The United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) believes the proposed rule fails on both the science and the cost-benefit analysis. USARK believes that the “science” that is being fielded to justify this action is highly controversial, and the action shows complete disregard for due process and economic impact. If enacted this rule would destroy thousands of businesses and place nearly one million US citizens in jeopardy of becoming felons under the Lacey Act.

OMB review is required of all major rules to ensure that the economic burden does not outweigh the stated benefits of the rule. However the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy has reviewed the rule and stated unequivocally that the USFWS failed to conduct a comprehensive economic impact assessment, especially insofar as the rule would impact small businesses within the reptile industry. Furthermore, it is USARK’s belief that the purported benefits of the rule are based on controversial science and a failure to assess all available data.

We are, therefore, calling on the Office Of Management and Budget to do a thorough analysis of the proposed rule and, additionally, calling on the Congress to conduct adequate oversight to ensure due process to USARK and its members.

To summarize the history of this action: in 2007, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) petitioned the FWS to add Burmese pythons to the Injurious Wildlife list. After the 2008 publication of a fundamentally flawed climate-matching study authored by invasion-biologists in the US Geological Survey (USGS), FWS published a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) to add snakes in the genera Python, Eunectes, and Boa to the Injurious Wildlife List. This was based, in large part, on sensational media coverage and unfounded claims that these animals are poised to expand across the southern third of the US. In 2009 the USGS produced another highly criticized and controversial internal report in the form of a Risk Assessment of nine constricting snakes (aka Constrictor Report). Based on this “unscientific” internal report, FWS issued a Proposed Rule to add these nine constrictors to the Lacey Act in 2010. In spite of an overwhelming number of critical comments from scientists, organizations and the public, as well as at least four contradicting scientific studies, FWS has now filed a Final Rule in 2011.

The data set on which the conclusions of the 2009 Constrictor Report are based has been demonstrated to be so mischaracterized as to suggest either incompetence or an intentional attempt at deception. Michael Cota, researcher at the Thailand National Natural History Museum, stated in his public comment to FWS, with specific reference to the USGS climate data set, “With a 60% error rate for just one country (Thailand), how many imaginary data sets were used for these reports?” The Constrictor Report is NOT a peer-reviewed scientific document. It is an internal report authored by strongly biased USGS biologists. In fact, a panel of 11 independent experts from the National Geographic Society, University of Florida, Texas A&M and others stated in a letter to the US Senate Environmental & Public Works Committee that this report was “not scientific”, and “not suitable as the basis for regulatory of legislative policy decisions”.

USARK detailed numerous mistakes, inaccuracies and exaggerations in the Constrictor Report in a 16 point Request for Correction with USGS under the Information Quality Act (IQA). This request was rejected out of hand. An appeal filed last summer is still pending.

USARK believes that FWS is attempting to make policy based on staff preference. It is clear that FWS decided on a policy direction and has worked to manufacture a case after the fact to support their decision. Tom Strickland, then Assistant Secretary of DOI, is quoted in a New York Times article indicating a bias in favor of the rule well in advance of the completion of the rule making process.

FWS has dramatically underestimated the impact this will have on thousands of small businesses and as many as one million American citizens. If enacted this rule making will create a new class of criminal out of law abiding citizens.

USARK believes the actions of FWS to be unwarranted and unjustified based on science and cost-benefit analysis. USARK President, Andrew Wyatt said, “I call on the US House Natural Resources Committee and White House OMB to give close scrutiny to what has been going on here. I believe FWS and USGS are in direct violation of the standards and due process required under the Administrative Procedures Act and Information Quality Act. An entire $1.4 billion cottage industry is at risk. This is about jobs and the economy, not the preference of bureaucrats at FWS.”

Read original article

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I haven’t made any updates to the site since the beginning of March.  This is due to being tied up with work.  …What time I have on the computer has been almost entirely work related.  Well, the HSUS recently did something that brought me out of hiding – as it were.  They started a letter/e-mail campaign regarding how large constrictors are dangerous, and should be listed as injurious.  To anyone familiar with the HSUS this comes as no surprise since they are out to systematically remove all animals from the pet industry, and have already made steps with that regard by successfully banning the sale of cats and dogs in pet stores in the state of California.

