Greetings Everyone,
Forgive me as this is not about a retic, but everyone knows I've had retics and plan to get more soon...I'm just grieving so heavily, I'm posting this to the forums I usually peruse just needing to talk with fellow herpers. 
One very sad note...I got back from MA late last night...I came home to check on my animals (as my parents have been looking after them for me) and I found my first red tail...my baby, my Nyoka, had been killed by his female. They have been breeding together over the past 6 months and she's never acted badly towards him. They stay snuggled up and "in action" for the majority of their time.
I have never felt this heartbroken over a reptile (they always break my heart when they pass away as any of the countless rescues that were hopeless beyond repair have)...but Nyoka was my first red tail and the sweetest of sweethearts and one of a kind with a solid stripe connecting his saddles (what they label as a circleback). Beautiful animal.
It shocked me so badly, I could not physically stand on my own two feet. All I could do for over an hour was sit there and sob as I had just lost my best friend, asking whoever would listen, "why Nyoka? Why did it have to be him?" It took me over three hours before I would get up and stop shaking. My hands are still shakey. I just can't believe he's gone. I feel so terrible right now. I was worried as always about my animals while up in MA job hunting....I didn't expect to come home and find my baby, my jewel, belly up and halfway strewn about his water pool where she strangled the life out of him. I can't stop crying about him. I know a lot of people think their animals are JUST animals....mine are my children. Every one of them, regardless of what the market value says about them, are priceless to me. I'll never find another boa like him. He's the first snake I've ever felt this distraught over. He was perfectly healthy, a great feeder and a great friend I hoped to watch grow up. He was only 4' 4" long.
Many people who met him laughed about how comical he was. He actually would rub his chin back and forth on your hand if he wanted a chin rub or if you stopped rubbing his chin. He recognized me by scent and I swear he knew his name.
RIP Cereno Nyoka. March 30, 2002 - June 26th, 2004.
Too short of a life for such a magnificent baby. I love you my sweet boy. I'll miss you terribly.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be morbid. I just have to tell somebody and everybody that knows me.
Hugs,
Amanda Rose
