Snakes and Stones

I am not religious, but, the Pagan Fair in Belmont NH 2024 looked like it would be interesting to visit. The Fair is relatively new, and I just happened to see an advertisement while browsing ongoing events in New England.

You might wonder what sort of attendees showed up? I did not see many, but, most of them looked fairly normal with the exception of tattoos, excessive amounts of jewelry, and some form of hair dye.
Everyone was very friendly, but, due to the low amount of patrons the vendors were very 'eager' to make a sale.
There was always someone playing an instrument or singing, some of them were quite good.

I found the entire experience to be enjoyable, but, the ragweed pollen was brutal....My gf and I had been hiking that morning at low elevation, and then the Fairgrounds themselves were completely surrounded by the wind pollinating weed.

On the way back from the Pagan Fair my gf took a picture of me dragging a big snapping turtle off the highway and I looked like a swollen caricature of someone having an allergic reaction to a bee sting.
36hrs and a pile of H1+H2 Blockers, and I look normal again, but, still feel like crap...Worth it though-No Regrets! :)
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I wanted to buy the black dragon wreath below ($40).
I had the cash in hand, but, my gf did not approve (which took me by surprise). I thought they were pretty cool...
The artist is AmberLee Smock. You can find her artwork on Facebook: Brindled Dragon Creations
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...18a_ddht49.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...17a_j7ivjp.jpg
So, what did I buy?
I purchased a finished Pink Tourmaline in Quartz Matrix Sphere, and a Purple Dragon Pin.
The woman who sold me the sphere was playing with a short wave UVB light on her Volcanic Agate. Since she already had the light on-she held the sphere I was buying under it for fun. It glowed fiercely red in broad daylight-and we were both very surprised. She tested another pink tourmaline sphere that looked almost identical and nothing happened. She mentioned off-hand as I paid her-that if she knew it was *that* UV reactive that she would have marked the price up (lol...).
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:)

The pagans seem to share your love of stones. You should consider converting.

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Originally Posted by Homebody

The pagans seem to share your love of stones. You should consider converting.

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Nah, religion is tricky business. Not my 'cup of tea'. :)

Photo #393
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_pdr5la.jpg
This Botryoidal Chalcedony was pretty ugly to start....so I ran it through a bit of tumble/polish.
Botryoidal = Having a shape similar to a cluster of grapes.
I could have rounded it out completely, but, I wanted to retain some trace of its original formation/shape.


BP is a Het for Piebald...and sharp eyes may see another gene there, but, it is so low expression I'm not going to bother to label it. :)

Photo #394
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_sfqk52.jpg
66% Het Clown/66% Het Lavender Albino with a piece of Jasp-Agate from the Mid-West USA.

Got my hands on a short wave UV light (365nm) off of Amazon.
I wanted to take some Snakes and Stones photos, but, the light is irritating to the eyes.
Going to have to skip the Snakes on my shortwave UV photos, and I'm going to need to wear sunglasses while I'm at it. :cool:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_nlvlt5.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_hkradu.jpg

Wow, that's AMAZING! SO beautiful...we'll let it go "this time" (that you omitted snakes). :D

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Wow, that's AMAZING! SO beautiful...we'll let it go "this time" (that you omitted snakes). :D

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Hahaha yeah. After 30 minutes of short wave light my eyes feel like they were sandpapered. I'm not going to use that light on my pythons unless I have their heads blocked.
I may post some interesting UV stone specimen pics when I have the time.

Photo #395
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_izhc5e.jpg
GHI/Fire/Lesser with a tumbled/polished Thunderegg.

Breeders Notes:
Last night one of my distributors picked up a large group of hatchlings-it is a huge relief because I have been maintaining epic numbers of ball pythons for the last few months, and I'm exhausted. Next year I'm reducing the number of matings by 50%, however, I did keep a record number of holdbacks this year...so I guess it will be a temporary lull. :snake:

For 2024: I had about a 92.5% successful hatch on ~160 eggs from 27 clutches...(I still have Clutch #28 incubating). I lost two ball python hatchlings due to failure to thrive.

I am still maintaining the hatchling that got caught stuck escaping the egg shell and was pinched (the same one I had posted a picture of previously). I would like to say that is has made a miraculous recovery, but, miracles are a rarity. It is still in rough shape. I would like it to survive, but, I'm not expecting it to. It is overdue for first shed, and with the extensive level of internal bruising-I think any sort of manual manipulation on my part is out of the question. Even though it is slowly losing body condition-I think my best option is to wait. If it does manage to shed-then feeding/digestion will be the next hurdle.

