Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know this is not Ball ifo or a question, but since i do raise Balls(29 so far) i thought i would post my move. I am leaving Minnesota by 25 June for sunny Florida. I will be moving about an hour north of Tampa.

I am really looking foward to the move since there are a lot of Ball things going on down there. Heck, here in Minnesota there are not even any reptile shows(that i know of). I went to my 1st show this past year to Kansas City and thought that was a super show(even though there were very few Balls).

I can't wait for Daytona. I hear that's the big one. I can't wait to meet(i hope) some breeders down there. So many good ones. Just to be able to talk shop with some would be great. Also, have the chance to see and buy Balls in person.

Also, the weather here is cold. Winter i have the heat blasting to keep my Balls warm. But then the humidity wants to go to like 20%, so then i have to work on that. Florida i am gussing those problems will not be going on(although i am sure others will come). If anyone can tell me ahead of time what to watch for, that would be great. Also, we plan on building a housing building for my Balls and mice/rats. That will be nice.

Anyways, i look forward to the move and getting into it there. Thanks... John

The winters here can get chilly at times, i live about 2 hrs below tampa and saw high 20's this past winter a couple nights.
Which happens usually once or twice a winter. Usual winter temps dont go below 40 or so low and high 50's low 60's during day.
You'll have spells during winter where ya might see 80, but for the most part, its a mild winter.
Summer can be brutal at times, but bearable.
When i 1st moved here, i noticed on the hot days, all ya have to do is stand outside, and you'll sweat like a pig. So ya have to get use to doing things outside in summer full of sweat, like tieng a hook on your line with your hands all sweaty and it running in your eyes. Big fun!
Overall i love it!
Alot less liberals then up north and since you'll be on the west coast you wont have to deal with as many snobs etc.
Daytona is a blast, dont know how many "big" breeders you'll get to talk to, or want to talk to, but there is plenty of eye candy.
There are quite a few herpshows down here and herp society if your into that.
So , ya gonna become a bucs fan or still root for the purple pansies?(just messin with ya)
If your into fishing you'll love it!
Mosquitos SUCK!! but they try and keep it under control, and lock your doors and car wherever you go!

Come on down yankee, we'd love to have ya!!

and if ya are gonna build a seperate building for snakes , rats etc, insulate it well and dont put many windows in it. Good luck

you will also have some of these in your yard once and a while,

WOW, lots of cool advise, thanks. I am so looking forward to getting down there. Been there a few times for a month at a pop in July and had no problem. That's what AC is for...

"No See 'ems", got it covered, didn't you know that Minnesota's state bird is the Mosquito? With 10,000 lakes we have a few flying around...

I do like the Buc's, but will still wear the Purple Pride shirts in my house. Buc's jersey in public...

Thanks for all the advise, i will keep in touch... John

Hey John...

I moved from Ohio to Jax in '01 and would NEVER go back up north......winters are a breeze..no snow..no ice..no ten layers of clothing and yet, still freezing your a!! off!

Herping is AWESOME! I have seen more herps in my back yard then I did in the entire state of Ohio.......plus....swamps galore...lots and lots of gators. If you've never seen a gator in the wild (like me until I moved here).....there's NOTHING like it......such a rush! There are a lot of state parks that are REAL nice......especially around Gainesville.....will probably be around a 2 hr drive from where you'll be moving.

The Daytona show is great.....LOTS of eye candy!

A heads up.......the yankee comments will come in by the truck loads....but they're just a bunch of line bred, crawfish fed, no brain in head southern rednecks.....so it's easily overlooked

Anyways.....you'll love it down here.

Thank you for the welcome. I have been to Florida a few times on vactiotion a month at a time. I do like it a lot there.

One of the big reasons i am moving is to get away from winters. I am from Upstate NY and have been all over the world with the 10 years in the Army. I also lived in Hawaii for 10 years before coming to Minnesota(i know what its like not to be native). Its nothing but a thing.

Yes, seen Gators in the wild(only 2) but that was enough to make the blood rush through me. I can't wait to hit the swamps.

Nothing wrong with eye candy at Daytona. Will be great to see some of these great snakes in real life. Heck, might buy a piece or 2 of candy...

Again, thank you... John