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how did people start?

snailqueen87 Aug 07, 2006 05:58 PM

I was wondering how this hobby/obsession started for everyone?
For me I had a spare fish tank laying about the house and my dad said as a joke 'you could get a snake for it'. So naturally I latched onto this idea, moved bedrooms so there was room for a nice tank, got it all decorated etc and 3 months later went to him and asked 'So when do I get this snake then?'. We ended up going to the local reptile shop and buying a baby corn (as well as a new tank and all the accessories, not what he planned spending!) :D best idea he's ever had!!

Replies (24)

ReptilesRampant Aug 07, 2006 06:12 PM

I went to a Snakes Alive! presentation at my local library. I was hooked when he let me hold the corn snake. The next day I got rid of my pet mice & guinea pigs (Mom's conditions) and bought Kathy Love's book. I planned on waiting until the Raleigh show to get my first one, which was about 5 months away. I was doing so well, then 2 weeks before the show my local pet store got a baby cornsnake. I broke down and got her, setting me back $60. Yes, $60 for a skinny little normal cornsnake. Four years later and she is still my favorite out of 21 corns.
-----
15 new babies!
1.0 Anery Corn-Astro
0.1 Normal Corn-Cheyenne
0.1 Amel Striped Corn-Becky
1.0 Creamsicle-Diablo
0.1 Hypo Corn-Echo
1.0 Snow Corn-Frosty
1.0 Dachshund-Sandy
0.1 Beagle-Josie
0.1 Tabby-Nicki
2.7 Rats

draybar Aug 07, 2006 08:07 PM

>>I went to a Snakes Alive! presentation at my local library. I was hooked when he let me hold the corn snake. The next day I got rid of my pet mice & guinea pigs (Mom's conditions) and bought Kathy Love's book. I planned on waiting until the Raleigh show to get my first one, which was about 5 months away. I was doing so well, then 2 weeks before the show my local pet store got a baby cornsnake. I broke down and got her, setting me back $60. Yes, $60 for a skinny little normal cornsnake. Four years later and she is still my favorite out of 21 corns.
>>-----

A lot of people freak out about someone paying $60.00 for a normal corn snake and then they say something like, "you can order them on-line all day long for $20.00."
Guess what? That $20.00 snake just became a $65.00 snake when shipped over night....lol
Then they say, "just go to a show"
A lot of people do not have shows near enough to make it economical to travel the distance.
The closest show to me is almost 3 hours one way.
When you factor in the price of gas and the 6 hour round trip drive, a $20.00 snake would cost about $70.00...lol
If you saw the snake, liked it, could afford the $60.00 and are happy with the snake then it was well worth that $60.00.
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

_____

HerpZillA Aug 07, 2006 06:19 PM

Great question. I started collecting rodents, mice rats hasters etc. My mom drove me to all the shops to get the cheapest prices on various feeds. One shop, said, STOP, we'll just match the price. That was about 1971? They specialized in herps. Then by chance my nieghbor had a nephew that had a tokay gecko. He gave it to me.

I ended up working at the shop from 73-79ish? Collecting many small lizards, mostly westrn US stuff, then went into monitor, all loose in 1 room. 4 waters 1 at 7' 4", 2 dums, 2 bengals, 2 tegus, 1 nile. 4 Savs (3-4') then snakes, 14-15' 2 yar old burm, 7' rock, 5' anaconda, 2 BCI, 10 male burm,, and 8' retic. Then traded all that for a scarlet macaw. Then bought a mexican doubl yellow head for $25. I sold teh macaw saidly. I would prolly pay $15k for that exact bird if I could find it.

Also

I bred rats for the shop for a few years, I had about 400 cages in my garage. Then Willard 1 came out.

I then on with life, staying close with the owners, in fact one is my sons godfather.

TIME WARP

1999 I had to retire due to a back injury. 2002 I bought some rats at a local shop as I now live about 55 miles from that old shop. Willard 2 came out! DOD DO DO....

Then,, I needed a part time job, and asked if the owner needed help. So I'm back at the shop I worked at as a kid. And I help a very very good friend. Yes I drive 55 miles 1 way.

