Fir cones?

[Sputnik]

Would fircones be alright to use to furnish a vivarium? Are pine cones dangerous? My son and I collected some dry cones a few days ago and just after I had drenched them with boiling water, I suddenly had doubts about the suitability. I'm not even sure what kind of tree they came off. Just that it was very tall and green. :D

[Stefan-A]

They should be okay, as long as they don't contain much resin, which might irritate the snake's skin and respiratory system. In my experience, firs (genus Abies) are usually very rich with resin (as are Pseudotsuga), while spruce (Picea) aren't.

[KITKAT]

Dip them in polyurethane and hang them to dry - would that seal in the oils???

Just a thought I had...

[Sputnik]

To be safe I think I'll just leave them out. I had another look at the tree today and I think it is actually a pine. Oh well, they'll look lovely in my woodland garden, too. :)

[zooplan]

When the enclosure has a valid ventilation there´s no cause to worry,
even because I think you´ve collected an old one from the ground.

Cooking in pure water would take all possibly injurious ingredients away.

[adamanteus]

Just a though....would the pine cone necessarily contain the resin found in the tree itself? I would have though the resin would be absent from the seed fruit. Hey, what do I know about trees...I live in Manchester!

[Stefan-A]

It's true that they don't usually contain much of it (except under early stages of development), but certain trees tend to "bleed" a lot, and even the cones can be really messy.

[adamanteus]

I stand corrected!:rolleyes:

[Stefan-A]

Well, I've picked up my share of resin-drenched cones during these last 12 months. ;)

[adamanteus]

Well, I've picked up my share of resin-drenched cones during these last 12 months. ;)

Whatever floats your boat, Stefan!:D
I knew you'd know about fir trees, being Scandinavian!:rolleyes:

[Stefan-A]

Whatever floats your boat, Stefan!:D
I knew you'd know about fir trees, being Scandinavian!:rolleyes:
:D Forestry is a part of the education I'm getting.

But there are no firs native to Scandinavia. :D

[adamanteus]

By "firs" I guess I meant any tree that has pricky leaves and stays green all winter!:rolleyes:

[Stefan-A]

By "firs" I guess I meant any tree that has pricky leaves and stays green all winter!:rolleyes:
I know. :)

[adamanteus]

Slight digression.....what's that huge coniferous tree with the really spongy bark? Wellingtonia, or something?

[Stefan-A]

Sequoia, maybe?

edit: the description fits both Sequoia and Sequoiadendron (Wellingtonia).

[adamanteus]

Anyway...I once found a spider I couldn't identify (still can't) on a Wellingtonia tree in a public park in Cheltenham. (Midlands, UK).

[drache]

I've found cones with big gobs of resin on them
I'm fairly certain that it came from the tree though
what do you do with the cones, Stephan?
and what kinds of trees are native to Scandinavia?
is it the same three kinds of pines and assorted deciduous trees we have in Germany?

[Stefan-A]

I've found cones with big gobs of resin on them
I'm fairly certain that it came from the tree though
what do you do with the cones, Stephan?
and what kinds of trees are native to Scandinavia?
is it the same three kinds of pines and assorted deciduous trees we have in Germany?
I use them to identify species, nothing more. :)

Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Juniperus communis. And Larix sibirica is also found completely wild, but it has just spread recently. Taxus baccata is found in a very small area in the wild, as well. The forestry industry has also experimented quite a bit with various foreign genera and they are also found in parks and gardens everywhere. Which is why they thought it was necessary for us to be able to identify them.

James, got your spider. :D

[Sputnik]

Anyway...I once found a spider I couldn't identify (still can't).


Impossible! ;):D

[Morph]

for spider IDs i usually send pics to natural history bug department... they are brilliant!

[Stefan-A]

What do you say, James? Shall I send that picture you initially posted? :D

[adamanteus]

I challenge anybody to identify that one!

[Elliot]

I challenge anybody to identify that one!

Where's the picture at?

[adamanteus]

Elliot, it's a real rarity. You'd never get it!

[Stefan-A]

Where's the picture at?
On my hard drive. :D

[adamanteus]

On my hard drive. :D

And mine.:rolleyes: This is not some simple identification anyone could do from a book....this is specialized stuff!

[Elliot]

Elliot, it's a real rarity. You'd never get it!

That's true lol

[adamanteus]

Do you want to see it, Elliot?

[Elliot]

I'm bored, so let's see it, got nothing else to do lol

[Stefan-A]

And mine.:rolleyes: This is not some simple identification anyone could do from a book....this is specialized stuff!
Yeah. What I found particularly confusing, was the single pair of eyes.;)

[adamanteus]

Stefan, should we post it? See if any of these guys can ID it?

[Stefan-A]

Sure, why not.

[adamanteus]

See, this could be a species new to science. Maybe I should copyright the picture first?

[adamanteus]

Go on then Stefan. I'll let you post it. As you took it anyway.:rolleyes:

[Stefan-A]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//536/Spider.JPG

[Elliot]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//536/Spider.JPG

lol Is it a Microsoft Paint spider?

[adamanteus]

Darn, Elliot. You're good!

[Elliot]

Darn, Elliot. You're good!

I know I am. :cool:

[Sputnik]

lol Is it a Microsoft Paint spider?

Actually it's a sub species... it's a "grimacing disconnected scribble legged spider".

