Phoenix Expo Follow up: Offer we couldn't refuse.

Meet Ma-tsu and Neptune!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...andneptune.jpg

He made us an offer we couldn't refuse. Ma-tsu and Neptune are an adult breeding pair of blue beauty snakes. Big, gorgeous, and now ours. Yes. We were bad. We said no more critters, and we don't have a lot of room (as JLC can now attest to!). But the snakes are an established breeding pair, the cage came with (although Neptune badly needs a room of his own, I'm going to get him a nice sized tub today so he can have his own space) at a *very* decent price as the guy's retiring from the hobby, especially considering that when they do breed they'll pay for themselves several times over. It was an incredible opportunity, and Karen and I agreed that we couldn't pass it up!

I've been feeling antsy to make more income on my end around here, and I tend to do that best doing what I love. Well, I love art and I love snakes. So art commissions and snakes it be. It feels right.

Of course, it wasn't all business. Ma-tsu is BEYOND sweet. Tame as a BP. Soon as they guy came over she went straight to my face and gave me a tongue flick. In love! She charmed me right off, and I even walked around the expo with her. She curled up for a nap in my purse. Sweet sweet snake! And so gorgeous! Amarin and I met one of my pals from ball-pythons.net Judy and her charming daughter Petra, and Judy lead me right to the Blue Beauties... Oh... Ma-tsu... Couldn't leave without her... Neptune... well, he's got an attitude and will be a lot of work. But they're gorgeous and well worth it.

There's hurdles to get over. They're used to feeding live (hopefully I can switch them over to frozen/thawed, ratsnakes aren't usually all that picky if not I'll feed them what they'll eat), they're normally only fed every 2 weeks, and they're stressed from sharing the same enclosure for years. Ma-tsu is clearly dominating and stressing Neptune pretty bad, which aside from not being handled much is part of why he's so grumpy. I was also told that Neptune is uber grumpy when he's hungry like now so... erm, once a week makes a lot more sense to me as he's so testy about it. Less hungry! Ma-tsu is 7 years old, Neptune is 8. They can live a good 30 to 35 years. After we gave the enclosure a *good* scrubbing down (yick!) we set them up for now on the coffee table. No cords necessary as they require temps from 75-80 degrees... no prob! Too many cords for bunnies to nibble on with the BPs, so bedroom only for him/eventually them, and NO room in there. I also got a pair of gloves in the deal for Neptune and a ratsnake book with some great breeding and species info and art inspiring pictures. The guy said he'd send me a magazine he'd saved that was all specifically on Blue Beauties if he can find it.

We're very excited and nervous all at once!

Judy has a van and was UBER sweet to help us get the whole shebang back to the apartment and take pics even, and Jess got herself a beautiful little baby California King named Voodoo! Didn't get a *ton* of pics, but got a few! I was a little distracted... understandably I think!

Me and Ma-tsu!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3.../matsuanme.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...matsuanme2.jpg

This is Neptune. He is not for cuddling! Hopefully with some good husbandry and patience he'll calm down though.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...es/neptune.jpg

Here's Ma-tsu again, exploring a bit before piling back on poor Neptune's head... She'd had a *long* day and hissed to let us know she was done with handling when we got her out of the bag. So in the tank to relax and explore she went!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...akes/matsu.jpg

I kinda wish I'd taken "before" pics of the tank. Nastiness! It looked like months worth of gunk in there! Lots of old bits of shed and unidentifyable yick! Poor babies. We scrubbed it out, put in Carefresh substrate, added temp hides (which they ignore, I will get better ones though I understand BBs rarely use them anyway) and put the fake plants in (after cleaning those too! Bleh) The sacks on the couch there are the poor bagged beauties.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...kes/bbtank.jpg

There's only really room for one Blue Beauty in this tank, as you can see. They're big snakes! But they've made due for years, they can hang in there another day or two. Poor Neptune.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...es/bbtank2.jpg

And last, but never least... Jess (aka Amarin) and Voodoo! He was TOO cute wrapped around her thumb like that! Personable little dude!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ssanvoodoo.jpg

All in all, it was a very overwhelming maybe little too eventful expo! /(Ovo)\ But hey... if I can actually make money at this... *knocks on wood!* And wow, they're surreal... Karen commented "So THIS is where Asian Dragon paintings come from!" they really do look like beautiful ribbony dragons... I'm a bit dazed that they're ours... So is Karen. I'd planned to get a baby girl someday in the future... then a breeding pair of adults falls into our lap! Well, will probably still get that baby girl just not how I expected. :P

So far, personality wise, Ma-tsu is a curious curious girl! I put hides in there, but they're not really interested in hiding. She moves around, rests her head on the hides to watch the doves and us and bunnies, explores... Very sweet and curious. Wants to know what's going on! Neptune on the other hand seems to have retreated into his own world. He remains coiled up very still glowering all the time while Ma-tsu basically uses him as a bump in the road. Somebody's a bit henpecked. :( Very very grumpy. I really want to make the guy's life better. Gonna run out and look for a nice big clear tub for him today as well as get some food for them! It's probably been weeks since they ate. They're on medium rats, I was told.