I'm more of a lizard person, but seem to have more snakes. Hoping to help the shop out. I also have 5 parrots. Well somewhat current list is below. It changes fast as I appropriate a lot of things from the shop! lol

Lot's of great old time customers. And some not so great that make me laugh. If you do retail, you know what I mean.

Thast about it, but I am alwasy looking for double yellow head amazons and scarlet macaw.

Me Cleveland Zoo, on a very special tour

Me a few years back with an ebay friend.
Now you know why I sign Big Tom some times.

-----
This area under construction

1.3 Bearded Dragons Eenie, Meanie, Minie and Moe is the Male

1.1 Western hognose

Corn snakes
Bloodred 0.1
Zipper Amel 0.1 Erica Von Zipper
Amel 1.0 Stud Muffin
Amel 0.1 Lucy Goosey
Creamcicle 0.1 Sherbert

Double Yellow Headed Amazon - Amazona ochrocephala oratrix 0.1? Pretty Girl
Yellow Naped Amazon - Amazona ochrocephala auropalliata 1.1? Carol - Male, Foghorn Leghorn - Female
Blue Front Amazon - Amazona aestiva 1.0? Miss Prissy
Blue and Gold Macaw - Ara ararauna 0.1 April

2.0 Dogs, Michigan, Doc
0.2 Cats,, Sassie and Spooky (all black cat)
0.1 Wives, (Long term captive!,, I mean ME!) I call her (BOSS)
1.1 Kids (Paininthearsius takamemonii) J/K great kids
-----
tom

www.herpzilla.com

izora Aug 08, 2006 12:56 AM

that was an awesome post, thanks alot for sharing!!!

xblackheart Aug 07, 2006 07:27 PM

Lets see, how did I start. Simple story. Short and sweet, bought two corns at a reptile show, was hooked ever since.
Loved reptiles as a kid, mother hated them. Moved on my own, got a couple garter snakes (was all the now ex-husband) would let me have. After divorce, my very understanding, supportive boyfriend and I went to a reptile show. Bought 2 corns. Within a week, bought another at a local pet store. Since then, I have collected enough to take over one whole bedroom, which is now called the pet room. Got into lizards (bearded dragons, monitors, tegus, skinks), larger snakes. Decided that was not for me (kept the bearded dragons). Tried milks, rat sakes, didn't like them either. So, I am addicted to corns only, well, and king snakes. I think the only reason that I don't like rat snakes is due to the three that I have owned, were all nippy. I could probably go for a rat snake again if I could find one with the right attitude.

-----
****Misty****

http://www.sneakyserpents.com/

"Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints"

Not counting Hatchlings, this is what I have.........

1.1.2 bearded dragons
9.18.0 corn snakes
1.1.0 jungle corns
1.2.6 California King
1.0.0 Mexican Black king
0.1.0 Blotched (variable) king
0.1.0 Lavender Brooksi king
1.0.0 Sinaloan milk snake
0.1.0 Tri-Hybrid milk snake
0.1.0 rat snake
1.1.0 Arizona mountain king
1.1.0 Congo African Grey Parrots
0.1.0 German Shepherd (hybrid) dog

draybar Aug 07, 2006 08:11 PM

>>Lets see, how did I start. Simple story. Short and sweet, bought two corns at a reptile show, was hooked ever since.
>>Loved reptiles as a kid, mother hated them. Moved on my own, got a couple garter snakes (was all the now ex-husband) would let me have. After divorce, my very understanding, supportive boyfriend and I went to a reptile show. Bought 2 corns. Within a week, bought another at a local pet store. Since then, I have collected enough to take over one whole bedroom, which is now called the pet room. Got into lizards (bearded dragons, monitors, tegus, skinks), larger snakes. Decided that was not for me (kept the bearded dragons). Tried milks, rat sakes, didn't like them either. So, I am addicted to corns only, well, and king snakes. I think the only reason that I don't like rat snakes is due to the three that I have owned, were all nippy. I could probably go for a rat snake again if I could find one with the right attitude.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>

Misty if you want a rat snake with the RIGHT attitude you need to try a bairds rat snake.
They are exceptional rat snakes.
I could go on and on but I will refrain since this is the corn snake forum.
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

_____

HerpZillA Aug 07, 2006 10:35 PM

I read this thread first, before Misty's. And was not really watching the tree form, of who responded to whom.

