AModerator> Kev.... retics are native to the phillipines... those are
- several hundred islands...
AModerator> what are the chances that weve only scracthed the color/size
- morph surface on those islands
[KevNERD] Ok, now remember I am a retic fiend, but geography I am a bit weak
- on some areas.
[KevNERD] I think there are some definate forms we have not yet found. Sels.
- and ambons and jampeas in the recent few years
AModerator> cool burm go ahead
[KevNERD] I got his one weird retic I named a Jaguar, has anyone seen the
- picts??
[KevNERD] It is the only one I have seen and I think it is totally genetic
[Burm] I was at Steve Hammacks ( HISS ) house the other night , and he was
- telling me about a melanistic ball python you had at a show.
[Burm] He said it was jet black... have you bred this snake ? Do you know
- if this color mutation is genetic ?
[KevNERD] Yeah, I have one that is real black. Hypermelanistic
[KevNERD] I bred it this past season and produced three clutches from it. I
- can't imagine it not being genetic. Bred it to a to an albino too
[KevNERD] Babies came out normal.
[Foxglove] I have a neonate Burm that will not eat. I have dealt with Ball
- python feeding problems in the past, but none of my techniques are working.
- Any suggestions?
[KevNERD] Have you put it in a deli cup over night with a rat pup??
[Foxglove] yes
[KevNERD] How about scenting with chicken..chicks...soup??
[Foxglove] I have teased it as well, but no results. Haven't tried broth
- yet, but the snake is getting weak
[Foxglove] should I attempt tube feeding?
[KevNERD] When you feel nervous I would go ahead and force feed. This will
- always save the hassle of when you wait too long and the snake has nothing
- left
[KevNERD] Something small, dead soaked in water and gently put it down the
- hatch. There is a trick to make it simpler.
[KevNERD] When you put the food item in its throat..tickle its tail to make
- it crawl forward..this really helps
[JPP] What would cause a lump the size of an almond about an inch from the
- vent on a baby brum?
[KevNERD] Is it hard and moveable?
[JPP] Its hard but not moveable seems to be in his digestive track
[JPP] he eats well
[KevNERD] If this snake has ever been dehydrated he could be blocked.
[KevNERD] If this is the case I would soak it in shallow water for a day and
- try to gently force it out
[JPP] he's been soaked in warm water and hasn;t passed much of anything in
- the last few days, he still feeds very well though
AModerator> have you tried castor oil?
[KevNERD] See if you can push on it...does it pass any stool?
AModerator> caSTor
[JPP] not that I have seen yet just a little uric acid on occasion (the
- white stuff)
[KevNERD] I have seen stuff that is almost dried fecal material.
[KevNERD] Try passing it but watch not to push too hard or you could cause a
- distended clocae(sp??)
[Garret] Kevin, do you know of any retics that have proven to be true dwarfs
through more than one generation, if so who has done it.
[KevNERD] The Jampeas are totally dwarfs. Max size seems to be under ten.
- Real slow growing!!
[KevNERD] No question, the females lay eggs at 7'
[Garret] How old are the ones in captivity, if you know?
[KevNERD] I have a female I have had for 5 years and she is 7' Laid eggs...
[KevNERD] The Jampeas are totally dwarfs. Max size seems to be under ten.
[KsDude] Kevin,At what size can you usually breed blood pythons?
[KevNERD] Good question. Bloods always screw me up because their lengths are
- tricky to guess at(for me)
[KsDude] i have the same problem. Don't want to try to early and have
- problems
[Larry] Kevin , have you seen any unusual savannah monitors this year ?
[KevNERD] None, I used to get excited over the baby orange ones but as we
- all know it is the color of the clay!!
[KevNERD] Nothing cool with them...so unconnected!!
[RCD] Kevin, Do you breed balls 1 on 1 or group breedings?
[KevNERD] Well, it depends on what morph I am trying. Multiples is always the best...but some of the
- morphs are only rep. by one animal.
[KevNERD] I will use single males, if they don't do anything I put multiple ones together to get them
- going...then pull out the one I need
[RCD] I see, so multiples are preferred
[KevNERD] I think so, but sometimes I have males that are monster breeders
[Garret] Kevin, given the ongoing weakness in the Russian Ruble, do you
think the DOW is in a corrective phase or a bear market trend?
[KevNERD] That was good garret!!
AModerator> the strength of russian vodka offsets the weakness of the ruble
[slitherjef] are retics nasty and big as every one says?
[KevNERD] Retics are not nasty and ill tempered as people think
[KevNERD] They are smart(as far as snakes go) Think about it this way
[KevNERD] Many of the retics you see are imports..
[slitherjef] so c/b are nicer?
[KevNERD] They are not collected in the lovliest manner, the people don't like them, all they are is
- living pieces of meat.
[KevNERD] So the snake makes it to the US and is sold. You now must convince it that you will not kill it
- or hurt it. Trust must be established. Many people go about it all wrong. Don't grab them bhind the head
- unless you must@
AModerator> my turn.... Kev is it true you have a tattoo that says " Born to raise cats"?
[KevNERD] I like cats pookie!!
[Burm] What is your favorite python of all ?
[KevNERD] Retics and Papuan pythons. Both are very alert and I believe up there on the intelligence
- level. Papuans are so cool!!
[Burm] I agree with the intelligence level of retics !
[KevNERD] Most people know nothing about papuan pythons, they have a great personality!!
[KevNERD] Remember, our pythons do recognise us!!
[slitherjef] snakes can and will talk to us........tell us what they need...like food ect. and they can
- reconize there keepers too..........IMHO
[Foxglove] I have a red-tail boa constrictor that is about 26 months old and only 2 feet long! Have you
- seen this before? What could cause this?
[Foxglove] she eats regularly and only gets fatter
[KevNERD] Is the boa fat and healthy??
[KevNERD] Check her for amobea infections or other parasites. A recent(24 hour) fecal to the vet should
- solve the problem
[Foxglove] I have done that, he said she is fine
[KevNERD] Does she shed alot??
[Foxglove] same as my others about once evry 6 weeks
[KevNERD] I have seen some snakes with a protazoan infection in the larger intestine that failed to grow
- but looked fine otherwise
[Garret] Kevin, I have read some of your posts on the investment potential for ball pythons. Given their
- sporadic feeding issues and susceptibility to infection, is $25,000 a wise investment?
[KevNERD] They can be awesome feeders and more durable than any burm
[KevNERD] They have a great potential and i'm finding it out more everyday as people want my babies
[Garret] They can also be lousy feeders and die off, it was just a question?
[KevNERD] Those are typically imports that have been through the ringer. There are tricks to correct the
- problems
[JPP] is 61 inches large for a mangrove monitor, where would I find a female large enough to breed with
- him, he tries to eat all things smaller?
[KevNERD] That is a biggie....that is enormous. He will beat up his potential mate.
[KevNERD] Sounds more like some of my blue tails
[JPP] rats I was hoping to breed him soon
[RCD] do you use the day/night temp cycling method just to breed your pythons?
[RCD] or do you use it year round?
[KevNERD] Yes, it think that is nothing but a good thing. The light cycle seems to work for all. The
- tempo thing varies to each species
[KevNERD] Year round I allow it to heat up in the summer, I have no choice, my place is too big too
- control each room
