Alright everyone it seemed like as of late there has been a couple of disagreements on the forum and i have noticed alot of it is because of the fact that, well too many people are assuming things or are implying things about people that are or aren't true. I thought it would be good if everyone knew where everyone else was coming from... so here is my part, aka my story.
My name is Jason Christner and i was born in raised in central florida. Im 17 years old (i know a youngin) but have been blessed that i've been involved in reptiles since pretty much i came out of the womb. In fact i bet the only kid that grows up to have more experience than me as a child is Connor (im jealous kelly...my parents were cool but not that cool..haha)
My dad and mom have been great supporting me 100% in everything i did (well usually sometimes i leave them just shaking there heads) My mom has been a reptile lover for a long time taking me all over the U.S. to visit different zoo's and go field herping almost anywhere you can imagine in the Eastern (and a little W.) US. My dad was always right beside me usually the one pulling me out of the poision ivy pile.
I was lucky enough to be born in Ormond Beach (right next to Daytona) so i've been attending the Daytona EXpo for awhile and have had a good look at the herp community for a while. I've been field herping throughout florida, which has led to some great memories with some great people. BOy could i tell some stories...
"Oh S#$% there is an 8ft alligator on my foot"
"God D#$% it Clayton your sitting on an alligator snapper"
"Dude brad don't move there is a water mocasin in your back pocket"
I've been lucky and blessed as i've said. My breeding career started back in 96 (only 9 at the time) with some friends hatching... thats right you guessed it the most abundant herp in florida.. the brown anole. I've since moved up in the ranks including keeping and breeding
Iguanas (never again..2 yers)
Bearded Dragons (from normals to reds, since 97)
anoles (oh yeah wouldn't it be great if the incubation period
on leo eggs was only 12 days)
Leos (gotta love em from normals to Screaming albinos, going on
4 years)
California and firebelly Newts (the original cool little
suckers.)
Crested geckos (never really interested me)
i've also kept
Any herp that has lived in florida no joke from pygmy rattlesnakes to box turtles.
I've had a lot of experience and even gotten to work with some pretty cool people Dr. W (not even gonna try and spell) of the UF vet school and had countless hours of phone conversation with herpers around the U.S. Not to mention MRS. Clark my AP Biology teach (yeah got a 5 out of 5 on the exam..woohoo)
Im looking forward to graduating high school (got a 3.9 and 1300 on sat's) and am looking to go to vet school in either
UF (hence the name.. may just follow in my sister's footsteps)
Texas A&M (straight up probably the best vet school in the nation)
I look forward to this year because it looks like one of my long term goals will be complete... getting to Do a show in my hometown... thats right THE NRBE Daytona expo.
I've had alot of help from people in the leo community including
ROn tremper (learned so much at the countless Daytona expos)
Kn reptiles (nicole great hearty animals)
Brian and Laura Hamel (tribla propagation my backyard herping
Buddies.)
Alberto AMgecko (thanks again man)
and countless other people on this forum including Rob Jenkins, Kelli Hammack, and Josh06 (where did you go man).
There are too many to thank all together
This has been my story and how i got into reptiles.. i've made myself now vulnerable to attack but im just hoping this forum will open up some.. combined we all have so much knowledge to share.
Thanks for reading this big long thing if you did
Jason
ps. my old screen name was JCgecko
)