So I thought the top part was you Jimmy. I forget about the >>>'s. Personal stuff does not really phase me, but I have to admit, I thought WOW this guy is open about stuff. It did wake me up! lol

tom

>>>>Lets see, how did I start. Simple story. Short and sweet, bought two corns at a reptile show, was hooked ever since.
>>>>Loved reptiles as a kid, mother hated them. Moved on my own, got a couple garter snakes (was all the now ex-husband) would let me have. After divorce, my very understanding, supportive boyfriend and I went to a reptile show. Bought 2 corns. Within a week, bought another at a local pet store. Since then, I have collected enough to take over one whole bedroom, which is now called the pet room. Got into lizards (bearded dragons, monitors, tegus, skinks), larger snakes. Decided that was not for me (kept the bearded dragons). Tried milks, rat sakes, didn't like them either. So, I am addicted to corns only, well, and king snakes. I think the only reason that I don't like rat snakes is due to the three that I have owned, were all nippy. I could probably go for a rat snake again if I could find one with the right attitude.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>Misty if you want a rat snake with the RIGHT attitude you need to try a bairds rat snake.
>>They are exceptional rat snakes.
>>I could go on and on but I will refrain since this is the corn snake forum.
>>-----
>>Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
>>"resistance is futile"
>>Jimmy (draybar)
>>
>> Draybars Snakes
>>
>>_____

draybar Aug 08, 2006 05:42 AM

>>I read this thread first, before Misty's. And was not really watching the tree form, of who responded to whom.
>>
>>So I thought the top part was you Jimmy. I forget about the >>>'s. Personal stuff does not really phase me, but I have to admit, I thought WOW this guy is open about stuff. It did wake me up! lol
>>
>>tom
>>
>>

so you thought I was talking about my boyfriend, huh....LOL
nope not quite.
I don't lean that way.
If you read MY post you will see that I am married....... to a woman......LOL
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

_____

HerpZillA Aug 08, 2006 08:42 AM

OK OK, I could not pass up that STRAIGHT line. WOW I even got in a pun!

I'm married to a woman too. 27 years. I was actually in high school. And no she was not Prego's. In fact we did not have kids for 8 years.

I have more goofy stories related to my herps. So here's one. I'll keep it short.

I caught my dining room on fire when I was about 15 using a table saw in the driveway with a regular extension cord.

State Farm came out several days later to estimate the damage. All the furniture in the dinning room was gone, the ceiling and carpet, and smoke damage thru the entire place.

Well, off the back of the dinning room was my animal room. At this time is when I had all my monitors loose in there. The guy wanted in and I told him there was no damage, as the room was closed off. He said "sonny if you want us to pay for all this damage you caused, I have to see every inch of this house" Well, mom is like me, or vice verse. Don't pick on my family, so mom said let him in, not even knowing what was in there.

There were 4 water monitors 7'4", 6'6" 5'6" 5'6", 3 Sav's all huge, 1 black throat over 4', 2 dum's,, monitors maybe 3',,, 2 big col tegus 2 3' bengals,, and 1 small nile that always ran for his life,, and maybe 50 tokay geckos.

I unlocked the bifold door and he walked in looking at me. Well, right across the doorway was a 10" log the big male water like to sit, right at head level.

He stepped in, turned and looked, and he was no more than 6"s from the head of the big water. Now the water monitor turns his head to look, and is flicking his tongue all over this guys face. He almost fainted when his partner reached in and grabbed him. They ran thru my moms house so fast they went right thru the storm door.

The guy that walked in the room sat on our steps cussing the house. I mean CUSSING!

mom was looking in the room and at me like WTF? She thought the cops were going to come.

Well, the house was fixed, new furniture,,, mom loved that,, and a new storm door.

Absolutely true with no embellishments.

Maybe next time, when I got called on the Junior high School PA system that my one 5' 6" water monitor got out, and was chasing my dog.

I had a very unusual childhood, and would not trade it for the world.

Tom

izora Aug 08, 2006 09:46 AM

lol never got a call on the pa about my monitor as Ive never had one, but I did get a call about my birds. My birds were like the school mascot, I took them everywhere in that school. One got loose and was flying all over the science room, They didnt call me over the pa, just called the room I was in lol. It was great. I walked into that science room to girls shrieking thinking they'd get crapped on, boys laughing, I started blowing kisses and he came right to me. Was so funny. Was only a parakeet lol.

xblackheart Aug 08, 2006 01:16 PM

thanks Jimmy,
thats what I was thinking about trying. Maybe at the reptile show next month.
-----
****Misty****

www.sneakyserpents.com

"Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints"

Not counting Hatchlings, this is what I have.........

1.1.2 bearded dragons
9.18.0 corn snakes
1.1.0 jungle corns
1.2.6 California King
1.0.0 Mexican Black king
0.1.0 Blotched (variable) king
0.1.0 Lavender Brooksi king
1.0.0 Sinaloan milk snake
0.1.0 Tri-Hybrid milk snake
1.1.0 Arizona mountain king
0.1.0 Congo African Grey Parrot
0.1.0 German Shepherd (hybrid) dog

draybar Aug 07, 2006 07:47 PM

>>I was wondering how this hobby/obsession started for everyone?
>>For me I had a spare fish tank laying about the house and my dad said as a joke 'you could get a snake for it'. So naturally I latched onto this idea, moved bedrooms so there was room for a nice tank, got it all decorated etc and 3 months later went to him and asked 'So when do I get this snake then?'. We ended up going to the local reptile shop and buying a baby corn (as well as a new tank and all the accessories, not what he planned spending!) :D best idea he's ever had!!

I never really had anyone lead more towards my love of animals and snakes in particular. I just always loved animals.
From the time I was able to walk I was chasing anything that moved.
There where so many times as I was growing up, while everyone else was riding bikes or playing ball, I was wading through creeks and swamps or hiking through the woods, looking for animals.
In the late 60's and early 70's the pet stores around here only carried fish, rodents and occasional birds, no reptiles.
There were a few of my friends, as I was growing up, who took a slight interest in reptiles but I was the only one I knew who was actually out there trying to catch them and bring them home.
So, I guess I owe it all to my mom.
Although she didn't like all the frogs, lizards, turtles and snakes I was bringing home she never discouraged me, she simply made it clear that if I couldn't care for them properly, back to the wild they would go.
I had to buy my own books and supplies which helped teach me to do the proper research if I wanted to keep the things I caught.
Girls, sports and partying took over for a while but I still had the interest.
In the 80's I caught a nice four foot long black rat snake and I was hooked again.
For the next eight or nine years I had a moderate collection. I accumulated five black rat snakes, one local corn snake, a Florida corn snake, an eastern milk snake, an eastern king snake, a speckled king snake a southern hognose snake and a seven foot Burmese python.
At this time I was living alone.
I kept snakes for close to 10 years before my wife-to-be moved in. Although she never asked me to get rid of them, or even hinted that she wanted me to get rid of them, I knew she was nervous about the snakes so I did get rid of them. This was also to make room. My snake room had now become a spare bedroom.
In the early 90's I started keeping and rescuing turtles. This endeavor/hobby kept me quite busy over the next ten or twelve years. All along though, I still had that fascination with snakes.
Especially corn snakes. With their beautiful colors, excellent dispositions and ease of care, corn snakes had always been my favorites.
Well, in May of 2001, I was in a local pet store and saw a beautiful little corn snake hatchling. I brought her home and was once again I was hooked on snakes.
She actually turned out to be a creamsicle, which is a cross between an amelanistic corn snake and a great plains rat snake.
My wife has been very understanding and supportive with my renewed interest in snakes. She has no problem with them now.
It is very hard not to be captivated by their beauty.
I have since bowed out of turtle rescue and reduced my collection to only a few.
This has allowed for some extra space and easily converted habitats.
Of course my wife is an animal lover too.
we have 8 cats, 5 dogs, 3 bearded dragons, 1 tortoise, 4 aquatic turtles, 3 tree frogs and all the snakes.
The creamsicle that got me started again
Arwen

So, the story continues.

