Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just a few random shots.

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www.Wood-N-Snakes.com

Posting pic's of dead, thawed-out rodents that are being consumed by snakes while draped over an arm or a hand is disgusting, in my opinion.

I know that this will prompt more photo's like that (which I have not looked at on this forum in a long time because I totally ignore the posts) but I am wondering if anyone else has the same feeling of revulsion when he or she views them. Also, I think that is why they are posted sometimes (to get a rise out of people, kind of like when a kid gets his eyebrow pierced).

In addition, I think that I can point out that it is probably not very healthy to have a snake eating a carcass of another animal on your hands. Call me crazy and I am not a doctor --- but think about it.
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Peter Jolles
East Coast Colubrids
www.eastcoastcolubrids.com

It would probably be about the same REVULSION I feel seeing you and friends pulling kings out of the wild and photoed holding it......what sense does that make?? Maybe just me, or maybe just you being a LITTLE anal retentive. Your post makes me think you are probably like John Ashcroft and dont want Lady Justice's breast exposed either. LOL.

I could understand if the prey item was bloodied or torn in two, but it is not, this is a natural occurrence in the wild, and being that their are THOUSANDS of breeders all over the world that keep reptiles, this occurs hundreds of times a day.

Do you not look at your reptiles when you feed them?? Are you squeamish?, if so you are in the WRONG line of work!!
And just a F.Y.I., I (Toby's wife) was taking those photos, and I enjoy watching AND photographing our reptiles eating. To some of us, we find it quite fascinating.

In addition, if our reptiles, feel comfortable and relaxed enough to eat while being held, that to us (I.M.O) is alot better that just having their prey items dumped in with the "eat or don't eat" attitude.

I am not trying to get anything started, but you just need to lighten up.
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www.Wood-N-Snakes.com

I guess the ancestors of your snakes were grown in a test tube and were not taken from the wild???

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Peter Jolles
East Coast Colubrids
www.eastcoastcolubrids.com

Knew that would be the response, I was just stepping on your toes as you stepped on mine. There has been alot of tension on here as of late,and I was not trying to start anymore. I agree with Mike on his post below and when I finish saying what I have to say here I'm done.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, you voiced yours, and I voiced mine... let this be the end of it.

To each his own.....

One more thing, as far as my hand feeding my reptiles, My wife and I thoroughly wash our hands BEFORE and AFTER handling our reptiles, whether we are hand feeding or not (common sense).
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www.Wood-N-Snakes.com

Toby, you are right --- we all share a common interest, after all.

Take it easy.
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Peter Jolles
East Coast Colubrids
www.eastcoastcolubrids.com

I held a thawed hopper last night a few inches away from my snakes head while he was in his tank.
I thought I could lead him out that way as once he was out of his tank he is friendly .
he struck it like lightning I jumped in the air and fell it was so fast he took the hopper and ate it in his hide area.

Its funny because he was stretched out all the way when I put the hopper like 6 inches in front of him seems like he was able to stretch even further than I thought I wont do that again.

I don't think it is done to be disgusting, nor do I think it is disgusting. Now - I wouldn't want to see pictures of George Bush stuffing his face, but he's not as cool as a snake.

It may be overdone a bit sometimes, but I think it is kind of cool.

I never feed my kingsnakes in my hand, but I do hold the tail of the rodent for my big king. He use to never take them that way, he use to never take them until I stepped back from the cage.

Now - I open the cage, and he gets scared and starts rattling his tail and heading for cover - until he smells the scent. Then fear is gone, and he's ready to feed, taking it straight from my hand.

It's actually rather interesting to watch, because the transition with him was sudden. One feeding, wouldn't kill the mouse until I backed up. Next week, with the first mouse I put in - he went after it before I backed up, so I tried - and took the second from my hand. Not in my hand, from it. The next feeding (yesterday) he took both from my hand.

He eats live rodents though. He never took a f/t - but now that he's taking live from the hand, perhaps he will take dead from the hand.

Anyway - I think it is cool, and not because it is gross or counter culture (believe it or not, I'm a right wing religious republican - I'm not into stuff because they are counter culture, that was me in the 6th grade - I grew up) or anything like that.

I also don't think pictures of mating snakes is gross, nor do I think pictures of eggs hatching are gross. Those are all part of the husbandry.

A feeding snake is a healthy snake, well, often anyways - and one feeding out of the hand is a snake that trusts the hand that feeds it, at least to some extent.

Plus - how they open their jaws and swallow just about anything never gets old. That's just so cool.
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3.0 WC; 0.2 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 WC; 10 eggs (7/11) Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

I respect your opinion, but please keep in mind that this is an open forum to share ideas, pictures, success stories and husbandry tips.

