what kind of records

iHerp for all my reptiles. For the snakes, I track pretty much everything. Other reptiles I only track vet visits, medication....that's probably about it.

I keep track of almost everything except defecations (unless they are unusual). During the week I jot down notes on a legal pad then after feeding day I sit down and log everything in "the book". It is basically a huge 3-ringed binder and each snake has its own divided section. The care charts for our hatchlings we plan to sell go in a separate binder divided by clutch.

Here is the page I made for us:

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/a...hart2010-2.jpg


If anyone wants the spread sheet just PM me and I'd be happy to e-mail you the file.

I keep track of feeding and eating (which I feel is vitally important with ball pythons), and sometimes shedding (often I don't bother). I don't bother to record defecation or urates--what goes in must come out, unless some health issue comes up, and you'll notice that independently.
I keep full breeding records. I track weight, though not on a set schedule--I don't think you can breed responsibly without tracking weight to be sure your breeders are in condition for the season, and recover correctly afterward. Plus, buyers always want weights on hatchlings.

Now, for the geckos, it's another story. I record lineage when possible, and that's about it. lol I keep dwarf geckos, and eggs often incubate in situ. They're fed daily or every other day, so there is little point in recording that.

For breeding I make a file folder for each season.

I tape this chart on the front of it. Basically just for quick reference for dates and clutch info.

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/a...lutchChart.jpg

Then each female gets their own chart in the file folder. I keep track of males put in/taken out dates, locks, sheds, bowl wrapping, laying inverted, building, ovulations, palpating and anything else that seems helpful or interesting. Also, all the info on eggs laid and hatchling info.

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/a...edingNotes.jpg


I also have a calendar on the desk where I keep track of dates and upcoming breeding events such as estimated hatch dates and lay dates.

I keep records of feedings, refusals, sheds, weights and poop! I was advised when I got my first snake that it was good to have that information on hand if I ever had to take him to the vet. I thought about it and decided that it was indeed, something I thought I should do. So I do! I do get off here and there and forget to record stuff sometimes, but my records are around 95% accurate and complete for both my snakes!

I've been using iHerp for over a year, and it makes tracking SO easy! I keep track of feedings, sheds, defecation (mostly for the pythons, since the colubrids poop too often), breeding/hatching, and occasional weights. :gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

Now, for the geckos, it's another story. I record lineage when possible, and that's about it. lol I keep dwarf geckos, and eggs often incubate in situ. They're fed daily or every other day, so there is little point in recording that.

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Random question - what is "situ?" Btw, I used to keep leopard geckos, and also found tracking them was pointless... just too much activity to keep track of accurately!

Hi,

In the place they were laid in this instance. :)


dr del

I started out keeping track of everything then it dwindled to just feeding and refusals, weights breedings, lay and hatch dates. For about a year or so my record keeping got sloppy. About 6mths ago my computer where all my data was stored died a horrible death and I lost all my records. So after that we began again with feed data, body weight monthly and after females lay, clutch weight on lay date and baby weight on hatch date.


If anyone has lots of data on ball pythons I will be beginning my senior research project at Stetson for my Bachelors in Biology next semester, and I will need as much data as I can possibly get. I do not know what lane my project will go down but I have heard there is a lot of interest in "anorexia" before they lay, body condition after they lay, survival rate and sex ratio of offspring. I will be happy to include anyone in my acknowledgements who will send me data on ball pythons.

For those of you with "secret" projects morph type is not a needed data point. My email is kellysballs@me.com

I pretty much just keep track of the unusual, Which is just the odd refusal so far KNOCK ON WOOD and weights after each shed even this I have sometimes miss if everything is going good. I only have a half doz snakes so I know them all and each still have a filefolder in my brain, as my collection grows and I start breeding records will become a must, at least breeders weights, pairings, hatchling weights etc. Probably will never weigh individual food items, Protein conversion rates in BPs is slightly beyond my current intrest:confused: