Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have recently joined these forums although I have been checking them out quite frequently over the few months in which I began raising snakes.

My first snake was a normal baby Corn-snake, as I was new to the field I ended up picking out a sick snake, and due to ill-advised tips I got from a veterinarian I trusted, he died at the age of 4 months. I was pretty devastated but thanks to the encouragement and will of a friend to help me out and hook me up with some decent snakes, I went back to give it another go. That was roughly 4 or 5 months ago.

My first purchase was a Lamporpeltis Mexicana "Greeri", a male at the age of 6 months at the time:
http://www.snakes.co.il/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3498
http://www.snakes.co.il/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2287

3 months or so later I decided I wanted yet another snake, so I got a Lussitic Elaphe obsoleta linheimeri(Texas Ratsnake)
http://www.snakes.co.il/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3148

And eventually I decided I wanted to try and breed L.Mexicana Kingsnakes so I got an adult female, a Megabanded female... I really like her:
http://www.snakes.co.il/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3880

At any rate, I hope I will be able to learn from you all and such... especially as I took upon myself the challenge of breeding Kingsnakes. The Durango and Megabanded are the "soon to be wed" couple.

Wish me luck!

Oren.

figured out the link issue:

good luck to you-- I was curious as to the "tips" the vet gave you?
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2.1 Thayeri
1.1 Nelsoni

He suggested a weekly bath with Polydine solution for instance. Also said that regurgitation was perfectly normal and that that's the way snakes usually handle food.

The Cornsnake was bought in a store here in Israel and I'm sad to admit that there's little to no awareness at all how one should raise reptiles- especially in stores. So I ended up buying a 3 months old baby cornsnake that had digestion and shedding issues. He would also refuse pinkies- dead or alive.

Now add to this the constant stress caused by weekly bathes and you've got yourself one hell of a recipe of how -not- to handle a snake. But it was my first time and I really did trust that vet. I still do, but not when it comes to reptiles.

I know better now, and still learning on a daily basis but luckily I found a few people who are more seasoned and can help out when I need it.