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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snagrio
If I may input a request, I'd love more "pre-tumbled/polished" pics like this. It's neat to see the difference with the minerals between their natural and cleaned up states.
Yes, that is a great suggestion! Ideally that is what I would do. I would even take it so far as to show week by week progress. Unfortunately I tumble so many stones that it would be an epic task to document them all. If I have an interesting one I will still try and take some 'before and after' or in-progress photos, like this piece of banded obsidian (shown below) I took a photo/week for the first 8 weeks, then I got really busy and the stone is done now after about 7 months (rotary tumble only).
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...art_baltki.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ek1_ds2vqh.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ek3_kbe3rn.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ek4_wrr0ey.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ek5_gnm0oi.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ek6_qpf72n.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ek7_u6lfio.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ek8_dardbg.jpg
The final weight of the stone was 1.45lbs on completion and I haven't taken a snake photo yet, but, will probably be #167 in the series. :)
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Is your tumbler EVER turned off? :D I mean, "7 months"!??
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
Is your tumbler EVER turned off? :D I mean, "7 months"!??
My rotary tumblers never turn off and have been running nonstop for ~3.5 years with minimal maintenance. My vibe tumbler has been running for 2.5 years straight, needs constant repairs and maintenance, hope it hangs in there, can't replace it these days due to supply chain issues abroad.
I have more than 100lbs of stone tumbling 365/7, but, the killer to my electric bill is not the rock tumblers: it is the heating elements in my reptile rooms, when it is -20F outside and I'm heating my rooms to 80F...ouch-now THAT is expensive...;)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Sorril
My rotary tumblers never turn off and have been running nonstop for ~3.5 years with minimal maintenance. My vibe tumbler has been running for 2.5 years straight, needs constant repairs and maintenance, hope it hangs in there, can't replace it these days due to supply chain issues abroad.
I have more than 100lbs of stone tumbling 365/7, but, the killer to my electric bill is not the rock tumblers: it is the heating elements in my reptile rooms, when it is -20F outside and I'm heating my rooms to 80F...ouch-now THAT is expensive...;)
Must be noisy too? Too bad you don't have tumblers that can produce heat for the reptile rooms. :D Any way to add more insulation to just the reptile rooms? Seems like that would pay for itself.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Sorril
It looks a lot like a ball of the new antiviral* drug to fight covid-19? https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/asse...-small-169.jpg Maybe you discovered it first? ;)
*https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/02/healt...ner/index.html
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
Must be noisy too? Too bad you don't have tumblers that can produce heat for the reptile rooms. :D Any way to add more insulation to just the reptile rooms? Seems like that would pay for itself.
Yeah, the rock tumblers are noisy, but, the rotary tumblers are using rubber barrels so it produces a bit of a muffled low frequency noise. The vibe tumbler on the other hand produces a higher frequency buzz that is really annoying. Thankfully my garage is on a separate wing of my house and I don't hear anything. I have a big vibe tumbler that can process 50lbs. of rocks, but, it is very time consuming to load/unload, and requires strict dedication to use properly (which I don't have)...if I run it: I can hear it at night even in my main house.
As for insulation: I am at the limit of what would be considered 'normal' for a house. The previous owner of my house was very 'big' on heat and energy conservation, but, only 'on the cheap' and she had some really-really bad windows. I replaced all the windows when I moved in with some well-rated triple panes. I still cover half of each window to my reptile rooms with foam insulation board. If I was to add insulation on the interior it would decrease the amount of space I have for caging, and I am at floor-ceiling on all four walls in each room.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
All questions regarding my role in C19 product testing/development will have to be deferred to my companies legal team (which is in fact: True). :cool:
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Re: Snakes and Stones
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Re: Snakes and Stones
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I might have come home with the 4-snake platform stand of beeswax...:D Looks like a good call, either way. (this vs the reptile expo)
What IS that giant 1612 lb. produce? Some sort of pale pumpkin? Sure glad they don't grow in my garden, I think I might have trouble picking them. :rolleyes:
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
I might have come home with the 4-snake platform stand of beeswax...:D Looks like a good call, either way. (this vs the reptile expo)
What IS that giant 1612 lb. produce? Some sort of pale pumpkin? Sure glad they don't grow in my garden, I think I might have trouble picking them. :rolleyes:
Yeah, pumpkins. At the county fair I used to go to growing up there was always a section showcasing similar monstrous ones. They also can come in many colors too which is why the ones pictured look pale.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-blog-zies.jpg
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snagrio
Some of those are the color of mold! :rofl: I've seen huge pumpkins (I know many places have "contests") but I've never seen those before- how interesting.