So... erm... yes... project! I do want to eventually get much nicer set-ups for them. Lots of tetris is being played, but a lack of need of heat is a huge help for avoiding bunny mischief. When one day we move out of AZ though, we'll get uths for them. But as is, our constant room temp is perfect.

It's all a bit overwhelming, but I'm in love with these guys and he said we have a good 5 or 6 months before they're going to want to hook up with each other. Which is good, because we have a *LOT* of planning to do if we're going to let them this year. Right now concern is making their living conditions better.

Congratulations! They are flippin' gorgeous!


I've always been captivated by these, well, beauties :picknose:, and you just may have yourself a customer in the future!

:D ~happy, happy sigh~ :D


The previous owners were so concerned about them going to a good home....but I'm quite sure they're getting a much better home than they've ever had before.

I have a feeling that, while Neptune may never be a "lap snake" like Ma-Tsu, he will calm down a lot once he has his own space and a full tummy.

They are so beautiful and I'm quite hooked on them now, myself! I may be a future customer as well, someday...when I get to the place where I can really start building a collection.

It was a pleasure and an honor to be a part of this experience with you! :hug:

Oh, and that picture of Jess with Voodoo on her thumb is just TOO cute!! :D

congrats! You have a few beauties there :)

Ok. Those guys look really awesome. I had to google them (Elaphe taeniura sp). I'm just looking cause I'm curious :P.


Congrats Medusa!!! I hope they do well for you. They are really sweet looking.;)

Wow, congratulations!!! They're beautiful! I'm sure you still have a busy day ahead getting Neptune settled into his own home...=)

Congrats on the new addition! Blue beauties was what first popped in my head, but I thought no way would you actually just happen to find them. Then I started thinking gecko. It just seems like fate that these two should fall into your lap. I'm so happy for you guys. Good luck getting the two separated and that boy tamed down a bit. :D That's just awesome! :clap:

They are gorgeous! I have no doubt that they will have a great home with you and Karen! Best of luck!

Jamie

Oh wow and wow again! Two of them! Adults! Oh congrats to both of you!

I dug up this thread about these huge plastic tubs they sell at WalMart that might do just the trick for the male and for only $19.99 Even though they are sold for Xmas Tree storage they might have some still left in a back corner and they retail for only $19.99

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ight=Xmas+tree

Many congrats! Sign me up for a baby someday! They are gorgeous!


~~Jo~~

"I'm definitely not getting any snakes at the show."

Famous last words, Sheree!

Beautiful ratsnakes there. I think their pattern is very interesting how it changes in stages from head to tail.

Very Beautiful! I think its time I put you guys on the "Herpaholics Anonymous" mailing list :D

Thanks guys! Yeah, I know, we're hopeless... Karen and I even have aims for when we do have a house to have a snake room/art studio room now! /(^v^)\ Mwahaha! I am hooked on the blue beauties... the pics really don't do them justice. Their coloration makes me wonder at what their natural habitat looks like.

Neptune is doing better already!

We got him a big tub at lows, the biggest clear one we could find (the x-mas ones are a good deal, but testy as Neptune is I want to know where he is when I open up the tub!). It's wider than Ma-tsu's tank but a bit shorter. We'll get him a nice boaphile or something someday. I nearly knocked myself out from the fumes melting holes in it (we need a drill!) and Karen "maimed" her thumb cutting off the end of a plastic planter for a good hide. We love our snakes! We got it all set up, hide and bowl and he was a pretty good boy when I picked him up then remembered to be mad as soon as I put him down.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...gryneptune.jpg

But it didn't take him long to realize he was in a new space all alone, and he relaxed immensely right away! He was actually exploring which he didn't bother to do in the other tank. He got a drink of water and relaxed watching everything and was suddenly as curious and interested in his surroundings as Ma-tsu! He loves his hide too, has vanished completely into it. I can't imagine how long it's been since he's had any privacy!

