Thoughts on UV Lights?

[HiramAbiff]

Perhaps some of that time you spend on here objecting to others opinions and or observations could be better spent constructing your argument with the relevant references to back them up.

Or perhaps you could use some initiative and use the time you spend here to get up to speed with the advancement of herpetology? I guess that takes effort though.

 

[cement]

Thanks for bringing my laziness to my attention HiramAbiff!!
I sincerely appreciate all the effort you have so obviously expended on pointing me in the right direction.

"I'll make it even easier for you guys, google "Morelia DNA markers", then read the papers contained within. "

I'm ok with my enclosures, though.. thanks for the offer.

 

[Wally]

Or perhaps you could use some initiative and use the time you spend here to get up to speed with the advancement of herpetology? I guess that takes effort though.

Your presumptuous nature reveals much.

 

[HiramAbiff]

Whinge, complain, whinge.

Anyway, have fun with the thread. I won't be wasting any more of my time reading useless drivel.

 

[pinefamily]

[MENTION=4778]cement[/MENTION], you can see by the quote in my post above that the research on morelia DNA is still a little inconclusive.

 

[GBWhite]

On topic, I think you'll find that it's pretty much accepted that UVA and/or UVB are not required for pythons to maintain good health in captivity.

As for DPS, I'm with the bunch that consider it to be a bit of a furphy. As suggested I think that if it was genuine and contagious that it would affect all within the Morelia sp group and not be limited to those of the southern area of their range.

Cement, Jamie and Pinefamily,

Off topic (sorry, I couldn't resist...hahaha)

I've attached a link to paper that discusses the use of DN6 gene and cytochrome b (cyt b) as a means to identify and confirm species of the genus Morelia with attention to the Morelia spilota group. It's a bit more detailed and interesting than the one the pinefamily posted the extract from. It's long but well worth the read. I posted it a few months back but you may have missed it.

Have a good look at the Table on 298 and the Results and Discussion on 299. In the table all Morelia sp from northern WA, across the top of NT, through Qld, NSW, Vic and the eastern part of SA are listed together as M. spilota. Half a dozen from western SA and southern WA are listed as sub-species, M spilota imbricata and two specimens from central NT are listed as a separate species. M bredli.

Then have a read of the Results and Discussion.

From what I read it basically suggests that DNA analysis at the present time can identify and confirm the location of specimens from the Morelia sp group, however the question is...Is this enough evidence to split the group into individual species?

As I mentioned before, what I see as a problem with using mitochondrial DNA sequencing to attempt to identify and confirm species within such a close group as the Morelia, is that there is no set standard to positively confirm elevation to species level within the group. Furthermore, as I stated previously, the wording of the ICNZ Code is open to interpretation however it clearly excludes distribution itself as a character to differentiate taxa. Taxonomic characteristics in combination uniquely distinguish a taxon. So I believe that if DNA is going to be used as one of those characteristics there must be an agreed standard of identified genetic variations before it can be considered as a contributing characteristic defined as uniquely suitable.

Just my two bobs worth....and here's the link.

George.

http://www.researchgate.net/publica...ythons_suitable_for_degraded_forensic_samples

 

[pythoninfinite]

Been away from the computer for a couple of days, looks like the "biffo" continues... Thanks George - I'll have a look at that later today. Despite some of the assumptions made about my supposedly firm (but outdated) beliefs in my earlier comments, I have a totally open mind about things such as DPS, and am very happy to be convinced by evidence either way - I have no vested interests in the matter at all. I was simply putting forward theories which I have HEARD and READ over many years. My only unusual experience with Diamonds occurred while I was keeping a trio of them at the WA Museum back in the 90s. All three died over a period of months from a mysterious, gradual wasting and loss of appetite. They were housed in an enclosure which three Boa constrictors had outgrown. There were certainly no reptile specialist vets in WA at that time to do any followup, and we wouldn't have known what to look for anyway, but my guess now is that it's quite likely that the Diamonds succumbed to a pathogen carried silently by the Boas. (NOTE: to stay safe and avoid criticism, I said "QUITE LIKELY" rather than "DEFINITELY" - this will allow me a bit of wriggle-room if the critics come out in force...)

Anyway, I have no reason to defend myself against a bad tempered, bad mannered, patronising know-it-all here or anywhere else .

Jamie

 

[BredliFreak]

Humans fear what they don't understand, and fear, like any other emotion can alter your train of thought and make assumptions. People on this thread, or anyone for that matter don't really understand what so-called "DPS" is, so they automatically fear it and make assumptions. Who knows, for now lets not refer to it as anything existent, only possibilities...

As for "do snakes need UV?", although not necessary(as mentioned), you can use it if you want, might cost you a bit more though. Alternatively you could sun them every so often, I guess.

Those are my two cents, buy some chill pills with them

 

[pythoninfinite]

I guess the overarching comment I was making in this thread (and it was quite a way off-topic, I admit...), and probably the DPS thing was an inappropriate subject to align it with, is that if you don't know what you're looking for, you're unlikely to find it. It took many researchers years to nail the mysterious symptoms and human deaths to the HIV virus, for example, because the symptoms were wide-ranging and baffling. This work probably cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Research into mysterious reptile disease pathology wouldn't ever get that amount of support or interest, so we are left to make assumptions based on what we suspect rather than what we can prove, because proof takes dedicated people, time, and heaps of money. There are a few fundamentals in reptile keeping that can be regarded as absolute fact, there are many more where a range of opinions might all be appropriate and valid. To speak in absolutes about debatable matters often indicates a closed mind, especially when it is clearly only opinion.

Jamie

 

[cement]

@cement, you can see by the quote in my post above that the research on morelia DNA is still a little inconclusive.

Thanks pinefamily! and thanks GB for the link also. With very little time for the computer because I'm so lazy, having a quick link and even just a peice to read is a bonus!

 

[Pauls_Pythons]

Agree with Bredli regarding the chill pills.

UV.....I'm in the I don't use it camp, wont hurt anything other than your pocket but I'm not convinced there is much benefit. Have heard of diamonds being kept with success in a cellar with no access to natural light & no UV offered. Allegedly going strong in excess of 20 years. Not sure if that was genuine or not. Mine are 10 years old, had em from hatchies and never used UV. Going strong, female produced a nice clutch of healthy eggs last season.