I am so obsessed....I really love them...

[DaGiant]

Gotta love the addiction!
2 yrs ago I wouldn't get near a snake,
Mar 06 I held and bought my first snake ('05 Striped Motley)
then Oct '06 I got my second one.
From 9/07 to present I've gotten 23 more!!!

With work and family issues and other pressures, my snakes are my
"SANITY"
When I handle, feed or other wise care for my snakes, the rest
of the insane world goes away for awhile.
I can't imagine not having them now!

Eagerly awaiting eggs and so on in a few months! (My 1st attempt)

 

[Monger]

Gotta love the addiction!
2 yrs ago I wouldn't get near a snake,
Mar 06 I held and bought my first snake ('05 Striped Motley)
then Oct '06 I got my second one.
From 9/07 to present I've gotten 23 more!!!

With work and family issues and other pressures, my snakes are my
"SANITY"
When I handle, feed or other wise care for my snakes, the rest
of the insane world goes away for awhile.
I can't imagine not having them now!

Eagerly awaiting eggs and so on in a few months! (My 1st attempt)

I know what you mean, it's incredibly therapeutic.

 

[Wylie]

I feel the same way and can relate to most of what everyone has said. I can't believe it took me THIS LONG to get my first snake! I had no idea what I was missing out on!!

Hehe, I have a lot of snake dreams also, sometimes about Flash but mostly about different corn snake morphs and getting one of the new morphs I want.

...
When I handle, feed or other wise care for my snakes, the rest
of the insane world goes away for awhile...

Yep! Same here. When I handle Flash I'm on cloud 9, it's like nothing else exists outside of me and Flash, it's a great feeling.

 

[susang]

I agree I enjoy my snakes so much. I also love watching the rats, as a mom and babies sits next to my computer. So it's how cute this, or look at that, or I see a snake out peeking through the aspen and think Oh! cute. My problem is my other passion is quilting. Very few maybe 5% of my quilter friends think my rats and snakes are cute. I post quilt pics on here and get great feed back. It would be nice if my quilty friends didn't get grossed out by any pic I post of snakes or rats.:shrugs:

 

[cassandra]

I gotta admit I am obsessed as well...and really over the past month or so, I'd have to say the cornsnake is jockeyed for the "favorite" position!

I have 4 snakes, each a different species, and really up to now, my suriname has been my favorite. But now that my corn is maturing (he's 18ish months now), he's a complete joy to hold, much less "slithery" and sooooo soft and smooth. I love watching him trying to work out how to "escape"...haha, not happening dude! And when he's slithering around his tank, diving in and out of the aspen...just - so - cute!

Could do without the stink of his poo tho...he nearly rivals that of the burmese!

 

[susang]

What is really sad is I got the rats as potential feeders, just makig pets out of the breeders. No one told me the babies are so darn cute. I had to cut back on my colonies because I couldn't kill them and rats are very prolific. Mrs Potts had 16 little cuties I don't know what I'll do I can't keep 16. As soon as they're weaned the males will have to move out. Then I'll have to narrow it down to 2,3,4 ??? babies and Mom.

 

[starsevol]

That IS sad.
I have a very elderly spayed female that is rapidly going downhill. She eats and doesnt seem to be suffering, but has trouble getting around and has a tumor. I am going to miss her...she's the smartest lickiest little thing.

And I have 2 males, that come out to watch TV with me everynight. Very smart, affectionate, one LOVES to give kisses, and they come when called.

I tend to keep no more than 3 at a time. Easier that way!

I am glad you have succumbed to ratty cuteness.

 

[susang]

I got Mrs. Potts because her previous owners took her to pet shop to be sold as feeder (that OK I can deal with that) but because she was blind in one eye. She eats out of my hand and loves cereal treats, but I noticed today she is a little swollen near the right upper lip, by the blind eye.

 

[ZoologyMajor]

I love this addiction.. it is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I not only love the snakes but I love the people i have met and talked to along the way. I have always felt a kinship with snakes but my parents would never let me have one. Over time what you can't have you try hard to forget. All it took for me was going to the pet store on an errand for work. I saw those cute hatchlings and went home and did my research on them all over again. Needless to say I ended up getting a corn snake... and then 6 more... and a BP in the mix as well. Now I have plans for more as well as future breeding plans.

 

[JustineNYC]

I know I'm not the only one even though sometimes it feels as though I am. I am no newbie, having bought my first cornsnake 12 years ago next month (my darling Calvin). I am no awestruck wide-eyed youngster who sees the world with new eyes, I am a 45 year old woman who has run a business for 20 years.
Maybe it's because I don't have kids...I don't know....
but my snakes are the very last thing I think about before falling asleep, and the first thing I think about when I wake up. If one doesn't eat for some reason, I worry until they do. Like on Saturday night, Lugosi didn't eat his fuzzy. I barely slept Saturday night or Sunday night I was so worried. He is an 07 and while I tend to feed adults in their vivs (I use newspaper as substrate) the babies are fed in smaller containers so its easier for them to find their food. On Monday I got the brilliant idea that Lugosi was getting bigger, so maybe I should increase the size of his feeding container. Maybe my boy wanted a bit more space to enjoy his dinner So I tried that Monday night, and it worked! I slept great that night and couldn't stop smiling all day Tuesday. My baby ate for me! Scary how proud I was of him for doing that!

