Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm interested in discovering what many of you do for your "real job". As you might have noticed by my kingsnake name, I'm a registered radiologic technologist ( xray tech). I have been taking radiographs for forteen years in all aspects of radiology including, but not limited to trauma, surgery, neuro, cardiac cath, and interventional radiology. I love both the art and science of taking a diagnostic radiograph. Plus it allows me to work only two days per week (although its every Friday and Saturday night)and get paid for fory hours.

I am a supervisor in a metal fabrication shop, specifically over the press brakes (bending and forming metal) and final assembly. It's a tough, hot, and dangerous job at times but rewarding at times as well. Thats not to say I would love to do nothing more than play with snakes! You have to have your dreams! Take care.

Jeremy

Real job!!! Taking care of a couple hundred snakes is a real job!!! But in my off time(40 hours a week)I work for a web development company doing technical support. I make sure all of our websites are functioning properly.

im a fireman, and an EMT instructor
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Thanks
Chad Ramsey
onetonyj@yahoo.com

I am a herpetolgist (really!) and an ABS Master Bladesmith. I make really expensive knives that you'll never, ever use. But you could...LOL

Cheers,

Terry Vandeventer

NICE!
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Thanks
Chad Ramsey
onetonyj@yahoo.com

Terry,proudly owning two of your FINELY handcrafted knifes,I can attest to your skilled hands however,after waiting for over one year for my commission- PLEASE tell me you are almost done?????????? Rodney

I'm trained as a Microbiologist, and did that for the better part of 25 years. When the municipality I work for decided not to fund the Public Health Lab last Autumn, I was offered a position in Social Services, running job development programs. I help good people get off the welfare rolls and into the work force. Guess you can say that I traded in lab work for God's work, quite a good trade-off if you ask me.

Bart Bruno

I an elephant trainer at the zoo here. I also take care of giraffe, ostrich, gazelle and crowned cranes. A couple nights a week I also oversee a local reptile petshop.

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Dennis McNamara
Crazy Fools Reptiles
Desnakemon@cox.net

Dennis, I didn't know that you worked with elephants. Maybe you know Chuck Doyle from the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse? I think he was one that helped to start the Elephant Manager's Assoc...does that sound familiar?
I volunteered at the zoo for ~3 years doing some education, alot of behind the scenes yard work. School and kids put an end ( temporary, I hope) to that. Lotta respect for what those people do.

BTW, my job? I went from surgical tech (16 yrs)to stay at home dad for three boys on the way to getting an organic lawn care business up off the ground. shoveling pinesnake poop is my part time job.
daveb

Dave, I know Chuck very well. I have attended multiple conferences and a class with him. He's a great guy with lots of experience.
I love doing my job and like that its so much different than coming home to do my snakes. It all works out pretty perfectly.
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Dennis McNamara
Crazy Fools Reptiles
Desnakemon@cox.net

I was looking around on here. I am a reptile keeper at the Alexandria Zoo in Alexandria Louisiana
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1.1 Motley het butter corns
0.1 Snow corn
0.1 Okeetee corn
1.0 Anery mutt corn
0.1 Stripe Ghost corn
0.1 Amelanistic corn het carmel
2.1 Colombian Redtails
1.0 Hypo Colombian redtail
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
1.0 Anery Kenyan sand boa
0.1 Normal Kenyan sand boa

I manage a ski shop in portland or. I think sking might be another part of the reason I love pits so much. I can still ski three days a week cause all my snakes are brumating durring the winter. Then when the snow starts getting crappy I have snakes to start playing with again.
Nate

I'm a newspaper editor and writer. Given the financial state of the media industry, shoveling snake poop for a living looks mighty fine sometimes.

Rob Haneisen

I'm an embedded systems technician. I repair to component level, industrial computer boards for customers such as the military, gas and oil industry, and railroads. I work 5-6 days a week and raise my own rodent colony on top of that. I would much rather be playing with the reptiles more though.

Scott Robinson

I am in charge of human reclamation as a United Methodist Pastor. And I obviously don't think snakes are evil!!!!!

Pat

I am a Client Care Representative for perhaps the US's largest medical transcription company.
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Genesis 1:1

Im a steelworker,we make steel,billets,wire and wire products.From rebar to jiffy pop popcorn handles,barbwire,fence,
fabric,etc.
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If lead paint is so deadly why do they make it so delicious?

I strip for a group kind of like the Chippendales but we are called the Chunky D's. Were the overweight strippers. We mainly dance for older lady groups. The side work I get some times is kind of hard to stomach but a man had to do what a man's got to do. HAAAAA
But really I work in the health information dept. in a large psychiatric hospital in Raleigh, NC doing quality checking and that kind of boring stuff. I spent 12 years before that working as a health care tech. in the same hospital but had to move into a calmer line of work after a back unjury while wrestling a patient a few years ago. Randy W.

after getting kids and wife out to school and work from 8am to 1pm I am a taxidermist [25 years ] then from 2pm to 10.30pm I am a heavy duty diesel mechanic [tractor trailer] 27years I like to stay busy

I work as a General Aviation Line Technician at my airport. I do all sorts of things like fueling, cleaning, and towing aircraft. Its a lot of fun, and I get great discounts on pilot supplies and aircraft rental!

