Oh, how far we have come...

Last night, I spent some time with some of my old classmates at my Alma Mater for an Alumni Dinner.

It really put things into perspective as to where I am today.

I had always loved animals, always wanted to work with them, and wanted to have them as a part of my life. Being in the College of Science, I had the opportunity to work with them and study some of them as a requirement. I also got involved with working in the Reptile House on campus a bit, and got to see what goes on behind the scenes in an educational environment. (I was not jealous of the TA that had to work in the rodent room... PHEW!)

But again, it brings me back to where I started in this industry. I was in college at the time, and I had just gotten my first snake... I was thrilled to be able to have an animal, since while living in the dorms it was not permitted. I had her in my room at the house I was living at, and I was fascinated. I had a really good look at her, and look at myself, and thought... Hey. I like this!

So it began.

One became three became seven became double digits...

And I liked it even more!

Eggs came, babies came... learning happened.

Deaths happened, bites happened.

And I graduated and kept on keeping on. Worked full time, and did the snake thing.

So many years later (I think this is my seventh season?), here we are. I'm back in school to get more of an education, the snakes are a huge part of my life now, and I had no idea I would be where I am now.

But I am glad that I am.

So know this, my friends.

No matter where you are in life, know that if you want to get where you want to be with your projects and with your collection and with your reputation, just keep on keeping on. Do what you think is right, be the best that you can in the industry, insight the passion and the integrity that is so needed in this industry to others that are just beginning.

And take that and make it more than just snakes. Snakes are awesome, reptiles are awesome, but the people are what make it what it is... Having someone to share the inspiration and love of these animals with is something that can't be missed.

It's one of my favorite parts of doing this.

So thanks, guys. You know I love yah.

Keep on keeping on.

Have a great day, my friends.

Clutches 3 and 4...

Clutches 3 and 4 were laid this weekend, and I have to say that I am really glad. Clutch 3 was found on Friday, but honestly I think they were laid a day before (as you can see the wrinkles in the eggs on the side. I usually just write down when the clutch is found and put in the box, however, just to avoid confusion.

This clutch is from my male TSK Axanthic het Albino to a non-proven Het TSK Axanthic female. With 8 eggs in the clutch, she will either make it or break it. Lets go, Axanthics poss het Albino!

And on Sunday, Mother's Day, my beloved Scar FINALLY decided to give me my eggs. She had a long bathroom break beforehand, and messed up her nice clean tub (of course). From Easter, when I assumed I would get eggs from her, til now, she has been giving me a heck of a time mentally messing with my game.

But finally I don't have to check on her or worry that she is egg-bound.

I'm pretty sure she was getting fed up with me messing with her, including palpating her to make sure that the eggs were moving down her vent. She wasn't very happy with me when I took her out. 

But of course, I prevailed and cleaned her up, as well as cleaned up her tub. Now she is relaxing and eating and being a good girl.

She was bred to the Silver Bullet (Lucky) and also my Spotnose het VPI Axanthic male. We will see what happens with this clutch. Somewhat of a mystery clutch, but not too much so. Let's go, babies!

Six very large eggs from my girl Scar. Can't be mad at that!

Happy belated Mothers Day to all you Mothers out there! I know I gave an extra pat to Scar yesterday for being such a good Mom.

Things are getting interesting over here, and I will be glad to see some babies hatching out in the next two months.

Have a great day, my friends!

The Herp Nation

WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE PYTHON BAN?

Well, I have to say that things have been quiet for a bit now, but I want to update all of you about what is of concern in regards to reptile ownership in the United States.

Andrew Wyatt of USARK did an interview with Herp Nation Live that I feel that everyone should listen to.

So here we are.

Please take a few minutes (It runs for 5:34 minutes) to listen up on what is going on in regards to the Reptile Nation.

Here is the Link.

Take the time, see what you think, lets discuss.

Also, here is an interview with Andrew Wyatt of USARK on Reptile Living Room about what they do and why it is so important to the Reptile Community to get together and support this movement!

Here is the Link.

Have a great weekend, my friends.

Cuteness

The one thing I know that most people don't associate with snakes is that they are cute.

They are demonized by many cultures, as well as in the Bible and many other religious facets.

Now it takes a lot for some people to even be in the presence of a snake, and I can understand that to an extent. I have to say that there are some snakes I would prefer not to be around (ala Venomous) for the sake of my safety and my ignorance on those particular species.

But for the most part, there are many other snakes that do not fall into this category, and I find them cute.

Granted, snakes do not have any type of emotional response, which I understand has a lot to do with people's discomfort with them. They don't give you many warning signs that they are upset, other than a neck curl. Compared to a dog, they are an emotional rock. Can you imagine your snake panting and wagging its tail when you come around due to excitement? I've been told they are more like fish, fun to look at.