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

I am still maintaining the hatchling that got caught stuck escaping the egg shell and was pinched (the same one I had posted a picture of previously). I would like to say that is has made a miraculous recovery, but, miracles are a rarity. It is still in rough shape. I would like it to survive, but, I'm not expecting it to. It is overdue for first shed, and with the extensive level of internal bruising-I think any sort of manual manipulation on my part is out of the question. Even though it is slowly losing body condition-I think my best option is to wait. If it does manage to shed-then feeding/digestion will be the next hurdle.

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Aw! I feel for the little one. I hope it pulls through.

Photo #396
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_b59foj.jpg
Hypo/66% Het VPI Axanthic and a piece of Agate from the Mid-West USA.
There are many people on the West Coast that can identify hundreds of types of agate and the specific mine where it was collected. I'm from New England...so I call it 'red-and-white'...:)

I also tried some more UV photos on a smaller scale.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_ozylwo.jpg
Note: With the amount of energy I am dedicating to the maintenance and care of my ball python collection (and vastly increased rodent production): I have a lot of lazy/uninspiring Snakes and Stones photos coming up...I figure I will regroup my efforts once I finish prepping and sending out my final batch of hatchlings.

Good news is: Out of all my hatchlings this year I only have three that are not eating. When I first started breeding ball pythons over a decade ago it was not uncommon for me to have 30-40% refuse food (usually entire clutches). You learn real quick how to assist/force feed with speed and efficiency when you have a small army to manage. :)

These are my favorites.
https://i.imgur.com/OrU2Q1A.jpeg

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Originally Posted by Homebody

The pagans seem to share your love of stones. You should consider converting.

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:rofl: It looks like an interesting fair, anyway, though I'd imagine that calling it a "pagan" event may have scared off more potential customers than it drew. :cool:

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Originally Posted by Homebody

These are my favorites.

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Cool!
I never focused on tumbling UV reactive stones, but, if I ever live long enough to finish tumbling the few tons of rocks I have sitting in my garage: I might look into it.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

:rofl: It looks like an interesting fair, anyway, though I'd imagine that calling it a "pagan" event may have scared off more potential customers than it drew. :cool:

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Yeah...originally I thought it was a Pagans Motor Cycle Club Fair...and that would be...a different type of event... I dug around online a bit and saw that it was a more 'alternative lifestyle' venue (which does not bother me). I knew that there would be some nice hand-made artwork there-and some interesting crystals and mineral specimens-which was my primary interest.

My gf was very worried that everyone attending the Fair would be hardcore pagan: have goat skulls for hats, be carrying around snakes, and then try and trap us in a wickerman or something...but, no such luck.

I had a pagan coworker who I was friends with for years-pagans are probably the most relaxed 'religious' group I have ever dealt with.

Anyhow!
Photo #397:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_cb4zsn.jpg
Hypo/Pastel/66% Het VPI Axanthic ball python with a piece of agate collected just outside Reno, Nevada, USA.

Photo #398
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Clown ball python with Beryl collected from New Hampshire, USA.
A lot of this beryl is highly unstable and chips and fractures at every stage.
Beryl probably wins my prize for Mohs 7.5 material with most runs through a vibe tumbler to finish.

Side Story: I had a large piece of Beryl sitting in my bedroom (pictured below).
I woke up one morning and the piece had split into three chunks. I hadn't touched it...it just broke apart...:rolleyes:
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I was asked if Beryl was more difficult to tumble than Topaz (Mohs 8).
I'm not familiar with all the different types of Topaz, but, relative to Imperial Topaz from Brazil: Beryl from NH is exponentially more challenging.
Even though topaz also has banded inclusions-they usually don't fracture. While you can frost the topaz edges if you polish them without enough cushioning...they are not nearly as prone to chipping. :)
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Photo #399
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Thunderegg with a Spider/Het Piebald+?.

Note: I have been seeing a pattern altering gene in my VPI Axanthic line floating around. I have not been selectively breeding it, but, I have now isolated the gene in a non-Axanthic line.
I suspect a relatively common incomplete dominant gene in particular, but, if someone can take a stab at IDing it a bit more reliably: That would be great. Any which way it is going to be proof bred...

The photo below marks the 400th ball python shown so far.

Photo #400
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_wildly.jpg
The stones are Mexican Fossil Rock and Dyed Crackle Quartz.
BP is a Pastel/Axanthic/Spider/66% Het Orange Ghost + ?

I'm not certain why some of my Axanthics are turning yellow (like the one shown above). The Axanthic gene should be canceling that out.
I hope the 'yellow' doesn't turn to brown. If so: I will have to selectively breed that out in the following generations.
Coincidentally (or not), my axanthics that are turning yellow all have Spider+the gene I have not identified yet-in combination.

