Resistance is Futile

Maybe you guys are the wrong people to ask, but... how do you resist the lure of yet another snake?? There are temptations at every turn! I find myself peering about the apartment thinking "If we threw away all those VHS we could maybe put something on that shelf..." and so forth. Karen's a bit worried. It's easy to get greedy. Despite eyeing the apartment like a Tetris game, I've been a very good girl for the moment as a couple people on this forum well know. ;)

So far I've been able to restrain myself in a few ways...

1) No matter how gorgeous and tempting the RTBs are Karen and I have agreed that anything that could outgrow rats is too big for us. Especially with my back problems. Biggest we're going to go is BPs, so we've pretty much put on availability blinders to the bigger species. BPs and ratsnakes for us, which is fine because we luv them muchly!

2) Space. It's not a big apartment, and we have 8 animals as it is. We just got a Herpstat which has plugs for 3 UTIs. Which means we *could* potentially hook up 3 more tubs eventually that have the same heat requirements (aka, more BPs, YAY) but even if there was room plugging anything else in the bedroom is out. We already have to turn off the space heater to use the hairdryer or the whole back room/bathroom shorts out. So... BP plans ONLY after we move which has to wait a couple of years for business school reasons.

3) Speaking of moving, still not sure how we're gonna get all our babies from point A to point B when we *are* ready to flee the Valley of the Sun. Easier to wait and get new babies when we're settled, even if we have to wait a few years for that to happen.

4) Should we get a blue beauty ratsnake, I'd like a nice sized tank for her to cruise around in and they're expensive. They're very active snakes.

Here is now I am sabotaging my good girlness.

1) With the new Herpstat we now have an extra t-stat... extra things are bad. Extra things give Sheree ideas.

2) We have a BP so we can wait on a BP... but I'm also longing for a baby blue beauty. Birds suddenly appear every time a pic of one is near. :rolleyes: And based on the info we have so far on their care, they fall within the "We can totally do that" parameters.

3) Tanks are expensive, but I bet I could find one cheap/free on Craigslist or something.

4) 2 years or so is a LONG time when you're waiting...

I'm weakening and Karen keeps giving me the "don't talk me into it, I know you'll talk me into it, don't you do it" look. Help! Discourage me, people! What do you guys do to fight new snake/herp rationalizations?

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Originally Posted by MedusasOwl

2) Space. It's not a big apartment, and we have 8 animals as it is. We just got a Herpstat which has plugs for 3 UTIs. Which means we *could* potentially hook up 3 more tubs eventually that have the same heat requirements (aka, more BPs, YAY) but even if there was room plugging anything else in the bedroom is out. We already have to turn off the space heater to use the hairdryer or the whole back room/bathroom shorts out. So... BP plans ONLY after we move which has to wait a couple of years for business school reasons.

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Space really isn't that big of a deal... You could get a Boaphile or AP rack and have room for 5 adults without much a space consideration... and only ONE thermostat per rack... plus.. they're stackable... So you could get the 5 drawer sideways rack from Boaphile that Christie has, and you could get 10 babies and still have room for 5 adults all in about a 2ftx3ft area (up to the cieling).

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Originally Posted by MedusasOwl

1) With the new Herpstat we now have an extra t-stat... extra things are bad. Extra things give Sheree ideas.

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I got a Boaphile 6 drawer sideways rack when I made my first "additional" purchase. I only got 4 snakes, and had room for 12... this was also bad for Kenny! :) I made plans to get 5 more normals immediately, and then after they were paid for.... realized... oops.. what about quarantine.. so I ordered another rack... (bad idea again... oops) So I changed the 5 normal order to 10 normals, and have another 3 snakes paid for, and waiting to ship out, and another 4 planned for...

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Originally Posted by MedusasOwl

3) Tanks are expensive, but I bet I could find one cheap/free on Craigslist or something.

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Tubs are SUPER cheap at Target or Wal-Mart! :)

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Originally Posted by MedusasOwl

4) 2 years or so is a LONG time when you're waiting...

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Yup... super long! Just think.... hmm.... lol

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Originally Posted by MedusasOwl

I'm weakening and Karen keeps giving me the "don't talk me into it, I know you'll talk me into it, don't you do it" look. Help! Discourage me, people! What do you guys do to fight new snake/herp rationalizations?

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Did this help? :) I'm so bad!

