Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I haven't read it yet but it looks to be a great book. The morph photos and info are terrific. Rin

I haven't gotten all the way through it yet, but so far I'm loving it. That last chapter on how collecting works in Africa is really interesting. It gives us a chance to see a side of the ball python hobby that few will ever experience. And half the book is descriptions of morphs. Thank you Kevin for a great read.

Mark

>>I haven't read it yet but it looks to be a great book. The morph photos and info are terrific. Rin

>>I haven't gotten all the way through it yet, but so far I'm loving it. That last chapter on how collecting works in Africa is really interesting. It gives us a chance to see a side of the ball python hobby that few will ever experience. And half the book is descriptions of morphs. Thank you Kevin for a great read.
>>
>>Mark
>>
>>
>>>>I haven't read it yet but it looks to be a great book. The morph photos and info are terrific. Rin

It can't WAIT TIL I GET MINE!!!!!!

I still have not even seen it...my shipment is on its way...

Ugghhhhh...but THANKS!!!!

Yeah..the DARK SIDE OF AFRICA PART.....

And I was being a bit nice...

Kev@NERD
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www.newenglandreptile.com

Kevin - is there anywhere where people could check out the table of contents or a couple of pages of the book? I think there may be a misconception about what may be in the book - personally I don't need "another coffee table snake book" - but if (as was previously mentioned and deleted) there is some really interesting stuff in it - I would most definately be interested in putting it on my X-mas list.

Thanks and congratulations you must be stoked!!!
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

I don't officially have my book yet...not the real actual thing.

As far as the content there is a bunch of stuff on husbandry, habitat, how they are hatched in Africa, care, problems, picking out a good snake for the novice and trying to understand what snakes are all about. Then there is info on problems and correcting keeper errors. Good info to help an inexperienced person keep a Ball Python well. Genetics stuff drilled into the readers head so they can use it as a reference. How to force feed a baby ball python, how to make a finicky one eat. Then some stuff on markers and what may key a breeder in on a certain trait..... some early years stuff and what it was like back in the early/mid 90's ...NO BALL PYTHON MARKET (except albinos). A forward by Ralph talking about Ralph and occasionally me...... Nah, Ralph being Ralph...a prelude to his line of books. ROCK ON!!!!!!!!!!

Rock ON WAYWARD BALL PYTHON BONERS!!!!

A ton of morphs, pictures, descriptions, combinations and the people RESPONSIBLE and getting credit for making them! That section is almost like a cook book. Then some stuff about Africa and what goes on over there....for real. There are many people that made some great stuff and they DESERVE to be known and others to appreciate their accomplishments. There are a lot of snakes in it to be proud of!

Some odd snippets of stuff....

As far as you being into ball pythons and not wanting another Coffee Table book......

It is not just a picture book....that is for sure. There are tons of pictures but that is just what we want to see along with tons of text.

It's not just all pretty ball pythons and fairies...and daisies...and kittens....

and cute baby pugs..

Well, I'll save the cute little critters for the next book Retics, Bloods and BURMS!!

Kevin@NERD

Now all don't be HATIN!!!!

SNIP!

>Kevin - is there anywhere where people could check out the table of contents or a couple of pages of the book? I think there may be a misconception about what may be in the book - personally I don't need "another coffee table snake book" - but if (as was previously mentioned and deleted) there is some really interesting stuff in it - I would most definately be interested in putting it on my X-mas list.
>>
>>Thanks and congratulations you must be stoked!!!

>>-----
>>Tosha
>>
>>"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"
>>
>>7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
>>1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
>>0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
>>0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
>>0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
>>2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
>>0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer
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www.newenglandreptile.com

Dear NERD,
Will the book be available for purchase at the big Book stores? I have hardly any paitence and would like to purchase a copy Thank you.

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In Loving Memory of the best Brother God gave me
Sgt. Arnold DuPlantier II
(Army National Guard, Charlie Rock Co.)
06/03/1979-06/22/2005
Support Our Troops

>>Dear NERD,
>> Will the book be available for purchase at the big Book stores? I have hardly any paitence and would like to purchase a copy Thank you.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>-----
>>In Loving Memory of the best Brother God gave me
>> Sgt. Arnold DuPlantier II
>> (Army National Guard, Charlie Rock Co.)
>> 06/03/1979-06/22/2005
>> Support Our Troops
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www.newenglandreptile.com

its getting cold in hear...all of the post keep vanishing....