Someone suggested the odd patterning was Spider/Pinstripe, and I think that would be a great guess on patterning alone.
I did sell my only pinstripe 10+ years ago-prior to breeding, and have not seen one in my collection since.

Photo #401
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_jyyt4q.jpg
Pastel/Het Piebald with a piece of agate from the Mid-West, USA.

Note: I was thinking about getting the snake shown in Photo #400 tested by Rare Genetics Inc, however, I noticed their 30 panel of tests for $130 does not include the gene I suspect is present. I have the option to add it on to the 30 panel test for $25, or have it tested specifically individually for $50. I'm not confident enough in my guess to spend $50 on confirmation, and while I think $155 is a reasonable cost for genetic testing-I could also use that money to buy 310lbs. of rodent food which could sustain my entire sizeable collection for a few months.

Since I am on the topic of Rare Genetics Inc.-I noticed that they also test for 'Hypo'. I thought there were different types of Hypomelanism? Does this mean that all Hypomelanistic variants are at the same location on the chromosome? If so: I have one copy of the regular Hypo gene, and one copy of the Orange Ghost gene at the site and they told me 'Homozygous'...is that helpful?....Or could it be that Orange Ghost does not share the same allele as Hypo...so they currently do not test for Orange Ghost? If the weird yellow coloration and patterning in some of my VPI Axanthic Spider Pastels is a result of Heterozygous Orange Ghost-then I'm thinking that getting them tested by RGI is not going to be helpful. :confusd:

Photo #402
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GHI/Fire with Rubellite (Pink/Red Tourmaline in Quartz/Feldspar Matrix).
Rubellite is a difficult tumble due to the blast mining fractures, mohs hardness differences of the host rock, and the crystalline structure of tourmaline.
Of course it is not as difficult as actual Ruby (Red Corundum)-which I avoid now.
I had forgotten that I still had a large chunk of rough Corundum laying around (UV Photo below).
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Photo #403
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Black Agate from Madagascar with a Clown ball python. :)

Photo #404
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Beryl from NH, and Lepidolite from Brazil.
Note: Lepidolite is often included in rock tumbling 'assorted stones' packs. It is a soft stone that requires special conditions to tumble/polish properly-so these 'assorted stone' groups are often setting people up to fail.

BP = Fire/Lesser :)

Photo #405
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BP = 66% Possible Het Clown/50% Het Lavender Albino
Not sure what this stone is...it is an oddity in my rock collection, but, I do have another one that looks just like it.

Photo #406
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_cuuamr.jpg
Some assorted green/greenish rocks from all over the world and a Fire/Lesser ball python.

In other news: The company: Roughstone Rocks LLC periodically lets people visit their warehouses to buy stones/minerals in-person.
I visited their Merrimack NH, (USA) site today (a few photos included below).
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What did I buy though?
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If you ever visit the Merrimack NH site-be sure to stop by the Twin Bridge Park nearby...as it is a nice little walk. :)
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Both great suggestions! A great place to shop & a great place to commune with nature. :gj:

Photo #407
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I like the reflection on this obsidian. The ball python is a Pastel/Het Gravel or YB.

I took a lot of pictures in my random adventures in the last few days. *Image Heavy Below*
Note: The beach had nothing good for rocks, and the finished stones were overpriced at the Fair.

If you are wondering what the fourth photo is below. Everyone at the beach that saw me carrying it-was mortified that I was touching an angry looking jellyfish with my bare hands. I kept telling them it was a washed up Squid Egg cluster. It must have been detached in the recent rough waters-so I moved it into the deepest tidal pool. :)

Beach:
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Sandwich Fair, Sandwich NH, USA (2024):
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Photo #408
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Rock from around the world, ball python is a GHI (possible Super). :)

Photo #409
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Spider/Het Piebald + ? with a Montana Agate. :)

Photo #410
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_s9pshe.jpg
GHI/Fire with rocks from around the world.

Breeders Note: My final clutch #28 finished hatching today October 17th, all eggs viable, all the hatchlings look perfect.
This is a good because I don't heat that wing of my house and the ambient room temp is down to 47F already. :)

Zero birth defects this year out of 160+ hatchlings...*pats self on back*.

Update: The snake that was trapped in the egg shell and suffered internal damage is still alive. I am in the process of slowly force feeding it frequent (5 day interval) small meals. Even after getting this far: I still don't expect it to survive. If I do manage to raise this Dreamsicle to self-sufficiency-I am left with a dilemma...as I only want it to be kept as a 'pet' and not a breeder. Can I really trust someone not to sell it or attempt to breed it? *sigh* I might be stuck with this one...