My thoughts are constantly on breeding plans (sometimes on plans years from now involving snakes that haven't even hatched yet), who ate, who shed, whose cage needs cleaning....it never ends. And through all that I am so proud to be a part of this incredible hobby. I love this addiction!

Your so cute!

Im the same way. My little one isnt doing too good and my stomach has been in knots all week. I get up 4 times a night to go peek in on her. I check on her all day long. And I think Ive even lost weight.

I was telling me friend about her regurges and her response was "Yea shes probably going to die"

Thats the last time I turn to her for consoling!:uhoh:

But I gotcha, Iknow what you mean!

 

[Lynnea]

The comments on the ratties are esp. interesting to me, as I have had pet rats on and off over the years. That's why I wasn't interested in snakes, because I couldn't bear the thought of feeding one of my ratties to a snake! When I found out I could feed the F/T, it made a total difference. Also, as much as I love rats, it always hurts me that they don't live very long, and it's very common for them to die of tumors. I cried when one of my favorite rats of all time died several years ago, also had a tumor.

 

[starsevol]

The comments on the ratties are esp. interesting to me, as I have had pet rats on and off over the years. That's why I wasn't interested in snakes, because I couldn't bear the thought of feeding one of my ratties to a snake! When I found out I could feed the F/T, it made a total difference. Also, as much as I love rats, it always hurts me that they don't live very long, and it's very common for them to die of tumors. I cried when one of my favorite rats of all time died several years ago, also had a tumor.

It hurts me too. But I try to look at life the way they do. 2 years to us is nothing, but to them its like 75 years! It doesnt bother THEM that their lives are so short, just us! So, I just try to make their lives as happy as possible with treats and playtime and love. When they leave me, my heart hurts...BUT its also a chance to make a new friend, and make another life as happy as possible!

I am so happy to have BOTH my snakes and my rats in my life. One gives me love and affection, but no future, the other is amazing to look at and fun to handle, and will be with me for many years.
I love that balance.

 

[ratsncorns]

Yup yup yup. I don't think I could get by without both my rats and my snakes. The rats show their affection in a bit different way than snakes do though . I think its perfect. Too bad not many other people understand my way of thinking... but that's what you guys are for!

 

[Lynnea]

That's a very good way to look at it. Hmmm....maybe I should reconsider having ratties back in my life. Every time I see them at the pet stores, I just miss them!! Thanks for your insights!

 

[ratsncorns]

Beth, I also have an older female rat. She is 32 months old and just got a 200g tumor removed a week and a half ago! She still have 2 other tumors though, both not removable unfortunately . For her age she is still so hyper and full of life. I will miss her so much when she passes... I can't bear to think about it. I wish I only kept 3 rats, as 9 is too much for me. Granted all but 2 are spayed/neutered so live in one huge cage (except my old girly) so that makes it easier. It seems that more just keep finding me and I am such a sucker! LOL

 

[starsevol]

Beth, I also have an older female rat. She is 32 months old and just got a 200g tumor removed a week and a half ago! She still have 2 other tumors though, both not removable unfortunately . For her age she is still so hyper and full of life. I will miss her so much when she passes... I can't bear to think about it. I wish I only kept 3 rats, as 9 is too much for me. Granted all but 2 are spayed/neutered so live in one huge cage (except my old girly) so that makes it easier. It seems that more just keep finding me and I am such a sucker! LOL

If I had my way I would probably have a few more, but hubby reins me in. And he's right...the vet bills can be staggering! My old girl was dropped off as an adult at my work, someone had heard I kept rats as pets and had instructions to drop "his friends rejected snake food" at the pet shop. He brought her to me instead. She was starving, dehydrated and terrified. Apparently she spent a weekend in the snake cage with no food or water. I made up for it, though

 

[Nanci]

So fancy rats are less likely to get tumors? I'd love to have a rat, but I don't want to go through that...

 

[starsevol]

So fancy rats are less likely to get tumors? I'd love to have a rat, but I don't want to go through that...

Fancy rats are just as likely to get tumors...males and spayed females are less likely to get tumors overall. Plus, you should never get just one rat, you really should have at least 2 because rats are very social animals and are ALOT happier and healthier with a buddy.

Keeping a rat alone is like sentencing a human to solitary confinement and letting him play with a dog an hour a day. Although he loves the interaction with the dog, there is no replacement for another human who speaks his language. Does that make sense?

 

[ratsncorns]

My girl with the tumor is not spayed. I have one other girl who is not but is still young, she is getting spayed this month. So my only old rat, unspayed, had 5 tumors, now has 2. She is a mess. One of the downsides of these little guys. So prone to tumors. Spaying/neutering reduces it, but it doesn't necessarily eliminate it unfortunately.

I got lucky and found a vet who would remove it relatively cheaply. She was unable to walk with that monster on her.

 

[starsevol]

My girl with the tumor is not spayed. I have one other girl who is not but is still young, she is getting spayed this month. So my only old rat, unspayed, had 5 tumors, now has 2. She is a mess. One of the downsides of these little guys. So prone to tumors. Spaying/neutering reduces it, but it doesn't necessarily eliminate it unfortunately.

I got lucky and found a vet who would remove it relatively cheaply. She was unable to walk with that monster on her.

My girl has a huge tumor, and does have trouble getting around. She sleeps most of the time now. She also has rear leg paralysis. The vet said she was too unstable to operate on. But she eats like a pig and doesnt appear to be in any pain. I never thought she would live til Christmas but she just keeps chugging along....