TIME TO BRING THE TORTOISES INSIDE

I admit, I am a true procrastinator.  I will always put off any job or project as long as I have something more inviting or attractive on my "To Do List".  It's the reason the downed tree in the side yard is still only half cut up & removed.  "Never put off until tomorrow ... what you can put off until the day after tomorrow".  (Or ... longer.)

Despite my laziness, the first hints of cooler weather this month do have me aborting my philosophy of inactivity, & making sure to attend to returning my tortoises from their outdoor enclosure, back inside to their Winter/cold weather home.  I don't want these valuable treasures to get a cold -- or worse -- pneumonia from being subjected to temperatures not to their liking (which can be a slow, disturbing death for cold-blooded reptiles).

I have already moved all four tortoises inside.  In fact, this indoor Winter season they will all be sharing a new, much larger home -- mainly due to their continued growth & expanding shell size -- which should benefit them as far as comfort & room, until it is time for them to go outside again next Spring.

Below is a brief description of the steps involved in getting the tortoises moved into their new home.

I purchased a new "cattle tank", one which had a listed measurement of 6 foot x 2 foot x 1 foot tall.  I took a tape measure with me to Tractor Supply, since the space I had for the new tortoise home was exactly six foot long.  I was concerned that there would be too tight a fit if the listed dimensions of the cattle tank were also exactly six foot.  There might not be any "wiggle room" for fitting the tub into the allotted space.

Not to worry.  The "six foot" cattle tank only measures 69 inches.  Plenty of space left to fit the tank onto the shelf.  [I guess those listed measurements constitute "false advertising".  But, the shorted length works just right for my needs.]

The above photo shows the new tank, on the shelf, under the florescent light.

 It's getting crowed in the ... "Turtle & Tortoise Compound".  The new tortoise enclosure is in the back, beyond the turtle "ponds".

 Above:  a close up of the empty tank & the overhanging light fixture.

 I also cut several pieces of wood to form both a shelf -- for placing some plants currently still outdoors, which will also have to come inside for the Winter -- & as a "shelter" where the tortoises can retreat to find a darker, calmer spot, in which to meet their needs of a place to conceal themselves, as they would do in nature.

 Another view of the "hiding area" & the shelf.

Next, I added about two inches of cypress mulch.  This is a good "bedding" which provides footing for the tortoises, holds moisture -- since these are "tropical" tortoises -- as well as being easy to clean & replace as soiled by the tortoises.

 Now ... just add the tortoises -- above -- & plug the light into the timer & everything is on "go".  [Above are the Black Mountain Tortoises.]

Here is a photo of one of the Red Footed Tortoises inspecting the covered area of it's new home.

The tortoises are inside & that's one job off my "To Do List".  Next.

DEATH BY THE DOZENS. ACTUALLY ... THOUSANDS !!

In the life of this blog, I have written several postings on my annual attendance at the National Reptile Breeders Expo in Florida each August. I have often highlighted the vast quantities of snakes, lizards & turtles featured each year at the Expo by companies & individuals selling the results of their captive propagation efforts.  Still, there is much more to see, buy & appreciate at the show each year.

The Expo features many dealers selling foods designed for feeding & raising the reptiles so many of us are drawn to the Expo to see & buy.  With my main interest being turtles & tortoises, I have been pleased through the years at the introduction of many prepared diets dedicated strictly for both turtles & tortoises.  In my personal collection, probably more than 75% of the food I provide to my turtles is from commercial sources.

There are also dealers at the Expo with insects for reptile food.  Crickets -- once just a main stay of the weekend fisherman -- are now heavily promoted by several major cricket breeders/sellers at the Expo each year. These same dealers also offer mealworms, "superworms" (like a mealworm on steroids), fruit flies & even silkworms.  All gourmet foods when it comes to reptiles.

Now when it comes to snakes -- time for some people reading this to start cringing -- just about all the snakes sold in the reptile trade & those featured at the Expo, do not eat insects or prepared foods.  The "slither group", such as Kingsnakes, Pythons & Boas, all eat MEAT ... mostly in the form of mice & rats. [I'm purposely going to avoid any mention of rabbits & chickens as food, although they are often used as food items for "big" snakes.]

If someone owns one of the above mentioned species of snakes, then they are feeding either mice or rats to their snakes, depending on the snakes size & the size of it's prey. [A snake -- if you haven't watched enough of the National Geographic Channel on television -- swallows it's food whole, having to "unlock" it's jaws to swallow it's food.  Food "too big" ... doesn't work for the snake.]

