she doesn't seem to be filling out, separate her from the male until she does.

Chamcham505: I guess I'll just have to bring her up to par than! :) I'll try giving her more crickets. Thanks!

CJinNH: Is a Irian Jaya and a new guinea carpet python the same snake?? And if not is the new guinea carpet python known under different a name? http://fototime.com/22190F81FE6134E/standard.jpg (pic is of a new guinea carpet hatchling, looks similar to a IJ to me which is what brought about my question)

AnthonyCaponetto: It depends on how specific you want to get...

CJinNH: so it may be more like a locality maybe?

AnthonyCaponetto: Many times, if you hear New Guinea carpet, they're usually referring to a supposed locality specific carpet, from the NG side of the island.

AnthonyCaponetto: These animals appear to have a more reduced dark pattern and sometimes a more reduced head pattern.

AnthonyCaponetto: The dark pattern is often so thin that they have very little orange.

AnthonyCaponetto: Then again, I've seen wholesalers call typical "Irian Jaya" carpets "New Guinea" carpets...

CJinNH: thanks Anthony

AnthonyCaponetto: I have a Back button on my mouse...just learned that!

AnthonyCaponetto: I'd ask the seller what they know about the background of that snake. Looks interesting.

AnthonyCaponetto: GA

boidpro: I have an Iranian Jaya Carpet male that will only eat mice. I know you work with some IJs, do you have a problem with this? Will your IJs eat rats? Also, do you work with any crocodilians?

AnthonyCaponetto: I start all my Irian Jayas on rat pinkies

AnthonyCaponetto: but I have had IJ's that only take mice.

AnthonyCaponetto: Sometimes scenting their mice to smell like rats will get them used to the smell.

AnthonyCaponetto: Then you start scenting their rats with mice and eventually they'll take a rat. The key I've found is not to starve the snake during the process of switching them over.

AnthonyCaponetto: You have to get them used to taking whatever you offer.

AnthonyCaponetto: No crocodilians. lol

AnthonyCaponetto: GA

boidpro: Very interesting. Thanks!!

PHLdyPayne: Have you done any work with bi-colors? One of my females is a rust-red body, yellowy cream back, bi-color with very little pattern, other than an off white fringe and a few off white dots here and there. I find my bi color female quite stunning,but don't see alot available, other than creamsicle.

AnthonyCaponetto: I actually produce quite a few red bicolors

PHLdyPayne: oh, hehe, maybe theyare just rarer in Canada LOL

AnthonyCaponetto: They usually come from breeding a red harlequin to a soliid red. They get some of the dorsal pattern, but not all of it.

AnthonyCaponetto: You don't see a lot of them here, though...

AnthonyCaponetto: I just started producing them the last year and a half.

AnthonyCaponetto: I like them a lot, though. I've even held a few back to start a bicolor project.

PHLdyPayne: cool, I was quite surprised with her turning out a bi-color, she looked likea patternless buckskin with the nice fringe, whenI bought her

AnthonyCaponetto: Sometimes patternless geckos will develop another color along their backs.

AnthonyCaponetto: GA

repti_dude_nr: i was wondering if you could give me any tips on breeding carpet pythons

JungleDancer: OK, I've been checking out your Diamond X's incredible!! How large to you expect they will grow up too?

AnthonyCaponetto: They're pretty much like other pythons. My best advice is to start with a group of 2.2 or 2.3.

JungleDancer: and, how soon do you hope to produce some of your own?

AnthonyCaponetto: I think the 75% Diamonds get to about 7 feet.

AnthonyCaponetto: I should produce some 75% Diamonds next year or maybe the year after. I have a good size group, but they're all pretty young.

AnthonyCaponetto: GA

boidpro: With all of the crossing that's going on with carpets due to jaguars, do you think pure coastals will eventually disappear?

JungleDancer: sweet!! thanks

AnthonyCaponetto: I think I'd be really surprised to find a pure Coastal right now.

AnthonyCaponetto: Back when they were coming into the US, all carpets (aside from Diamonds) were considered the same subspecies (variegata).

AnthonyCaponetto: Breeding a Coastal to a Jungle was considered no different than breeding a dwarf retic to a normal sized retic...just different localities.

AnthonyCaponetto: I don't think the "coastal" as we know it is going anywhere.

AnthonyCaponetto: GA

boidpro: Thanks!!!!!

jeffb: when is the next show up your way?

AnthonyCaponetto: The next show is on April 9, I believe. I won't be setting up at that one, though...just going to hang out.

AnthonyCaponetto: I think the show info is posted at http://www.kcherp.com

PHAlex: Hi Anthony, do you use multiple males when you breed carpets? I tried breeding coastals before with no interest from the male. They were 4 years old. Thanks

AnthonyCaponetto: Alex, multiple males can help.

AnthonyCaponetto: I just use the extra male for combatting (always supervised).

AnthonyCaponetto: But it can be good to have a back-up breeder if the male you want to breed isn't willing.

AnthonyCaponetto: Carpets can be selective in choosing a mate, that's one thing I'm starting to find out.

PHFaust: On behalf of Kingsnake.com, Jeff B, and myself, I want to take a moment to thank Anthony for being part of our chat week. Anthony, thanks for taking the time out to chat with us on Cresties and Carpet Pythons.

PHAlex: thanks!

AnthonyCaponetto: Thanks for having me guys!

PHFaust: You are free to relax anthony and thanks for being a great guest as always!