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01-10-2003, 08:59 PM

Well, I suppose it's a pretty basic question...

How do you do them? Do you basically take the shed skin, slit it up the middle of the ventral scales, spread it out, and count? I think I remember hearing that you count at the ninth, tenth, and eleventh saddle. I also think I remember hearing that you start at the very middle of the body, and count in a "V" shape towards the tail. Is this correct? What other scales other than the dorsal/lateral and ventral scales should I be counting (ocular, etc...)? And with the ventral scales, do I stop counting at the cloaca, or continue until the end of the tail?

Also, do you recommend using a pen or something to mark every 10th scale or so in case I lose count? If so, what works best?

Thank you for any help you can provide!
JB

01-10-2003, 08:59 PM	#1
jbuncc	Question about scale counts... Well, I suppose it's a pretty basic question... How do you do them? Do you basically take the shed skin, slit it up the middle of the ventral scales, spread it out, and count? I think I remember hearing that you count at the ninth, tenth, and eleventh saddle. I also think I remember hearing that you start at the very middle of the body, and count in a "V" shape towards the tail. Is this correct? What other scales other than the dorsal/lateral and ventral scales should I be counting (ocular, etc...)? And with the ventral scales, do I stop counting at the cloaca, or continue until the end of the tail? Also, do you recommend using a pen or something to mark every 10th scale or so in case I lose count? If so, what works best? Thank you for any help you can provide! JB