Slump...

So since the next group of eggs will not be hatching for a while, I've decided to do some expose's on an animal a day, while in turn also updating you with the minor happenings here at my establishment.

Today is feeding day, and cleaning day. I'm going to be looking forward to a couple of hours of that, and then... cleaning!!! (It never ends, people)

Anyway, this is my Pewter female.

She is a product of a Cinnamon and a Pastel breeding by my friend Tom Baker. She is an 07', and she is a pig!! I am really excited to work with her when the time comes for breeding. She should throw some killer animals.

EARTHQUAKE!!!

So it happened yesterday...

My house is around 5 minutes MAX from the epicentre.

I was at work at the time, but rushed home to check on everyone as soon as I had a chance.

A couple of baby tubs rocked open, but no escapees.

A few things on the ground, but other than that, we were all good!

I was definately suprised though... Was not prepared if it were longer or harder. I may need to look into a couple of things for emergencies sake.

Anyway, I took a couple of photos of Chipo next to her half-sibling. (Chipo is saying "Neener neener")



She is definately interesting, and as are all of my critters, safe and sound. WHEW!!

BLARG

I haven't been feeling too hot these past couple of days, but I keep on trucking!

Yesterday was cleaning day, and I have come to the conclusion once again that as soon as you finish cleaning, no matter how long it takes you, snakes take it upon themselves to mess up anything they possibly can.

Is it a thankless job?

Not quite.

I've been trying really hard to get things in order, and yet... chaos ensues.

So, babies are growing and shedding, food is being offered, and basically, things are getting back to growing stages. There are no more eggs due for a while, and no more pippers until next month.

It is time to enjoy the lull for a while, and maybe get my act together for Anahiem, which is fast approaching on the 6th and 7th of September. So much to do!!!

Yeah...

Wish me luck


BTW: Props to Gulf Coast Reptiles, the creators of the Albino Super Black Pastel!!! Was a pet project of mine, and am now really glad to see it in the flesh!!

OUT OUT OUT!!!

Well, after a long wait, creatures have emerged.

Black Pastels: 1.1 and 1.1 Normals



Spiders: 0.1 and 2.0 Normals



Poss Het Clowns: 1.3 poss hets (look at how small the froggy girl is compared to her siblings!!)




Chipo has also shed out (finally)... She is absolutely special in more ways than one. I'm curious to see what she produces later on in life.





Yeah, so things keep on trucking...

Peek-a-boo!

Alright, so I managed to get some adorable pics of the hatchlings pipping.

One of those awesome sights you can't help but be like "awwwwwww"





Peek-a-boo!!!

So this morning, two out of the four are out. 1.1 poss het clown. Remember that the froggy looking one is also a poss het clown, so I think I'll be keeping her to make sure everything is okay.

The others are still snug in their caverns. Maybe by tonight, they will be out.

No one else is coming out either... The spider clutch is still just chilling in there. Black Pastel clutch has not pipped.

Its one of those times where you just wanna sit there in the incubator and poke the eggs until they pip.

We shall see..

I wish I had my camera....

So today, all of the poss het clowns that are still in the egg have popped thier noses out at the same time.

Unfortunately for you all, I did not have my camera when I saw it, and I had to rush out of the house before I could try and take any photos.

Its a heartwarming sight.

Maybe tonight, it will still be the case and I can get some photos.

Other than that, things are running as usual.


Time seems to be ticking away, and things are progressing.

Anahiem is coming up soon on the 6th-7th of September.

Daytona (which I cannot make) is on August 22nd-24th. (I hope someone out there who does go can share some pics of what I'm missing!!!)

Tinley is October 11th-12th, and I am trying my hardest to get out there.

And Chantilly, November 15th-16th...

Lots of fun stuff!!!

The season is beginning for crazy fun!

I'm getting excited

Late night update

Sorry for the late update.

Here we are, Weds.

When I got home today, I checked the clutches, and my poss het clown clutch had pipped. The little one came out today, and it was again, a runt.

She has a weird head too, but she is very pretty.. 25 grams.







I also fed today, and have had really good luck with everyone pretty much eating, other than the females who just laid eggs.

I'm again pretty satisfied with that, considering that this means everyone will be nice and plump for next year.

Anyway, thats all for now.

More tommorow morning, same bat time, same bat channel :)

Hmmmm....

