First off let me express my appologies to Jen Harrison and the mess she had to deal with. I am writing this strictly to share my story and hopefully keep anyone from giving up. My story begins in 2002 Port St. Lucie, FL. After many years of keeping and studying various herps I decided to open a retail Herp store to share my passion with other people, Because of the high start up cost I opened it with a partner, He was very established and well know in the reptile community so I thought it would be a safe partnership. [ I will keep out any names out of respect weather they deserve it or not. ] But after a few months he decided to back out on me and by this time I was to far in to back out. Exotic Designs was open for about seven months but between lack of investment money and the events of 9/11 no one was buying and I could'nt pull it off and I was forced to close. I then moved back north to connectiut to be closer to my family and by this time had a pretty big ball and boa collection and was on my way to making that my full time job, But while working as a Arborist I had a piece equipment fail and fell 65ft to the ground breaking half of the bones thru my body. [ you name it I broke it ] Due to the high expenses my wife had to sell of my collection to pay bills and since she wasn't really in that part of the buss. Things were sold at a fraction of the cost and I lost well over 50,000, After four years of rehab and 15 corrective surgeries I started collecting again starting with mostly hets and some morphs and had my collection back up to about 110 balls when I had a similar issue like Jen. I bought an adult female from a large breeder that was shipped to me sick, It died with in a month as well as infecting my collection as well. Nothing I did helped, Seperating or injections of any kind did the trick. So I took any healthy animals I had left and put them at a friends house that I had other projects with and focused on the sick animals. After losing over a third of my animals I tried something different, Since my issue was respitory I contacted a doctor friend a got some small breathing tubes, Since most of my animals died struggling for air and having spasms I figured I would insert a tube in its breathing hole and breath for it until it stabalized. It worked!!! I was able to keep the remainding snakes alive long enough for a medication to finally work, The trick for me was a combo of meds Amikasin/Fortaz. But it took it's toll losing most of my adult het's [ clowns,axanthics,albinos,etc....] I am left with mostly normals and a few morphs. So I will work with what I have left and try once again. So when you think you had enough and your going to throw in the towel think back on why you got into this to begin with and then think again you might give it another round.
To everyone that has bought anything from me, Your animals were from the collection at my friends location and has no relation to this.
Special thanks to Michael Cole at Ballroom South a good friend over the years. Thanks for all your advice.
Scott at Serpant city your the best!!!
Garrick Demyer for all your help.
Thank You,
Erick Markstaller
Exotic Designs
Keep your chin up and keep trucking along.