[adamanteus]

Esther, I never realized you were so well up on spiders!
The full scientific name is Ruffsketchus disconnectus uglyf**kerensis. Well done you.

[Elliot]

Esther, I never realized you were so well up on spiders!
The full scientific name is Ruffsketchus disconnectus uglyf**kerensis. Well done you.

hahaha wow you learn something new everyday I guess

[adamanteus]

you learn something new everyday I guess

Stick with us Elliot, and pretty soon you could be really silly too!:rolleyes: :D

[Elliot]

Stick with us Elliot, and pretty soon you could be really silly too!:rolleyes: :D

Hey, it's summer, I have all day!

[adamanteus]

Hey, it's summer, I have all day!

Yeah, but can you draw (badly) in Microsoft Paint?:rolleyes:

[Elliot]

I can draw badly in anything. :D The only artistic ability I have is playing the saxophone.

[Lulu Bennett]

PMSL!!! Have you guys been THAT bored lol bless y'all!!:cool:

[adamanteus]

Been missing you online Lulu!

[Elliot]

PMSL!!! Have you guys been THAT bored lol bless y'all!!:cool:

We're being creative. :D

[Lulu Bennett]

i have noticed lol oh and stefan. You should sign, print and frame that. sell it for millions lol

[adamanteus]

Oi, don't be crediting Stefan with my rare spider pic!:mad: He nicked it out of my gallery.

[CrazyHedgehog]

OOOOOHHH A SILLY THREAD?
I CAN DO SILLY ..
IDENTIFY THIS SPIDER THEN JAMES....


http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/DSC00087.JPG

[Sputnik]

OMG, I haven't seen one of those for years!!! :eek: Please tell me you threw a slipper at it... You must have done, otherwise you would have never survived the encounter!

[adamanteus]

Easy! Plastisius crapmodelus non-realisticatta

[Lulu Bennett]

pmsl is the silly bug contagious??? i must be ammune today lol:p

[Sputnik]

Depends if it's the rare 9 eyed kind or the more common 13 eyed kind. What is its scientific name again, James?

[CrazyHedgehog]

how about snakes then james????:rolleyes:

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/snake.gif

[Sputnik]

AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHH!!! Thanks for that! :mad: I really, really hate snakes! They totally freak me out!

[CrazyHedgehog]

OMG....I am sooooo sorry, :p
he he he he

[Elliot]

Easy! Plastisius crapmodelus non-realisticatta

James is really on his A-game today!

[adamanteus]

how about snakes then james????:rolleyes:

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/snake.gif

Cartoonus cuteii

[CrazyHedgehog]

Oh god Plastercine is addictive...
when was the last time you played with it????

My Cartoonus cuteii's dinner.....

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/DSC00058.JPG

and my dinner........roast anyone?....

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/IMAG0122.JPG

I think I really am to old to be doing this.... but what the heck!

[Lulu Bennett]

james, rosina is scared of snakes!


Today 11:36 PMRosinaAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHH!!! Thanks for that! :mad: I really, really hate snakes! They totally freak me out!

[Lulu Bennett]

Lamb for me please:D

[adamanteus]

Inge, I like you, but you're a silly girl!:) XX

[CrazyHedgehog]

I know... I think I am digressing with age! :rolleyes:

either that or I am rebelling at hitting 40 this year!!!:eek:

[adamanteus]

I know... I think I am digressing with age! :rolleyes:

either that or I am rebelling at hitting 40 this year!!!:eek:

I think I might go back and hit 40 again. I'm sure I missed it last time.:eek:

[Elliot]

I know... I think I am digressing with age! :rolleyes:

either that or I am rebelling at hitting 40 this year!!!:eek:

Over the hill. ;)

[adamanteus]

Over the hill. ;)
Oh yeah, way over!:rolleyes:

[CrazyHedgehog]

Over the hill. ;)

watch it you young whipper snapper!!! or i'll hit you with my zimmer frame!!

[Elliot]

watch it you young whipper snapper!!! or i'll hit you with my zimmer frame!!

:eek: not the zimmer frame!!

[adamanteus]

:eek: not the zimmer frame!!

Hey, you're lucky. If it had been me you offended , I'd have threatened you with my colostomy bag!

[Lulu Bennett]

Eeyyywwwwwww!!!

[ssssnakeluvr]

over the hill??? what hill???? Where????? I might go back to 40 again too!!!!!!! :eek:

[Sputnik]

james, rosina is scared of snakes!


Today 11:36 PMRosinaAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHH!!! Thanks for that! :mad: I really, really hate snakes! They totally freak me out!


Tell tale t.!

[Lulu Bennett]

i was only trying to help :(

[Sputnik]

Lol. :D I'm sure he appreciates it. ;)

[GarterGirl]

Hey James
Can you identify this snake?
I found it last night slithering through the spirals of my spiral notebook

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1006/791143189_5f667aad2f_o.jpg

[drache]

Jeff didn't believe me that we cannot post images, just links
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1006/791143189_5f667aad2f_o.jpg
I just figured out a way to do it

[adamanteus]

Mikhaila sketchus spiralis.

[GarterGirl]

Good job James!

[GarterGirl]

:D Hey James!
Your good!

[adamanteus]

Mikhaila, your art work is outstanding. Never stop drawing, you're going to have a real talent.

[Lulu Bennett]

Mikhaila, your art work is outstanding. Never stop drawing, you're going to have a real talent.

i totally agree with james, thats an 'awesome' snake mikhaila