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Posts by armata: |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928  View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 30 Dec 2006
Topic: Treatment of adder bite link
Oudtshoorn in SA is 'cobra city' right now, with the odd puff adder and boomslang thrown in. In particular a good number of big male Cape cobras. In Cape Town they also get a lot of big mole snakes; which are often confused by lay paople with cobras. Going down to Knysna tomorrow to scout around and get samples of puff adder, and hopefully night adder. Good way to see the New Year in; a nice road cruise.  'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 30 Dec 2006
Topic: Treatment of adder bite link
Hi Shaun I am the Tony Phelps; howzit! Got a good spot for night adders and rinkhals between George and Knysha- Johannes and I are leaving shortly - just hope the coast warms up a bit - its even getting cool here in Oudtshoorn. When you gonna come on my handling course?the next one is at Driftsands, Cape Town in Feb. Take care & Happy New Year 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 30 Dec 2006
Topic: Treatment of adder bite link
Have had quite a few 'old hands' on my courses to date; and they have gone away having learned quite a bit. They realise for example only rarely will they ever have to 'neck' a snake again. The course is quite intensive and I have had app 20% failure rate. All funds go to my work on adder research. In future courses will also include sampling methods and morphometric analyses. And why we do it. The thing about herpetology, like other natural history disciplines, its a big learning curve. I've been half a centure messing with snakes, and I am still learning. 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 30 Dec 2006
Topic: Treatment of adder bite link
No, I was not talking about 'old hands' from CRC. Hook and tail is great for cobras and boomslang, but a big no no for puff adders; unless you can double hook 'em. And there is no reason to ever neck a puffie; they are so easily damaged, and most bites to handlers are received this way. Necking is OK if you are milking captive stock, or perhaps taking ticks from around the head; but mostly it is not necessary. I believe in a stress-free life for both snake and handler. Shaun - do you sample your catches? we are always looking for DNA as you know. 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 01 Jan 2007
Topic: I have red eared terrapins !
Main thing is not to let them escape into your local pond. They are now banned in SA 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 01 Jan 2007
Topic: Treatment of adder bite link
Hi Shaun Do you keep records of all your releases, GPS etc? WE are trying to establish a protocol, snakes released within 20km of origin. We (Cape Reptile Institute) can then create a central database for such eventually. Its not politics, but just good science. 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 01 Jan 2007
Topic: Knysna snakes
saw the new year in looking for Causus rhombeatus in Knysna on the coast - only place inW.Cape where they are found. Re 
sults great, plus rinkhals. 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 30 Mar 2007
Topic: Biiiig puddy tats
Gillian Anderson? oh yes the frigid midget 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 30 Mar 2007
Topic: Adder Translocation
Thanks MandS for the detail. Were the adder IDd in anyway, and is there funding for monitoring the site. I think adders have bred at the reptiliary but MN can tell us more. Lets hope that this was a one off. And you are quite right in stating re other priorities with other elusive populations. Graeme??? can you heard the sighs and groans on the wind  'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 30 Mar 2007
Topic: Adder bite
No antivenom then? Antivenom is underused in the UK but widely used in places like Sweden the modern stuff is very good. Jerry - why didn't you tube the darn things?? Anyway hope you are more comfortable now. 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 30 Mar 2007
Topic: Hitting the Mother Lode!
Mating activity will kick of in the next week or so, so males won't have dispersed too far. Find the fat female and just watch. (take your camera). 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 30 Mar 2007
Topic: sign of the times ?
Male sloughing is less synchronised in recent years (in press) 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 15 Sep 2007
Topic: DO WE NEED A HERPS CoNFESSIoN COLUMM
I have a confession Coming to the UK next month for my daughter's 18th bash and I don't think I got time for any herping (if winter hasn't come early anyway!!) 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 15 Sep 2007
Topic: DO WE NEED A HERPS CoNFESSIoN COLUMM
Don't even have a motor, still working out how to get to West Wales!! on a very tight budget 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 18 Sep 2007
Topic: LAST SPOTTINGS OF THE YEAR
Ooh I can play (for a day anyway) in UK next month for daughters's 18th bash. 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 18 Sep 2007
Topic: Natrix where you least expect them!
I shall be in Tregaron next month(via Saudi Arabia & Guildford) so might check up on the bog adders. 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 19 Sep 2007
Topic: LAST SPOTTINGS OF THE YEAR
Sorry Mark tis a very quick visit may manage a quiclie to Chobham next April for def in Dorset 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 25 Feb 2008
Topic: fav pics
Now you know why some female slow worms have memorable scars from amorous males  'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 25 Feb 2008
Topic: WHAT NO MORE 2008 SLOWORMS
Grass snakes will be mating before adders, and as they are income breeder they often feed and mate, sometimes on the same day. There breeding period seems to extend beyond that of the adder as well - look out for those mating balls folks!! 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts in this topic |
Posted: 25 Feb 2008
Topic: DESTRUCTIoN OF HABITAT BY TIDYING UP
Re the adder photo - the one on the left is a young female, probably a non-breeder this year, not too unusual, if you keep an eye on her bet she moves off in a couple of weeks. Notice, apart from colour, the zigzag is not so bold, and you can just make out the tail 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
- Posts by armata |