BRING ON THE HATERS!!!!

For whatever reason they feel the need to dis it....bring it ON!

If anyone thingks this is some book just gleened from the internet they are just plain wrong. I spent and IMMENSE amount of time getting it together...
Don't forget I gaduated three grade and spent my days righting it by the conkrete pond by my mansune and eaten big boles of sear real....

The poor editors tryen to deel with mi crayyons...

KINGSNAKE...please forgo the POLITICAL CORRECTNESS HERE!!!!

SATAN
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www.newenglandreptile.com

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht u'se was cayin butt I's canst waht to git you book and it deosn't mttaer waht porbelms ohter poeple has cuase thye jellus.
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Steve Markevich

www.SerpentsDen.com

My Email

taTh aws sracy...mdae it ot teh trihd wrod broifer ti hite em oot!
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Charles Glaspie

Tanstaafl:
"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch".
An acronym created by my favorite author Robert A. Heinlein.

NP

Amzanig huh? I bet yu awlyas thuoght
slpeling was ipmorantt....lol
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Steve Markevich

www.SerpentsDen.com

My Email

Interpreting your ball python’s behavior
Snakes live their lives in a few basic modes. Gaining a basic understanding of these modes will help you as a keeper to “read” your snake, better allowing you to meet the animal’s needs.

Sleeping, snakes will lay motionless with their pupil barely dilated to prevent excessive light, remember, they do not have eyelids. Hunting prey, this is the immediate response to the stimulus of sudden movement, suitable prey smells and small warm objects in strike range. Snakes will spend much of the day sleeping and waiting to ambush prey. A snake can immediately trigger from sleep to attacking a prey item in an instance. This is nature’s way of ensuring optimal use of the event; it may be quite some time before another opportunity comes along. The keeper must realize that a snake may occasionally bite if this is not understood. Example, you pet your cat and then go and try to pick up your sleeping snake. The snake has been waiting all day with a hair trigger, sudden movement, the smell of fur and a warm object may initiate an attempt to secure prey. The excited snake snags the keepers hand and a startling event occurs. The snake acted on instinct and the keeper did not practice a responsible approach. The washing of your hands after touching anything furry may be a good precaution and waking the snake up enough to allow it to go into thinking mode is advised. This mode is the snake actually investigating its environment taking in smells, heat signatures and all the activity it can sense. Watch the snake, long tongue flicks and inquisitive meandering are a definite sign of a content and thinking snake. In this mode the snake is unlikely to mistake you as a potential food item and this is the mode we enjoy the most. My personal thoughts are that snakes do recognize their keeper given enough time to learn who you are and how the two of you interact. Some snakes may be nervous when handled by a stranger and may appear spastic; this is a snake that is afraid and uncomfortable with the situation. When a snake feels as if it may fall or it is being mishandled it may become agitated and quick moving. At this point it may be inclined to bite as it tries to defend itself, this is defensive behavior, this is not the snake being mean! Nature equipped this little python with many short, needle-like teeth that assure the animal of being noticed if it chooses to bite. The majority of ball pythons are unlikely to bite unless great harm is feared; occasionally we find the lemon in the group. I have seen outwardly aggressive ball pythons on occasion that may even go out of their way to snap at me. These snakes are unusually nervous and basically fear the world is out to get them. They are biting out of excessive fear, not because they are mean. Mean is a human emotion and serves no purpose in the animal kingdom.
Depression, I also believe some snakes may act depressed when things are not correct in their environment and seem to become inactive and secretive. This may occur when the cage is located in the path of heavy traffic and the snake never feels secure, over time this effect can lead to the demise of a healthy ball python. There are a host of things that can cause this effect so it is important to understand the basic requirements of the animal and then add a good dose of common sense. Imagine being placed in a beautiful home without a phone. Every time you go outside of your house there is a giant Godzilla looking at you, you run back inside and hide. The Godzilla is very excited to see you so he picks up your house and pulls you out and looks you over. After a time the Godzilla loses interest in you and places you back in your yard and puts your house down. Godzilla did not actually hurt you but he is still Godzilla, at this point he is not to be trusted. You are frequented by “Godzilla,” who provides you with plenty of food and water; the rumbles of Godzilla are felt with frequency. You are very nervous of this situation. At any moment Godzilla could demand your presence and awaken you removing you from your home. Sometimes Godzilla has other monsters that also play with you but never hurt you, it is a scary experience, and it takes time to trust Godzilla. At first the experience may have terrified you and you did not feel comfortable but you learned that Godzilla did not harm you. Over time you may even feel comfortable with your Godzilla. Snakes need time to settle in, understand their surroundings and trust the human / snake interaction factor.
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www.newenglandreptile.com

Wow if I ever written a book I would at least like to see the finished product first before anyone else. I bet you're excited! I can hardly wait to get my copy.

