jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 23, 2016 2:53:14 GMT -5
I would have a heart attack if I got surprised by this Dennison.
Mouth must be designed for frogs.
@shotgunner, one of my clients is owner/part owner of Sun Pets. He has a basement full of fancy chameleons.
He dug down below ground level and installed like concrete boxes below ground level on the outside of the wall and installed windows in the basement wall.
Hope that makes sense. End result was great natural lighting and 'recessed into wall' terrariums.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 23, 2016 3:04:16 GMT -5
My kind of camp there Jim. Thanks for the pics and write up! That was the clean-up trip John. getting organized for a fun trip Aug 1. I usually pick a terrain or waterway to Aspergers out on within 30 miles away each trip. Explore and micro observe. Fish and artifact hunt. i have a group of friends coming from Atlanta to stay 4-5 of the days. all kayakers They want to fish and kayak/snorkel one of the spring runs. Like to watch their reactions to the habitat down there. |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 23, 2016 3:19:01 GMT -5
Lizards are CUTE!! Don't think I've ever seen an ugly lizard. While in college, son had pet lizard. Fredricka. Cute cute very small green one that fit in shirt pocket. Was asked at plane check in what he had in box in shirt pocket. Lizard. They let him on plane. Can't leave small pet home alone for days. A client that rented tropical plants in Atlanta mostly to offices had a contact with Costa Rica growers. Like 20 years ago, perhaps plant inspections were not o strict back then. I don't think they allow shipping plants with soil any more. The plants likely had lizard eggs in the pots. Hatched in his heated greenhouse and thrived year round. Not sure if he air freighted the plants or shipped on water. But another example of traveling lizards. And many varieties. |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 23, 2016 3:24:30 GMT -5
Damn, that's a big Pleco! Lake Rodman is basically the flow of Silver Springs dammed. The Silver River and the Oklawaha River. Silver Springs one of the largest springs in the world at 800,000 gallons per day. So the lake is crystal clear and 72F. You can stop your boat about anywhere on that lake at 10-15 feet deep and see 3-4 Plecos resting on the bottom. Must be a huge population. Pleco egg balls. Used in soup, as is the whole pleco. As broth in jungle of Peru. The Natives would dive in the river and feel for tunnels dug in bank and reach in them and pull egg tending Pleco out by hand. Then egg ball. They let me do it. Made me nervous. They always did it with two people in case an electric eel was occupying an old tunnel. The eel could knock you out. Never would have believed it. But it was easy fare. Caviar anyone ??  |
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El JeffA
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2016
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Post by El JeffA on Jul 23, 2016 7:06:57 GMT -5
Damn, that's a big Pleco! Lake Rodman is basically the flow of Silver Springs dammed. The Silver River and the Oklawaha River. Silver Springs one of the largest springs in the world at 800,000 gallons per day. So the lake is crystal clear and 72F. You can stop your boat about anywhere on that lake at 10-15 feet deep and see 3-4 Plecos resting on the bottom. Must be a huge population. Pleco egg balls. Used in soup, as is the whole pleco. As broth in jungle of Peru. The Natives would dive in the river and feel for tunnels dug in bank and reach in them and pull egg tending Pleco out by hand. Then egg ball. They let me do it. Made me nervous. They always did it with two people in case an electric eel was occupying an old tunnel. The eel could knock you out. Never would have believed it. But it was easy fare. Caviar anyone ?? Great thread jamesp . Thanks for sharing. When I read the water flow of the Silver Springs, I thought it sounded low so I looked it up. I was shocked to learn it is actually 550 million gallons per day...WOW. www.exploresouthernhistory.com/silversprings.html I have a house near the Homosassa Springs and did not realize that it pumps about 65 million gallons per day. The Indian manatees flock to the springs in the winter time for the warm water. I saw an aerial view where there were hundreds of manatees packed into the headwaters of the Homosassa river. Gentle giants weighing about 1000 pounds each. |
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Erich
spending too much on rocks
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Post by Erich on Jul 23, 2016 8:29:42 GMT -5