What also doesn't work for feeding a snake in captivity, is to feed the snake a mouse or rat which is -- here we go -- ALIVE.  Too many times a live rodent has been offered to a snake by it's owner, only to have the tables turned on the snake, as the "food" becomes the victor, killing the snake, or at worst, inflicting sever cuts & damage to the snake.  As many of the snakes at the Expo are selling for hundreds of dollars, sometimes thousands of dollars, having the snake "damaged" -- if not dead -- is a poor "R.O.I".  ["Return on Investment"]

The way to safely feed snakes is to only feed DEAD rodents to the snakes.  This leads us to another industry which has been built up around the interest in reptiles/snakes; selling FROZEN, DEAD rats & mice.  [I'm sure those not-to-be-mentioned rabbits are in there too, but I'm avoiding that mental ambush for you readers.]

One of the dealers I spent some time visiting with at this years Expo is a company called Mice Direct.  They had as part of their display, five floor freezers filled with mice & rats.

The above is an idea of how -- in this example, mice -- are packaged & sold.  The right size for your average Ball Python or small Boa Constrictor.  Just thaw & feed.

Most snakes in captivity quickly learn to eat ... "pre-killed food".  [That's the politically correct term.]  A dead rodent, on the end of forceps is "bonked" on the nose of a snake, which then lashes out & grabs the mouse/rat & begins the process of eating the meal.  No fuss.  No mess.  No dead/damaged snake.

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 For people breeding their snakes & needing to feed the resulting newborn baby snakes, then "pinky mice" are necessary.  "Pinkies" are the new-born, blind & hairless mice.  Thus the name. The above photo shows bags full of pinkies.

This is the fella I had a good time talking with.  I'm sorry I can't remember his name.  He was both interesting & informative on the subject of frozen rodents.  He estimated they had close to 100,000 frozen mice & rats at the show.

The above photo shows the various sizes of frozen rats.  Whatever the size of the snake to be fed, it is then "matched" to the corresponding appropriate sized rat. 

The National Reptile Breeders Expo is more than just reptiles. Frozen rodents were just another one of the featured displays & it was ... litterally ... "Death by the Dozens".

THE WEATHER IS HERE ... WISH YOU WERE BEAUTIFUL

I'm going to try to answer the hundreds of inquiries I've received, questioning the lack of recent posts on this blog & why I have not been more active in writing.  [Okay ... it was only two people.  Both wanting to know if I was "sick ??".  Guess they though they were in my Will.]

The answer is that it is just too hard to sit at a keyboard & type when the weather conditions in central Arkansas have been mostly "ideal". Think temperatures in the low to mid-80's in the daytime & low-60's at night.  Add to that no rain & light breezes each day, under blue, cloudless sky's.  Much too nice outdoors ... to stay indoors.

Having written the above paragraph, I have to acknowledge the terrible conditions not far from here; Texas & Oklahoma, with the destructive winds & fires. (Also in Southwest Arkansas.)  Then much of my old stomping grounds in the Northeast has been inundated with floods from Hurricane Katia & Tropical Storm Lee.  The people up there -- especially from Pennsylvania/New Jersey northward -- have not been able to catch a break. And it will take them a long time to recover & rebuild.

So, blessed with GREAT weather here, I finally tackled a problem of my own: the large tree laying in the South yard which came down in a late-Spring near-tornado.  Not only did the tree come crashing to the earth, but it took with it, two HUGE Bradford Pears & two mature Leyland Cypress trees.  The total definition of ... "a mess".

 Since the effects of the downed & damaged trees were not totally visible from the road, along with the fact that I have been known to procrastinate a bit -- "Never put off until tomorrow, what you can put off until the day after." -- most of the mess has been on the ground through out the Summer. [Another reason not to jump into the clean-up project -- too hot !!]

 With the cooler temperatures, along with the fact that the county "Burn Ban" was removed -- having been in effect part of the Summer, due to our own dry & dangerous conditions -- I was "motivated" to start attacking the mess laying in the side yard.

 Along with the large pieces of tree trunk to be cut up & moved, there were also the limbs of the smaller trees -- many laying under the bigger trees -- which made it necessary to clean-up/cut-up the small debris first, to make the footing safe for my limbs when attacking the large parts of the big trees.

