Reptiles/Expert Profile

Expertise

NO PRIVATE QUESTIONS! YOUR QUESTION WILL BE REJECTED IF YOU DO NOT PROVIDE THE INFO REQUESTED IN THE INSTRUCTIONS!. I can answer questions related reptile husbandry, field ID (esp. in Texas and the SW), legal aspects, and intermediate-advanced level medical care. I am the director of Wichita Falls Reptile Rescue (TX), a founding member of The Society for Horned Lizard Preservation, a member of the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Assoc, and a subscriber to the International Veterinary Information Service. I do most of my own veterinary care in-house, including minor surgery and necropsy. I am most experienced in Chelonia with box turtles and common smaller tortoises; and in Squamata with everything from Anoles, Geckos, Beardies, and Monitors, to venomous snakes. I am most known for my expertise with horned lizards (Phrynosoma). With snakes, my primary expertise is in Crotalids (rattlesnakes), but I can answer a broad range of questions about various species. I am not aware of any reptile related question 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, despite how it might make you feel.

Experience in the area

I am a non-academic herpetologist with 25 years experience with reptiles. I am a reptile rescuer, rehabilitator, and subscriber to the International Veterinary Information Service. I have medical and scientific resources available, and I perform in house reptile veterinary care for my rescues. I am not a vet, but I read from the same materials and have had to correct a few in the past. The average vet is not well versed with reptile physiology and medical treatments.



I am currently the caretaker of 11 Horned Lizards, 22 Box Turtles, 30 aquatic turtles, 7 fire Bellied Toads, 3 Green Iguanas, 1 Spiny Lizard, 1 Bullsnake, 20 Eastern Ratsnakes, 1 Albino Great Plains Ratsnake, 1 Massasauga Rattlesnake, 1 Leopard Gecko, 8 Fox Squirrels, 7 Deer Mice, 2 Hispid Pocket Mice, 4 Merriam's Pocket Mice, 1 Cotton-Tail, 1 Former racing pigeon, and 1 Budgie. Previously: Leopard Geckos, Golden Gecko, African White-Spotted Wall Gecko, Mediterranean Geckos, Bahama Anoles, Ca. Kingsnake, Brazilian Rainbow Boa, Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes, Gartersnakes, Long-Nosed Snakes, Russian Tortoise, Savannah Monitor, Chinese Water Dragons, Bearded Dragons, Jeweled Curly-Tailed Lizards, Long-Tailed Grass Lizards, Asian Forest Scorpions, and Eastern Cotton-tail rabbits.

Organizations

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

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

Member: National Wildlife Rehabilitators Assoc.

Founding Member: The Society for Horned Lizard Preservation

Publications

The Horned Lizard Husbandry Manual - self published 60+ pages of care information on genus Phrynosoma.

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

allexperts.com, and various reptile related forums and email lists under the handles "fireside3" and PhrynosomaTexas".

Education/Credentials

My hands-on field and husbandry experience beats a PhD any day of the week.

Past/Present Clients

I was requested to provide my care manual on the Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos), for the Montreal zoo. My manual is also used by several other zoological institutions in N. America.

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 people expect; 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.