Great Moments of 2009

Well, it seems as if our year is drawing to a close. Its been a very trying year in some circumstances, but in others, its been a great blessing. I have many fond memories of what this year snake-wise has brought us, and I wanted to reflect before the New Year comes.

Its been a great year, and I am blessed to have hatched some amazing animals, including the Full Striped Pastel Lesser that everyone is absolutely in love with. Also, proving out my Special female to produce the Crystal.

I got my Lucky, the Silver Bullet that was wrapped up in his umbilicus.

I hatched out my Pieds, and finally have my females.

The Axanthic KillerBee project is on its way with my Spiders het Axanthic poss het Albino.

I got my Firefly and my Fires, which I have been coveting for years..


And of course, with every year, other goals come and go...

My plans for 2010:

Hatch out my TSK Snowball
Create my own Crystal, maybe even Pastel Crystal
Make some Super Mojaves and Super Mojave Pastels
Hopefully hit on the Super Pewter
Hit on the Pastel Pieds
Get my Clown Male (been waiting for that perfect boy...)
Get better at photographing my snakes (Maybe get a better camera)
Make lots of healthy pretty snake babies!

Easy breezy!

I hope it is as easy as making this list is, but life tends not to work out that way...

Anyway, enjoy your New Years Eve, appreciate the good things in your life, and know that the next year will bring good tidings and a whole new year of opportunities!!!

Have a fantastic New Year, my friends. It'll be great.

Checking in on the guys

Since it is relaxing time for the boys, I wanted to show you how they live while they are not making whoopie.

Some of them take time to freshen up the skin... and slough it off eventually. (Of course the Ghost doesn't look too in shed, but I assure you, he is...)



Some of them wait patiently to get to go back in to the game.



And some of them are still busy.



Some I let stay and keep trying... Although if I don't see anything today, I'll take him out.



And the last Pied of the season finally shed out, and she is looking GOOOOOOD!

I am still debating on what to call her. Sugar? She reminds me of Sugar.



I am excited about her. She is pretty hot, and I love Pieds in general, so it'll be fun to watch her grow up.

So the boys will be eating soon, and getting more opportunities for playing around soon enough.

Have a fantastic day, my friends!

Welcome to the Zoo, Kona Girl

Well, we've finally added a new fuzz to the pack.

Joel has been wanting a Boxer forever, and we finally found one that fits the bill.

Welcome to the Zoo, Kona Girl.

Regal Fuzz was trying to get used to her over rambunctious attitude. What an old grump he is!



She has a really cool white chest that this photo really catches..



And they do have their own food areas... and they know it!



What a pretty face!



We are blessed to have her in our lives. Here's to many more Kona and Regal related Snake Blogs. She has yet to be introduced to the snake room, so... that will be an interesting day.

Have a fantastic day, my friends!

Back to the Grind

Well, we got back home last night rather late, and I have to say, it was kinda nice getting back home, but the traffic on a Sunday after the Holidays was horrendous.

But, we survived thru the day of travel, as well as picked up another incubator in the process. I didn't think I would have needed it last year, but golly gee I did. So I bought another one to prevent any issues for this years clutches.

Natures Spirit Incubator, which I have had before.

Shouldn't have sold the one before, eh?

Oh well.. Hindsight is 20/20.

And you notice the blog is up ridiculously early.

Well, since I am back to the grind, so to speak, I am trying my damndest to get the blog up and running before work.

We'll see how long this lasts. I tend not to enjoy being up this early.

I unpaired last night when I got home, and didn't see much action (given the males had 5 days to work their magic, I wasn't surprised) so I didn't get any visual shots.

Feeding day soon, then back to pairing again.

I'll see if I can get some cool shots for you soon. I've been slacking it. Any requests?

Anyway, I am going to finish getting ready for the day.

Tomorrow should be a cool blog, as we have a new fuzz to introduce to you all.

Have a fantastic day, my friends.

Merry Christmas, from all of us to you!

From my Snakey and Human and Fuzzy family,


Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Happy Christmas Eve

I am drinking tea, reading the Twilight series, and overall doing nothing snakely.

Its a damn shame.

But, I am enjoying it.

So, I'll make this short.

Happy Christmas Eve, my friends.

Go hug your family, love your children, and kiss your snakes.

Its a wonderful time to be alive.

Vacation Time

I've relocated to Northern California for the Holidays, and I have to say, its rather pleasant.

Getting away is always fun for a while, and going to see family for the Holidays is also fun.

Problem is, I have no real snake business to refer to up here other than a little bit here and a little bit there, as well as no photos to share.

Makes this snake blog a little awkward.

BUT!

