Getting warmer

So this weekend, I spent a significant amount of time cleaning and prepping and feeding and cleaning some more.

And you know what, you guys?

I actually noticed some ovulations.

This is fantastic news, and makes me feel that much better about things starting to heat up.

Why, Heather, are you freaking out so much?

Well, my friends, last year I would have already had a clutch on the ground at least. This year it is looking like it will be another two weeks before I see any eggs.

This of course, is nesting, usually after ovulation. I think she is in her pre-lay shed.

This is only a problem because of the snake shows I intend to vend at. If the snakelings don't hatch in time, I won't have much on my tables.

No big deal, really, but it would be nice to have a good spread of things when the time comes.

This is where the pressure/time crunch comes from.

Of course, when eggs do come, is when things start to get more calm.

But now is the storm before the calm.

KABOOOOMM!!!

Which of course means I still have until next month to be inundated with eggs, but that is fine by me. Just bring on the eggs... EGGS!!!!

Have a fantastic day, my friends.

The Reptile Living Room

A month or two ago, I got interviewed by a very cool guy named John Taylor. He is the author of the Reptile Living Room, which is a website that does radio spots for reptile enthusiasts to enjoy.

It is a program that is broad and well rounded, as a few of my friends in the industry in other genres of animals have been interviewed. Leopard Geckos, Tortoises, general cage making and Carpet Pythons to name a few animals of topics of recent interviews....

I was approached during the January Pomona Reptile Show, and I agreed to do it back then, but due to scheduling conflicts and a few other things, it got postponed until a couple months ago. BUT IT IS DONE and it is READY TO BE SHARED, my friends!

So please, instead of me typing something up today, take a listen to my interview.

http://reptilelivingroom.com/

Enjoy it, and of course, if you have any questions about it or anything else, the comment box is frequented by my eyes and I do see them and try to answer all the questions I can.

By the way, Chris, I use Goo-Gone gel spray to get the China Marker off plastic tubs. It works WONDERS, and smells like oranges! Just be sparse with it, as you don't need much to get it off the tubs, and it is rather greasy. Spray a bit on a paper towel and watch the marker disappear! It works well with stuck on adhesives as well, like stickers and tags.


Have a fantastic weekend, my friends! I have another test on Saturday, but hey... it's alllllll good!

Test day

Gotta study.

See you guys tomorrow!

Palpating revisited

Well, I just did a bunch of palpating of some of my females, and I'm going to be honest with you all out there.

I'm concerned.

Palpating is basically feeling for follicles in the lower abdomen area of the female.

I tried.

And in some females I expected to feel a bunch, I felt nothing.

And some females I expected to feel big follicles or eggs already, I'm feeling squishy spaces and hard smaller than egg things that feel suspiciously like slugs.

Now, am I okay with this?

No, not at all.

This is one of those times I wish I had an Ultrasound machine to allay my fears.

But not the case...

So I sit.
And wait.
And keep pairing.

I've been missing all the signs that I like to see with my females, and now I'm even more concerned.

Because honestly, I'm just hoping its a late season this year now.

Better than slugs.....

Send me positive thoughts, my friends. I need it.

Streamlining

I need a better process.

I was talking to a friend about this yesterday, and I have several things I wish I could incorporate into my snake breeding situation.

1. I wish I had a better water source. Right now, I am filling up gallon bottles and going thru the room and filling up water dishes this way. It's great for those few you need to do, but when you do a complete change, it gets to be a complete pain in the ass.  If only I had a sink in the room, or maybe a hose...
2. I wish I had more space. I don't have enough room in some places to even turn around. It makes life that much more difficult. Tubs don't come out easily because of the lack of space, so maneuvering in the room has become another skill I have acquired.
3. I would LOVE help. I can't see the possibility of hiring help, but it would be nice to have some on hand when times get complicated. I do have friends that help when they can, but on days when I am swamped and alone, it is what it is...

Now of course, these things can all be solved with a few changes in life. The problem is, that can't happen yet.

So I continue to fill up gallon water jugs (I think I have 8 on hand during a round, and that usually isn't enough), squeeze thru rows, and do a lot of twisting and turning in the snake room on my own.

In times like this, when it is 80+ degrees outside, and seemingly hotter in the snake room, I think of things like this, and trudge on.

One of these days, I will get all that I need.

But for now, this is what I got.

And I am grateful for that, and for the friends that help me out when they can.

Have a blessed day, my friends.

Gross... but good!

 There are instances where I take a photo and I think to myself, Eeeewwwww...

And then I get over it. 

I want to share these pictures with you, and with breeding season in full swing, yes, the tubs can and will be dirty. 

I am somewhat shamed by it, but really, it is to be expected a bit. 

For those of you who notice, remember that breeding is a delicate time, and moving animals around just to clean is not the best idea.

This is not to say that right after I took these photos, I waited until the males unlocked and immediately cleaned afterwards... Cause that is exactly what I did. 

Paper is notoriously hard to keep clean. 

Anyway, I digress.

Dirty tubs aside, apparently I have to wait until night time to take some photos and see some locks. 

Above, you see the Firefly with a Black Pastel female. He is doing work!

Below, we see the Pastel Super Mojave with a Black Pastel female. He is also doing work!

And my Pied male with a Het female.. they were rough, as you can see the paper was pushed to the side. But I managed to catch more locks in this week surprisingly than other weeks combined. 

YAY!

It does seem, however, that my season will begin rather later than before... I have yet to get any eggs, and a few ovulations, but nothing solid to say, HEY LOOK, 2011 has BEGUN!

In a week or so, we shall see that, I expect.

And for those of you who e-mailed and called about my quitting, thank you for your concern! I am here for the long haul, my friends. Can't get rid of me that easy. 

Now I have to come up with something else clever for next years April Fools... 

Hmmmmmmmmm..... 

Have a fantastic week, my friends!

I QUIT!!!

I can't take it anymore...

It's just too much to handle.

Too many animals, not enough time, not enough help.

Sorry people.

Can't do this anymore. 

All of my animals will be going on my inventory page.

Clearance prices.

E-mail me if you are interested.

April Fools!!!

Have a great day, my friends!