Beautiful photo & great update on the hatchlings. Especially the "no birth defects" too. :D

Good luck with the challenged one- as you suspect, it might make your decision for you & pass prematurely, but you never know? And I'd be doing what you're doing, just to find out. I think if it does make it, you'll be able to find someone you can trust to only keep it as a pet...at least, I would hope so. (Even if it turns out to be you...:rofl:)

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I think if it does make it, you'll be able to find someone you can trust to only keep it as a pet...at least, I would hope so. (Even if it turns out to be you...:rofl:)

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Thanks, lol, yeah I'm trying not to get 'ahead of myself'. :)

Photo #411
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_cszs76.jpg
Brazilian Agate Nodule-tumbled/polished whole + a Pastel/Het YB or Gravel BP.

Photo #412
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ted_qas47z.jpg
Some Blue/Grey Chalcedony/Agate from the Northwest USA with a 66% Het Lav Albino/50% Het Piebald. :)

Photo #413
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_xiaq2t.jpg
Another stone similar to those from Photo #412, this one is pinkish instead of bluish though...both types of stone were collected from the same depleted volcano.
Ball python is a 100% Het YB or Gravel.
And just for fun: Below are a few photos from my local hiking trips this weekend. Fall colors in effect. :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-04_ywth2u.jpg
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What a beautiful trail! I can almost smell those leaves. TKS for sharing. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-02_ftsi9l.jpg

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This is going to be my desktop background for the day.

Photo #414
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_wnuddo.jpg
Assorted stones (Jaspers/Agates/Petrified Wood) with a 66% Het Lavender Albino/50% Het Piebald.
Looking at the pattern on the snake-I would bet that it is a Double Het. :)

Photo #415
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_zms4uv.jpg
Ball python is a 100% Het for YB or Gravel with an agate (from Mid-West USA).

Note: This is my 65th ball python/photo of the 2024 season, ~100 more to go!

Photo #416
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_r0sicy.jpg
Ball python is a 66% Het Lavender Albino/50% Het Piebald. Very obvious Het Lav Albino to me, Het Piebald...don't see it...
Stones are a mix of Polychrome/Desert Jasper-From Madgascar+The Mid-West USA (they look similar-and I'm too lazy to separate them out). :)

In other news my gf and I stopped by The Old Country Store in Moultonborough NH. The Old Country Store
We visit every now and then--it was built in 1781, certain areas are dark and definitely have a haunted vibe...
Gift shops aren't the best place to look for rocks, but, I live in New England-so I don't have many options lol...
I could make a lot of comments on the images below, but, I will leave them to your imagination.
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:)

Photo #417
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_u41gsf.jpg
Pastel/100% Het for YB or Gravel with a piece of Pegmatitic Granite.

Fun fact: Gemstones and crystals can sometimes be captured inside Pegmatitic Granite...so if you run across a deposit...it is good to break off a few pieces and check...:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

Photo #417
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_u41gsf.jpg
Pastel/100% Het for YB or Gravel with a piece of Pegmatitic Granite.

Fun fact: Gemstones and crystals can sometimes be captured inside Pegmatitic Granite...so if you run across a deposit...it is good to break off a few pieces and check...:)

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The shape looks like a gravestone. It is October though so it fits. ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

The shape looks like a gravestone. It is October though so it fits. ;)

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Great call! :D I can't quite make out the writing though...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

The shape looks like a gravestone. It is October though so it fits. ;)

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Hahaha, it sure does! I'm impressed that you picked up on it. Photo #417 was meant to be a Halloween image.
I was going to show the original photograph, and then digitally edit the background to make it look like a cemetery.
.......Since some individuals are 'triggered' by my digital tools-we will have to stick with the original photo. :)

Photo #418
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_kqdeco.jpg
Ball python is a 66% Het Lavender Albino/50% Het Pied with agates from Western USA.
I doubt either Het is present in this one.

Picked up a small Uranium glass dish at an antique store the other day.
I also have a Super Lesser/50% Possible Het Hidden Gene Woma (HGW) ball python.
I have read that you can see feint pigment patterns on Blue Eyed Leucistics (+other genes) using a UV light. Hypothetically you could prove/disprove HGW.
Let's check it out!