I am at the tail end of my season, and I cannot for the LIFE of me figure out if one of my girls is going, or just getting too fat for herself.

She was found last night belly up, looking swollen and uncomfortable. This morning, back to normal. She has been eating well, and I had written her off as not going to produce this year... We shall see.

A couple more stragglers and I can call this season over.

I did the cleaning yesterday, and got things a little more organized in there.


I am also having an ant problem.

I HATE ants. And these ants bite. So! Cleaning them up is not as easy as just wiping them off. They fight back.


But on a positive note, my first clutch of poss het clowns is pipping. Four eggs.. Lets see what happens when they come out.

Soon there will be Spiders and Black Pastels as well, within the week, so.. pippers are a'comin!

Something to look forward too.

Here we go again!!

It's Monday, people!!!

YEAH.

Coffee in hand, I write to you.

Let us recap the weekend.



Friday night:

THE DARK KNIGHT with Lewie, Jaz, and the Joel. Chicken wings and apple nachos and EPIC FAILS.

It was great.

Movie was really good, and this coming from a very not so into Batman person. Heath Ledger lives up to all the hype. It was amazing.


Saturday:

A trip to Vista to pick up a snake :) Met some cool people and some nice Bengal cats. Roadtrip by myself? Yess'm.

Cut some eggs. (Only cut the Spider clutch) 1 Spider out of 3 eggs... Not too bad, right? Lets hope for a girl.

Korean BBQ.. Aaron, I'm sorry you missed it, but it was great. Had some good friends that we just met sit next to us and share some Pineapple Soju. YEAH BOY!!

SUNDAY:

Birthdays!!! The Smoj (I love you!!) and the Joels Sister.

Happy birthday, Ladies :)

Lots of food, and relaxation (kinda). Came home late, and look what I saw!!





This was one of those late girls I wasn't for sure if she was going to go. She fooled me!! Problem is, I don't recall what the father is (I know what it could be). More mystery clutches again!!!

I think the season is almost over. I think I have maybe 2-3 more clutches (if I'm lucky) and then... the end.

Things are also due to be hatching soon, so I am looking forward to that.

Daytona is coming up, and I have officially realized that I can't make it. I'm kinda bummed, but... money is tight, as it seems with most people, and I think Tinley is the one show I'll be going to out of state this year.

Well... here comes the week!

So.... one thing off the list

I FINALLY took pics of the Tat to send to Reptiles Magazine.

If I can get it in the mail, we would be golden.

I hope it has some type of mention in the publication, cause obviously I think my tat is pretty SWEEET.


Anyway, so... We have another clutch of eggs down from a friends female to a Mojave last night.

9 solid eggs!!





Not too shabby.


Did the watering last night, and realized that I really need to get down and dirty in there and organize. Too much stuff everywhere...


Last night we saw Wanted. Angelina Jolie is beautiful...

Tonight, Lewie, Jasmine, the Joel and I are going to see Batman!!

I'm looking forward to it.

OH!!!

And here is the male spider, just for kicks :)

Feeding day

Yesterday was feeding day.

ALL OF THE FOOD IS GONE.

Usually I have some type of leftovers or something, but nope! Everyone is getting back into eating mode.

YAY!

Even some of the new arrivals have eaten.

I'm pleased at this, for sure.



So eggs are due to hatch next week at the end of the week. Not quite sure when they will (its never set in stone, of course), but we will see what happens.

Hopefully someone will peek out soon.



I am planning on going to Tinley this year, and am attempting to figure out how. Thank goodness for family out there, that's for sure :)


I've also been putting it off, but I plan on taking more tat pics for Reptiles Magazine and see if I can get a spot in the history books (aka magazine). I have my camera, I just need some good shots....

Wish me luck!

Rollin, rollin, rollin....

So, I got 7 eggs from the meanie Pastel to the het Clown.

Here are the pics.



For some reason, these eggs were not adhered together when I took them from the momma, and they ALL ROLLED before I could do anything.

Lets pretend you saw my face...

It was shock, mixed with Damnit, mixed with Not AGAIN!

Anyway, so I placed them in the box, and nervously candled them again and again.

There was a yellow band there with no veins, and then a bunch of veins on the other end.

Using my deduction, and my experience in embryology, I surmised that the veins should be UP!