I did pair up last night before leaving, and I will report to you the pairings as I recall them:

Pastel Yellowbelly to Blurry/Velvet Female
Genetic Stripe to Het G Stripe
Bumblebee to Normal
Albino to Het Albino
Pastel het Pied to Het Pied
Axanthic het Albino to Albino het Axanthic
Lemon Blast to Spider
Lesser Pastel to Spider
Super Mojave Pastel to Mojave
Sterling to Pewter

I haven't been using my Sable male, my Enchi male or my Black Pastel Male.

I'm not quite sure what to put with them, and I am actually against putting them with Normals at this point.

The Pied was in shed as well..

So there are quite a few males still sitting in the male rack looking lonely.

What to do? What to do??

I feel bad for not letting them get involved.

But, such is life, I suppose. Maybe I'll get something figured out for them when I get back.

Have a fantastic day, my friends!!!

The Holidays are almost here.

Getting ready for the Holidays

Well, time is creeping by, and the Holidays are looming. I have to say, I'm not particularly ready. Granted, I don't have much to get ready for, other than showing up in San Francisco and being away from home, but that is enough to get me anxious.

I have always worried about leaving and forgetting some crucial element of the collections well being. It has happened before, so I always try and triple check before I leave.

Which is why today is complete overhaul day before I fly out tonight.

Hooray!



Cleaning and watering are the main to-dos for today, on top of cleaning house, getting the Fuzz ready, and so forth.



And after cleaning is pairing, now that the boys are well rested and fed. I gave them extra time off this week, as I really haven't had the focus and forethought to plan pairs this week. It's been rather crazy. I'm sure most of you feel the same, yes?

Granted, when a break comes, I will not know what to do with myself, but until then, I'll run around like a chicken with my head cut off.



Plus, how can one really want to leave these precious pieces of art alone and be away from them for more than a little while?

Its tough, I can assure you..

But, having the time away is also precious. So therefore, I will suck it up and enjoy the time with my family when I get there.

Blogs from today will be sporadic in timing. I promise to get them done, but not early. I'll be on vacation :)

So until then, enjoy the pics, enjoy your time with your families, and remember to enjoy your reptiles as well.

Have a fantastic day, my friends.

Snow Day and Oldies but Goodies

I have to say, one of the coolest things about Winter in Southern California is that we get to drive out to Snow, but not live in it.



We can go from 70 degree weather up to Snow in about two hours.

I love it.

So this weekend, we took a trip up to spend some time in a really cool area called Big Bear. We had a cabin rented by some family members, and got to spend some time enjoying the snow.



We drove up, enjoyed the time and pulled over for some pretty shots of the mountain before we got there. I know this isn't snow to some people, but.. hey, it's enough for us!

Joel enjoyed the view.



And a pair of lovers were taking pics. I thought this photo was cute.



The cabin we stayed in was somewhat old school, so I had to take pictures. How often do you see home amenities like this? Oldies but goodies. I have to say I was kinda stoked to see it.







And the view from out the window...



I really liked this tree..




And up my favorite tree was a cool Squirrel. I'm suprised how well the photos came out, since he was pretty high up that tree.





And I liked this photo..



And of course, to enjoy the snow, one has to play in it and make Snow Balls... They apparently have a doohickey to make them perfect now.



And the fight ensues



Apparently the tree was involved as well. Or someone had bad aim...



Speaking of Snowballs, the Snowball project is still kicking, but for some reason, I don't have any photos of them locked up yet. The Albino het Axanthic and the Axanthic het Albino have been having a great time together, so hopefully, I will have some little Snowballs to share in the Summer!

Pairings today before going back home for the Holidays.

Have a great day, my friends!

Ahhh, Weekend...

Its FRIDAY, people!

Which means the weekend is soon to be upon us.

Which also means that the boys get a break.

So today, I am pulling them all out.

My supposed schedule has been Sunday in, Wednesday or Thursday out, weekend break.

But, like all things that are planned, it doesn't particularly happen that way.

And like most people, the holidays are here or are coming up fast!

So with that, I am running around trying to see what I need to do for the weekend to make sure that when I go up to visit my family, everyone down here is ready and fine and relaxing while I am gone.

Yes, I do pair up when I leave. This particular instance, it may just be particular animals and not the whole group of boys.

There are a few males, like the Bumblebee, that have yet to really show me that they are interested.

I may just subject them to females all holiday then. Maybe that will make him change his mind.

Corporal punishment perhaps? I don't think so. Not when the end result could be sex.

Neener neener.



I'll be running around, but hopefully, soon enough, things will settle back into an even routine.

Have a fantastic day, my friends, and an even better weekend.

New Bumblebee!!!

Bumblebees are great. And having the ingredients to make them is also great.