Plate:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_eecklz.jpg
Plate/Rock/Snake:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...d-1_dvdtcx.jpg
Plate/Rock/Snake (365nm):
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_pnzrgp.jpg
Rock:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_tgenht.jpg
Rock (365nm):
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_iwlgln.jpg
Hmmm...I didn't see any distinguishable pattern on this Super Lesser ball python-in any of my efforts. HGW seems unlikely. :)

Photo #419
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_kj2h0u.jpg
Found these stones in a local swamp...looks like rhodonite.
Ball python is a Fire/GHI/Lesser. :)

In other news: Went out for breakfast the other day at Parkers Maple Barn in Mason, NH (USA).
They have a nice gift shop (with some stones).
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_nle3io.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_qgg2ow.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_kwzwwy.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_jcxyl2.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_yytn8i.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_hu9qmm.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_ekakz8.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_xpj4fy.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_wshkeb.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_rhygwv.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_uyjiv5.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_swhmyp.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_bkg0lb.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_os0sju.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_aenrcp.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_ccprca.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_rzavyr.jpg
I thought the painted rocks were amusing. :)

Photo #420
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_j1uppz.jpg
Beryl/Assorted Agates/Lavender Albino/50% Het Piebald :)

Nice job on the eye candy, LS! I bet it took a while getting this snake to pose so nicely? :cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Nice job on the eye candy, LS! I bet it took a while getting this snake to pose so nicely? :cool:

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Thanks! Sometimes I get lucky and the snake just strikes a nice pose, and sometimes I spend over an hour and the snake is determined to be shy...

Photo #421
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_zmzpzj.jpg
Brazilian Agate nodules tumbled whole with a Hidden Gene Woma/Lesser (aka Soul Sucker).

Note:
Someone asked me if I buy any stones at these gift shops I visit?
Nah, below is the amount of finished stones I produce in a 2 week time period.
Unless it something rare and/or special--I don't need to buy any additional...:)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...zed_n1xvjk.jpg

Photo #422
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_z4yatf.jpg
Ball python is a 66% Het Clown/50% Het Lavender Albino with a piece of local Quartzite-ish river stone.

Happy Halloween btw. Hope you had a good one!
Here are a few pics of my travels with a group of friends tonight:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...001_xdibgj.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...004_ugfz7l.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...005_fzxrw6.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...003_gdgz81.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...002_citqcj.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...006_vzgeqz.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...007_rvwsjn.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...008_bln96j.jpg
It was pretty fun!
I was creeped out at one point though because there was a guy (about 6'5") by himself wearing an alien mask, and his hands and feet were done up in detail. His clothes could pass for normal jeans and a t-shirt in the dark, but, I see very well in poor light and I found it was odd that someone would bother to sew an approximation of average clothes for a costume (why bother?). He was sort of standing back from the crowds and had an odd posture and walked slightly weird (maybe due to the prosthetic feet). When he noticed I was staring at him for a while-I could see the large black eyes on his mask 'blinked' at me-and he immediately turned and ran at a gallop into the pitch black darkness. I mentioned it to my group, but, I was the only one who noticed him. I saw a lot of the same people tonight many times over, but, I did not see him again. Bonus points for realism I guess lol...:)

That tall guy in alien gear would have creeped me out too, more for the behavior than just appearance. Hmm? :O Real alien, is my guess? :weirdface Good stuff otherwise.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

That tall guy in alien gear would have creeped me out too, more for the behavior than just appearance. Hmm? :O Real alien, is my guess? :weirdface Good stuff otherwise.

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If his posture was 'normal' I probably would not have even noticed him while stumbling around in the dark with my friends.

But, yeah...it was so odd to have someone run away in panic when you are examining their costume-I was a fair distance away too, but, alien or not...I was disappointed that I could not get a selfie. The quality of the face/hands/feet were on par with an immortal mask but the realistic eye blink took me by surprise-I have not seen that before. :)

Photo #423
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_jvmoyw.jpg
Half a large thunderegg from Oregon, USA with a GHI/Fire.

Photo #424
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_jqrfyt.jpg
Super GHI with some colorful banded Sandstone (purchased originally as uni-colored landscaping rough from Home Depot).

Note: The New England Reptile Expo in Manchester NH is tomorrow 03NOV2024!

I have been cutting a few corners over the last few months to budget some funds to add a new ball python to my collection...will someone have the gene I'm looking for at the expo though?
...Maybe...Only one way to find out! Either way I will consider it a win-win. If they don't have the ball python I'm looking for-I will save hundreds of dollars and the hassle of new specimen quarantine...if they do have the gene...then I have a new pet and another layer of potential awesomeness to future breeding projects. :)

I like how you did that...made it a win, no matter what. :D Your Super GHI is pretty stunning, btw.