So, that is what I did after 20 minutes of candling them. I saw the embyros (so I thought), and the little pocket of air on the top, so I THINK we should be good.

Progress on this clutch will be interesting to say the least.

POSITIVE THOUGHTS, DANGIT....

So.... I think I love my Spider het Blurry girl. She is awesome. Here are some pics I took last night.





Hump day...

Oh!

Fedex finally came thru, and Repster is a good thing!

The End

Fedex is giving me a hard time again...

Don't you love it when you call Fedex for an update, and they have the most patronizing voice ever on the phone while you are trying to tell them that you need your box back?

I'm pretty irritated right now, and I seem to have the worst luck with Fedex and their "problems".

I was even told that they don't ship live animals. HAH Customer Service Rep Woman! Get your facts straight before you try and placate me.

My customer is being very patient about this, and I want to thank her for it. Again, I am sorry...

What a pain in the ass.



Anyway, here are some pics.

This is a way too small pic of the Mojave male I have out of the egg. He's a wiggly one, that's for sure.



And... albeit a good thing, I can't enjoy the fact that my Pastel is laying eggs right now. (Stupid Fedex)

Well....yeah

So!

Everyone is out and about of the egg.

Mojave clutch is as follows:

1.0 Mojave
3.2 Normal

AND the Het Pieds are out (Pied to Poss Het):

3.3 Het Pieds



Funny story about the Mojave..

He was the second to hatch out, and I sexed him, and let him roam back in the box. Left, came home a little later, and all of them were out. Sexed them all again, and the Mojave, in his fit of whatever the heck his deal was, slithered back completely into another empty egg (Not even the one he hatched out of)!

Unfortunately, I do not have pics of this event, but I have NEVER seen a mommas boy that bad in my life!

I thought that was pretty cute.


Next eggs to hatch are the end of next week, so we are just going to have to hope that something interesting happens until then!

Weekend update...

So cleaning is commencing, but something much more interesting is afoot.

BUMBLEBEES ARE ON THE GROUND!!!

7 eggs, all healthy. In the photos, there are only six, but she was not finished.





You can actually see the difference in the second egg from the left, and the others. That is a freshly laid egg, and it was still wet and squishy.. It has already hardened, but that is what they look like compared to older eggs.

I really need this clutch to do me right..

We shall see.

YAY FRIDAY!!!

I am sooo glad it is the weekend.

I have a bunch of cleaning to do, and a lot of catching up with paperwork and stuff as well.

I don't know exactly how this may sound, but I actually am looking forward to getting down and dirty in the snake room and really cleaning up in there.

This weekend is "Spring Cleaning" during the summer.

Why, you ask?

Because I can, and because if I clean up enough "stuff", maybe the bad luck will go with it.

POSITIVE THOUGHTS!!!

Stressing...

Well... Its been a hell of a week, and its not over.

I cut the eggs, and I think one of the Mojaves is a stillborn.
Looks like two out of seven still, but after the stillborn, I just put the clutch back into the incubator.

I'm so tired of the dissapointments.

It comes with the territory, but hey... It still sucks.


On a lighter note, another one of my normals dropped some eggs last night.

7 eggs from Normal x ???. She was put in with the Pin most of the time, but.. I wasn't thinking he was doing his job, so we shall see.

6 eggs in the huddle when I got there, and one roll out.

We shall watch the roll out closely.




Soo... yeah.

Not feeling too good right now, but that is updates for today! Maybe things will look better this weekend.

CLEANING! YAY

AAAARRRGHHH

Well.... It's official.

This season has officially upset me.

I cut my eggs last night, couldn't help it.

AND..

Out of 7 eggs, I have conclusively proven that the poss het I have is 100% NOT A HET.

As well as proven that my Mojave male is physically unable to transfer his Mojave gene to more than two eggs out of 7, or so I can see..

I am pissed.

Interesting how this is going.....

Like I said in the previous days, I have just been waiting for action, and I have been getting it in piles in the past few days.

Here is Amadi's clutch, laid on the 7th, to a Pastel.

9 viable eggs... I've never had such a large clutch of viable eggs. I've had that many with some slugs thrown in, and a 12 slug clutch a couple of years back...

I'm pleased!



Here she is, being a good Mama.



She was a rescue back in the day.