In my opinion all of the fighting & silly stuff that has been going on over the past few weeks is only hurting the members of this forum.. If I was visiting for the first time and read some of the crap that has been going on the past couple of weeks I would probably never return... and, we all pay the price for that.

I think we all need to seriously rethink why we come to this site everyday... Is it to share opinions, post reptile related photos of our choice, learn from others & possible avoid husbandry mistakes or do we come here to argue with each other about what a "pure" snake is or [bleep] about a picture we don't approve of???

I feel that if things do not begin to change SOON, newcomers will move on without posting and people with years of herp experience & knowledge to share with others will become discussed and stop coming to this forum...

Just my opinion!

~ Mike

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don't forget it's a good idea to wash up after handling dead animals,duhhhhh? lol! what make/model camera are u using?

Kodak EZ ShareZ740......works great.

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www.Wood-N-Snakes.com

Wow! Is that an Axanthic Florida King (in your last post, Tobey)? He's beautiful. Lucky for me, I've got one just like it! LOL. Great pics.

Oh, while I don't hold onto my snakes while they eat, I do watch until they're done... Its just a facinating process.
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4 Corns - Aphrodite (Normal), Freya (Normal), Peyton (Amel), and Kal-El (Lavender)
2 Florida Kings - Thor (Axanthic Brooksi) & Lilith (Normal)
1 Leucistic Texas Rat Snake - MacLeod
1 Taiwan Beauty Snake - Mushu
1 W/C Banded Cal. King - Meridian

The color on that girl is unreal. Good luck with yours.

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www.Wood-N-Snakes.com

Beautiful Axanthic Toby. They are one of the best looking morphs out there IMO. My 04 male axanthic is hands down one of my favorite snakes. My wife & daughter know I do trades and sometimes sell some of my snakes, but they both told me never, ever,let that axanthic brooks out of your possesion.

Steve

She sure is beautiful! My Axanthic (Thor) is about 2 feet long and I bought him in October 2005. He's a real pig (like most kings out there, I hear). He is also my favorite snake (along with my other favorite 8!). Wouldn't get rid of him for the world. His color is just getting better each month.

Here's an old pic that doesn't really show how light he is now... but at least you get the idea. LOL.

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4 Corns - Aphrodite (Normal), Freya (Normal), Peyton (Amel), and Kal-El (Lavender)
2 Florida Kings - Thor (Axanthic Brooksi) & Lilith (Normal)
1 Leucistic Texas Rat Snake - MacLeod
1 Taiwan Beauty Snake - Mushu
1 W/C Banded Cal. King - Meridian

np
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Peter Jolles
East Coast Colubrids
www.eastcoastcolubrids.com

Outstanding picture of a great looking morph!!!! Wish I could take pictures like that!!! Of course I need to get a camera first!!!!LOL

Pat G-C

Me and you both Pat, and Toby that's a great camera! I bought one for my daughter as a going away present and beg her to bring it when she comes. Sorry Peter, but those easterns are being hand fed. I like your snakes and feed live thumped prey items. I don't have any pics of it though, and I imagine feeding the bruisers COULD get nasty, but being tagged by a bull or gopher prepares you for the worst feeding mishap!!! It's all good 'cause you have your snakes, the other guys and gals have theirs and noone can tell you how to raise yours.....and vice versa. If you know there's gonna be something you don't wanna see.....well you know! You have some awesome c.b. snakes and I know you can find 'em in the wild, so you are like the rest of us freaks, you have some habits that offend some and others have some that offend you. Lucky you! I do it all and am a truely disgusting herper, lol!!! At least I have a license and am complying with all state laws. Some people hate me for the rights I have and exercise. Whatever. Toby, great pics! Peter, great easterns!
Todd Hughes

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www.Wood-N-Snakes.com

Crazy Beautiful Pics Man!!! jeff

What camera do you use? just wondering since I'm thinking about upgrading my current "photographic arsenal". Nice close-up pics.

Zee
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"I am an expert on everything, but I know so little and have so much to learn!" -Carsten "Zee" Zoldy-

Kodak EasyShare Z740 And its ALL the camera cause I'm not a photography person...lol.
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www.Wood-N-Snakes.com

Thanks - me no photo whiz either, lol! How much was it and how long have you had it? sorry for all the ?s, but I appreciate your input. Thanks again,

Zee
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"I am an expert on everything, but I know so little and have so much to learn!" -Carsten "Zee" Zoldy-

My wife could tell you better than I about price but I'm thinking around 350-400 and I have only had it about four or five months,havent learned to work everything on it yet...lol. It's been well worth the bucks though.
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www.Wood-N-Snakes.com