Smooth Scales Snakes

Hello, folks!

With the new year started - and picture/editing skills improving - I thought I would post some updated pics of our snakes. While these pics are slightly edited, my editing skills are still horrifyingly bad so all editing is restricted to what I picked up from the Raphy Martinez video on YouTube. If you are anywhere close to as inept as I am at working your way around photo editing software, it is well worth the watch! (https://www.youtube.com/user/raphymartinez)

Check out the results, and let me know what you think!

First up, we have Blackout! This beautiful Black Pastel has been growing like a weed and is now weighing in at 1350 grams, which puts her right on track for breeding this fall. Isn't she gorgeous?
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...00052467_o.jpg

Next, we have her future mate - Mr. Fred the Magnifithent! Our Spinner Blast boy is in shed in this picture, but you can really only tell by his eyes. Last weigh in, he came in at 740 grams. As soon as he's out of shed, we're going to check him to see if he's producing sperm plugs, but I'm confident he's ready to meet the girls!
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...83699125_o.jpg
Continuing with the boys, next on the list is Mr. Bubbles. This Mojave Sable loves to eat! He also was really curious about the thing he was sitting on and spent most of his photo shoot time flicking his tongue at it.
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...53934543_o.jpg


Our newest addition - and last male we currently have - is this feisty little pied. He hasn't been with us very long and is still really tense - he's tagged me twice in the past week!
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...99739221_o.jpg

Onto the rest of the girls!

First, we have a little Mystic that we picked up from Dean's Reptiles at the Costa Mesa Repticon.
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...96214012_o.jpg

Next we have a little pastel. She really didn't want to sit still for her picture to be taken!
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...66026942_o.jpg


Next, we have a little Yellow Belly. She's going into shed and feeling very anti-social right now, so she's a little out of focus. This was, unfortunately, the best pic of her and she looks a bit cross about the whole thing. When she was purchased, we were told she was fed strictly on mice, but she's taken every rat she's been offered without hesitation and has nearly doubled in size since purchase. I don't expect her to be up to size this fall, but wouldn't be surprised if she were ready by early next year.
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...12032396_o.jpg


This little Mojave was so curious about the camera, that she actually stretched out from the position she was in for the picture and tried to lick the lens. She's a really solid eater and is always looking for more.
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...31637706_o.jpg


Last, but certainly not least, I present our Super Lesser BEL. This photo has definitely taught me something - don't take pictures of an all white snake on an all white background. :rolleyes: Like the Mojave, she was also very curious about the camera and kept slithering toward it to check it out, making getting a good picture a bit difficult. When we got her, she was only 77 grams. At last weight, she was one meal away from tipping 300. Her back looks a little yellowed out in the picture, which means she is likely going to be in full on shed soon as well. Also, she likes wearing hats. :oops:
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...43220587_o.jpg



That's it for now! Although, as soon as the weather gets a little warmer for shipping, two Western Hognose will be added to our growing numbers. We managed to pick up all the snakes on our purchase list for 2015, and have identified which morphs we'd like to add in 2016. We'll be keeping our eyes open! I know a few of the members here breed some things on our list, and will be contacting them when the time comes. :D

blackout was purchased from redshepherd right?


nice collection btw

nice pix! great collection.

i love you BEL, she's such a periscoper.

also u should put a lil' Rainbow Dash or Pinkie Pie wig on her. :)

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Originally Posted by se7en

blackout was purchased from redshepherd right?


nice collection btw

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Correct! Blackout did come from redshepherd. Thanks so much for the compliment!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ax01

nice pix! great collection.

i love you BEL, she's such a periscoper.

also u should put a lil' Rainbow Dash or Pinkie Pie wig on her. :)

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Thank you! I've got this one crazy pic of her where it looks like she's cocking her head to the side like 'What'cha doin?' :rolleyes: She's so silly. As for seeing her in more hats, my Aunt sent me a tutorial on how to make one with some yarn and a key-ring so it looks like a small beanie. She said 'Make it happen.' :rofl:

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...97937740_o.jpg

Very nice collection, that BEL looks awesome!

awesome collection and very nice photos

Thanks to everyone so much for the comments and compliments! We snapped a few more photos at the beginning of the month when we do our tub switching for deep cleaning. I thought I would share some of them. :D


We'll do the boys first -

Bubbles
We didn't get many good pics of Mr. Bubbles this time because he's going into shed and feeling a little cranky. We did get this nice shot of his tongue, though!

