"Obsession" Is Addressed

Ok so here it goes. I have recently come to the conclusion that i am absolutely OBSESSED with BPs and BP Breeding. The reason i bring this up is because i think it may be concerning me a little. I am constantly day dreaming about what morphs i would like to buy, and what i would breed to who, researching, stalking forums, reading posts, Genetic Wizard, "Availible" Ball Python adds, Snake Bytes, ect. Once 4 p.m. hits and i leave my "day job" its either straight home or out to cruise for reptile supplies. That has been my routine for 3 months now. It has yet to interfere with my family life or work but i am constantly thinking about it, until i will myself to be patient. I have no BPs that are big enough for breeding and that season has come and gone. I grew up always catching snakes and begging my mother to buy me reptiles, and the passion was but a spark, what seems like just yesterday. Now it is a full on addiction? Because of a stupid mistake i made when i was a teen, i was forced to leave the Reptile World for a few years, and am now returning. Only the passion for these animals was never so strong. Maybe its because i have a wonderful head on my shoulders now and an even better supporting and loving family. I have a pretty good job and can afford some of the higher end morphs that i couldnt before. I dont know. I guess i am wondering if anyone else has had to check themselves, or possibly had the same kind of thought process when it comes to this. If so, tell me about it. Its always good to feel like your not the only one, and maybe some of the people that have been doing this for awhile have suggestions or comments of their own. I could be way over thinking the entire thing, but i am known to be a thinker, not always a gift i guess. Maybe after i produce some animals of my own i will calm down a little. Regardless, i love this hobby and i appreciate everything that the Old Timers have set down before my feet. I am truly grateful to have such a wonderful exsistence and an even better outlet. Comments Welcome.

I'm pretty sure that you just described half of the members on this site lol, it definitely is an addicting hobby that is hard to keep off the mind.

So no you are not alone!

Check ourselves? what do you mean? I'm a full blown addict. BPs all day, every day. I print my favorite documents and save my favorite pictures so I don't lose 'em. I have over 1000 pictures saved :D... I do everything you do. Once I was able to afford some of the higher end morphs, I went ahead and did it. I love opening my tubs to these sweet morphs that I can say is mine! I love them! Baby snakes are super cute! Adult snakes are so chill (for the most part :P)! They have awkward personalities just like me! They don't want to be coddled by strangers.. They require so much patience. They make me happy for sure :gj:.

The difficult part is sticking to your breeding plan LOL. I know 100% what you mean when you say when you get babies, you think you'll calm down LOL. I haven't produced any reptile, but when that day comes, I'll think of this thread :gj:. It's weird because we're both named TRAVIS :P and I totally understand everything you wrote in the post, and I can relate :gj:.

You are not alone! I think with any hobby you have to have a passion for it. Keeping snakes is no differnt.

It never gets any easier, either. Poor guy. You never had a chance.

If you think your hooked/addicted now wait till you start breeding and have those little heads pipping out of their eggs.

:whisper: Oh and bad news for you a 12 steps program won't work for that addiction :rofl:

As someone who has some experience breeding other pythons in the past, (Irian Jaya carpet Pythons, Childrens Pythons, Austrailian Brown Water Pythons Pythons, Olive Pythons, just to name a few), It gets a whole lot worse when you have eggs hatching out. I to had to step away for a while due to life. but i am right back in it like i didn't miss a beat, even woke up to hit the dry erase board we have in the room to write down idea's i had while a sleep, LOL.

<<<< also a victim
I recently have been totally consumed myself " and its not the first time though ill explain". It all started in january when i passed NERD visiting my girlfriend in NH. I literally FREAK OUT scared the @#!$ out of her i swear she almost drove off the road!!! All the months of driving up there i had no clue how close the morph gods were haha! Since then Its been non stop researching and buying I started off with telling myself i was going to start off slow because i know how addicting buying them can be... You know how this goes one turned to two two turned into three ext ext... Now im at 8 animals! 2 hogs and 5 bps and cant forget my uromastyx. This is not my first experience with the ball python craze though. I had to get rid of my original collection of 10 snakes and 2 lizards about a year and a half ago due to college.. I couldn't tell you how devastating i was heart broke... After parting with my collection i completely erased any interest i had in ball pythons and reptiles because i didn't want to relive the situation i was just put through until now. Im at the stage of my life were i can devote the time and effort of keeping and breeding snakes. My girlfriend is having a real tough time with it she is very scared and uncomfortable with them.. But i hope this will smooth over within the next couple of months or even years.. I don't think i could part with them again but we have come to an agreement that i am not allowed anymore lol I think its will get easier on her i did just get 7 snakes in the last three months so i can understand why shes going through with what shes going through. I have come to the conclusion that i cant live without reptiles in my life and its been an interest i have had since i was a kid like most of us. As for the obsessive fauna classifieds and kingsnake classifieds searching i feel like if i convince myself that i cant afford to feed another mouth or house any more hatchlings and focus on what i have and be happy with what i can currently create it will eventually go away. Thats what i had to do my first time around atleast because it was just as bad lol
I really like this post and would love to hear your guys stories also!