Also, there is no need to feed any BCI (or even BCC) anything bigger than the largest rat. My big BCI gets a jumbo every 2 weeks and she is 37 pounds and somewhere between 7 and 8 ft (I originally was told she was 9 when I got her but it doesnt look like she is). I say keep getting more snakes! :)

i want alot of snakes too. i really keep in check what i can feed and take care of everyday. you would be surprised how fast the food bill ads up and the cleaning time increases. now i'm not saying "don't buy" just think about it clearly. personally i'd rather have 30 snakes well cared for than 100 that are kept so-so. spare time is different for everybody.


vaughn

I'm with Ken on the space issue:judge:. I on the other hand favor the Ball Room Rack (at 120 watts total) I can wire up to 3 racks per channel on a Herpstat II (so it doesn't run to hot). That's 12 snakes in a smaller footprint than my kids foosball table - sweet:headbang:. No help here Medusa?? LOL;)

As far as moving the clan around when time comes (BP's anyway). Since we're off the gulf coast we have no choice but to have a contingency plan. I have larger tubs (Wal-Mart all the way), zippered pillow covers (name labled), 3 regular heating pads and a power converter for the truck to haul the gang off in the event we need to. Umm, no help here again Medusa??:P

TEMPTATION - This is a good one. Ummm, well I have to say this is hard. I give myself a reality check from time to time :bonk:before I release the compulsive side of me. Vaughn said it best, if I can't provide the best care at the moment of purchase then the wallet is checked at the door (actually, my honey will hide it from me LOL). Umm, this might be helpfull - but in no means to discourage you:devilish:...LOL

2 years is a long time away. Plenty of time to formulate a shopping spree plan.. Muaaa haaa haaa:twisted:.

Good luck Medusa!!!! LOL;)

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Originally Posted by kavmon

i want alot of snakes too. i really keep in check what i can feed and take care of everyday. you would be surprised how fast the food bill ads up and the cleaning time increases. now i'm not saying "don't buy" just think about it clearly. personally i'd rather have 30 snakes well cared for than 100 that are kept so-so. spare time is different for everybody.


vaughn

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Words of wisdom right there. The costs do add up quickly!

If I had the freedom to get whatever I wanted whenever I wished it....well.....the house would be overrun with reptiles, kitties and maybe a cool bird or two. And eventually, all those things may come to me....but that eventuality is many years in the future (not until hubby retires from the military and we find the right home to finally settle into).


But we have a LOT of years ahead of us....and when the time finally comes, I will have SO much fun making that dream a reality!! Just thinking about it makes it ok to wait. A few years of waiting now...for a lifetime of living out a dream. Not so hard to do...

And think about it this way...there's always going to be something you want that you can't have. You want more space? Can't have it right now. You want more money? You want to eat more cookies and icecream every day? There will always be limits....but knowing that those limits can be expanded someday as you work towards your goals.....it's tolerable and even fun sometimes!!

If I were in your shoes....I'd probably go ahead and look for that blue beauty, because fulfilling a certain kind of longing (if you have the ability) is a good thing. I'm finally to the point where I can fulfill that longing to own a bp....but that sweetie is gonna have to hold me for many years, and I know that and accept it. I think you can, too. ;) :bounce:

"eyeing the apartment like a Tetris game...."

LOL, you funny lady you.

And from my experience, thats exactly how it is!

The only thing that keeping me from totally convincing Rick that Yes, We NEED more snakes nownownow is that I keep telling myself we're still too inexperienced and we need more time to make sure we know what we're doing.

Unlike so many folks here, we didn't grow up having reptiles (heck, I grew deathly afraid of snakes), <tells herself> we need time to gain experience before we add to our animal family.

("But corns are so little!")

/sigh

lol, my wife hates animals, 1st she got turtles then got bored from them after a year and she was like "thats it, i dont wanna have them anymore"
then she found hamsters, she got them for 3 months and got bored from them
so i gave those animals to people who love them and care about them.

well, whenever i look at my BP "even though i just had it for almost 2 weeks now" im like "honney!, if i get to live for 2 years and my BP is still healthy and nice, i'll probably get another one. and if i see myself doing ok with that, i might as well breed some!!" then she gives me the look , where you know "ok you crossed the line MR.!!" then i'll be like "its just a day dream, who knows what happens in 2 years"

lol, she's enough to let me think twice, but to be honest, if i had more space. i wouldn't hesitate to get another one, and another, and another.....