I took her in from a boy who couldn't/didn't take care of her. She was around 2 years old, and she was only 800 grams. The guy only fed her one mouse once a month.

Long story short, he told me.. "she bites". I didn't believe him.

We were outside talking about other stuff, and what else was going on, while I was holding her in my hand. A couple seconds go by, and she bites my hand and wraps around my wrist like she was trying to eat me. It took 5 minutes to get her off of my hand.

As soon as we left, I went to my local pet store and bought a small rat. Within a minute, she was eating it.

She was starved back then, but look at her now!!!

Happy ending.

Pondering...

So I know I have several more clutches that need to be laid, including my Bumblebee clutch that seems to be stuck to the insides of my Spider female. She is not interested in giving them up quite yet, much to my dismay.

I am also waiting on my Pastel poss het clown clutch...

Two of the more exciting clutches I have left, and I have NOTHING yet.

Rather aggravating, to say the least, but I consider that I just got more eggs yesterday, so.. I guess I'm not too far off by way of them schedule-wise.

I am just concerned that the eggs will be laid in time for the Anahiem show..

Having Bumbles on the table will be a good thing, considering people seem to be in LOVE with them.


Let us beg the Ball Python Gods to help in the recovery of the eggs that are "lost" in the dark insides of my momma snakes..


Hopefully more eggs soon.

Next things to hatch will be this Friday. Mojaves and Pieds, I hope!!!

Huevos???

Sure!!

I wasn't really expecting them, but here they are!

They were probably laid yesterday, and if I were more vigilant, my family could have seen them in person, but...

Here they are.

This is Lafawnduh, one of Joel's snakes, who was bred to a Het Clown male.

6 Pearly whites.



She was PISSED to be disturbed, but she is one of my more generally pissy animals anyway..



Yeah. Poss het Clowns, here we come!!!

The day before Independance Day

Independance Day...

I've been in several countries on this day back in the day.

One time, I was in Brazil as a health worker, completely cut off from most of the world, and I wondered what was happening over here in the US.

Another time, I was in China, and no one there even seemed to know...

BUT HERE IN THE USA? How can you forget it!! :)



I'm excited for this weekend. I get a long weekend, and my brother and mother are coming down to hang out!

YAY!!!

So, snake stuff is probably going to be at a minimum, but I will see if I can get some pics up or get some type of interesting snake story up.



The eggs are still looking pretty shabby, and the next clutches in the line up aren't due to hatch until the next week, so... I'll try and come up with some fun things to share. I am due to take pics of stuff again soon anyway, so... yeah.

Here is the last of the acquisitions.. This is a female Yellowbelly, again, no name yet... So we will call her "Female Yellowbelly"





Hope you all have a safe and FUN July 4th, and please be careful out there...

The bearer of bad news...

I feel like I keep announcing to the world all my troubles, but I guess that is part of blogging about stuff, eh?

Well..

I got some eggs going bad.

The Pied to het clutch is going bad. Only one egg looks like its viable after all.. That is 4 other most likely good eggs that are gone now.

I am really really depressed about this.

Another egg in the Pied to poss het clutch is going bad as well, but that is only one.


I know I seem like Debbie Downer all the time, but DAMNIT... This season is not going as well as I would have hoped.

So many hopes down the toilet now...

I am letting other people down as well, which is making it that much harder for me to cope.


I think I'll stop there with that..

Sorry





BUT HERE ARE SOME PICS OF ONE OF THE OTHER AQUISITIONS FROM THE SHOW:

This is.... No Name.. She is an Axanthic 66% poss het Clown.

YEAH BABY!!!

HAPPY JULY!!!!!!! Spiders are out

So everyone is out...

Its looking like:

1.1 Spiders
4.0 Normals

The female is more the way I wanted all of the babies to look.

But that is just more of a reason to keep her back, right??



Here are the boys




As for my new acquisitions from the show:

This is Corazon.

She has a heart behind her head. I picked her for that exact reason!!!

Isn't she beautiful???





She's possible het for Hypo, so its going to be fun trying to prove her out...

The others will get their time to shine later, but for now, enjoy Cora!!!


IF YOU ARE A CALIFORNIAN, don't forget that today is the first day of the hands free head set law.. Use it, or get an $20 ticket for the first offense..

BE SAFE, PEOPLE.