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Squeeze box designs
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by Rob_Carmichael on January 10, 2010
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This is a question towards those who have had to use some sort of squeeze box to measure snakes (either in the field or the lab). I'm co-leading a study looking at feeding behavior and ecology of western fox snakes at the college I teach part time at. We have been simply taking the neonates (that are now approx. 29 grams) and slowly and gently run them along a ruler to get a SVL and TL. Works okay, but I'm afraid of the stress it puts on the snake as we have to restrain them pretty well to make them straighten out. But, one of my thoughts was to use a squeeze type of box and then use a white board or overhead board marker to trace the snake while it's being gently "squeezed" and then measure that. I have a thought of a type of squeeze box but was wondering if others have a design or explanation of a better way of doing this. We will be monitoring bi-weekly weigths and lengths through adult hood so it's going to get more challenging as they get larger. Thanks in advance!!
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
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RE: Squeeze box designs
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by lanceheads on January 10, 2010
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The easiest way we used to do it when I was in Texas doing field studies on Cottonmouths, i.e. measurments, weights, etc. was an open top wooden box with a piece of plexi-glass cut to size for the top, so it would slide down and gently press the snake. lenghts were recorded by using a piece of string to outline the snake, and the string was measured for the snake's lenght. Works almost too easy and very accurate.
Randal Berry
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RE: Squeeze box designs
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by AquaHerp on January 10, 2010
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I agree. I used the same method on horridus in Indiana. I used a map measurer after tracing a line with marker along the spine.
Rob, I have pictures if you like. You just can't give me crap about my ponytail!
DH
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RE: Squeeze box designs
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by Cro on January 10, 2010
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Doug with a pony tail would be interesting to see.
Rob, I make a vet box that might serve your purpose.
It has a plexiglass lid that has a bunch of holes drilled in so that folks can use it to remove eye caps and give injections, etc.
However, that same plexiglass lid could be marked with a grease pencil, and used to draw along the back of a snake, so that the pencil mark could be measured.
It was my intent to eventually offer it with a solid plexi lid for measuring snakes, and a lid with holes for vet use.
Let me know if you might be interested in it. It is still kind of a prototype design thing I am working on. However, I could probably ship one to you to play with, and see if it would solve the problem of what you are trying to do. You could become a field tester, and if it works well for you, perhaps you could help tell other folks that I make the things.
Best Regards
John Z
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RE: Squeeze box designs
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by earthguy on January 11, 2010
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Rob,
any type of handling can lead to stress for the snake, and I am not convinced that a squeeze box would be any better than any other form. I am also not convinced that they provide more accurate measurements. I had this same issue when I was working with my Agkistrodon (with the added wrinkle of REALLY not wanting to get bitten). I can't find the reference now, but at the time I was reading a paper where the researcher looked at different measuring techniques and comparing accuracy by putting the snakes under and manually (gently) stretching them straight. The end result was that the best method (in their assessment)was pulling a string along the back of the snake and measuring the unkinked string three times and taking the mean. I modified this a little by keeping the pointy end of the snake in a midwest tube. I also found that I got faster (and I think a little bit more accurate) with just a little bit of practice.
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by LarryDFishel on January 11, 2010
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I have a ruler (actually a piece of a plastic sign cut to exactly 12 inches) on a string that I can lay next to a snake and then take a digital photo from overhead. Then transfer the photo to my computer, and I have a program that allows me to measure the snake against the known length.
If a snake is laying in the open, you can do it without even touching the snake with a hook.
Possibly more time consuming than other options and unless you're using a laptop in the field, it means keeping track of which picture goes with which specimen.
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by TheFifthDay on January 11, 2010
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I found a picture submitted by Mr. Hotle of a restraining box like you were talking about - http://www.venomousreptiles.org/libraries/showfilepage/3909?offset=158.
I'm not an expert by ANY means, but it looks like a very accurate way to measure a snake to me..
Jon Short
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by Rob_Carmichael on January 12, 2010
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Thanks everyone for the great advice; all sound somewhat similar to what I had in mind. John, if you have a prototype I'd be happy to give it a try as this is a long term study. Let me know how we can make that work. Doug, I'd like to see the pics just to see you in a pony tail:-)...I can't laugh because I had one too back in the day. THanks everyone for responding - all of the recommendations would probably work well and I think I'm going to borrow all ideas and use in some way, shape or form. Many thanks, Rob
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