HAHA read over some of the things you guys posted while i was writing lol maybe my "weening" technique is not going to work so well lol...

I stand guilty as charged!

While I enjoy reading and learning about the other herps and especially snakes that are out there in the hobby (and in the wild), ball pythons are my obsession, and always will be.

lol I guess I have it easier than most lol. I am marrying a fellow reptile lover ( in Crystals( 4thesnakelady's) case most animals) . We are evening plaaning our oneymoom to be in he summer so can say been to the Daytona reptile show. the bad part of it all is our collection is limited to numbers(so most of mine are at my mother's place who startting to get into the obsession too)
But my magor luck has been they rescuing most the time of unwanted snakes, and finding them homes. sadly thought I not been able to get more morphs like others Idon't have he bank account to afford them but I the room and supplies lol to take care of almost 2-3 times what my collection needs now lol, I been freezing rats,asfs, and mice and using the oldest frozen to supply all our snakes almost and a couple other people when they are short for their collections needs lol.
Now if I only the odd gods arewith me this season my 11 eggs can produce me a 1.1 pieds and 0.2 female butters or pinstripes. all the extra morphs can go into the funding the next morph deal lol.

Here how obsessed I gotten at one time 40 + snakes between rescues, crystal's and my own snakes , ( this was as she was preparing to move, and i had receieved a couple nice groups to rehome all in a month peroid) how ungodly warm my poor sleeping room was as I had almost 10 snakes in QT.luckly it was winter and Crystal 's snake got out of QT right before hand lol or I had 20 snakes stacked in tub and heat tape on my desk lol

Check out a thread started by Rob, titled "You might be a (can't remember if is just said python, or ball python) keeper". To the theme of you might be a redneck. I haven't figured out how to link it here yet, or I would. Read that over, might tell ya how obsessed we all are,..... :D

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Originally Posted by DrDooLittle

Check out a thread started by Rob, titled "You might be a (can't remember if is just said python, or ball python) keeper". To the theme of you might be a redneck. I haven't figured out how to link it here yet, or I would. Read that over, might tell ya how obsessed we all are,..... :D

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Haha I forgot all about that one, we gotta get it going again!

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Originally Posted by Rob

Haha I forgot all about that one, we gotta get it going again!

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How could you forget? It was great, I thought it should have gone sticky! Somebody help me and link it.....

I've been battling this obsession since I was 10 years old, when my mom bought me a boa and set off a spark regarding all things reptilian. I don't know if I just have an addictive personality or what (staying away from drugs just in case :cool:) but while I've gone through periods where I haven't kept reptiles, they've always been in the back of my mind, and whenever I get into a situation where it's possible for me to keep them, the obsession snaps right back and in full force where I'm constantly planning and contemplating building on my collection, researching, reading everything I can, posting on forums like these, browsing classifieds, saving money, daydreaming...

good luck.

:weirdface

Haha. I think that was one of the first posts i read when i got on here. Forgot about that, it was pretty entertaining though, and so true.

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Originally Posted by DrDooLittle

How could you forget? It was great, I thought it should have gone sticky! Somebody help me and link it.....

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http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...eper..........

Hi everyone, my name is Mike and im addicted to ball pythons.
*Group Response*- "Hi Mike!"

i love this hobby..and like most of us it all started with a fascination about reptiles (always snakes in particular tho) that sparked in my mind as a youth. I think Steve Irwin "R.i.P:bow:) had alot to due with it as well. I used too love watching him growing up, the way he would just light up when he found a snake and went "Isnt she just a beauty!" hahahaha. But seriously keeping herps is like a silent release from the stresses of life. I scare my girlfriend whenever i come across "deal;)" for a nice snake haha. But i solved that issue fast buy surprising her with her very own little baby BP to care for. I think her motherly instincts took control, now she hooked as well! Reptile Shows here we come hahaa

I think I get what you mean, I love reptiles of all kinds and when I know I'm allowed to get another one, I can get frustrated saving up the money for everything. I'm only in high school and have to work with a chores allowance, and most of that is used on buying feeders and such, usually it ends up leaving me maybe 5 or 10 dollars a week to put back into saving :oops: I'm working on my next reptile right now, and it's been a pretty long road but now all I need is a Repti-sun tube, new calc and vitamin powders, and the little lizard himself!