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Aubrey Ross

©
www.SlipstreamSerpents.com

I was doing all kinds of home improvement stuff for many years while I kept my dreams alive of being a musician playing in a few metal bands. I still intend to play once again now that my daughter is not so little anymore but I mostly just do the snakes. I also make spiked leather arm bands and boot covers and sell Air and Water Purifiers for the home and especially for the snake room.
Tom Stevens
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TomsSnakes.com

rock-on Tom! Metal like Sepultura or like whitesnake?
Nate

I have played in straight up death metal bands like Morpheus Descends and Incantation and also more Death/Thrash style like my own band Nokturnel and even played session bass for Ripping Corpse for 7 shows. I sang all the backing vocals on their Dreaming With the Dead CD too. No glam here bud LOL!
Tom
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TomsSnakes.com

Right on! you never know some peoples definition of metal.
I used to play drums and sing backup for a metal core band in highschool
Nate

Kids do get in the way of schredding and the bar scene.Not to mention hamper your funds for new toys.lol On the other hand I woundnt trade them for the world.Keep jamming bro.

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If lead paint is so deadly why do they make it so delicious?

I couldn't agree more. I am 40 now and my musical tastes haven't changed a bit. I do not have a been there done that attitude about touring and all that but I needed to get my life together[which I have] and luckily for me I was not thrilled with the scene during my hiatus anyway. I hope to record with two awesome guys for a new Nokturnel record before 08 rolls around. Tom Stevens
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TomsSnakes.com

Wow, you all have such cool jobs. I'm a screen printer printing Tee shirts in a hot steel building all day. My hobby before pits was flint knapping, I also do prison ministry volunteer work and I started last night on my own dedicated snake house.
Raymond Hill

I am just a boring ol Human Resources Manager for a manufacturing company in northern IL. I was in the Army for 15 years before this and I am regretting getting out now..... But at least I see my family more than once every 6 months and nobody is shooting at me now (or should I say yet???) My snake collection has also grown since I dont have to move every few years.
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"No I have never eaten snake!"
A quote I find myself using everytime someone finds out I have snakes.

I'm a psych tech @ Northridge Hospital here in the SFV. I work the night shift (11pm to 7:15 am). Sounds boring, but the good thing is we get "generous" breaks. I might even be able to bring one of my snakes to work, and show some of my co-workers. I'll keep it in the empty downstairs treatment room.

reako45

I'm an Operations Officer for a Navy Seabee Unit of 320 Seabees. We build construction projects from Washington DC all the way down to Key West, FL and points in between. During destructive weather ie..hurricane Katrina we deploy to help cities get back on their feet by performing cleanup, debris removal, and restoring public utilities/services. My snake collection is my outlet.

Russ

I'm an aerosol artist,mostly on canvas these days but i do get to do the odd large pieces from time to time.I also volunteer with local young offenders and mistreated/under priveleged kids.

Interesting thread for sure.

RGDS....AL

1m x 1m spraypaint on canvas

very cool, VERY interesting!
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Thanks
Chad Ramsey
onetonyj@yahoo.com

I'm a Licensed Orthotist. I design, fabricate,and fit custom braces(orthoses) for crippled children. You can definately tell how interesting "snake people" are by the wide range of careers. Kevin

im a runner and process server in las vegas. i do court work for attorneys here as a runner. process serving is the delivery of court ordered papers too people or businesses-i really hate doing this and everyone always wants to kill the messenger, but it pays good, i drive a lot. loved reptiles since i was about 4 and caught my first side-blotched lizard and my first gopher snake at 8.

sweet job! I install hurricane shutters along the entire Texas coast, great way to herp!
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Todd Hughes

I'm a fifth grade teacher.

I teach an after-school enrichment program on native reptiles of Southern California.

Apiring mixed martial artist. Fighting has been quantified gentlemen, and it does not involve any karate chops.

What a great thread, really fascinating to find out what everyone does. I work for a C.R.O as a pathology scientist.

I am a criminal defense attorney in Baltimore, which sometimes involves another sort of cold blooded reptile.

I am pastry chef in Los Angeles,,love it. Gives me time with all my snakes,,and the money to buy more. Have also worked in Boston and Las Vegas.

I have a degree in forestry but work as a Quality Assurance inspector for an engine cooling manufacturer. We make charge air coolers, radiators, oil coolers and condensers for large trucks.
Russ P.