In front of everyone on the forum, I just want to say what a great job you're doing. I certainly look up to those in the hobby who keep animals they like the most, not ones that will make the most $$$. Sure you could've sold out and got into boa or ball python morphs, but then you'd be like every one of these schmoes at the herp shows. Its getting harder and harder and harder to find guys like us who solely keep cool colubrids for the sheer joy of working with the species. You're doing a great job. To everyone on the forum who loves Thamnophis...just think...where wouldd you be w/o Scott and all of his expertise and his awesome collection bringing more cbb garters into captive collections each year??? Keep it up because you have to! I don't see anyone worthy of being passed the Thamnophis torch just yet!
A. C.,
Thankyou for the accolades. I started out working soley with thamnophis back in the early to mid 90's, having kept other species prior to that. I've always found Garters to be a very interesting species and they have always held my interest. As many thamnophis enthusiasts know they are active, many are colorful, docile (except those damn similis lol), and can be kept on either a rodent or varied (fish/worm) diet. As far as making money, anyone that would work w/ thamnophis and expect to get rich is in for a rude awakening. I make enough w/ the collection to pay for the hobby and a few extra bucks to purchase new animals. I do enjoy working with them, they are higher maintenence than most other colubrids (ie cleaning, feeding and general care) but in the end it is worth it. Come late May/June time frame, when the first babies are born, I still get the "rush" of seeing the neonates as much now as I did back when I first started.
Scott
Btw how is the male infernalis doing for you/did he sire any offspring this year?