They keep track of the timing of hurricanes and various orchid germinations years later in the everglades. Seeds get carried from distant lands. Suppose reptiles could blow in too. Certainly that lizard was introduced. I think the browns are pet trade escapees from 50's and early 60's before embargo. Soon the pet trade will get to see some real cool shit from Cuba. High end hobbyists have had them for 15 years via Germany. Anolis smallwoodi related to the Knight Anole currently found in Miami.  I would be so stoked to see this Anolis smallwoodi in my yard. BTW, Knight Anoles are fairly common by me. Living on a canal I get to see a good bit of wildlife, alligators, Otters, all the migratory birds and basic Raccoons, opossum, etc., etc. |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Jul 23, 2016 10:04:17 GMT -5
Lake Rodman is basically the flow of Silver Springs dammed. The Silver River and the Oklawaha River. Silver Springs one of the largest springs in the world at 800,000 gallons per day. So the lake is crystal clear and 72F. You can stop your boat about anywhere on that lake at 10-15 feet deep and see 3-4 Plecos resting on the bottom. Must be a huge population. Pleco egg balls. Used in soup, as is the whole pleco. As broth in jungle of Peru. The Natives would dive in the river and feel for tunnels dug in bank and reach in them and pull egg tending Pleco out by hand. Then egg ball. They let me do it. Made me nervous. They always did it with two people in case an electric eel was occupying an old tunnel. The eel could knock you out. Never would have believed it. But it was easy fare. Caviar anyone ?? Great thread jamesp . Thanks for sharing. When I read the water flow of the Silver Springs, I thought it sounded low so I looked it up. I was shocked to learn it is actually 550 million gallons per day...WOW. www.exploresouthernhistory.com/silversprings.html I have a house near the Homosassa Springs and did not realize that it pumps about 65 million gallons per day. The Indian manatees flock to the springs in the winter time for the warm water. I saw an aerial view where there were hundreds of manatees packed into the headwaters of the Homosassa river. Gentle giants weighing about 1000 pounds each. I would assume the Homosassa River is a product of the 65 million/day spring ? That is plenty of water to make a substantial river. There are springs all over central Florida. I believe 30 First Magnitude = 30 million/day. They are in the lakes and rivers and probably not recorded. Serving as cold/warm spots, refuges for aquatic life to stay protected from temp extremes. Lake Rodman alone, a dammed lake has many springs. some tiny, but most had indian Mounds next to them. For bathing and drinking. In photo below, BIL and his son fishing on a 2 acre rock bottom at Lake George. The rock attracts a certain large sunfish. I was wade fishing here when 6 manatees approached me. I did not know they were there until one bumped me and gave me a heart attack. Two of the Manatees were juvenile. They are after the eel grass at the base of the photo. prime cuisine.  |
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Post by victor1941 on Jul 23, 2016 11:49:17 GMT -5
James, I really enjoyed your pictures. They brought back many memories when we traveled between Fort Myers and Jacksonville, Fl. My grandparents had a home on the St. Johns River, across from the naval base in Jacksonville, that provided many hours of river time. We lived just up the street which gave great access to a different world. The cabbage palms remind me of the Cabbage Palm Festival in La Belle, Fl. with the tractor pulled floats and young children. Thanks for the picture trip.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 23, 2016 12:08:02 GMT -5
James, I really enjoyed your pictures. They brought back many memories when we traveled between Fort Myers and Jacksonville, Fl. My grandparents had a home on the St. Johns River, across from the naval base in Jacksonville, that provided many hours of river time. We lived just up the street which gave great access to a different world. The cabbage palms remind me of the Cabbage Palm Festival in La Belle, Fl. with the tractor pulled floats and young children. Thanks for the picture trip. My Dad was stationed as a Corsair fighter pilot at the naval base. He would fly low over Fernandina Beach just north and shop for gals from the cockpit so he said. Mom a rather buxom gal was spotted by him. He drove up from the air station and located her. Interesting use of tax dollars. It works for me; as it was the beginning of my existence. I am sure you have fond memories of the majestic St. John's. The bridge system in Jacksonville creates tricky navigation routes. Tricky town to move around in. As far as cabbage palms, young men received a recipe book from their Mom on how to prepare and cook them back 30-50 years ago. The actual removing of the meat is called booting. And sure nuff it is like cutting a tough leather boot open. Best done with a sharp hatchet. And knowledge of the structure of the heart. The large palm heart in the bathtub was sweet and able to be munched on raw. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2016 15:25:15 GMT -5
