Returning to the world of Reptiles
Hello everyone, my name is Jarred, or you can call me Aiz, Aizkora, what ever you wish. I have a feeling I am going to become at least a semi regular poster tot he forum if not more and figured I should introduce myself.
I have not owned any reptiles in over ten years minus a short time keeping a Western Diamond Back for a about two weeks before I could relocate it away from my neighborhood where it would be safe from someone finding it and doing any harm to it.
I grew up catching and collecting all kinds of reptiles, My father had retics, rock pythons, a few rattlesnakes and some vine snakes before I was born and soon as he thought I was old enough to handle the responsibility started me out on the hobby as well. By time I was in middle school I had my garage converted into a snake room that I had a wide collection stored in. Everything from balls to copperheads with some rattlers and a coral thrown in for good measure. I have experience breeding iguanas and leopard geckos and 2 clutches of BP eggs ( 1 was unexpected and I was unprepared for and it unfortunately was lost due to my ignorance at a young age).
I have learned much from my younger days; while I kept my animals healthy and safe, looking back on it I could have been a much better keeper. I have been thinking about getting back into the hobby for years, but I have just not seemed to find the time to get started. Well looks like my girlfriend has changed that and now I have a chance to be that much better keeper.
A few weeks ago my amazing girlfriend who I assumed had nothing more than a passing interest in reptiles fell in love with a baby ball at Petsmart and decided she had to take him home. I was cautious at first but with the snake looking pretty healthy and not to stressed in the tiny enclosure they sadly use there I decided to play along and at least get the snake in my hands to really give it a good once over. Figuring it would be too unhealthy to bring home and if she was really set on it we could pick up a young normal or morph from a reputable breeder later. Amazingly aside from a small piece of shed still on the nose the little guy ( or girl has not been sexed yet) looked in great shape, not too thin and well hydrated, no sign of mouth rot or any noticeable respiratory issues I crumbled and said ok and we came home with the little guy.
I waited 3 days with him in his new home( until I get a larger permanent home built) and attempted to feed him mid day, he wanted nothing to do with it. Later that night when he was naturally up and moving about I thawed out another pinky and gave it a second try and he went at it with in a minute or so of offering missing about 3 times before hitting. Since then he has become quicker and better at hitting his food. His feeding response the past two times has been so aggressive and amazing you would think he had some Retic in him.
So with a new snake in the home and a happy delighted girlfriend who now wants to get into breeding balls I must say I am looking forward to this return to reptiles.
For now a collection of 1 normal Ball by the name of Houdini ( he is a python they are all escape artists lol )
~Jarred "Aizkora"
&
Stephanie "JellyFish72"
Re: Returning to the world of Reptiles
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Serpent Merchant
Welcome to BP.net, I look forward to seeing you in the forums.
Just a quick thing:
You said you fed him a pinky? is that a mouse pinky or rat?
if it is a mouse pinky then that is far too small. Ball pythons can (and should) eat hopper mice right out of the egg.
Mouse as that is all they had in stock that has changed since(last two feedings) to hoppers from micedirect.
Re: Returning to the world of Reptiles
Hello Jarred, and :welcome: to BP.net. We are a bunch of photo junkies around here... :D
Re: Returning to the world of Reptiles
I'll go ahead and hijack the boyfriend's thread with pictures (because that's what proud mamma's do). :P
Jarred & Houdini:
http://i.imgur.com/ui6G1.jpg
Yes, Houdini's a bit of a climber. And by a bit, I mean constantly - not in search of heat, he just likes to hang/try and escape. xD Here he is hanging off his temperature probe (after already knocking his hygrometer off):
http://i.imgur.com/zkTf7.jpg
And yes, as he said, we got him from Petsmart - you normally couldn't pay me enough to buy an animal from a pet store (years volunteering at the local animal shelter and seeing store conditions), but I fell completely in love once Houdini started playing peek-a-boo. And I don't mean getting startled by me, legitimate peek-a-boo. :P We were shocked at how healthy he was, plus he was even CB. Nearly zero trouble being handled, no biting (even when Jarred does stupid stuff...), barely even any hissing.
Re: Returning to the world of Reptiles
seeing pictures of his temporary cage makes me want to get his new home done even more. and the ability to get my hobby desk / closet back lol.
