To "Yim & Julie", Kyle and Ryan.....

[mbayless]

Hi All,

I got your messages today and I apologize for the delay - I did not realize I had messages for me!

Tim and Julie: send me an email for details....and we can get the VaraNews article to you ASAP....

Kyle: Fish eggs and fish are fine for varanids, but they tend to go "out" smelling worse than when they went "in"! Also, what Varanid species are you working with and want to feed fish? Some varanids are preferred fish eaters, like V. mertensi, V. niloticus, V. melinus, V. indicus....keep the diet mixed and varied and they will do fine....good luck!

Ryan: a book on Megalania!!! OOoohhhh - what is it, where is it??? My favorite beasty!! For books on varanids, try Daniel Bennett's books, then Bernd Eidenmuller (in it german).

Many Thanks to all of you for your very kind comments on my article on V. salvadorii in Reptile magazines some years back - many people have told me that is their favorite (varanid) article, ever, and my best one....it is one of my favorites and I very much enjoyed writing it. Regretably, Reptiles magazine does like favor my style of article anymore, but rather "stories" about trip here and there, many have very good information with excellent pics, but do not prefer hard-core natural history papers on "a" species or species complex.....I am writing or just finished papers on V. prasinus complex, V. rudicollis, V. indicus, rewrite V. melinus, and dragons and varanids: fact and legends in history and today....but I am having trouble finding places that will publish them - and most of them have new, never before reported data in them about this and that, very hard to find data, like how a hawk will hunt V. indicus, lifting it into the air and dropping it until it dies, then eating it; like the same varanid does with hawk flegdlings!!!

Maybe if you write editor of Reptiles magazine, he will consider some other articles I have??

Reptiles does have an article co-authored by me on V. dumerilii in march 2004....
cheers and Thanx all,
markb

[Tim and Julie B]

Well Mark that is good to know. I have sent you a few emails can you PM me your email. I am going off the the one in your bio here on snakes. Maybe it is the wrong one? I have read that article and it is very good. Oh and I found that June 2000 article on Savanna and white throat taxonomy. That is a great article and I learned a lot. I think I will take you up on your generous offer if you still have a copy of the July 2000 issue with part 2. Between us and two friends we came up with all of 2000 but the July :D Go figure! TB I can't wait for the V. dumerilii article.

[Scales Zoo]

Andrew Clark had a book on Megalania at the TARAS show.

I'm not sure if this is the same one, but I found one at amazon.com.

It is:

Dragons in the Dust:
The Paleobiology of the Giant Monitor Lizard Megalania
by Ralph E. Molnar, James O. Farlow (Editor)
List Price: $35.00
Price: $24.50

I will talk to Andrew to find out if it is the same book, I was a tad "under the weather" at the Calgary show - and can't remember if it is the same book.

Mark, I'm not sure if your email is working, I am using the same one you sent me an email on. If there is a better email address, please email me it.

Ryan

[mbayless]

Hi guys, my email is mkbve1792@aol.com....I know Ralph Molnar and will write to him directly!!! MANY THANKS for your kind replies....take care of yourselves....Im doing the same!

Best Regards,
markb

[Kyle Barker]

Thanks very much. I am almost positive mine are not common fish eaters. All i currently have is a jobiensis and a sav. Trying to get it as varied as possible, plus the Job wont eat rodents...

[mbayless]

Hi Kyle,

try frogs (NOT TOADS!!), but tree frogs, crayfish, shrimp, etc... these animals are up early in the mornings usually and see good at night.

Good Luck,
markb

[Kyle Barker]

Thanks, i CANNOT kill any native species... Goes against everything i believ in. BUT, we have thousands of bullfrogs so...
I read a post here saying that they have an antifreeze type chem in them, and it is very dangerous if collected during colder times. So i am waiting till next spring/summer to stock my freezer. Good/bad idea?

[Linds]

Mark,
I've been trying to respond to your email for ions now with those pics, but every time I get an undelivered/return message :confused: Do you habe an alternate email?

[mbayless]

Try mkbve1792@aol.com - is this one messing with you?? I cannot figure out why?? How about snail mail?

Thanx,
markb

[Linds]

mkbva1802@aol.com is the one I have been experiencing problems with. I will give the other one a shot. Wish me luck!

[mbayless]

mkbva1802 email address is dead...mkbve1792 is alive!