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...44208103_o.jpg



Fred the Magnifithent
Here's a shot of Fred the Magnifithent. He's looking pretty after his shed. He's just short of 700 grams right now. He kind of snuck up on us weight wise and managed to get to breeding size before we realized it, but we checked him at his last weigh in and confirmed it - he is producing sperm plugs! I think this picture turned out really fantastic - I don't even think I cropped it, just added the FB information/watermark.
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...40179111_o.jpg




Smiley
Last up for the boys would be Smiley! He's settled in nicely and has stopped trying to tag me every time his tub gets opened. He's also turned out to be quite photogenic, so there's several pictures of him that turned out pretty great that I'll be sharing.

First, much more relaxed about coming out of his tub.
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...92347187_o.jpg

Posing nicely.
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...08&oe=5732F182



A close up shot.
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...83641535_o.jpg


At this point, he started wondering about the camera being stuck in his face, I think.
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...90075614_o.jpg



Yup, started stretching toward the lens.
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...83173151_o.jpg



I have no idea how this next photo even happened... This is the actual photo without any effects added after the fact - I have the editing skills of a 1st grader! Actually, with today's technology, a 1st grader probably has better editing skills than I do. :tears: We were experimenting with shutter times, though, but I have no idea how to recreate this. I'm sure someone more camera savvy could tell me - shutter to fast? To slow? I don't know! :confusd:
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...02187891_o.jpg


Onto the girls!

Blackout
First up we have Blackout. She wasn't really feeling very photogenic this time and kept trying to slither away. I have lots of pics of her backside! There is one tongue shot of her that turned out nice, though, so here it is!
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...76767673_o.jpg


Terrestria
Next up, we'll take a look at little Terrestria. She shed a few hours before taking these photos and she looks just fantastic! Her blacks looked so deep and soft, like velvet.

Here's a picture of her a few days before her shed. She didn't eat the rat, so it was taken out a few minutes later. We always offer even when they look blue because sometimes they will eat - most of ours eat in blue, and I'm honestly surprised when they turn down a rat. However, once they've refused, we don't offer again until after they're done shedding. I chose to share this photo because she looked so comical in her bowl glaring at the rat.
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...87946123_o.jpg


And now, after her shed.
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...66216473_o.jpg


https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...16625976_o.jpg

Sharona
Last time, Sharona didn't want her picture taken, so we only got a couple of her that were even in focus. This time she sat so still, we pretty much only got one pose! :rolleyes: Snakes don't care for the plans of men (and women).

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...88056397_o.jpg

You always hear about how Pastels will brown out as they age, quicker if the genetics of the animal aren't that good. Many say it - quality in, quality out - and I completely agree. When you look at a Pastel, and can't even tell it's a Pastel, it's really disappointing. While she's still young, I feel confident that this little girl will prove her quality as she grows. In the time that we've had her, she's actually gotten brighter!
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...17009056_o.jpg


Frank the Tank
Frank is ever in search of her next rat. She is incredibly docile, though, and if I were ever going to try introducing someone who is afraid of snakes to a snake, it would be Frank. She enjoys chin scratches! Yes, I know, 'enjoy' is an anthropomorphism, but I'm not sure what else to call it. She acts a bit like a cat getting its chin scratched! Only one pic of Frank this time around, but it's tongue out!
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...44959335_o.jpg


Maxine
Maxine, once again, didn't want her picture taken. I'm beginning to think we'll never get some good pics of her! This one is in focus, at least, unlike last time.
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...49310004_o.jpg


Mon Cheri
And finally, the little wee Mon Cheri! I keep calling her little wee, but she checked in at 348 grams last weigh day. Not much, I know, especially when one shelf away you've got Blackout tipping more than 1450, but a far cry from the 77g 'well started' hatchling that she arrived as. Only one picture of her today, more because of human error than her moving. She's a little sweetie and very photogenic, but the human behind the camera still needs to focus. :rolleyes:

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...97281315_o.jpg


We're still waiting on the weather to warm up enough for our hognose to make the journey from Connecticut, so no hognose to show off at the moment. We do have one more new addition, but he'll be getting his own thread as it's a rescue situation. Here's hoping everyone is having a great day and a wonderful season!