Why fight it? You make it sound like I should feel dirty for adding one more snake......


;)

Eeek! I'm going to go with the "wait" side of this discussion =P It really looks like you've thought all this through very carefully, and though it's SOOOOO tempting, you listed a lot more reasons not to get one, and since you know your situation best...well, you see what I'm saying.


I want a BCI, a tegu, and a doggie (Chihuahua heehee =P) SOOOO BAD I could scream, but because everything is so unsure right now (I'm not even sure when I'm graduating yet o__0), and because I'm living in a tiny apartment (Otis's room is my TINY closet) with 2 other girls, and because I'm only working 18 hours a week at min wage and NEED money for the summer, and because my parents would have a FIT if I got another animal.....let's just say the reality very quickly overwhelms my cuddly animal fantasies. So stay strong, and, like my parents keep assuring me, you'll ALWAYS have time to get more pets!!! =D

a few years ago, i had alot herps/animals. we kind of got "out of hand". we had cresteds,day geckos,tarantulas,scorpions,chameleon,bearded,frilled dragons,red eyed tree frogs,dart frogs,corn snake,rabbit, 2 freshwater sting rays, fresh water fish tank, and a saltwater reef. it can be addictive! lol. just like alchohol/gambling too much can be bad. it is alot of fun though but can become alot of work very fast. work isn't fun. i work at keeping my addiction at bay, lol it's hard though. keeping/collecting herps is addictive, breedeing them is even more so!


vaughn

I'm trying to keep that in mind myself. Although, since I hope to breed in 2 or 3 years (when the girls are ready, not when I am), I am trying to aquire females and a few het males this year, and then take the time to raise them all up. Future plans are to only pick up additional females that really appeal to me, but on a one or two at a time basis. But I want to get at least six right now (two for each het male) and maybe as many as nine, but not sure yet. I will start conservatively and see how manageable that is first.


It is hard to decide, and I'm constantly eyeing the apartment for more space - if anything, it's giving me a reason to do some serious spring cleaning!

I am the same way. Its hard to focus when there are so many animals out there to choose from! I want to work with them all, but BPs are my passion so I am trying to stay focused.

Ken! Jamie! You're supposed to be talking me out of a ratsnake, not into a boa!! lol! :evileye: Evil. ;) Plus from what I've found out so far, Blue Beauties like taller enclosures and spend a lot of time up at the top hanging out and ruling over all they survey, so I don't imagine she'd dig a tub too much. (I can't help researching... still waiting to hear back from BHB on a few questions :rolleyes: )

I def don't want to get a snake I can't care for properly, or get so many that I get overwhelmed! Which is why I only really have plans for the blue beauty and a couple more BPs in our future. I also won't buy a snake I don't have an enclosure already set up for, heat and everything already perfect. So I've got that helping to reign me in! Plus it's hard to find info on Elaphe taeniura ssp, and I won't get one till I know better what she'll need.

Part of the space issue is also electrical cords have to be carefully tucked out of sight and reach. Certain curious wabbits think electrical cords and wires look delicious, and our elaborate bunny proofing systems limits what we can move around and how. No hutch bunnies are these. They make Tetris hard!

Course just today I was thinking "If I took down that knick-knack shelf and threw away all the VHS I could so fit a nice tall snake enclosure in there, and it's right next to the carefully stashed TV cords... Hmmm... it would be more sightly AND I could have snake...We've been meaning to make a Goodwill run anyway..." :ignore: Bad brain! Leave the shelves alone! You know we need our knick-knacks! But yes, Rabernet, spring cleaning is imminent either way! lol. Mmm, snakey incentive. :D Luckily for Karen we're planning a Goodwill run AFTER the Phoenix expo, lol!

If I were in your shoes....I'd probably go ahead and look for that blue beauty, because fulfilling a certain kind of longing (if you have the ability) is a good thing. I'm finally to the point where I can fulfill that longing to own a bp....but that sweetie is gonna have to hold me for many years, and I know that and accept it. I think you can, too. ~ JLC

But see... I thought I was doing that with Gomez! AND Falkor! :crazy:

Why fight it? You make it sound like I should feel dirty for adding one more snake...... ~ Srozell

It's not the wanting that's bad... it's the caving in when I promised no more pets till we move! ;) Not that Karen doesn't want them too, she's easily talked into critters, but it's the principle of the thing, lol.

