"Obsession" Is Addressed

[travis11]

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.

[The Serpent Merchant]

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!

[h00blah]

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 ... 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 )! 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 .

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 . It's weird because we're both named TRAVIS and I totally understand everything you wrote in the post, and I can relate .

[Rob]

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

[Shadera]

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

[Stewart_Reptiles]

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

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

[jcoylesr76]

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.

[oskyle1567]

<<<< 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!

[oskyle1567]

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...

[Slim]

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.