Spider and Pastel combine to make the Bumblebee!

This is one of my Spiders I took photos of last night. I apparently only got one photo on my camera, while Lewie and Jasmin took the rest.



And my Pastel het Ghost female, in all her glory



They make the Bumblebee!!!

I went thru my photos on the computer, and I completely forgot about the Halloween photos I took of the Fuzzbutt Regal Dog.

So...

Technically, he's kinda new as a bumblebee...



I love my dawg.

Pairings are being redone today, and its getting cold again. Looking forward to moving males around. Boys are getting more in tune now. YAY!

Have a great day, my friends.

Busy times, but nice photos!

Sorry the blog is so late, you guys...

Its been one of those days that I've been running around like crazy, and haven't had time to stop and blog or enjoy a cup of joe or anything.

But there is good news. I am back on track for life, my friends. If you didn't know, I was one of those that was overtaken by the economy, but now, I am back!!! I have a new position that I am beginning after Christmas, and I am very excited!

So, with that being said, I am going to share with you some random photos that Lewie and I have recently taken, as we were trying to perfect the light tent here at the house.

I'm trying to figure out a better way to get the colors right, as some photos don't make the cut in terms of colorations. These are somewhat closer to real life.

Pastel Lesser



Krystals Genetic Stripe



Pied



Lucky the Silver Bullet. This is one of those photos that are closer to real colorations, compared to that of the previous photos.



Hopefully we can get some other photos of some animals, and if you have any suggestions, feel free to comment so that I can fulfill your requests!

Have a fantastic day, my friends.

Awwwww yeah

Well, I did some cleaning, did some rodent care, and then... did some pairing.

It's been nice and cold, and there has been a storm coming thru the area.

So, after cleaning up, and after feeding day a few days ago, I decided to put the males in and see what would happen.

I am having a hell of a time getting the main locks that I want done, but here are a few males that liked the girls they were in with.

The Albino to the Het



The Pastel Orange Ghost to the Het Albino poss het Ghost



And the Lemon Blast to Normal



All the other boys were confused or not doing anything.

Someone had mentioned breeding on Sanichips..

Well, here's what I do to prevent any hemipene infections or impactions with Sanichips.

I pop all the males after they are done locking, or when time is up.

Do I see Sanichips in the penes? Yes, I do. And they can cause some damage. I have yet to have that problem, but... I've heard stories of males needing surgery to remove infected penes.

Be careful when you do it, if you do it.

Make sure to clear the penes.

What YOU can do for the Snakes

I am off doing busy things today, so I wanted to update you on what YOU can do in terms of S373.

Please do this for the snakes.

You may not own a Burm, a Boa, or any big snake, but remember... other people in your hobby do, and they would hurt just as much for giving up the snakes they love as you would.

Ask not what you can for you, ask what you can do for your snakes.

Here is a link to a petition that will go to your Senators and Representatives regarding the bill.

http://www.rallycongress.com/united-states-association-of-reptile-keepers/2705/tell-us-senate-to-stop-python-ban/

Share it with whomever you would like. Lets get this thing signed and sent, people.

Only 329 Letters have been sent so far, as of 9:30PST today.

That is NOT enough!

Take the time you would be reading a long days blog and sign the petition out instead.

I'll wait :)

Boys just gotta have fun

Its been an interesting couple of weeks, and I have to say, I haven't seen enough males in the right groove yet.

There are some boys that prefer one female, some boys that I have yet to catch locking appropriately, and some boys who just don't seem interested.

But that is alright.. It's still early, and I am still trying to get some females back to good weights, or up to a good weight.

Its coming up on January, which is kinda go time..

I'm not saying that I am getting antsy, but..

I am getting antsy.

I am not one to be patient, and I need these guys to kick it into gear. We've had a storm front come thru twice, and I have the boys in their individual tubs now relaxing. Hopefully once I introduce them, they will realize the errors of their ways.

Sometimes, I have to say, Boys stink.

I love you guys though. I really do.

This weekend will be re-pairing time, as well as re-planning for some of the females I am not sure will actually go this year. Should be fun.

Have a fantastic weekend, my friends.


Don't forget to fight for your rights. It's important.

www.usark.org

Frustrations

Well, as you may or may not have known, there is more legislation going on right now to stop the "Big 9".

Who are the Big 9?

"The National Python & Boa ban upon passage would immediately ban the import, export, and movement from state to state of Indian Pythons, Burmese Pythons, African Rock Pythons, Green Anacondas, Yellow Anacondas, and Boa Constrictors."

Why is this important?

This entails A FULL BAN ON IMPORT, EXPORT, AND INTERSTATE TRANSPORT.