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It's not the wanting that's bad... it's the caving in when I promised no more pets till we move!

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Be sure to post pics when you get it. Can we expect to see them tomorrow?

Uuummm....forget everything I said.

Pictures coming soon after our new girl settles in...;)

Yes, we weakend much sooner than anticipated!

Of course it's not our fault. I put the blame directly on LLL Reptile. I mean, it's a bit unfair - you go to a place to have a look around, check out some reptiles... But when you go there they dare to have a wonderful selection of high quality animals, all immaculately presented with wonderful husbandry in lovely vision cases. Sneaky I tell yah!

As Cass said, we didn't leave empty handed...

lol! Yup... resistance is futile. ;)

Everytime I go into the snake room, I try to find more space for snakes. Gotta get Freedom Breeder racks soon so I can fit more! muahahaahahah!

WARNING, WARNING, this thread is spiraling downward!! LOL.:D

I just placed a deposit on another morph (shhh);)

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Originally Posted by ARamos8

just placed a deposit on another morph (shhh);)

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Ooh! Not that I heard you say that, but which morph? :)

We're all lost causes, you know that? :rolleyes: Can't wait to see you guys post pics!

We'll maybe see about the blue beauty after our major spring cleaning exploits and I can get a clear answer on what kind of enclosure she'll need. I keep eyeing the boaphiles and vision cages but I dunno what type/size/shape would be best for an asian ratsnake. Yay (sorta!) for difficult research and expenses! It's my saving grace, lol!

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Originally Posted by cassandra

Ooh! Not that I heard you say that, but which morph? :)

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A pastel Jungle (female)... Stormy needs a mate;) and she will known as "Raine"

My wife is no longer the devil's advocate! She teaches math at a local college and given some parameters she figured she'd have her class do some work on exponential equations of sorts. I don't pretend to understand that, but that's not the point.


She decided the topic would be to determine how many snakes and rats I could keep in our house without making any modifications.

The class determined as a whole that I would have enough room to house 80 adult ball pythons and the accompanying feeder rats.

There were other points she was trying teach, but all I heard was that I can buy some more snakes.

Medusasowl, have you ever thought about rosy boas? I have a pair and was never really interested until someone gave me one as a gift...now, I love em"! ( not as much as I love BP's). I f you want a boa, but not a big one, rosys are great. They stay really small, and really friendly.... and cute to boot! You might want to just check em out...I think you could squeeze one in :D ..... I sed to live with a guy who had 21 rattle snakes on his room !!!!

Along with rosy boas, kenyan sand boas rock too! Males can be in a 10 gallon size tank their whole life. ;) Super sweet and beautiful, with affordable morphs available.

Rock on Shelby!! Got a pair o' them too!

I have a male het anery, and a male anery.. the anery was supposed to be a female.. *doh*

Roughscale sand boas are nice too.

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Originally Posted by srozell

There were other points she was trying teach, but all I heard was that I can buy some more snakes.

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Go Spencer GOOOOO!!!

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Originally Posted by srozell

There were other points she was trying teach, but all I heard was that I can buy some more snakes.

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lol! That would be all I'd hear too. ;)

And what's up with everybody trying to talk me into more snakes I can't get! lol! Actually another snake for a while has been officially vetoed, as we've just gotten 3 animals (2 snakes and a second bunny) all around the end of last year. We need to be good and hold out for a while. :tears: Lots of good reasons, including trying to save up for the eventual move and our elderly cat potentially having more issues. Still hard though. Reptile Expo will be fun, but no bringing home a snake for me! Still... probably lots of future plans will formulate in my head checking out all those snakes..!

Started off with my female dumeral , then I got a pair of Bp's and now I'm fighting the urge too buy a suriname red tail.It would have to be a male cause of size consideration's.I'm also planning on breeding my dum, so you know what that mean's gotta go get a male dum.That would bring me to 5 mouth's too feed. Resistance is futile

This is bad...I keep looking around the apartment, thinking "now where could I put more cages...hmmm". Gaaaah!

I just had the "babe, we need to clear this garage out" talk this morning. By the end of the year the plan is to have the 2 pairs finally situated in a spot that will allow room for GROWTH. I think she got the hint. LOL