About time I said Hi!

[SamO]

Ok, I've joined lots of forums over the years but never felt such trepidation as I have signing up here. I guess its because I've been a really long time lurker. I've been reading this forum for almost two years, with more than a year and a half of that 5+ days a week.

Not only that but there are some really great people on here. I've seen people share their knowledge and try to help others in very inspiring ways. I appreciate all the things I've learned while reading here.

Here comes the scary part. I am a ball python breeder. Albeit new (two years) and I've only produced two clutches (with three more in the incubator and 4-5 more females to go this year) I've already proved out a dinker and breed a four gene snake (Enchi Super Pastel Spider). In a former life I studied to become a genetics engineer, but life's strange path took me down the road of software engineer for my career. I also spent 14 years in the US military.

My love for genetics got me into ball pythons, two of my snakes (both Pastel Spiders) stole my heart. I love animals and have a big koi pond, was raised on a farm. But ball pythons are special, I can see why so many people are so passionate about these animals.

My kids are great contributors to the care of our snakes and rats. My youngest son loves his rats and does a huge share of the work. Two of my girls love the snakes and play with them every night at cleaning time. They come to me constantly with new projects, "Dad, we have the genes to make this, let's do it!". The Enchi Super Pastel Spider is step one to their favorite snake (already named, Marshmello) Calico Enchi Super Pastel Spider.

So I am officially here and no longer a lurker.