-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

_____

cochran Aug 07, 2006 08:15 PM

I got started way back in the late 60's, when my dad dared me to pick up a ring necked snake,I was 5 yrs. old & living in the hills of W.V.I was hooked from then on.Growing up we were the family that took in all kinds of unwantrd pets from monkeys to iguanas.I have to give my parents credit for teaching me to respect nature. jeff

sammingo Aug 07, 2006 09:24 PM

I was involved with an outreach entomology club in college four years ago. We had mostly exotic insects and arachnids but also quite a few reptiles. One day I went to feed the tarantulas and black widows and found a group of people clustered around a tank with two baby corn snakes, one normal and one amel. It was the first time I'd ever heard of corns and I fell in love immediately. My roommate (who was also part of the BugZoo) wanted to get one of her own and she had no trouble talking me into joining her. We each got one for $15 from the local breeder who sold to the BugZoo, and I've had my Sam ever since.

I plan on getting a male coral snow in the next month and I want to get a female to match him in another five years or so, when I graduate from med school. I was going to wait until then to get them both but they're so gorgeous, I'm giving in on one of them early.

johninbs Aug 07, 2006 10:19 PM

I always loved animals, but growing up on Long Island I never experienced too many reptiles. Maybe a frog, or a turtle but not much else. I read stories here about some of you guys going herping and I'm jealous. I'm 40 years old and have never seen a snake in the wild, not even a garter which I think is the only snake we have here on L.I. Homes, malls, condos are going up everywhere so there's not much habitat anymore for these animals around here.

Anyways, I was always fascinated by snakes (from what I saw on tv and in books) but thought they all bit and didn't make good pets. About 8 years ago I saw an ad for the L.I. Herp Society annual show. I thought this would be a good chance to see some cool animals I never saw in person, besides it was like 15 minutes from my home. I came across a breeder with a 2 year old Amel. I thought it was the most beautiful snake I ever saw. I always thought all snakes were black, gray, brown, etc.. But what really got me was this guy handing me the snake and me holding it for what seemed to be an hour without it killing me. lol...I just thought all snakes bit and most were venomous. So here's this kid that grew up never seeing any of these animals in the wild, now in love with a snake. I had to have him. It was getting late in the show and the guy knew I really wanted him, so he gave it to me for 20.00 . I bought 3 books and and all the stuff I needed on the way home. I had him for about a year, then got married and had to give him up when we moved to our apartment. My brother was working at a pet shop so he took it. Afew weeks later he tells me the snake escaped and it was never found. Man I loved that snake. I really believe he loved being held and was so mellow.

Last year I decided I wanted to get another one. We now own a home so now I'm allowed. lol The same show was last Sept. but I screwed up the days and missed it (I thought Sun. but it was Sat.) Anyways, I figured It wasn't meant to be. A few weeks later I was at a local pet shop and right on the checkout counter was a critter keeper with a Butter corn inside. Needles to say I bought him for 70.00 and that got the ball rolling. Amonth later I was at a pet expo. Had no idea a breeder would be there, and I got a candy cane. Then an Amel. Bloodred from the same shop as the butter. My last pickup is my Okeetee I got from Kathy about 6 months ago.

I'm itching for more. The L.I. Herp show is coming again on Oct. 7, I can't wait, so I'm looking to get something to hold me over. Maybe a creamsicle or snow. Draybar's got me thinking about a Baird's rat too!!

Oh well, sorry so long, hope you enjoyed my story. Good luck with all your herps.

