Hi All,

Moniker is Nachash. I was on the forum about two years ago. To make a sad story short, I had to deal with my father's cancer and the resulting consequences. My father passed away over the summer, so now that I have time to enjoy my favorite hobby I decided to get back into the groove. I always enjoyed participating on the forum, telling people what I know and learning from others, and I hope to continue that thought exchange.
When I stopped posting I had a modest sum of animals comprising of a ball python (reason for all seasons) two leopard geckos and a pacman frog. I have added to my collection since then... Now I have 2 balls, only one leo (sad things happen) an African side neck turtle, 2 ribbon snakes, a crested gecko, a tiger salamander, an African clawed frog, and a Metallic Pinktoe tarantula. I also have a big plecostomus.

I don't know exactly how or why, but my animals have been a big personal refuge for me. I find animal behavior fascinating, and I am convinced that the field of etiology hasn't even scratched the surface of complex reptile behavior. I feel like different people participate in the hobby for different but equally valuable reasons. I think my main reason is all the mysteries that reptiles illuminate. Snakes especially represent one of the most successful vertebrate groups in evolutionary history. I think one great mystery is, "why were snakes so successful?" This isn't a mere rhetorical question. The elongated body plan devoid of limbs isn't new and certainly wasn't pioneered by snakes. Yet snakes flourished while other tube vertebrates at best persisted or even perished. My theory, and I actually would like to hear other thoughts, is that snakes' success lies in their sensory equipment.
Snakes have wicked senses. My ribbon snakes have incredible eyesight for instance. But so much of their lifestyle plays into their success.

What does anyone else think? Why do you keep scaly companions, and if you feel bold, why do you think snakes are so successful as a suborder?

-Nachash