 All of this project -- which is still "on going" -- is time consuming, but somewhat enjoyable.  Much of what is being "cleared", is hauled to the back lot & burned at the fire pit, as I load up the cart & haul it there.

 Many of the larger pieces of trees end up being "stored" in the back lot, for burning later in the Fall.

Looking at these photos & knowing what I still have to cut-up & haul away, it makes me realize why my back & legs are sore most of the time.  Still, I am glad I can take advantage of the nicer weather to get on with this clean-up & I never lose sight of the fact that friends West & Northeast of here, have had their homes, cars & way of life ... destroyed. 

I have it easy & have been blessed. But still:

"THE WEATHER IS HERE.  WISH YOU WERE BEAUTIFUL"  --Jimmy Buffett

NATIONAL REPTILE BREEDERS EXPO -- 2011

The old saying is: "Time flies when you are having fun".  Well, I don't know about the "fun" part, but I do know the older I get, it does seem that life is somehow speeding up.

It was a week ago today that I returned from my four-day trip to Florida.  It's an annual trip; to attend the National Reptile Breeders Expo in Daytona Beach  & pay a visit to my Mother in Wildwood, Florida.

I have to admit the "visit" is also a chance to ... check up on her.  Living so distant from each other, I often have to "assume" she is doing okay & "taking care of herself".  She's going to be 84 in a few weeks & she lives alone.  The visit with Hilda -- no matter how quick -- provides me some self assurance that she is in good health & not digressing into some old person, who's abnormalities will soon be appearing on some sort of low rated cable TV show.

 Not to worry.  All is okay in Wildwood.  Actually, despite the 20 year differences in our ages, I sometimes think Mom has more energy than me.  She informed me during our visit, she had booked airline tickets to go to England in a few weeks to visit her sister.  Also, she wants to come to Arkansas -- again -- for Christmas this year. What can I say ??  One member of the Burnett family sure likes to travel.

After my "inspection", it was off to Daytona Beach & the focus returning to reptiles by the thousands.

 The "host" hotel each year is the Hilton.  It's very nice, with all sorts of "resort" amenities.  I always enjoy staying there & it is the one time a year in which I do ... "bad things".  That would be eating all sorts of non-normal food -- think, scrambled eggs, sausage links & fried potatoes -- for breakfast each day, food not on my menu during the other 51 weeks, nor in my kitchen. [I do work out in the hotel fitness center each morning.]

 The beach & ocean were in fine form this year.  I spent Saturday morning at the beach, enjoying "Floridays -- blue sky's & ultra violet rays". [For those not hip to the fact ... "Floridays" is a Jimmy Buffett song.]

The Expo is held in the Ocean Center, which is the auditorium & convention complex directly across A1A from the Hilton.  In the photo above, the Expo is located in the back, center (huge) building.

 This year, there were over 500 vendors.  Some are major companies & many others, just hobbyists who raise reptiles & hope to make a few bucks by selling the offspring of the reptiles they breed. [No "wild caught" animals can be sold at the Expo.]

 With the large venue, there is plenty of room to look, browse & buy.

 For me, the Expo becomes a day & a half of walking ... looking ... walking ... & looking some more.  So much to see.  So many people to visit & talk with.

 Petsmart had a display, with a 'spin the wheel game' for a prize. They also gave out coupons for free live crickets at any of their stores.  I'll use the coupon -- for my geckos -- but I would have liked some off-price coupon for cat food. [That would be a different show.]

The Turtle Source is a high-end turtle breeder, which has a lot of quality animals, at those high-end prices.  Of all the animals I looked at for my time at this years Expo, this was the only seller who had a turtle I was interested in buying. However, the price -- $595.00 -- was a bit more than I wanted to pay.

 Exo-Terra -- a manufacturer of cages & reptile supplies -- had a very nice display & some interesting & informative people staffing it.

The baby turtles at this display are covered by a screen.  This helps prevent any "five-fingered discounts".

 I talk each year with the fella who sells the baby African tortoises shown above. I like his display because it keeps the tortoises active & "cute".  And if you buy a couple & raise them to adults -- so you can breed them & come to the Expo & sell the results -- consider the adult tortoises would be almost three foot long & weigh close to 100 pounds.  One reason I never buy any of these "cuties".

 Of course, the Expo has snakes.  Literally thousands are on display & for sale.  Most snake breeders are raising "color morphs" never found in the wild.  The more unique the color/pattern, the higher the price to buy one.  I just like to "look".

 More snakes.  Lots of albinos.