I think part of my obsession is my OCD, it drives me crazy sometimes, but it sounds like you just have a healthy love for reptiles like a ton of herpers! I know I do some crazy things myself for my kids (reps :)), when my mother has to go to Wal-Mart I like to go and look for interesting things for hides or decorations... :D I hardly ever stray from the side of Wal-Mart that has things like plastic containers and tubs, deli cups, pet supplies etc... I just go to the food area when my mother wants help or I want a Subway Sandwhich :banana:

My addiction to reptiles started when I was 8 mostly with Lizards although I liked snakes too I loved lizards. My first reptile was a Leo, then it moved onto a Bearded Dragon. After I got out of the navy my brother introduced me to ball pythons and I was full on addicted. And now since I am in a situation that allows me to keep reptiles again I plan on having many bp's. I only have one now but when I'm not saving money I'm researching and making plans and getting supplies and looking at DIY rack systems and incubators. Addicted ya I would say I'm a full blown addict!

i recommend selling a few of your juveniles or babies and buying adults with the money. i had 22 bps, about half juvies, a quarter babies, and a quarter adults with only one breeder female. With that money i was able to buy another female and a bunch of proven males and im down to 13 but some babies/juvies just really aren't worth hanging on to (het ghost pair i bought for 225 a year ago but now a visual ghost is $150) Like if you have three single gene animals, sell them and buy one double gene animal.

Meh, I am not obsessed......:no:

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Originally Posted by jinx667

Meh, I am not obsessed......:no:

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Dont be silly....of course you are!

obsession [əbˈsɛʃən]
n
1. a persistent idea or impulse that continually forces its way into consciousness, often associated with anxiety and mental illness
2. a persistent preoccupation, idea, or feeling
3. the act of obsessing or the state of being obsessed

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Originally Posted by travis11

Dont be silly....of course you are!

obsession [əbˈsɛʃən]
n
1. a persistent idea or impulse that continually forces its way into consciousness, often associated with anxiety and mental illness
2. a persistent preoccupation, idea, or feeling
3. the act of obsessing or the state of being obsessed

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Nope not me at all....

DENIAL - de·ni·al [dih-nahy-uhl]
noun
1. an assertion that something said, believed, alleged, etc., is false: Despite his denials, we knew he had taken the purse. The politician issued a denial of his opponent's charges.
2. refusal to believe a doctrine, theory, or the like.
3. disbelief in the existence or reality of a thing.
4. the refusal to satisfy a claim, request, desire, etc., or the refusal of a person making it.
5. refusal to recognize or acknowledge; a disowning or disavowal: the traitor's denial of his country; Peter's denial of Christ.

Ohh very nice. I like your style...hahaha

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Originally Posted by jinx667

Meh, I am not obsessed......:no:

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:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

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Originally Posted by jinx667

Nope not me at all....

DENIAL - de·ni·al [dih-nahy-uhl]
noun

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It ain't a river in Egypt, Brother!

I just love my snakes.

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Originally Posted by B-Dan888

I just love my snakes.

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Hilarious!!!

Okay........ so I was posting this and then realized my boyfriend never logged out so I edited his and am reposting dangit lol



Eh, I like snakes and all but I am very sure it will never become a problem or an obsession for me. I mean, I have burglarized a couple of houses for ball python money once or twice. But everyone does that now and again, I'm sure.

Also I have stolen money from my mom's purse one or twice and "borrowed" my little sister's entire college fund, but I bought some really sweet snakes with the money so I'm pretty sure it's okay. I've been thinking of starting to sell "street pharmaceuticals" so I can get a few more snakes.

Oh yeah, and occasionally I see a really cool new morph so I have to rob a Circle K or two so I can get the jump on buying it. Unfortunately I recently pawned my Glock for a really sweet lesser so I guess I can't do that anymore:oops:.

I suppose a few people might say I'm fairly into it if I told them how I had to take a second mortgage and am now loosing my house because I just couldn't resist a banana and a couple lavender albino combos and then lost my job trying to steal my boss's car for snake money. He drives a BMW though, do you know how many SNAKES you could buy with that?!. I think it's whatever, I'll just stand by the freeway and hold a sign that says "Will work for snakes."

As long as I can just get a few more snakes I'll be fine. Maybe a couple more after that. I can quit any time I want though, I just don't want to. Definitely not a problem or an addiction or anything, perfectly normal.

BTW if anyone on here has any odd jobs or wants to buy anything, ANYTHING I'll do it or I can get it, you can pay me in sweet morphs.

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Originally Posted by B-Dan888

I just love my snakes.

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Where did the rest of that go :confused:

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Originally Posted by Coleslaw007

Okay........ so I was posting this and then realized my boyfriend never logged out so I edited his and am reposting dangit lol

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Oh, that's where it went...

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Originally Posted by travis11

Hilarious!!!

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Sorry, see post above for what happened here lol.

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Originally Posted by Slim

Where did the rest of that go :confused:

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That would me not noticing that muh lover-face was still logged in before posting and then fixing my mistake :oops:

He has to make his own funnies.

I am the same way, and the only restraints I have are lack of funds and of course my husband. He is not to down with the eating potatoes every day so I can buy the newest morph on my "current" list.../sigh ah well, I am still making progress, just not as fast as I would like. Good Luck!


Dang, where are my eggs! Why arn't they here yet!!!!!

I am right there with you. I think that if I owned every snake on my wish list, breeding would still interest me. I am completely obsessed too. It's unhealthy lol.