Read full article here:  In Response to the Recent HSUS Email Campaign

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Committee Chairman Grijalva made opening remarks regarding the risks to Everglades National Park posed by invasive species. Members in attendance were Ranking Member Henry Brown (R-SC), Congressman Rob Bishop (R-UT) and Congresswoman Nepolitano (D-CA).

Expert Testimony was given by: Bert Frost, Ph.D., Associate Director, Natural Resources, Stewardship and Science, National Park Service; Frank J. Mazzotti, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Davie, FL; Marcy Heacker, M.S., Division of Birds, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC; Daniel Thayer, Director, Department of Vegetation & Land Management, South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, FL; Jorge P. Gutierrez, Jr., Civil Trial Attorney, Gonzalez and Garcia, Miami, FL; Shawn K. Heflick, M.S., Biologist USARK/ Science Officer CFHS, Palm Bay, FL; Daniel Simberloff, Ph.D., Gore Hunger Professor of Environmental Science, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; Phyllis Windle, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Invasive Species, Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington, DC; and Scott Hardin, Exotic Species Coordinator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Tallahassee, FL.

Ranking Member Henry Brown (R-SC) made a lengthy statement assailing the notion that listing large constrictors on the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act would have any positive impact on the Everglades. “How is putting thousands of Americans out of work and destroying thousands of small businesses going to eradicate Burmese pythons in South Florida?” Brown said. Congressman Bishop commented that it was clear pythons were an invasive issue limited to south Florida and would never be a problem in his home state of Utah.

Dr. Mazzotti from the University of Florida testified that 9 out of 10 of the radio telemetered Burmese pythons being tracked by the National Park Service in Everglades National Park succumbed to the recent cold snap and died as a result. Scott Hardin of Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation commission testified that he believed at least 50% or more of the pythons in south Florida died in the cold. Shawn Heflick, a conservation biologist and science adviser to USARK, said a cold-weather toll he estimated at 70 to 80 percent proved that federal risk assessments suggesting the snake could spread to other states were overblown. “This population of pythons cannot expand outside of Florida,” he said. “This is a Florida problem, not a federal problem.” Both Hardin and Mazzotti agreed that this was an issue limited to south Florida and the Lacey act was not an effective tool to control invasive species. They both urged a more pragmatic and comprehensive approach that was inclusive of the reptile industry.

Click here to read Testimony by Shawn Heflick on behalf of USARK:
http://usark.org/uploads/Heflick%20Testimony.pdf

Click here to read Testimony of all witnesses (click individual names):
http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=27&extmode=view&extid=340

The majority opinion amongst the witnesses seemed to be:

1. Pythons are a problem limited to several counties in south Florida.
2. As such a Lacey Act listing would not be warranted nor effective in addressing real problems.
3. A more comprehensive and pragmatic approach to dealing with potential invaders on a regional basis is necessary.
4. Collaboration between agencies, academics and the expertise of industry is key to finding real solutions.

USARK would like to thank the leadership and measured approach of Chairman Grijalva in conducting the hearing. We would also like to thank Ranking members Brown and Bishop for their astute comments and pointed questions revealing the true scope of the issues. Special thanks to Scott Hardin and Frank Mazzotti for bringing real perspective to what has been an over sensationalized regional problem. And a very special thanks to Shawn Heflick for his expertise and devotion to the truth on behalf of the Reptile Nation!

Link to Original Article

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In my experience, radiant heat is great. It creates an almost perfect heating gradient. My panels are mounted to the top of one side of the cage. The probe from the Johnson Controls thermostat is mounted about four inches up the opposite sidewall. By mounting the probe this way, I can better control the ambient temperatures in the cage. During the day, the cool side of the cage is set to be around 82 degrees. This creates a hot spot that fluctuates between 88 and 94 degrees. It fluctuates because the heating panel is not always on. I feel that this is more natural and mimics what happens in nature.

The problem I have had with RHPs is humidity. I like to keep the cage humidity around 60%. However, I have had the hardest time keeping the humidity at this level. The cage and water bowls dry extremely fast. The cages needed misting almost daily. I really feel this has affected my boa breeding season this year too. The animals were just too dry.