Collection is really looking great. Gonna have some nice babies in the future.

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Originally Posted by Bigfish1975

Collection is really looking great. Gonna have some nice babies in the future.

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Thanks! I have Phantom on my wish list for this year, so I'm sure we'll be hitting you up once we get another rack built. ;)

Sounds like a great plan. Also, sent you a PM.

Great pictures! I love the rat one, and Smiley stretching towards the camera.

I know nothing about photography since I only have my phone's camera, but it looks like that one picture was overexposed from the shutter being open for long enough that it let a lot of white light in. Pics can also get overexposed if the focus is on the brightest part of the picture, but I don't know anything about a camera that isn't 'tap to focus' like a phone camera.

Yep, the last picture of Smiley is over-exposed. You can get the effect from a long exposure time for your aperture, or where you focus. Cristacake was close, but backwards - you need to focus on a dark area, so the camera forces a longer exposure time and/or larger aperture, letting in more light.You can also get the effect with post-processing. (Married to a photo geek)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I love all your descriptions of your snakes!! They're all so precious, they have such great and different personalities and characteristics!! Your passion for snakes clearly shows through!!

Nice collection there! Does your super lesser have a smaller eye?

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Originally Posted by HannahLou

Nice collection there! Does your super lesser have a smaller eye?

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She does! It's actually a rather well known defect of the Super Lesser combination, much like duck billing or kinking for Super Black Pastels. This doesn't mean it will always happen, but it is very common. Other than being two different sizes, it doesn't appear to affect vision or bother her. :)

Great collection! I really enjoyed your photos and descriptions of your snakes. Thanks for sharing.

We've got some new additions, and updated pics! It's a little late for Easter, but some of the photos are Easter themed. I hope you enjoy!


Mr. Bubbles
Deep Blue

Blackout
Even Deeper Blue

Frank the Tank
Deeper Than The Deep Blue Sea


Those three looked so uncomfortable with their shed that I just didn't have the heart to make them sit for pictures, so they got a pass this time around! And wouldn't you know it, I looked in on Mr. Bubbles right before starting to type this out and he's currently in the act of wiggling out of his old skin. What a brat.

Fred the Magnifithent
Our Spinner Blast boy showed off his colors nicely against the dark background we chose for the photos. To bad sitting still wasn't something he wanted to do.

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...70598791_o.jpg


And one little head shot with a bit of tongue.
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...36201930_o.jpg



Smiley
Just look at that cute little face! Hard to believe that's the same snake that was 'playing tag' with me when he first arrived.


https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...87806466_o.jpg




Terrestria
This little girl was in no mood for sitting still, but we did manage to get one photo of her that was in focus.

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...94457646_o.jpg



Sharona
I'm really not sure what happened to this picture, but most of the ones of Sharona have this weird bluish tint going on. I suspect she's getting ready to shed and the camera was picking up on the sheen of her scales.

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...57056370_o.jpg



Maxine
She was holding onto that Easter bowl pretty tightly with her tail. And true to form, managed to not be completely in focus once again. :rolleyes:

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...67610788_o.jpg



Mon Cheri
Here are a couple of our Super Lesser. She has such a great temperament and is such a beautiful snake.

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...77617048_o.jpg


Look into her eye!

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...40316649_o.jpg



And an Easter themed one.

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...03137735_o.jpg



Aaaand one more just for Ax. :3

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...66844229_o.jpg



Now, onto some new arrivals!

Buggsie
While not a new arrival, this is the first time Buggsie will be posted outside of her rescue thread. (Didn't I say I had held back some photos of her?)

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...81826973_o.jpg


She looks so much better! I'm so proud of her.
And here's the little cutie being her own hat.

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...43400702_o.jpg



Next, I'll cover the three girls we picked up from Dean Holm of Deans Reptiles. They are all three Pastel het Orange Ghost and of course they all went into shed the day before pictures so they look a little blue in the photos.

Dorothy
First of the trio.

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...80913718_o.jpg


Glinda
Second of the trio, and a little bigger than Dorothy.