I would have a heart attack if I got surprised by this Dennison. Mouth must be designed for frogs. @shotgunner, one of my clients is owner/part owner of Sun Pets. He has a basement full of fancy chameleons. He dug down below ground level and installed like concrete boxes below ground level on the outside of the wall and installed windows in the basement wall. Hope that makes sense. End result was great natural lighting and 'recessed into wall' terrariums. Totally makes sense. Cuba has awesome snakes and frogs too. Smallwoodi my fave. Had never thought about the mouth being for frogs. Makes some sense. Anoles are grouped into a dozen types by habitat and body shape. Smallwoodi and Knights are "Crown Giants". They own the trees and definitely eat other arboreal lizards. But, frogs makes more sense as they have dense populations and aren't as territorial... Good read amigo! How did pleco soup taste? |
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Post by captbob on Jul 23, 2016 16:42:33 GMT -5
 Mr. Ted wants to know if ya got a gazillion "lizard years" too!  |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Jul 23, 2016 17:05:15 GMT -5
That is the most out of proportion jaw I have ever seen on a 4 legged reptile. Maybe a Gilo and a Broad Head Skink when aged.
They probably have clamping power to go with it.
Peru, the food 4 hours away from electricity was great. They had minimal supply boats drop food.
But a great deal of it was caught, meaning mostly fish.
They were beautiful people and had a big garden and fished very lazily. Mud and stick oven. liquor still.
about all travel by hollowed out tree 2 man low boats. Very primitive.
Played us in soccer and cheated but would have kicked or butts with one leg tied off anyway.
If you like the ladies go to Iquitos. Guessing tall Native/Spanish mixes. Very festive and friendly.
Not a place of prostitution, just friendly I think.
Were having a town water balloon battle on our 2 day layover at Iquitos before going hours upstream to camp.
Back then anyway, all of them were begging us gringos to sit at the table w/them(M or F).
i guess the herbal concoctions freaked me out most in Iquitos.
we drank 7 root whiskey that got us very stoned. I think it was full of coco leaf extract. wonderful
I came back to camp with a 15 pound peacock bass and the pretty Native gal seemed to have gotten very sweet on me .
she wanted the fish. Money is not their exchange medium.
They would get us drunk/stoned on 7 root and get us to dance with them.
They had a peculiar habit of pinching your testicles when dancing. we were baffled but not complaining.
They all got up early to prepare the group for the day's activities. There was one rock for 50 miles.
They used that rock to sharpen their machetes on very morning religiously.
i got up early dark one morning and hid that rock. should have heard the hooting and hollering.
One of the Natives was catching Plecos in front of the high camp structure.
I went down to let him teach me. There was about a dozen of the natives taking a siesta up on the porch watching.
When he jumped in the river and went under I went and fetched a stick and scratched his back.
he came out of the water about running on top of it. Electric eels are a threat in the Plecos tunnels, so it is unnerving stick your arm down them.
I thought the audience was going to fall off the porch laughing at my trickery.
Same guy took me and two others fishing most days as that is what he liked to do and the crew would prep and cook them.
we finally ran out of hooks as those fish have serious jaw power.
The piraña family of fish were a broad genera(pacos ?), many ate nuts and berries. Jaws to crush them with.
He would see what berry was landing in the water and being eaten by the fish. Collect said berries and that is what we would use for bait.
I was blown away. we would hook some fish that would snap your rod like it was glass.
Or jump straight up in the air 15 feet. They got some ugly and pretty fish there.
We should go there sometime. Requires seasoned traveller. No A/c and bad bugs. Hot humid.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 23, 2016 17:07:15 GMT -5
Good grief captbob. How much does Ted weigh ? He is a loaf. Ted ? named after... |
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Post by captbob on Jul 23, 2016 17:15:57 GMT -5
11 lbs & change. A girl named him. He would prefer KING Ted
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jamesp
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Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Jul 23, 2016 19:18:09 GMT -5
11 lbs & change. A girl named him. He would prefer KING Ted What 'A' girl ? Ted must go back to anther age. |
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