 The above are African Fat-Tailed Geckos.  They are a favorite of mine & at one time, I had a large breeding colony.  They are another reptile being raised with unique color variations & thus, unique price ranges to buy them.

As every year, for the past 20 years straight, I enjoyed my time at the National Reptile Breeders Expo. It's fun to see what is "new" & to visit with old friends & make new friends.

One thing different this year.  I didn't buy any animals to bring home with me.  Nothing stood out as a "must have".  So this year, my total expenses at the Expo itself totaled just $24.00. That's $20.00 for two books & $4.00 for a Cherry Coke in the food court. [It didn't taste that good.]

And for all those folks reading this, who hate snakes, find them scary & threatening & will run screaming at the sight of one: ENJOY !!

THAT WAS QUICK

We're back already !! That extended weekend in Florida -- to visit with my Mother & attend the National Reptile Breeders Expo -- is already done & gone. That was quick.

I left here last Thursday morning -- the 18th -- & flew to Daytona Beach via Atlanta.  Then I rented a car & drove to Wildwood, Florida to see my Mother.  Back to Daytona on Friday for a weekend of all the fun & excitement of thousands of reptiles; snakes, turtles, lizards, along with all the crazy people -- including me -- who enjoy such animals.

Returning home to Arkansas this morning meant everyone returning home, as I stopped at the Vets to get my three little darlings -- Precious, Nibblets & THE WOBBLER -- who like me, where anxious to get back to "normal".  [Whatever that is in this household.]

The above photo was intended to be a two-part sequence: the girls in their carriers & then a photo of them stepping out all together for a nice homecoming photo. Didn't work.  They were too fast for me & the camera.

We are all back home now.  After all the planning & preparations, the long weekend was over quick.

REPTILE BREEDERS EXPO TIME ... AGAIN

My home is all mine right now.  No sharing of the bed or couch. No being concerned with tripping over anything laying on the floor ... like a cat.  My house is empty.  All three girls are ... gone. The silence is deafening.

It's the time of the year when all three cats -- Precious, Nibblets & THE WOBBLER -- have their annual visit to Foster Animal Hospital.  They get their physicals, which include all their booster shots, checked for worms & ear mites, have their flea & tick treatments applied, along with mammograms & pelvic exams.  [Well, maybe not those last two.]

All three will also be having a few "vacation days", as they are being boarded through the weekend.  It is convenient -- and planned -- that their annual check-ups coincide with my annual August trip to Florida for the National Reptile Breeders Expo.

Every year I attend this event, first held in Orlando, but now located in Daytona Beach.  This will be -- I am pretty sure -- my 20th straight year to attend.  [I somehow missed the first two years of the Expo.] With a record like that, you know I enjoy going each year.

This is also one of the times when I go visit my Mother in Wildwood, Florida.  It's kind of a "two-fer" trip; seeing my Mom & then cavorting with hundreds of people selling thousands of snakes, turtles, lizards & all sorts of stuff having to do with reptile keeping & breeding.

I am looking forward to Daytona once again & another Reptile Breeders Expo.

I'll also look to coming back home -- with "purchases" ?? -- & again sharing my home with Precious, Nibblets & THE WOBBLER.  I miss them already.

MEOWATHON - 2011

Today I am filling out & mailing my registration form for this year's MEOWATHON 5K race in Memphis, Tennessee.  This annual race -- it's the 8th this year -- will be held on Saturday, November 19th in Overton Park. [Good location.  Run in the race & then visit the Panda's at the Memphis Zoo, also in Overton Park.]

It will be my fifth straight year to participate in this event, which is a fund raiser/sponsorship for The House of Mews -- a non-profit, no kill, cat sanctuary/shelter & adoption agency located in the Copper-Young section of Memphis.  Details on the HOM & the MEOWATHON can be found by clicking here.

This is one event I mark on my calendar each year, & as my friends know, one of the very few reasons for me to get my butt out of Arkansas & make the two hour drive over to Memphis. Knowing the hard work & effort Elain Harvey & her volunteers put into the daily operation of providing for (at least) 100-plus cats/kittens at the HOM, attending & contributing to the MEOWATHON is the least I can do.

Come join me -- & several hundred others -- Saturday morning, November 19th, at 9 A.M. in Memphis.  You can run, walk or just cheer everyone trying to help out some sweet, helpless kitties.

Or ... if if you can't make the event, look at the HOM web site & donate a few $$.  They take cash & "cards".  They even have PayPal.