I think I prefer the orange ones, I guess that makes me a traditionalist? But the grayish-greenish ones do look spookier, if you're doing a "haunted house".
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Re: Snakes and Stones
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Re: Snakes and Stones
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Re: Snakes and Stones
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Photo #167
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_lvv1rh.jpg
GHI Lesser -- I produced three of these so far this year, the one pictured above is 'high expression', and of the other two: one is 'mid expression' and the other 'low expression'.
As for the banded obsidian: Alternate view under regular lighting (shown below).
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...nal_t0h7xm.jpg
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Re: Snakes and Stones
That obsidian is super cool, this is one of my favorite pictures. The snake is a good choice because it has "flowy" patterns as if they're stretched, which goes with the rock well.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Erie_herps
That obsidian is super cool, this is one of my favorite pictures. The snake is a good choice because it has "flowy" patterns as if they're stretched, which goes with the rock well.
Thanks! I know a bunch of people have mentioned that they like this snake photo with the obsidian. I thought it was kinda blurry myself. :)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Photo #169
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_bjxg4k.jpg
Another stone from the banks of the CT River.
Snake shown is a Pos. Het Axanthic.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Halloween is just a few weeks away.
Photo #170
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tcqvrw199r.jpg
'Low expression' GHI Lesser.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
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Re: Snakes and Stones
I love how it looks like a face with teeth <3 Perfect! Can't wait for Halloween :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Sorril
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by AutumnVanilla
Love it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by nikkubus
I love how it looks like a face with teeth <3 Perfect! Can't wait for Halloween :)
Thank you, thank you. My gf says it reminds her of the 'Nome King' from the movie Return to Oz. *shrugs*
Finished my time lapse video of my Clutch #16 hatching. Bumblebee x Pastel, 6 eggs and not a single Spider offspring...go figure...:rolleyes:
https://youtu.be/bpcqcClMfLU
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Sorril
This one was awesome.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Breeders Note:
I have three Spider gene related clutches this year: two hatched, one still cooking.
Clutch #16 was Pastel/Spider (pos. Het Pied) x Pastel (pos. Het Pied) - 6 eggs - 5 hatched, 1 failure, none carrying Spider
Clutch #18 was Pastel Axanthic (pos. Het OG) x Pastel/Spider (pos. Het Pied, pos. Het OG) - 6 eggs - 5 hatched, 1 failure, all carrying Spider (shown below)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...T21_q7mdha.jpg
Interesting ratios.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
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Re: Snakes and Stones
That's crazy how well that polished up, awsome photo as usual
Sent from my ELS-NX9 using Tapatalk
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by richardhind1972
That's crazy how well that polished up, awsome photo as usual
Sent from my ELS-NX9 using Tapatalk
For sure. I'll never look at a "plain ol' rock" the same way again, I'll always wonder what it's hiding.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Saw this at my local zoo the other day. Thought it was kinda neat...part of their night-time light display. :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...hts_to8foh.jpg
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Photo #172
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_of9aju.jpg
A few local river rocks with some interesting patterns.
I have pictures of them in their original state somewhere (can just barely see the markings ), I have too many photos and not enough time to find them though. :)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Photo #174
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ruuaxmonvm.jpg
Utah Wonderstone (same mineral as Photo #10).
It is a volcanic rock that is produced by particles of glass being fused together and then compressed by overlying rock and stained with iron oxide ground water over time.
The particular material I purchased (cheap of course) has very large particles which creates pores (lots of them).
Tumbling this material is easy...polishing it is hard. I have tried different techniques to polish, and I never seem to get past a certain level. However, a quick review of listings on Etsy for people working the same type of stone I have...would indicate that I did a damn fine job. ;)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Sorril
Photo #174 ....a quick review of listings on Etsy for people working the same type of stone I have...would indicate that I did a damn fine job. ;)
I'll say you did! They're beautiful!
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Wow they so cool[emoji7][emoji7][emoji106][emoji106]
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
I'll say you did! They're beautiful!
Quote:
Originally Posted by richardhind1972
Wow they so cool
Thank you!
Thank you!
The next photo came out a little off-balance.
Photo #175
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_wdg6wj.jpg
I was hoping to get the snake to form a 'U' facing the camera between the rutilated quartz and the chevron amethyst.
Unfortunately all the photos of my target pose were out of focus and/or the snake turned to look in the opposite direction.
I sold this snake prior to reviewing the photos...so I'm out of luck for a reshoot...:)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
I was at a Michaels craft store the other night, Halloween is always great because I have a much wider range of snake-themed decorations to examine.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...zed_xf3zaq.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...zed_dpev0f.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...zed_b9x65f.jpg
Unfortunately all of my reptile room space is enclosures with no human decor...but, it is still nice to look...:)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Photo #176
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...cfqf3adhbn.jpg
Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan, this was my pilot piece for polish...it was much more difficult than I anticipated...seems like varied hardness between the striations in the stone.
The stress fracture in the center was my fault due to insufficient moisture in the vibe from a piece of sandstone rapidly deteriorating.
I had to switch from small gravel based to large ceramic-based media in the vibe for this one.
Sharp eyes might see some flecks of pyrite in there.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
So I was at my local Home Depot a while back and noticed they had bags of cheap landscaping rocks with some barely noticeable 'banding' in them (image shown below). https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...nxdwhgtza7.jpg
They look like sandstone. Wasn't sure if they would tumble/polish...for a couple bucks: I didn't mind the experiment.
Note: Pay no mind to my painfully swollen hand in the photo above (compliments of my 3rd C-19 vaccine shot).
Photo #177
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...aip9d99bsd.jpg
Tumbled and vibed they have a 'wet look', but, no sheen or reflective polish. No surprise for a sedimentary rock.
I'm still pleased with the final outcome. :)
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I like how those came out too. Not your hand so much, though- :D I just got my third too, & no issues other than some soreness in my arm like any flu shot would be. I'd accept the side effects anyway though, over "the alternative". Besides, I find other "creative" ways to beat up my hands & all- been doing lots of yard work lately (trimming very abrasive shrubs that fight back, etc)- I don't always notice even when I'm bleeding, lol. I do hope your hand feels better soon- honestly I would have just thought it was the camera angle if you hadn't mentioned it.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
I like how those came out too. Not your hand so much, though- :D I just got my third too, & no issues other than some soreness in my arm like any flu shot would be.
Thanks!
I'm one of these people that gets all the common side-effects from the C19 vaccine on every round. I'll definitely take the vaccine side-effects over getting the 'real thing' any day. :)
Of course the side effects aren't all bad...I do get some interesting fever dreams:
There was one where I dreamt that I hatched out an entire clutch of iridescent rainbow-colored ball pythons that slowly grew wings. As the snakes got larger they started to fly. My body was overheating and my mind was racing (stuck in an unrealistic scenario) trying to figure out the logistics of how I would need adapt my equipment and enclosures to keep flying snakes. A splinter in my mind kept digging in-telling me that things were 'not right', but, I couldn't break out of it.
Then another dream that seemed to be based on a prank call I heard somewhere. I woke up and my arms and legs were made out of angry reticulated pythons that were grafted onto my body. My gf was in the nightmare and demanded I get out of bed and go to work and I was like 'I can't! My arms and legs are snakes!' and she was not having it...I call it a 'dream' and not a 'nightmare' because I had no intention of going to work with snake limbs. ;)
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Those are some wild dreams! :rofl: I'm glad to know you wouldn't consider going to work with snake limbs...I think people would talk. And you'll definitely need bigger enclosures (maybe a few extra houses?) for keeping iridescent flying snakes.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Wow they have come up awsome [emoji106][emoji106]
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Re: Snakes and Stones
With my ball python clutches I've seen a bunch of unlikely outcomes this year...
The latest: Clutch #19: Firefly (Photo #76) x Lesser (#66) (8/8 hatched)
1 Firefly, 2 Fires, 5 Normals Hmmm...Interesting...
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...zed_efy1lz.jpg
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Re: Snakes and Stones
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Photo #179
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ztmlgwt6rh.jpg
Interesting pattern on this girl: Het clown, possible Het Lavender Albino.
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Re: Snakes and Stones
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...zed_cra7tb.jpg
I noticed the patterning on the head of this one today, thought it was pretty cool...even if it is common for this morph.
Hypo Spider (HoneyBee)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Photo #180
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_kwummc.jpg
Fire/Pastel (Firefly) and some local granite-y stones. :)
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Sorting out BP genetics is a bit like sorting out stones. A love for puzzles & solving mysteries, as well as finding beautiful things, eh? ;)
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Re: Snakes and Stones
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
Sorting out BP genetics is a bit like sorting out stones. A love for puzzles & solving mysteries, as well as finding beautiful things, eh? ;)
I do not think anyone has stated it so eloquently, but, yes that is an accurate assessment. :)
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