CG,

DAMN, that's a crazy encounter you had...I would've definitely needed a change of undergarments after that. I don't have any personal experience with alligators or crocodiles (which I hear are more ill-tempered), but I'd hate to be on one's bad side. You've definitely got bigger ones than I do, my friend...

Interestingly, I once knew a guy from Florida who used to keep alligators in his backyard (which was enclosed of course). According to him, big alligators (at least captive-bred ones) are generally pretty good-tempered, and more or less oblivious to humans. He says the smaller alligators are more defensive, which makes sense...monitors are the same way. He also says most 'gators will recognize things like feeding patterns, and act accordingly, but the rest of the time, they're just kind of hanging out, not caring about much. Supposedly, crocodiles are much easier to piss off than alligators, and also a lot more high-strung.

I didn't know that baby alligators can call their mothers. I didn't even know that alligators take care of their young. Most other reptiles don't, and a lot will eat their offspring if given the chance.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cyber_x
[B]

What color was your Amazon Tree Boa?

 

OK, on the subject of biting. Around here we have a lot of black snakes (black rat snakes), and call me crazy, but sometimes the best way to catch them (unless they are really big) is to let them bite your hand. Then you pick them up, and gently disengage their jaws from your hand. It doesn't hurt that bad, and I've never had a problem with infections or anything....

 

Luft46,

YIKES. That sounds like a Darwinism just waiting to happen. Overheard in the ER: "I THOUGHT it was a black rat snake doc"

How big is too big. Do you have to lose a finger before you know?

IMHO - Any snake that has a mouth big enough to bite me is too big (I guess I shouldn't apply for the snake catcher job, eh)

But seriously, a question for you keepers of amphibians. It's been raining so much here in New Jersey lately that I think I'm growing webs between my toes and fingers. Have you ever heard of this and what can I do about it?

Sorry, just poking a little fun. Interesting reading here though.

Steve

 

The guy from Florida is pretty much correct. Big gators are lazy and they figure out quickly that humans will often feed them. That's also when they get dangerous because they associate humans with food and lose their natural fear of them. One of the few people I

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Duffer
[B]Luft46,

YIKES. That sounds like a Darwinism just waiting to happen. Overheard in the ER: "I THOUGHT it was a black rat snake doc"

 

I thought a big King Snake was yawning when it opened its mouth wider and wider until it put it

 

I've only ever had one snake bite. It was totally my own fault. I had been handling some rodents and forgot to wash up and started cleaning one of my snakes' cages. BAM!


As for california herps: I suppose it depends largely on where you are. Here in northern cal I see quite a few around, so long as it's a little off the beaten path.

 

Glass Snake update: It was finally dry enough to mow my back yard today. Three Glass Snakes escaped before I was able to get my hands on a nice healthy specimen. I could have caught one of the first ones but I wanted to be very careful so that they wouldn

 

A place for me to talk about my kids

OK, I was given this thread by a fellow member, and I hope I can play too. I have owned a few reptiles. Basically I have owned:

2 Water Dragons
columbian rainbow boa (very beautiful, but wild caught dont do to well)
a few Anoles
and my kids as of today....

img]http://members.aol.com/mr2quik/jake.jpg[/img] <-- my boy Jake 8' long Red-Tail Boa.
<-- his G/F Jade 12' long Red-Tail Boa.

Yes...that's feet not inches. Someday they will have babies

My hubby isnt too fond of them (he actually dont like them), but he loves me enough to live with them and me. How sweet