I digress.

Cuteness is a personal determination, and I have to say some of the cutest moments in my snake career have been seeing snake eggs pip and little noses popping out.

And of course, extra cute when they try and eat me. The smaller they are, the funnier they are when they try to be big and bold. Of course, when they are big and bold, it's not as cute... It's rather startling. But I love them all the same.

So I wonder out there in Internet Land... Do you think your snakes are cute? Or is it just me trying to anthropomorphize my critters?

I also wonder if it's a gender thing. Nurturing cute critters for a female versus taking care of snakes for a male.

Anyway, this began with my holding one of my babies that is growing up to the camera... Gotta love watching them grow! It's a reassuring feeling knowing that they are getting big and healthy and strong. I'm a proud momma. And they are so CUTE!

Have a great and cute day, my friends.

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO!!!

Jeez, hotness...

Seriously, weather... It's not Summer yet. I can't deal with Spring temperatures at 94 degrees. It's just not fair.

I don't enjoy the super hot weather. I don't.

And when it comes several months early, I don't enjoy it even that much more.

The other problem with the hot other than my whining is the fact that rodent production stalls. I don't breed many rodents, but I have a tank of each for just in case. And neither tank has produced for a while (mice or rats).

So, what to do? I introduce new blood, older animals get to live on, but newer breeders come in. BUT!! My plans will be foiled if the heat keeps up as it does. Apparently rodents dislike heat just as much as I do and don't want to do anything in terms of getting hotter.

I completely understand.

But it makes things tougher.

I know my rodent supplier has swamp coolers that run thru out the Summer months into the Fall here in Southern California, as the average temps are around 90F for those months.

Can you imagine the electricity bills?

Yeeesh.

Of course for us Snake people, the heat is a welcome respite from having to heat tubs. My electricity bill tends to go down (a little) and then back up when I need to run the air conditioning. I don't like running the air conditioning, as I like to think Green when I can, so we try to suffer thru it until the last possible opportunity. When the incubators get overly hot, that is when we run the air.

Or when I can't take it any more.

Whichever comes first.

So here we are, overly hot already and me whining. Welcome, Summer. I've been expecting you...


Have a great day, my friends.

Collection photos

Well, this weekend, my friend Lewie and I took photos of the collection for the new website that should be popping up soon. Lewis Kessler Photography is his Facebook site if you so choose to check out his work.

While testing out a few backgrounds and new things, I got to use my own camera and played around with it myself. I am looking into a new camera (may get a hand-me-down soon), so I wanted to play around with photography again and some techniques.

Yellows and bright colors are easy to photograph on whatever background you so choose. Whites work well, as do background colors.

Whites with other colors pop well with any other background as well, although its better to use a darker background to set the contrast.

I still yet have not perfected the white on white background, although I am aware it has a lot to do with lighting. In the snake room, I have fluorescent lighting, which assists in real color recognition in photography, but not in extreme cases as in white on white. But, to be fair, this Pastel Super Mojave really is yellow, just not as yellow as it appears in this photo.

Well, those are the photos I took, and the ones that Lewie and I worked on should be visible shortly. I look forward to being able to unveil all of these to you soon, my friends!

It took a heck of an amount of time, as I took photos of all of the morphs I have here in the collection so far. But it was fun, and enlightening. Makes you appreciate what you have, and the beauty of the individual morphs.

So there you go, my friends.

Have a fantastic day!

WOOHOOO!!!

Yesterday was a great day, for me and for the Nation.

I usually try to things on this blog on snake topics mostly, but I have to put this out there.

Osama Bin Laden has been dispatched.

Thank you to our Military for all that you do and God Bless America!
What a momentous and glorious occasion, and as the President said it best "Justice has been served."

This isn't the end of the war, but it is something that has been a long time coming. 

While feeling all warm and fuzzy (yet vigilant and pensive) about what was happening, I didn't forget to go into the snake room to finish watering the adults.

And when I went in the room, other than feeling jubilation and a bit sweaty, I felt the need to check on Scar.

And guess what?

NOTHING.

Seriously.

So I went about my merry way, watering snakes and dancing around the snake room as I often do.

Lo and behold, I find this!

This wasn't one of the girls on Egg Watch 2011 yet, but I'll take it!

She was bred this season to the Mystic male mostly, but also the Special male just as a backup. So this clutch should be a good one either way. Six good eggs, my friends!

What a way to start the week and the month, eh?

I love it.

Have a fantastic, patriotic, love filled day, my friends!