Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just looked at the Daytona list of speakers and all the speakers listed are just for Ball Pythons or turtles. Not to take anything away from those neat animals but, what's up with that? We will all have a nice time seeing each others animals and getting a chance to talk to friends in person but it seems like if you were hoping to hear some good speakers for things like Kings, Milks, Pits, Rats and Drys and some obscure less kept species you are out of luck. Kind of bummed folks.....

There have been a number of interesting speakers in the past- I used to go to the lectures on species I had no previous interest exposure to just to come home with some new knowledge or generate some different captive management ideas but I agree that this year looks a little slim. I don't know anything about ball pythons ( not entirely true) so I might stick my head in there to see what the rare air is all about. I do not know what I will come away with.
I agree there should be more variety with the lectures, but what is new in the world of colubrids that hasn't been discussed or assimilated? I think Frank R says there is nothing new in the last 30 years; if that is true it is hard to drum up interest with stale bread.
I would be interested in finding out how they choose speakers or topics , I am sure there has to be someone out there looking to present his/her ideas to a room full of herp nuts.
mi .02,

daveb

Did you notice all the speakers have a vested interest in Ball pythons. Jeez, kinda obvious that they want to keep the inetrest (and value) up on a declining Ball python market.

..sometimes. I mean, just how far does the $10,000.00 snake market reach beyond the range of the big boys? It seems to be sort of a captive audience, so to speak. Other than the guys who breed them now, are there many new buyers? Seems like there is a lot of breeder to breeder sales/swaps but I don't know for sure. Of course the colubrid market will never catch up with that per snake price.
The $$ has made sort of an elitist type out of some otherwise normal guys I'm sure you have noticed.
Without all the morphs though, the bp would not have had the huge following I guess.
There's lots of knowledge to be gained/shared no matter, and you can come away with some from just about any of the talks, so that's a good thing.
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

www.crimsonking.funtigo.com

Just a bit bummed....Thanks guys.

I heard last year was mainly Balls. Looks like more of the same. I agree with Ranier. The best will be talking to each other with the same interests. Inspite of the Ball envy I still wish I could make it. Y'all have fun and share pics and stories when you get back!!!!! O, and be sure to spend time with Tom Stevens--he has the Midas touch this year!!!! Maybe some of it will rub off!!!! He's da man!

Pat

I second that! Dem specks is awesome! and the pits, well, very hot!
Todd Hughes

I have been telling people (for awhile now) to read that old children's book, "The Emporer's New Clothes." Who buys a snake for $30,000 anyway? I guess that some people actually do but I think that those guys just sell and trade with each other. I know of one person that is "into" a breeder of ball pythons for $18,000.00. This guy is married and has a family. What was he thinking? How dumb can you be? I guess THAT dumb.

I think the whole thing ($30,000 for one snake) is kind of silly and even decadent. But, who am I to judge? I own, breed, and sell snakes that I consider to be expensive - but never approaching those dollars. Never will.
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Peter Jolles
East Coast Colubrids
www.eastcoastcolubrids.com

One of these days you'll see want adds for non-hybrid, true local, het for nothing Kingsnakes. Will pay top dollar. And there will be a waiting list a mile long, cause' nobody will have them anymore. Damn, I just dropped my crystal ball LOL!
-Phil

If you are correct (and I believe you are) about no one having “non-hybrid, true local, het for nothing Kingsnakes”, then they will one day become officially protected and the man-made creations will be the only thing available (without special permit) to the hobby.

I can't think of anything more boring than people talking about different morphs of their pet rocks.

Personally I am looking forward to meeting Tom Stevens, Tony D., Howie Sherman, Matt Kotowski, Rainer, among others.

I don't think I will lose any sleep over how to measure the "blushing radius" on pet rocks.
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Peter Jolles
East Coast Colubrids
www.eastcoastcolubrids.com

Have to agree with you on that.....

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-