Snakes and Stones

2021 - Clutch #4 Time Lapse Video :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTcK6Z-SRV0

Wow, that last one was a nail-biter, more ways than one! ;) Sorry for your losses, but so so very happy for the ones you got! I'd have cut that last egg too- :gj: And I'm not much for cutting any eggs, but that, sure. Thanks for sharing, very interesting.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Wow, that last one was a nail-biter, more ways than one! ;)

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Thanks! I can't believe I got nailed by a ball python still in the egg-that was a first...even managed to draw a tiny bit of blood. :P

The good news is that I only put my non-project related eggs in my time lapse incubator (just in case). My regular incubators don't have to deal with the camera and lighting-they are hatching close to 100%
(e.g. Clutch#5 hatched today 7/25/21 shown below).

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...8prijubebe.jpg

Photo #104
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...8ieenx8vf3.jpg
Imperial Topaz/Topaz from Brazil.
The interesting thing about stones that are traditionally used for faceting is that they usually have high optical clarity.
This same optical clarity makes my polished stones look cloudy because you can see all of the internal inclusions without obstruction. :rolleyes:

As for the ball python in Photo #104, my first guess would have been a 'low expression' Orange Dream, however, a quick check of my records show this as a 50% Possible Het Albino...surprise-surprise...I'm glad I keep good records...;)

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

Thanks! I can't believe I got nailed by a ball python still in the egg-that was a first...even managed to draw a tiny bit of blood. :P ...

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Surprises are what keeps it interesting, living with snakes. :snake: It will be interesting to see if that one remains such an independent little soul, eh?

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Surprises are what keeps it interesting, living with snakes. :snake: It will be interesting to see if that one remains such an independent little soul, eh?

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One could look at it that way. :)

Photo #105

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...lffi1avfgu.jpg

Carnelian Agate (from multiple sources), with a Pastel Het Lavender Albino.

Fun fact: I have never tumbled Carnelian. Carnelian lacks the banding that Carnelian Agate has...:)

Photo #106
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...relhudqg09.jpg
Fire Het Clown with Chalcopyrite in a quartz matrix.
Chalcopyrite is Copper Iron Sulfide with copper being the largest component. When it tarnishes it takes on a rainbow-like color and is often referred to as Peacock Ore.

Fun Fact: There are four types of stones that I learned to dread tumbling/polishing:
#1 Dinosaur Gizzard Stones (they smell super bad-almost identical to a snake regurge...)
#2 Coprolite (fossilized dinosaur poop, stink bomb strong-sulfur odor)
#3 Chalcopyrite (forms thick greenish-grey goop, slight sulfur scent, and it permanently stains everything it touches-including the outer layer of skin on your hands)
#4 Red Hematite-Iron Oxide (thick red slurry-visually unappealing-tumbling barrels look like the elevator scene from 'The Shining')

:)

Photo #107
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...etuqll8kqc.jpg
Spider Black Pastel and a piece of Blue Tiger Eye.
My gf refers to this stone as the 'piece of blueberry pie'. :)

Great photos as always, but I shall forever treasure your descriptive "fun facts". I had NO idea.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Great photos as always, but I shall forever treasure your descriptive "fun facts". I had NO idea.

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Thanks!

Photo #108
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...d4swk7xayb.jpg
Emeralds in a Smokey Quartz matrix with Milky/White Quartz.

I work with six recessive genes in my collection...this snake has one guaranteed Het, but, three additional are possible. :)

Photo #109
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...7fwqilb1cg.jpg
Some rocks have layers (like ogres), and one can't be certain what the rock is until you remove the outer weathered layer. I find myself tumbling too many of these Quartzite-type stones (I collect in my area). If I had more time/energy I would buy a wet tile saw with a sintered diamond blade and grind off the edge of one to see what it was inside prior to tumbling...some day...

I like the patterning on this GHI, I planned on keeping this one, but, one of my friends saw this photo and had to have her...

I've been told the snake looks 'blue' in the photo. I don't see it. I do see harsh reflection on the black scales from the camera flash. :)