This is a huge blow to the Reptile Community. People will not be able to breed Boas or any of the big 9, which are important pieces of the reptile community, as well as good pets for those responsible owners.

And even though that means it isn't talking about Ball Pythons in particular, it means that this is just the beginning.

There is a very real possibility that later on, more legislation will include other species, until all Reptiles are banned.

And here is the latest from USARK, the United States Association of Reptile Keepers.

"December 10, 2009 Wilmington, NC-

Driven by powerful special interests and much media sensation S. 373 aka ‘The Python Ban’ is likely to move forward despite lack of scientific justification. Pushed by Sponsor Senator Bill Nelson and the Humane Society of the United States S. 373 could devastate the trade in high quality captive bred reptiles in the United States.

Today the Senate Committee on the Environment & Public Works (EPW) will hold a business meeting on S. 373. The Committee Chair is Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and the Ranking Member is Senator James Inhofe (R-OK). The committee will hold a mark up session where they will consider S. 373, to amend title 18, United States Code, to add constrictor snakes of the species Python genera to the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act. The committee is expected to amend the bill to include the 9 snakes listed on a recent controversial report by the US Geological Survey (USGS). All tolled the bill could stop the import, export and interstate transport of as many as 45 species of Boas and Pythons.

The USGS report being used to justify these extreme measures has been called into question by a group of independent scientists in a letter to the EPW Committee on November 24, 2009. The letter characterized the USGS report as “not a bona-fide scientific paper”. The US Department of the Interior (DOI) and the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) stand by the report and have recommended to the committee that all 9 snakes reviewed should be included by amendment to S. 373. The independent scientists, who include professors from University of Florida, Arizona State University, Texas A&M and The National Geographic Society, go further to state, “this document is not suitable as the basis for legislative or regulatory policies, as its content is not based on best science practices”

The United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) made an agreement in principle with Senator Bill Nelson’s office to limit the damage to a 3 billion dollar a year trade in these reptiles, but was informed yesterday that the agreement would not be honored. Senator Nelson has justified his position based on the recommendations made in regards to the USGS report by USFWS and DOI. Andrew Wyatt, president of USARK, commented that “it is a real shame that Senator Nelson has changed his position on this issue”. If the bill passes approximately 4 million boas and pythons already in captivity would be rendered valueless overnight with no provisions for disposition or compensation. Wyatt added, “it could create a situation where millions of people will be in possession of injurious wildlife. It is ludicrous to put so many law abiding citizens in that position and diminish the Lacey Act for the sake of political expediency.”

Passage of S. 373 would result in the loss of thousands of American jobs bankrupting an entire industry. Without strong evidence to support the injurious wildlife listing, USARK calls on the Senate EPW Committee to give an unfavorable rating to S. 373.

Contact:

Andrew Wyatt
president@usark.org"


I am very saddened by this, and I hope that this doesn't go thru. We need to fight this with all our beings!

I love my snakes. I want to be able to keep them, and share them with others...

Fight for your rights, people.

This may be your last chance.

Breeding Outline

So, my friend Randi has been patiently waiting for me to outline my breeding schedule thru out the year, and I have to say, I had been forgetting, getting distracted, and all out just overlooking doing it.

A few weeks, a few months, and I actually finally did get around to it. Here we are!!

So lets begin with prepping.

I begin to prep the animals for breeding in August- September by feeding them alot.



September thru October 29th, I watch them for signs of being ready or not, and put stickers on the snakes that should go but are not ready.

October 29th, my birthday, I start pairing (usually... this year I let that date slip).



Pairing that I do is 3-4 days on (depending on the animal and if I see any locks) and 2-3 days off for the males.

I tend to pair when the rains come, as the barometric pressure changes tend to get the males randy.

Females stay in their tubs, and get offered food every week, but I do tend to buy half of what I normally would because some females tend to stop feeding.

After I see signs of ovulations or gravid behavior, I continue to breed until I see the actual Ovualation. This is tricky, because catching Ovulation is luck of the draw in some cases... So sometimes I just guess..

After Ovulation (or guess), the males get more time off, and I wait for eggs.



30-60 days, and BOOM!



Incubator goes on around the time that I see lumps within a female, or when I can palpate big eggs. Incubator tends to run a week or more before the female lays. In my paranoia, I tend to run it way early, in this case, it was a month before the eggs were laid.

Oh well. At least I was prepared!

Overall, there is a timeline you can watch, but I don't have it down pat. Here is the link I tend to look at, as well as something that is much more visual for you use in terms of comparison.

This is a good one for photos and actual dates.

Incubation time, and 55-60 days later, babies!!

And then we begin again!

So there we go.

I hope that helps, Randi. I hope that helps everyone else as well.