Pride Is Getting Some High End Corns!

I decided that after I upgraded my status here, I'd buy some corns online. One of the first websites I ever saw when I started with corn snakes was Don's store and I generally use his prices as a basis for my collections "average" total. I called him up yesterday to ask a few questions and I must say he is a very pleasant person and even went into the nursery to make sure he had the snakes I wanted.

Of course, after I got off the phone with him, I sorta changed my mind about the snakes I wanted. I am stealing a pair Diffused Aneries (Granites) and a female Blood (Line-bred Diffused). The rest of the box may contain the snake I want or similarly priced. As you know, at this time of year most breeders are either out, near out, or between hold backs and waiting for pips. I was surprised to discover that Don was pretty much out of normals. I'd have thought he'd have a ton of those around.

Anyway, yesterday I had ordered 2 Diffused Aneries, 1 female Blood, and 2 Striped Ghosts. I received an email from Don saying that he was sorry but he only had one Striped Ghost. He took the time to actually list almost 40 snakes that he did have an the prices and was very willing to correct anything that needed correcting.

I emailed him back asking if I could change my order to add snakes he did have and subtract snakes he didn't. I'll end up spending more, but I think I'm okay with that. I'm still waiting for an email back but I changed my order to:

Diffused Anery x2
Female Blood
Amel Strawberry (if available still)
Blood het hypo and lav x2

I did tell Don that if he happened to sell any of these before he gets my email, than to feel free to replace any with corns that are of the same price or less. So, as of now I'm sorta getting a mystery box. I don't see how I can wait until Don's shipping day!

And then there's the Expo. Please expect tons of "my new addition" threads from me in the next 10 days. I'm so excited! Thank goodness I have skin because I'd be bursting everywhere if it weren't for my skin.

You definately cannot go wrong getting snakes from Don. He is an awesome guy to work with and has top notch animals. Look forward to seeing pics of the new additions when you get them!

Your mystery box sounds like fun! Don has beautiful corns and you won't be disappointed. Please post pictures when you get them. I am excited for you.

I would be willing to pay for a Mystery Box from Don. I already have one mystery snake, what are two or three more? I wish some breeders did a straight flat rate fun box for those who want the snakes but can't decide between all the pretty colors.

Dreamsnake, I know what you mean. I was trying to decide between his Amel Strawberry and his Pewter blood. There are also a ton of snakes he doesn't list on the site. I think when I have another couple hundred to spend, I'll have to ask him for his complete list. I'm not sure if he would be okay with me sharing the list he sent, so I'm trying not to mention too many on there. But boy oh boy!

I also wish I had enough for his Rosy Blood. I actually like the snakes pictured for some reason. But, I can't afford $1000 for two snakes at the moment.

As far as Mystery Boxes, do a lot of breeders do that? Are a lot of people interested in buying them?

I'd never be able to turn down a pewter! If I had to pick, i'd end up spending way too much money. Thats so exciting! I can't wait to see what you get. I am fully expecting to pickup a granite and a blood at the next expo here, but theres also a 1:1 classic het terrazzo thats been tempting me for ages....*sigh* I'm a little jelous of you, you know! lol
I like the concept of mystery box, but really...I'd like to pick what I get. I think that breeders would too...but maybe there would be people like you say, who love corns but cant choose.
Anyway, cant wait for pics!!

Still no word from Don, but it's only 11:39 am here. I'm waiting on another snake or two to be delivered on this Tuesday. I don't know what I want more, to go to the expo (where I'm getting at least one snake) or for Tuesday to come!

Congrats on the new additions coming...
Don usually sells out of his babies every year but I think with the economy the way it is, the corn market has dropped quite a bit.. Not to mention when Serpenco let go of all of his stock, a lot of people where only buying from him to get the great deals on some really high end stuff he was offering.. Hopefully the marked and the economy will pick up soon...

If I keep with the way I'm going, I don't think Don will have much of a problem with left over hatchlings. I've fired my accountant because she doesn't stop me from spending money. Luckily she's a cute dog, so I don't think she minds ruining her career as an accountant. Lol.

Most normals are generally whole saled off at a rather early time to.. Most people don't think there is much value in buying normals, regardless of the hets.. * shrugs*

Regards Tim of T and J

I was planning on buying about five or six normals if the hets were known, but there weren't that many. Just surprised me because I figured that's what would be left. Who knew I'd be wrong?

But I am happy with my other choices. If only I got a confirmation email! I hope he got mine. Maybe I should send a "did you get my email" email?

I have never done business with Don. I'm a little intimidated by the mystery of everything, how you never know what he has in the "back room." I have never, ever heard anyone say a bad word about Don or his snakes, though. Sure can't beat his guarantee! I _wanted_ to buy a snake from him at Daytona two years ago, but he didn't want to sell it, and it was priced at $1200...Way out of my price range! I _think_ it was an ultra anery stripe. Something like that.

Well, I can't wait to see pics of your new additions! Congratulations!

Check the email you use for PayPal . .

One of the most common problems of using PayPal's shopping cart is that no phone number is provided. As soon as I received your order, I sent you an email thanking you for your order, but I have not received a response from you yet. Without your phone number, I have no other way of contacting you, unless I send you a USPS snail mail. The few times I've done that, I received a call or email before the letter was delivered.

Perhaps your PayPal account eddress is not your primary email address, and you have not checked it. Regardless, if you write to me again ([email protected]), I'll fwd the email I sent you at 1:16 pm on May 13th.

Don Soderberg
South Mountain Reptiles
www.cornsnake.NET

Sent you an email Don. Thanks for finding me here instead. Look for an email from Mary Ellen Smith. It's my alias!

I had a dream about the "strawberry" last night! I dreamed it was a morph that looked like a nearly patternless Sinoloan or Nelson's milksnake, with the red body and blak and orange spots. How strange. I dreamed that I had seen a man named Harlan give a presentation about them at Daytona or Repticon or something like that!

Am I hearing that in the future you'll be looking for strawberries from me? Striped or regular? Lol.

Do you know a Harlan?

After the long wait, here are pictures:

First is the pretty Amel Strawberry Female. Wonder what she'll look like as an adult?


Then, the Blood red het hypo blood red Male. I think this means both parents were bloods? One het for hypo?


The only half-decent picture I took of the Blood red het hypo lavender female. She's in shed, so we'll wait a little longer for more pictures.


Then the Blood red female. No hets listed.


And some real favorites: Granites! The first is Male Granite possible het Motley, Charcoal, and Pie-sided. The second is the female. Not sure how to input pie-sided into the Corn Calc though. Kinda a toss-up?

Very very nice Halley!!

Ohh pretty! I have a granite I bought last summer and it's crazy how much lighter she is now. I was looking at her "baby" pics and didn't even realize it was her until I realized I don't have any other non-striped anery morphs (o: Awesome phets on yours too!

You can't go wrong with Don's stock! I have four beautiful babies from him. And it's "pied-sided" and is not in the Corn Calc as it's currently unknown how it's inherited. No-white Pied-Sided x Same can produce in range some extremely Pied-Sided to more no-white offspring.

I think I have the brother to your Granite pair, as mine is also poss. het Charcoal, Motley, and Pied-Sided and was bred by Don.


They all look great! Congrats on the new additions!