Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I get up early, before work, go out back and check each animal. I clean cages as needed. I mist. I soak bowls in bleach and water. I unroll sheds and lay them out to dry. I stare. I peep. I watch them court..and more. I take pictures. I check temps. I get mad when they poop UNDER the newspaper. When things are good and they are all eating, active and looking healthy, I come in and feel like my world is complete. Feels like I'm doing something right. When they are sick, I worry. When they are gravid, it's like the last week from Christmas. I sleep thinking of pairing possibilities, new projects and how to maximize the limited space I have. I wake up in the middle of the night checking incubators on my way to the bathroom and on the way back to bed (you never know). Reptile magazines in the bathroom. Snake Hunters on the tube. Kingsnake.com on the computer. I think of ways to make more money to buy more. I actually enjoy shopping for husbandry equipment. To me, it's like buying jewelry for a new girlfriend. Then it hits me, the feeling I have is like when I was in love. I love my animals and I love what I am doing. Then I wonder....am I weird?
-----
5.4 BCI
0.3 BCC
1.1 Eastern Indigo
1.3.3 Western Hognose (Het Albino)
2.2 Ball Python (Het Pied/Spider/Pastel)
0.1 Chondro (Sorong)
1.1 Retic (Possible Het Calico)
1.1 Kimberly Monitor
2.2.10 Crested Gecko
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Striped California Kingsnake "Skid Mark"
0.0.1 Florida Softshell Turtle
0.0.1 African Long Neck Turtle
1.0 Pitbull
1.2 Kids
0.1 Ball and Chain

I do the same thing everyday. Although I wouldn't call us "normal".

Michael Burton

Manny

I think the majority of us in here do the same thing as you. For me, the snake room is kind of my "safe place". I suffer from REALLY bad panic attacks and other anxiety related issues, when I'm having a rough moment, spending time in the snake room checking on everyone, cleaning, etc. calms me down and keeps my mind occupied to get me passed an episode. Needless to say that room is cleaner than it should be at times. haha
-----
If you don't stand behind our troops, please, feel free to stand in front of them!

www.rezendesreptiles.com

I totally understand. I'll have my iPod on, sometimes a glass of wine and I'm in "my world" like a good book. Intruders get barked at.
-----
5.4 BCI
0.3 BCC
1.1 Eastern Indigo
1.3.3 Western Hognose (Het Albino)
2.2 Ball Python (Het Pied/Spider/Pastel)
0.1 Chondro (Sorong)
1.1 Retic (Possible Het Calico)
1.1 Kimberly Monitor
2.2.10 Crested Gecko
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Striped California Kingsnake "Skid Mark"
0.0.1 Florida Softshell Turtle
0.0.1 African Long Neck Turtle
1.0 Pitbull
1.2 Kids
0.1 Ball and Chain

Holy @^%$ I kinda do the same thing you do! It has help my anxiety big time when I get in my zone in my snake room also! I hate panic attacks Man those suck big time im glad your snake room is your safe haven. Best way to mellow out and feel calm for sure..
Jake

lol I do the same !! when I'm having a long day I hold one of my boa while I stare at the rest chillin in the cages, Relax And calm me down It's like when Fish people stare on a fish tank relax or stress relief. for me my boas do that for me. So am i wierd or what? I guess a lil bit lol!!!
-----
Albert
Getting back from boa hobby!!!
0.1 fiance , not super tame, but getting there!! lol
0.1 Sharp line albino , poss het sharpsnow
1.1 TH Sharp snowglow
1.0 CA stripe proven super hypo
1.1 Hypo nics
1.0 Emerald line sunset
1.1 pure Proven Cancun boa
0.2 Betty line hog island
4.4 CA hypo/hogs het full body stripes
0.2 CA poss. super hypo
1.1 DH CA type 2 ghost
2.0 CA Tpos nic
0.1 hypo het Tpos nic
1.0 Proven Red group Jungle
1.1 hypo jungles
1.1 Dogs
Lots of feeder mice and rats !!!

Ha Ha it's a funny and fun addiction we all have !

. . . Lar M
-----
Boas By Klevitz

I Support USark.org

It's nice to know other people act just like me when it comes to my snakes. =D I like being weird with ya Bro also it's nice to be in love with a hobby that most people don't understand the joy and love we get from our little creepy crawlers. They are the most beautiful living things that evolved here on earth for us to admire. My pet snakes mean the world to me and I wouldn't change it for anything or price! Fantastic post my friend
CHEERS,
Jake Britton

I feel you completely! I'm a little OCD in ways, and what you described.... sounds VERY FAMILIAR! Doing what you do... "completes me" ha ha. I love it too!!! Don't feel bad. 90% of my dreams are about snakes I wish I had in my collection.

Who in their right mind would want to be "normal"??? There is no fun in conformity. Ha Ha ! My boas have always been a comfort zone for me as well. I've kept snakes since I was about 8 and I don't know what I'd do without them.

I cant resist.

Usually I just read and check for violations, but I couldn't resist.

I spend all year looking forward to the show season and the time I can be around normal people. The time I get to go to herp society meetings and be around normal people.

Some people call me weird, some call me crazy and with the merging of people who know me now from the reptile community and people who know me from the "real" world on facebook I get called weird or crazy a lot.

But see my norm is friends who have reptiles. In fact I have one friend that I call my non-pet friend. She has a dog and a cat but she lives a mainstream life. Pets are part of her life not her life. So I dont consider myself weird, but the norm. Its everyone else who doesnt own snakes that is weird.
-----
Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
Visit kingsnake on Facebook!
Follow Kingsnake on Twitter!

But what is "normal" really?

This is the best post I have seen in sometime. It put exactly how I feel about my snakes into words. Thank you for it.
-----
Jesse Van Atta

"Continuing to cling to the patterns you know, inhibits your ability to discover what you don't know." - Eric Allenbaugh

How's this to illustrate how I feel about "being weird"?

jb
-----
What's written above is purely my opinion. In fact, MOST of what you read on the internet is someone's opinion. Don't take it too seriously

Jonathan Brady
DeviantConstrictors.com
Deviant Constrictors picturetrail

Not weird at all. That just shows that you love your animals and they are your world. That is how it goes around here. Every morning the poos from the night before are cleaned up. People needing a quick bath get that and the ones that need a good handling now and again get that as well. Keep up the good work at what you love and all that can come out of it is happiness. We love this hobby and are ecstatic to be doing it for a living. It is a dream come true.
-----

That was a thing of beauty. Write more when you have a chance.
-----
Jeff Ronne Sr
The Boaphile
Director USARK

Originator of Boaphile Plastics
The Boaphile Boa Site

We are snake NERDS. Lol...
-----
Richard Ceniceros

What a great feeling reading your words....Thanks Guys!!!

@ Jeff...Stay tuned.

Kenny
-----
5.4 BCI
0.3 BCC
1.1 Eastern Indigo
1.3.3 Western Hognose (Het Albino)
2.2 Ball Python (Het Pied/Spider/Pastel)
0.1 Chondro (Sorong)
1.1 Retic (Possible Het Calico)
1.1 Kimberly Monitor
2.2.10 Crested Gecko
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Striped California Kingsnake "Skid Mark"
0.0.1 Florida Softshell Turtle
0.0.1 African Long Neck Turtle
1.0 Pitbull
1.2 Kids
0.1 Ball and Chain