In the thread on RHPs, I mentioned my struggle with keeping up the humidity; but others said they have never had this issue. If that was the case, I figured I must have been doing something wrong and emailed Pro Products. Instead of writing back, Bob from Pro Products called me. To make a long story short, my problem is ventilation. Even though the cages I use are sealed well, they still have a lot of ventilation causing heat and humidity to escape. As Bob mentioned, we cannot fight nature. The amount of humidity in the room is going to affect the humidity in the cage. The more ventilation, the quicker the equalization will be. Since we live in Florida, room humidity is fairly low. During the summer, the air conditioner pulls the humidity from the house. During the winter, there is not much humidity in the air.

So what is the solution? Bob suggested a test. The Boaphile provides ventilation via a small gap around the door. The first thing I did was refill the water bowls and mist down the cage. Next, I took blue painters tape and covered about 75% of the gap. This should stop excessive loss of heat and humidity, but still allow adequate ventilation for the animal. Now it was time to wait and see what happened.

Bingo. The next morning the cage doors were slightly fogged up, so I knew the humidity was high with just a glance. Unless I was using moist cypress mulch as the cage substrate, the cage doors never fogged. The actual humidity was unknown, as the digital thermostat with humidity just displayed “high”.

The next step is to adjust the tape to see what is needed to maintain proper humidity. Once I figure this out, I can use black weather stripping in place of the tape.

I still have not tested the Animal Plastics cages, as they were not as bad as the Boaphiles. The AP cages provide ventilation via slots in the upper back corners of the cages. These can easily be covered and adjusted with the tape.

In all actuality, my issues had nothing to do with the heat source used. It is all about room humidity and cage ventilation. I would have had the same problem no matter my heating source. In the past, my cages were in a temperature-controlled room, where humidity was not a problem. I used flexwatt heat tape to create the needed hotspot.

So if you are having humidity problems in your reptile cages, try the tape test. I think you will be happily surprised.

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The forums are a great place to discuss or showoff your ball pythons, boa constrictors, and other reptiles. It is still a relatively new forum, so the traffic is low. Once the word gets out, I am sure it will be hopping.

So head over and join AvidHerpers.com!

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She is a beautiful Pastel Orange Tail Hypo Boa or as some call pastel hypo’s, a Scarlet Hypo Boa. This boa has given me two amazing litters and the babies tuned out incredible. That is the main reason I am selling her. I kept some of her arabesque, hypo arabesque and possible super salmon jungle babies.

I did not breed her this season or last so she is more than ready to breed this fall. She is about 7ft or so and weighs around 20lbs. I feed her one or two F/T jumbo rats every three to four weeks and she never refuses a meal.

Here is Marge when she was gravid last:

Marge - 03' Orange Tail Hypo Boa

Look at the links below to see pictures from her two litters. She produced some amazing babies!

• Arabesque Litter

• Hypo from Arab Litter

• Jungle Litter

I will be sorry to see this boa go. However, she will be a great addition to someone’s boa collection!

I also created a PDF version of the card. My default font in MS Word was Calibri, which Kinko’s did not have at the time. By giving them a PDF, this shouldn’t be a problem.

These cards make things easy to track. I put all pertinent information about the animal on the card. Things like the animals common name, sire, dam, DOB, sex, prey size, feeding schedule, etc.

If you’re interested, you can download them by following the link below. You’ll notice that there are a couple versions of the file. I’m currently using v1, but I am playing around with the format of the card and may switch once I run out of what I have. With v1, I have to write in things like sire, dam, prey size, and feeding schedule. The newer versions have spots for this included.

Download Feeding Card Files Here

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I was in awe by this girl. These pictures do her no justice at all. In person, her color is so bright and amazing. I was taking pictures of boas for sale. However, this girl will probably stay here.

What do you think?

Once the babies start moving around, I will pull them and get a count. Here are some pictures of the litter.

For example:

1.0 Albino Boa = one male boa

0.2 Bearded Dragons = two female dragons

0.0.1 Ball Python = one ball python sex unknown

3.2.1 Leopard Geckos = three male, two female, one sex unknown

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