John

snailqueen87 Aug 08, 2006 05:35 AM

the corn in that picture could be Snail, honestly it is the spit of her! just gorgeous!

izora Aug 08, 2006 12:48 AM

Well I've worked in countless pet shops and Learned alot about how to care about them, but never wanted to delve into breeding them, because I fiqure it this way, I'll take exceptional care of them, and learn what I can about how to take care of them, But leave the breeding to the people who know exactly what they're doing. My first snake was a Ball Python who was sick and underweight and a problem feeder. Someone decided they didnt want it anymore and this guy was going to kill it. Instead of letting him do that, I offered to take him in. I knew absolutely nothing at all about snakes at the time. I immediately took him to the vet and found he was anemic and needed a blood tranfusion and he was in fact a he. I found a donor snake from a pet store I used to frequent, took him in, he was anemic too. So we put both the snakes on medicine, we had to learn how to give shots, he had to have a soaking tub to lay in, We learned alot. By we i mean my roomie and i. The roomie kept the snake when we parted. I then got latched onto a burmese who was being fed one small mouse a month and was six months old. I took her for a steal, from there I just adopted other snakes that just either needed help or I found interesting. I've had a gopher, the burmese, several cornsnakes, all of which stayed with my ex, with the exception of the burmese which we found a very good home for, because well, she was highly aggressive and well It hurt. I waited quite awhile before getting frosty and well now nothing will ever make me give him up.

snailqueen87 Aug 08, 2006 05:40 AM

I'm so jealous of all these Reptile shows you guys have available to you. Although this is the American forum I live in Northern Ireland - the European forum doesn't get any traffic - and I've never heard of any shows over here
I've always loved animals (a very close second to corns comes tigers, I've adopted several since i was 8!) but never dreamed of having a snake of my own.
The only pets I had before were a few cats and a dog and of course goldfish. Several years ago I found African Clawed Frogs in a local fish shop and got some so I guess that was the start of my gradual introduction to reptiles.
I couldn't do without Snail now but as I'm still at home I'll h ave to wait till I move out for more!

gzyv15a Aug 08, 2006 10:04 AM

My 5 year old son kept asking to buy him a snake. So as a good dad i finally caved in and got him a Mexican Black King Snake. I knew nothing about snakes. But the more and more i read (care, colors, morphs) i really started getting into it. Now 2 years later, i got 7 snakes (6 for myself of course)! The addiction continues.

Darin Chappell Aug 08, 2006 10:47 AM

I've always been a snake nut...always. Marlin Perkins got me hooked, watching Wild Kingdom on Sunday evenings just before Wonderful World of Disney came on (how's THAT for a time warp???), and I was enthralled by all of his "adventures."

One summer day, my uncle (three years older than I), my younger brother, and a whole bunch of cousins (we are hillbillies, after all) were playing around, when someone saw a large black snake (6ft. ). Everyone was kind of scared of it (including me), but when one of the cousins was going to kill it for no reason, I was ready to fight. Instead, they just dare me to pick it up, if I was so tough...so I did.

Short story (too late) was that it bit me pretty good, and my mother freaked out, being convinced it was a rattle-headed-copper-moccasin, and screamed until my dad actually killed it. I hate that that particular snake was killed for only doing what it should have done when a stupid kid picked it up, but that experience had me hooked for life.

Years later, I finally convinced my wife to let me have one corn in the house. One became two, which became four, which became 150 or so in just about three or four years. I have since pared down my collection to 18, focusing only on bloodreds and other episkiastic morphs, but I still think that they're the coolest animals around, followed closely by the arabian horses I also own.

But that is another story...


-----
Darin Chappell
Hillbilly Herps
PO Box 254
Rogersville, MO 65742

snakefamily Aug 08, 2006 11:48 AM

When my son was about 6 he told his father that he wanted a snake for a pet. Needless to say I thought they were nuts! Well within a few months they found out that his Grade 1 teacher had a Ball Python at home that he was not allowed to bring into the classroom. (It still boggles my mind that the cockroaches and the tarantula were ok but not the snake!) Well of course it was Mommy that has to help the snake get it's eyecaps off when he had trouble shedding. I was amazed at how this four foot large snake would allow me to hold it's head between my fingers. It was so calm!

Next my husband picked up a couple garters and we had an accidental mating and birth. I think the mother in me came out and I was hooked. I began doing more and more research and started buying more garters.

Someone we knew had some baby amels about 2 summers ago and I begged for one. I now have 20 hatchlings (Coral snows and ghosts) and 14 yearlings and adults! I still have 8 garters and we added a Western Hognose a while ago! It is very clearly my hobby/love and the rest of the family now thinks I am nuts!

Joanna

STEVES_KIKI Aug 08, 2006 12:52 PM

i've already done this once, but i guess it disapeared. i grew up in NC on an island and we had anoles and green "garden" snakes. i was always the one who loved all of nature. i even had a hummingbird sit on my fingers from time to time...and anole lizards fall asleep in my hands....when my brother was in the 6th or 7th grade my aunt(who worked at the vet school) gave him a "florida corn snake" which had been given up by the previous owner... when i was in the 8th grade i wanted my own snake and saved up and spend about $200 of my babysitting money on a candy cane and supplies. well, the baby ended up dying and my heart was broken. it wasnt until i moved out of the house that my brothers snake gertrude became mine... poor thing wasnt being fed or watered. so i stepped in, took ole gertrude and kept her. my husband didnt mind her for a few years until he tried to feed her and she came awefully close to biting him. never again did he even look at gertrude. until i decided to buy him one of his own... i looked ont he internet and found a great guy named zach and bought dunesbury and cobra from him. (cobra being my husbands only snake) a lil while later i wanted another so we went to the petshop and got romeo...then found a female on an auction online and got her...ended up getting not only her, but 2 of her babies and a king snake. since then i have added onto my collection to having about 30 something(including hatchlings) 15 cats, 2 leo geckos, 2 turtles, a bird(cockatiel), 6 chickens, and 3 dogs, a toad, fish...possibly more...but i'm sorry who i have forgotten yeah...i'm an animal lover...

~kin
-----
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SNAKIES~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Corns:
.1 Normal (Gertrude)
1. unknown hypo? normal? (Romeo)
1.2 Miami Phase (Hector, Emily, Charlotte) thanks jeff!
1. Amel het Blizzard (Dunesbury)
1. Classic het Hypo, poss het Amel, Anery (Cobra)
1.1 Classics (Henry VIII, Cassy [Emilys babies])
.1 Amel (Pepperoni)
1.1 Hypo zig zags poss het Caramel (Bernard, Abegail)
.1 Classic het Hypo, Stripe (Gracie Lou) {Reduced black}
1.1 Anery het Motley (Lleroy, Persia)

Rats:
1.1 Black rats (Willard, Cecily)

Cal Kings:
1.1 Striped Cal Kings (Dweezil, Skunky)

Other:
0.0.1 Worm Snake

~~~~~~~~~~~~~LEOPARD GECKOS~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. Normal het Midnight Blizzard (Mr. Spot)
0.1 Blizzard (Blitz) SHE WAS FOUND ALIVE!!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~TURTLES~~~~~~~~~~~~
.1 white cheeked mud (Opel)
.1 snapping turtle (no name)

Dobry Aug 08, 2006 05:03 PM

I was about 5 or so when my older brothers would come home with the tiger salamanders they had caught. I wasn't too interested until they brought home a snake. Ever since that day I've been hooked. Every project I ever did in school had to do with snakes or lizards. Now I am still finding ways to fit snakes into my research.
Cheers,
-----
Jason L. Dobry
Research Associate
College of Veterinary Medicine
Department of Veterinary Comparative Anatomy, Pharmacology and Physiology
Washington State University

Thunder_Dan Aug 08, 2006 11:47 PM

Well, I ALWAYS loved snakes, but, as others have mentioned, I have a mother who hates them... so I had to settle for a ferret, 4 tarantulas, a try at breeding Siamese Fighting fish (betas), some hamsters, a horned frog, an iguana, an emperor scorpion. It wasn't until my 9th year of marriage and 4 kids later (LAST YEAR - OCT. 2005) that I finally was able to buy a corn snake. By Christmas time, I had 13 snakes. At this time, I've got 9 snakes and am on this forum to oogle at all the others that I want! LOL.

I'm sure that things would have turned out QUITE differently if my mother hadn't been so afraid of snakes...
-----
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

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