He and Ma-tsu *both* took their f/t rats no problem, and settled down for the night. :hungry: Hungry snakes! Neptune in his new hide, and Ma-tsu curling up in her tank. Both looked for more afterwards too! Goodness! We got Ma-tsu the same sort of hide as Neptune, but Karen wants a better handsaw before we try and cut a hole in it again.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3.../fullmatsu.jpg

Oh, and a bit of background on Ma-tsu's name... She's an Asian sea goddess. "Daughter of the Dragon" "Empress of Heaven" "Kuan-Yin of the Southern Sea." I think that suits her beautifully. Neptune is self explainatory, he came with the name and we loved it, it suits him perfect!

Congratulations on your new babies! I can just feel the giddiness!!!! They are gorgeous and it's as if it was meant to be for you! Gorgeous babies! question for you though - in Neptune's new home - was that water in the bottom of the enclosure (like an inch or two deep) or some "trick" photography? LOL

I bet poor Neptune is just thrilled in his new bachelor pad and hopefully with time will settle in. We never thought our bp Brannagh would come so far so fast and if Mz. B can do it, then it sure gives me hope that your Neptune can too.

I've never seen these snake before. They are gorgeous and I'm sure even more so in person. I'll have to google a bit LOL. Absoultely fate that you went to that snake show right after you started thinking about these snakes and here were two that needed a forever home!

Congrats again! Can't wait to follow their story as they settle in your home.


~~Jo~~

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

was that water in the bottom of the enclosure (like an inch or two deep) or some "trick" photography? LOL

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Looks like the bottom moulded lip of the tub...I totally see what you mean tho...=)

Man, they really are beautiful...can't wait til they settle in a bit more so we can see more pictures!

beeeeeeautiful! i bet you'll notice a difference in his moodiness immediately. he just wanted to be left alone... by her, by everyone... and now that he is left alone... he'll welcome your interaction :)

:D:D:D:D:D congrats!!!

Since he's all fed now, Neptune's vanished into his hide never to be seen again, lol! Ma-tsu is out but very mellow and chillin as she digests. SO relieved they took f/t, it's just so much easier for me. /(^v^)\ I'm impressed they took those big ol medium rats and were still looking for more! Do you think they need larger sized rats?

And yes, that's the lip of his tub! It does look like water though, lol! Very angry sea snake! ;) Funny that it looks like that when they're both named after sea dieties!

The pics really don't do them justice. Neptune has these lovely olive stripes that run down most his body admist the blue, and Ma-tsu is this stormy denim blue all over. The babies are a very olive-y color, and still have the eye makeup going on. I'm looking forward to when she's done digesting so I can give her a cuddle! I'll probably give Neptune a few days extra days or maybe a week of alone time and another meal before pestering him. He deserves a rest! I swear, he'd try to curl up and hide and it was as if she was always making sure *some* part of her body was on his head. Yeash. I'd be grumpy too!

They're pretty hard to find stuff on online, and I may end up writing up a caresheet based on all the asian ratsnake info, what the guy told me, and what the books I have (and Blue Beauty Breeding issue of Reptiles Magazine I'm desperately trying to find, there was one in 2000!) and some of the basics I've learned here. I'd want to send courtesy caresheet prints along with the babies these two produce's new owners, and you know any babies they produce will have fed a few times and have gotten some handling before they're sent out. ;) I'm sure I'm jumping the gun, but it's an exciting prospect! lol!

Since I originally sought out pics of this snake for a Medusa piece, Karen was a little worried I'd fall in love with every species I do art research for and we'd be up to our ears in every kind of snake. :devilish: But nah. :rolleyes: I know my limits, and these guys... I can't even describe how right it feels. Everything about them, their tudes, their size, their remarkable patterns and coloration, the eye markings that floor me... These beauties and bps are about as big a snake as I can do anyhow with my back problems. The most tempting species to me otherwise are the Suris (there was SUCH a cute baby at the expo shedding! Reminded me of a slightly darker Carmen) but I know they get way too big for me. I'll do a Medusa of them anyway tho ;) So many Medusas so little time, lol.

There you go hon. You want the September 2000 issue. First link says they have it in stock. Second link is ebay auctions - some of which would include the September 2000 edition of Reptiles Magazine.

http://www.animalnetwork.com/reptile...d=3706&search=

http://search.ebay.com/Reptiles-Maga...fkrZ1QQfromZR8

~~Jo~~

Thanks Jo! Bwah, the animal network site's acting up tho :P I'd really prefer just to get the one issue. I'll prolly pester them and see why the cart isn't working. Thank you!!