All the best
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Steve Markevich

www.SerpentsDen.com

My Email

I was fortunate enough to get a copy of the book yesterday thanks to Bob Ashley and Pete Kahl that happened to stop by Bob’s on the way to visit, and picked one up for me. I haven’t gotten a chance to read the entire book yet, but what I have read is fantastic. Kevin and Kara you’ve outdone yourselves. Anyone that is even remotely interested in Ball Pythons or even just snakes has to get this book. I’m just glad that the wait is finally over.
When is part two coming out? great job guys, Brian

>>I was fortunate enough to get a copy of the book yesterday thanks to Bob Ashley and Pete Kahl that happened to stop by Bob’s on the way to visit, and picked one up for me. I haven’t gotten a chance to read the entire book yet, but what I have read is fantastic. Kevin and Kara you’ve outdone yourselves. Anyone that is even remotely interested in Ball Pythons or even just snakes has to get this book. I’m just glad that the wait is finally over.
>> When is part two coming out? great job guys, Brian

Thanks!!!

You have a bunch of stuff in there that is for sure and it must be nice to see your efforts documented for everyone to see!

As far as part 2 and me saying the book is outdated.

Outdated : I joke the book is outdated since there were more morphs hatched after blue line on the book. The book itself has some good info and the morph section will be UPDATED and new revisions will be printed and content will be added to keep it growing.

Part Two : Will be the next print run with all of the additions and things I need to fix and more stories to tell. This was my first book and I had no idea what I was doing, Kara kept me leveled and sharpened my crayon as needed. She is a great editor as well as POOR RUSS who got mentally thrashed and did lots of arranging and editing. He is now better trained!

This book will keep coming out with new stuff to keep it current...or at least make it chase "current"! It is also going to be translated into German and possibly another language. We also have a short version for the Pet Stores which should help the novice and tease them with some morph stuff. Collectively the books may help bring some new people into it and add to the Ball Python Community.

The publisher is Bob & Sheri Ashley @ ECO. They were great to deal with to say the least. The whole thing is funny since we just started the whole thing by planning to write a short book for the Pet Stores. In short time it exceeded that and grew into whatever it is now. I could not write about ball pythons and make it short and sweet, there was too much to say. We had to reverse engineer it and strip down The Complete Ball Python to the short version.

To all that ordered it...next week!!

Brian with all your new additions as well as the all of little people such as the Ralph's...... it is outdated at time of print and it will NEED to keep being revised. I was almost getting frustrated with this and that being hatched......every time I turned around someone was hatching something cool. Between jealousy and having to make additions it was getting hard!!!!

Snake Keeper was an offender.
BHB Was an offender.
Ralph and his kiss army.
Grazianis.... and some other breeders that kept coming up with something new. There were some GREAT morphs left out and I really wanted them in the book...... I think it is just the nature of the book beast.

My snoopy camera is ready for action - Kev@NERD
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www.newenglandreptile.com

np

n/p

next week.......

Did you tell me what to write in it...

I need content...... my crayon needs some love

"To the ultimate Ball Python snake god......" kind of things.

SATAN
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www.newenglandreptile.com

>>next week.......
>>
>>Did you tell me what to write in it...
>>
>>I need content...... my crayon needs some love
>>
>>"To the ultimate Ball Python snake god......" kind of things.
>>
>>SATAN
>>-----
>>www.newenglandreptile.com
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g...

Yes Kev it was ordered, write whatever you whant like " I will leave all my snakes to Victor in the near future".....LOL......later
Victor

I pre-ordered several months ago... had hope to have it before this business trip... would have helped pass the 21 hour flight!!! Hopefully it will be waiting there for me when I get Home. Can't wait to dig in.From the excerpt looks like it will be worth the wait!!!
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"There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness"
COLD BLOOD.........WARM HEART

I just bought one......When do I get it?