Snakes and Stones

[Lord Sorril]

Photo #487

Tumbled Sandstone (dry) with a Pastel Clown.
I could've done a better job 'polishing' these stones (so they look wet), but, I don't like scuffing up my vibe bowl (which tends to happen...).
I've also produced Pastel Clowns with super bright yellow...this is not one of them...

[Bogertophis]

When I first read this: I imagined you had rattlesnakes 'throughout your house'...a rattlesnake under the fridge..a rattlesnake in the bathtub...a rattlesnake on the kitchen table...rattlesnakes everywhere just chillin' out-waiting for their next meal...

That would make for a fun photo-shoot, but a little awkward for everyday living. I just meant that I've never been a fan of having all snakes in a "snake room", not even for hots- & I had many tanks in every room except the kitchen, laundry room & bathrooms.

Funny thing, when I first found that house for sale, the previous owners were into rocks- tumbling them, cracking big piles of geodes in the yard, & all that, & it was easy to picture myself living there because they had glass cases everywhere too, only they were full of rocks instead of snakes. I've never had a rattler (or any other hot) get loose in my house- I'm rather into self-preservation, & definitely not pain.

By having snakes spread out in a house, it also makes it much harder for diseases to spread. I once had a visit from the head snake keeper @ the L.A. Zoo that commented to that effect too. And I knew a few ppl in the herp society that used banks of cages, & sooner or later, they had a terrible time with things wiping out many of their animals. I will always favor glass tanks- they work for me.

I still have the signs I used to have posted on that place: "Rattlesnake on Duty", & "Dead End" (with a picture of a coiled rattlesnake aimed at you, haha)
No one ever broke in though...I can't understand it?

[Lord Sorril]

Funny thing, when I first found that house for sale, the previous owners were into rocks- tumbling them, cracking big piles of geodes in the yard, & all that, & it was easy to picture myself living there because they had glass cases everywhere too, only they were full of rocks instead of snakes.

I wish those were the previous owners of my house! No geodes here: My previous home owner(s) were really into chopping down trees on the property to feed their wood stove. My entire house was filled with soot and the outside of the house was terribly dirty from years of burning. The guy who I hired to power-wash the exterior said it was 'the dirtiest' he had ever seen-and asked if he could post photos online... I also had to dig up and load two 16 yard dumpsters full of tree stumps from the yard...good times...

Of course I bear no ill sentiment towards the former owners of my property and their poor upkeep. If they hadn't abused and then abandoned it-I never could have bought it.
All my hard work and effort converts into $'s someday-if I ever decide to sell it.

[Lord Sorril]

I try to match rocks as best as I can, but sometimes I just have too many different types-so I just use colors.
Below is 'yellow' and 'red'.

Photo #488

Stones from across the globe.
Ball Python = Axanthic (VPI)/Pastel/Spider/Het Orange Ghost

Note:
I missed my Axanthic breeding goal last year (2024) with a 1/8 chance. This was not unexpected.
With the my next round of breeders-if all goes well for 2025: My odds will be slightly better than 50/50 for the season.
If I fail in 2025....my odds in 2026 will be about 95%.
Good things come to those who wait...

[Bogertophis]

I wish those were the previous owners of my house! No geodes here: My previous home owner(s) were really into chopping down trees on the property to feed their wood stove. My entire house was filled with soot and the outside of the house was terribly dirty from years of burning. The guy who I hired to power-wash the exterior said it was 'the dirtiest' he had ever seen-and asked if he could post photos online... I also had to dig up and load two 16 yard dumpsters full of tree stumps from the yard...good times...

Of course I bear no ill sentiment towards the former owners of my property and their poor upkeep. If they hadn't abused and then abandoned it-I never could have bought it.
All my hard work and effort converts into $'s someday-if I ever decide to sell it.

I had a good job but I bought that custom-built house very cheaply because the owners got spooked after a large earthquake (So. California) & they moved out of state. No one else was looking for a house just then either, so it sat a while & got very affordable. 4 car+ garage with a bathroom, laundry sink & many built-in cabinets, & a view for miles...OMG, it was love at first sight. The fenced 3 acre horse-zoned property sloped, but they did extensive red-rock terracing...I couldn't believe they wanted to leave all that just because of a little shaking. There was no damage at all there. I miss all the desert plants too- mature flowering ocotillos & an enormous saguaro cactus (not native there) as tall as the roof overhang. I definitely made $ when I sold it some years later, as will you, for all your trouble.

[Lord Sorril]

I had a good job but I bought that custom-built house very cheaply because the owners got spooked after a large earthquake (So. California) & they moved out of state. No one else was looking for a house just then either, so it sat a while & got very affordable. 4 car+ garage with a bathroom, laundry sink & many built-in cabinets, & a view for miles...OMG, it was love at first sight. The fenced 3 acre horse-zoned property sloped, but they did extensive red-rock terracing...I couldn't believe they wanted to leave all that just because of a little shaking. There was no damage at all there. I miss all the desert plants too- mature flowering ocotillos & an enormous saguaro cactus (not native there) as tall as the roof overhang. I definitely made $ when I sold it some years later, as will you, for all your trouble.

Sounds like it was a sweet deal!

[Lord Sorril]

Photo #489

Tumbled/Polished Thundereggs with a Orange Dream/Het Piebald.

For some reason I thought that an OD/Het Pied would have a very prominent marker on the underbelly near the tail (similar to the one shown below on a OD/Het Clown).

However, none of my OD/Het Pieds I hatched in 2024 have the traditional marker, just a white underbelly...go figure...

And since I have two underbelly tail shots: In this case I am sure you can identify which ball python is male and which is female based on shape.

[Homebody]

And since I have two underbelly tail shots: In this case I am sure you can identify which ball python is male and which is female based on shape.

I'll bite. I say the male is the top one with the short fat tail and the female is the bottom one with the long thin tail.

[Lord Sorril]

I'll bite. I say the male is the top one with the short fat tail and the female is the bottom one with the long thin tail.

You were close...but not quite.

[Bogertophis]

That girl has some "hips"-