Floof
New member
(Be forewarned: I feel long-winded and emotional. This is going to be a long post!)
3rd anniversary of snake keeping, that is. Three years ago today, Fed-Ex came to my door with a little box from Serpenco. Inside was my pride, joy, and very first snake: Mallie, an '07 Anery female.
I was lucky enough to get into snakes the one (and only, or so I'm told) year Rich Z decided to try taking individual photos of the snakes, so not only did I get to pick her specifically, but I even have the "baby picture" Rich had of her on the site...
After I got her, settling in to her new home:
She was 12 grams when we got her... And boy has she grown a lot! She isn't the biggest corn snake in the world (partly my fault) at 261 grams and a little over 3 ft, but she's healthy, and that's what counts! Taken today...
My collection has experienced ups and downs, and some serious fluctuations. I went from one snake, to 20-something, back to one, then to two. I have owned a total of 8 different snake species, 9 different Corn morphs, a couple of tortoises, a box turtle, and even found myself caring for a rescued Bearded Dragon that turned into three when two more showed up needing a loving home..
I have learned to efficiently scrub a large aquarium clean using only bleach, water, and paper towels. I have learned how to properly and speedily thaw mice... And figured out there's no such thing as a fast way to thaw "Jumbo" rats. I have learned to semi-successfully bred mice and roaches... And figured out two things by way of those ventures: There's no way in h-e-double-hockey-sticks I'm ever raising live rodents again; and cockroaches aren't too bad as long as they don't fly, make noise, or move very fast... They're a crap ton better than crickets, that's for sure!
With the help of a beardie named Man Ray, one very sweet young boa named Osiris, a very gentle corn snake named Yelina, and, of course, Mallie, I have taught countless young kids that snakes aren't all bad, and have inadvertently turned two young second cousins into future snake moms and two other young girls (one another second cousin) into future beardie moms. It should go without saying, now I have two cousins and a friend of the family's brother who aren't very happy with me introducing their daughters to the world of reptiles.
Next on the list will be my almost two year old nephew. Then my sister can be none too happy with me, too.
I have hatched corn snake eggs once. I have gone against the wisdom of (not) cohabbing beardies once, then re-learned at the expense of Buttercup's good health why those recommendations exist. I have dealt with a snake "addiction," gotten overwhelmed and almost burned out on snakes, and got over both of those problems the very hard way. I have spent hundreds in vet bills that could have been prevented, and hundreds in vet bills that passed the point of "preventable" long before the animal entered my care.
It's been a long and bumpy road to get to this point, but I can't say I regret any little bit of it. Being the sole caretaker of these wonderful animals has taught me many hard lessons and has given me an infinite respect for the wild world around me. My dad likes to tease and say I'm "18 going on 30" for my maturity and level-headedness: two traits I never had, or expected to have, prior to November of 2007.
To the people that helped me when I first came to CS.com seeking information, and to all who have helped me since, thank you for being kind and patient, and thank you for sharing your wisdom. I am forever grateful for it all.
And to Rich Z, thank you for this fantastic forum, and for a fantastic snake!
3rd anniversary of snake keeping, that is. Three years ago today, Fed-Ex came to my door with a little box from Serpenco. Inside was my pride, joy, and very first snake: Mallie, an '07 Anery female.
I was lucky enough to get into snakes the one (and only, or so I'm told) year Rich Z decided to try taking individual photos of the snakes, so not only did I get to pick her specifically, but I even have the "baby picture" Rich had of her on the site...
After I got her, settling in to her new home:
She was 12 grams when we got her... And boy has she grown a lot! She isn't the biggest corn snake in the world (partly my fault) at 261 grams and a little over 3 ft, but she's healthy, and that's what counts! Taken today...
My collection has experienced ups and downs, and some serious fluctuations. I went from one snake, to 20-something, back to one, then to two. I have owned a total of 8 different snake species, 9 different Corn morphs, a couple of tortoises, a box turtle, and even found myself caring for a rescued Bearded Dragon that turned into three when two more showed up needing a loving home..
I have learned to efficiently scrub a large aquarium clean using only bleach, water, and paper towels. I have learned how to properly and speedily thaw mice... And figured out there's no such thing as a fast way to thaw "Jumbo" rats. I have learned to semi-successfully bred mice and roaches... And figured out two things by way of those ventures: There's no way in h-e-double-hockey-sticks I'm ever raising live rodents again; and cockroaches aren't too bad as long as they don't fly, make noise, or move very fast... They're a crap ton better than crickets, that's for sure!
With the help of a beardie named Man Ray, one very sweet young boa named Osiris, a very gentle corn snake named Yelina, and, of course, Mallie, I have taught countless young kids that snakes aren't all bad, and have inadvertently turned two young second cousins into future snake moms and two other young girls (one another second cousin) into future beardie moms. It should go without saying, now I have two cousins and a friend of the family's brother who aren't very happy with me introducing their daughters to the world of reptiles.
Next on the list will be my almost two year old nephew. Then my sister can be none too happy with me, too. I have hatched corn snake eggs once. I have gone against the wisdom of (not) cohabbing beardies once, then re-learned at the expense of Buttercup's good health why those recommendations exist. I have dealt with a snake "addiction," gotten overwhelmed and almost burned out on snakes, and got over both of those problems the very hard way. I have spent hundreds in vet bills that could have been prevented, and hundreds in vet bills that passed the point of "preventable" long before the animal entered my care.
It's been a long and bumpy road to get to this point, but I can't say I regret any little bit of it. Being the sole caretaker of these wonderful animals has taught me many hard lessons and has given me an infinite respect for the wild world around me. My dad likes to tease and say I'm "18 going on 30" for my maturity and level-headedness: two traits I never had, or expected to have, prior to November of 2007.
To the people that helped me when I first came to CS.com seeking information, and to all who have helped me since, thank you for being kind and patient, and thank you for sharing your wisdom. I am forever grateful for it all.
And to Rich Z, thank you for this fantastic forum, and for a fantastic snake!
