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  You are here:  AllExperts > Animals/Pets > Veterinary Medicine > Reptiles

Expert Profile: Mick

Expertise:  NO PRIVATE QUESTIONS. I can answer questions related to various aspects of reptile husbandry, selection, field ID (esp. in Texas and the SW), legal aspects of various species, and intermediate level medical care on most species. I am a recognized reptile rescuer, listed with Melissa Kaplan @ anapsid.org, and rescuenetwork.org, and a subscriber to the International Veterinary Information Service. I do most of my own in-house veterinary care. I am most experienced in Chelonia (turtles&torts) with box turtles and common smaller tortoises (I am familiar with sulcata as well); and in Squamata (lizards & snakes) with everything from Anoles, Geckos, Beardies, and Monitors, to venomous snakes. With snakes, my primary expertise is in Crotalids (rattlesnakes), but I can answer a broad range of questions about colubrid and boidae snakes; such as kings, milks, corns, pythons, & boas. I am not aware of any reptile related question, in general, that I would not be able to provide some reasonable answer for. I have a direct style and may tell you something you did not want to hear; but the welfare of the animal comes first with me, and I will always reflect that position in my answer. READ "Instructions to Questioner" BEFORE ASKING YOUR QUESTION.I WILL NOT BE ADVISING PEOPLE ON HOW TO TREAT SERIOUS OR EMERGENCY HEALTH PROBLEMS ANYMORE, WHERE YOU SHOULD OBVIOUSLY SEE A VET, EXCEPT FOR IMMEDIATE NECESSARY LIFE SAVING PROCEDURES OR TEMPORARY MEASURES UNTIL YOU SEE A VET. I AM NOT HERE TO HELP YOU AVOID A VET BILL! Thank You.


I am an amatuer herpetologist, with 20 years experience in reptiles. I am a reptile rescuer and subscriber to the International Veterinary Information Service. I have medical and scientific resources available, and have had to learn herp medical care over the years. I am not a vet, but I read from the same materials and have had to correct a few in the past, as it related to reptiles. I have a yahoogroup dedicated to the conservation and husbandry of Horned Lizards. My specific area of expertise is in Chelonians ( primary- Box Turtles ), Phrynosoma ( Horned Lizards ), and Crotalids ( primary- Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes ); though I have some knowledge and/or experience also with aquatic turtles ( sliders, cooter, map, etc. ), tortoises, monitors, many other smaller lizards, and with some colubrid snakes. I am currently the caretaker of 13 Horned Lizards, 9 Box Turtles, 1 Russian Tortoise, 1 Red Eared Slider, 4 Leopard Geckos, 1 Golden Gecko, 1 African White-Spotted Wall Gecko, 4 Mediterranean Geckos, 2 Bahama Anoles, 1 Ca. Kingsnake, 1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa, 1 Bullsnake, 5 Fox Squirrels, 1 Eastern Cotton-tail, and 1 Budgie.

Organizations

Co-Founder: Wichita Falls Reptile Rescue http://freewebs.com/wichitafallsreptilerescue

Founder: Horned Lizards YahooGroup http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hornedlizards

Member: Horned Lizard Conservation Society

Publications

The Horned Lizard Husbandry Manual - self published 26 pages of care information.

Wikipedia entry "Horned Lizards" - contributed to a majority of the content.

Education/Credentials 20 years of field and captive husbandry experience.

Past/Present Clients I was requested to provide my care sheet on the Desert Horned Lizard ( Phrynosoma platyrhinos ), for the Montreal zoo.

      View Past Answers                  
Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:  Some reptiles can be conditioned/trained, and many species of tortoises may rival the intelligence of canines. Some, such as tortoises and Iguanas, are very social and can recognize individual persons. Pain in reptiles is misunderstood by the average person because they cannot whine or whimper, and may not react as expected; however, they do feel pain.
Something controversial or provocative about this subject  Reptiles are not suitable pets for children, and knowledge of average buyers is usually lacking. Reptiles are not considered cuddly, so are commonly mistreated or kept in improper conditions even in chain pet stores which claim to put animals "first". Everyone jumps through hoops when a bunny or kitty is in a cold or unclean habitat. Hardly an eyebrow is raised in these places for the reptile.

This expert has elected not to be rated

      View Past Answers                  

Recent Answers from Mick
2008-08-18  Fire belly Toad and Swelling! I'm afraid toads are not my strong area, however being gravid or a systemic infection ( sepsis ) would be my first two guesses. Impaction or egg binding may be a possibility as well. Not sure if a gravid...
2008-08-17  gecko I think you need to double check with someone who knows reptiles ( not with the idiots at those chain pet stores, but with a real reptile expert ), and make sure you have a female and not a male. The explanations...
2008-08-16  Eastern box turtles It's called mating behavior if one is male and the other female. If the setup is too small or he continues to do this all the time, yes he may hurt her or stress her out, which can make her ill. If it...
2008-06-25  Lizard Nobody can tell you what it is without seeing a picture. Many lizards do quite well in gardens and are beneficial by eating the insects from your garden without the need for pesticides. It will probably...
2008-05-28  turtles It said it was from Minnesota? Wow, that's a smart turtle! I couldn't tell you what kind it is on such little information. I don't even know where you found it, or if it's aquatic. All I have is that...
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