What made you want to adopt a snake?

[dakski]

I currently have 8 reptiles in my care, and there are 9 in the house (my Fiancé Katie/SunshineWalker on BP.net has a Leachie). I am learning with her about leachies and helping her by applying my reptile knowledge to a newbie. When we met she was "meh" towards the reptiles. Now she has her own. However, I will let her tell her story as well.

For me, I've always been fascinated with and loved snakes and reptiles, but snakes specifically. I've always thought they were amazing creatures and loved their natural beauty and predatory skills. As the years progressed and morphs became popular, I was blown away with what breeders were coming up with.

I had a few reptiles as a kid, but it wasn't a great experience because it was the 90's and there was not as much info available and no internet. Both I, and the reptiles suffered. After losing a lizard to calcium deficiency and realizing my parents had no interest in learning or helping me with care, I held off on reptiles for a while. I said I wouldn't do it again until I could do it right for them and for me.

I adopted a BP and converted her to F/T at about 18 (I was 18 - she was about 10) and kept her until I was 20 and had to move away for school. The local vet tech took her in and she ended up living a long life with him and his family.

Once settled after college, I ended up with a few animals; a Bearded Dragon, George (RIP), who lived until a few years ago and age 11, and two corns.

I was due to have a kidney transplant and the doctors' told me I had to get rid of the reptiles or risk infection (I would be severely immune suppressed after transplant, and for the rest of my life, but to a lesser degree). I listened and got rid of my two corns, but kept George, because my ex-wife said she would take care of him.

Of course, she did not, I ended up doing it, and believe it or not, I didn't get sick.

I did a lot of research, and learned that if I was careful (hand washing, hand washing, hand washing, and keeping clean tanks) I would probably be fine.

I hit the hobby harder than ever before. This was 6 years ago. I had always wanted and albino BP and I got Shayna my Albino Spider BP. She just turned 6 this month and is doing great.

After Shayna came Figment (Corn), 3 Female Leopard Geckos, Frank (BTS), Behira (BCI), and Solana (corn).

What do I love about reptiles?

1. They are incredibly fascinating and beautiful creatures

2. They are interactive

3. I love creating an good environment for them (Husbandry, Husbandry, Husbandry) and keeping it clean, feeding them, etc. It gives me a reason to get up every morning (even when I feel awful). They rely on me and it's cathartic spending my 10-20 minutes a day going through their tanks and cleaning, etc. I love working with them and developing a rapport and all my animals I would trust implicitly with someone else holding them. They are all incredibly docile and calm.

4. Reptiles are just plain cool.

Having said all that, it's an addiction. I want more, but I am trying to be realistic about things as well. I want this to be a fun passion and hobby, not a job!