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...45207889_o.jpg





Jaws
The third of the trio, Jaws has a little bit of shark mouth going on and is the smallest of the girls. We might not have picked her as a solo purchase, but the three came as a package deal and she's got spunk. She's already eaten for us, and the shortened lower jaw didn't seem to slow her down much. Either way, we'll keep an eye on her and make sure she's getting what she needs.

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...66767067_o.jpg


Opera
Here's a little Phantom girl we picked up from Mike Porter of Porter's Pythons (aka BigFish1975). We've named her Opera...because I like to think I'm funny. :oops: She's got some really deep blacks that the camera just doesn't pick up that well. She's still a little shy, but eating fine. Likely still trying to decide if we're going to eat her or not, but I'm sure she'll pick up on that soon enough. I have the fortune of living close enough to Mike to be able to make a day trip to his area, so was able to pick up Opera in person. It was really fun to check out Mike's snakes and see what projects he's working on for this season. Can't wait to do it again! (You can check out our visit here.)

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...09566566_o.jpg



'The' Shepard
Because I'm a huge nerd that spends way to much time playing video games, our first Specter had to be named after Commander Shepard of the Mass Effect series. She came to us from Tim Reynolds of TK Morphs.

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...11140178_o.jpg


Mr. Wizard
This boy has been a PITA to find. My s.o. asked me for one thing last year for Christmas - a Sugar. So I started looking...that was September. Christmas has come and gone and I have looked at hundreds if not thousands of pictures of Calicos and Sugars and talked to a number of breeders...none of them had any real 'Wow' factor. Until I reached out to Vin Russo of Cutting Edge Herps and asked him his thoughts on the gene. It so happened that he had one Sugar left from his hatching season and while I would've preferred a girl, this boy was just to special looking to pass up. For a single gene, he's got some ridiculously high colors going on. It brings to mind the saying - 'Quality in, quality out', and I gotta say this boy has got quality to spare. He blows every other 'Sugar' I've looked at for the past 6 months out of the water. So, this Christmas present was really late, but well worth it. (You can watch his unboxing here.)

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...06934297_o.jpg

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...67827990_o.jpg




Not Ball Python related - the Hognose have finally showed up! After three months of waiting, it finally got warm enough on both ends for them to safely ship. They both came from Luke Edwards of Reptile Nexus and despite their delay were in great health and feeling feisty. (You can watch their unboxing video here.)

Kermit
This little boy is a 'conda het albino and is already getting ready to shed. :rolleyes: Seems like a lot of kids showed up and started shedding right away. Must be the weather here in Cali.

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...93890136_o.jpg


https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...28770898_o.jpg



https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...06590207_o.jpg



Miss Piggy
Can't have Kermit without Miss Piggy. (Really, Sesame Street, what were you thinking?) She's a normal girl that is het albino. Both are pretty feisty and really small. Obviously I find them interesting and hope to breed them in a few years when they're big enough (I made sure they were unrelated), but don't think that means I'm wavering even a tiny bit on breeding plans for the Ball Pythons. I have a list for BP that I've been sticking to as much as possible, and it still has 5 more for this year alone. The Hognose list is much shorter - it only has one more on it for this year, so you can see the difference there.

And I've wandered off topic! Quick! Distraction technique deploy!

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...24&oe=57963F49

So angry looking!

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This concludes your update! Now back to your regularly scheduled program. :D

Love the tongue photos and the Hoggies!

Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by SmoothScales

Aaaand one more just for Ax. :3

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...66844229_o.jpg

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aawww thanks! :oops:

sweet pick-ups. Miss Piggy is sooo cute!

lol i was watching your visit to Mike's place when the vid cut out. Opera is beautiful and your BF is tall BTW. i have a Dorothy (who i got from Mike, she's one of Ducky's kids) and a Glinda too. :) :gj:

That BEL is a riot!! I love the pics, keep them coming!

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Originally Posted by Ax01

i was watching your visit to Mike's place when the vid cut out. Opera is beautiful and your BF is tall BTW.

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Yeah, apologies for that. I would've sworn the camera was fully charged before we went down to visit. Might be time for a new camera battery. :( lol He is a pretty large fellow. It's really funny to see him get in the car after I've been driving it. :giggle: