Getting germs all over my new phone/camera.

Did some spot cleaning, water changing and just some general admiring downstairs in the sanctuary earlier...Figured I would also attention whore a few of the serpents while I was at it.

Fire female. The only snake I produced that I held onto from last year. She's around 750 grams or so now.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...om/1031111.jpg

1200 gram most awesome female G-Stripe I've ever seen. She's shy. Actually a 2008, came to me at 700 grams earlier this year and finally developed an appetite. She hardly ever comes out from under that bowl though.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...om/1031112.jpg

The most well-behaved one in the bunch. Seriously. Most fascinating, satisfying species to keep. Been my favorites since I was old enough to walk, no point in even keeping snakes without a few of these around, as far as I'm concerned. If I could find enough of the right ones (I'm picky), I'd replace all of my Balls with them in a heartbeat. :)
Well...that's probably not totally true.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...om/1031113.jpg

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...om/1031114.jpg

My matriarch Black Back female (traded to me as a het Albino but has never proven out) that got me back into even thinking about Ball Pythons after not having any for about 5 years. She's in shed.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...om/1031115.jpg

And the last subject of tonight's little dirty-handed photo shoot. My Granitey-dinker-I don't know what the hell she really is yet-girl. Laid 5 eggs 2 seasons ago but they all died in the egg.

Hope you enjoy, I always do. :)

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...om/1031116.jpg

I love hots but I'm just not experienced enough to own them. Absolutely beautiful!! My friend Sean found this one here locally just a couple months ago in southern IL near Kankakee at a place they go herping that they call snake road.

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l2...s/IMG_5411.png

They're all beautiful snakes! What species is your hot? I'm clueless when it comes to them, but they sure are pretty. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

I love hots but I'm just not experienced enough to own them. Absolutely beautiful!! My friend Sean found this one here locally just a couple months ago in southern IL near Kankakee at a place they go herping that they call snake road.

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l2...s/IMG_5411.png

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Yeah, of course. Snake Road is pretty famous. Beautiful pure Northern, that's awesome. I haven't seen a Copperhead in the wild since I was in YMCA day camp when I was 8...My counselor had to physically stop me from catching it. I should really get out in the woods more. :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lolo76

They're all beautiful snakes! What species is your hot? I'm clueless when it comes to them, but they sure are pretty. :)

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Thanks. That's a Southern Copperhead (Agkistrodon Contortrix Contortrix). Calling them "hots" sounds so sinister and discriminatory. They're such communal snakes, so awesome to observe their behaviors. And I personally see a lot of intelligence in them, like people describe in Retics. Of course they need to be handled with care and respect but I don't care what they are, I can't live without 'em. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RyanT

The most well-behaved one in the bunch. Seriously. Most fascinating, satisfying species to keep. Been my favorites since I was old enough to walk, no point in even keeping snakes without a few of these around, as far as I'm concerned. If I could find enough of the right ones (I'm picky), I'd replace all of my Balls with them in a heartbeat. :)
Well...that's probably not totally true.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...om/1031113.jpg

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I caught my breath when I saw your Copperhead, he's gorgeous! Has he ever attempted to strike you? And was he a CH or a WC?

Thanks. Nope, never shown any sign of aggression at all. Totally mellow and relaxed, no hassle whatsoever to work with. Most adults are that way, they're only skittish when they're babies. I've had around 50 Coppers over the years and I honestly can't say ANY of them have ever been "mean". Totally different behavior than say Cottonmouths, in my opinion.

He was wild caught in North Carolina, I've had him for a year now. He's well over 3 feet long, closer to 4, and just such an impressive snake...He's the best I could do to come anywhere near replacing this guy below who was my pet for 8 years. He'll never actually be replaceable but I had to try.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...n_Side-med.jpg

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...uthern-med.jpg

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...arison-med.jpg

Do you free handle your copper?

Pretty snakes, and I can't believe a copperhead and well behaved are in the same sentence, lol. I never would have thought that a "hot" would be nice!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

Do you free handle your copper?

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Of course not. Based on his demeanor, I believe I could without anything bad happening (for a while), but why? Totally unnecessary risk. And I'm not a moron. ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SlitherinSisters

Pretty snakes, and I can't believe a copperhead and well behaved are in the same sentence, lol. I never would have thought that a "hot" would be nice!

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Well, believe it! :gj:

:)

Love venomous species. Haven't had them in a while, although I kept them for several years. Their isn't anything like it, completely fell in love with Gaboons when I bought a pair of them back in 2005.

Now I know why they call them "hots"; because your Coppers are HOT HOT HOT!

A lot of the venomous snakes are so gorgeous and demand respect, recently I've thought about one day keeping one. Won't be anytime soon, that's for sure.

I love copperheads, and yours is so beautiful! I'd love to get one someday if I knew I could keep it secure from my other pets and my husband.

Do you keep anti-venom on hand in case of a bite, or do you just never put yourself in a situation that would require it?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MidSouthMorphs

Love venomous species. Haven't had them in a while, although I kept them for several years. Their isn't anything like it, completely fell in love with Gaboons when I bought a pair of them back in 2005.

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Yeah, I love Gaboons and Rhinos but for whatever reason, since there are so many of them that are mostly very similar, I'd rather just admire them than keep them. To me, finding outstanding Coppers is like a neverending search for the Holy Grail. They never get boring.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by meowmeowkazoo

I love copperheads, and yours is so beautiful! I'd love to get one someday if I knew I could keep it secure from my other pets and my husband.

Do you keep anti-venom on hand in case of a bite, or do you just never put yourself in a situation that would require it?

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Thanks. No, I don't keep antivenin. It may be arrogant but I've had them for more than a decade and thoroughly understand them. No other venomous species interests me enough to NEED to keep them. I know what I'm doing. ;)